Are Your Games Rated G, PG, R, X, etc.?

[ptolemy18]

Hello everyone,

If I could I'd make this a poll, but I was wondering... if your D&D game was a movie, what would it be 'rated'? How much violence, sex, sleaziness, alcohol, drugs, "adult themes", swearing and so forth exist in your games?

I was reading the poll about the "drunk, womanizing paladin" and I noticed that a lot of responses didn't hinge on "No, I wouldn't allow this paladin in my game because it doesn't fit my idea of a paladin" and instead hinged on "No, I wouldn't allow this paladin in my game because I have underage players and I wouldn't want to mention the existence of brothels."

I dunno that a D&D brothel in itself is inappropriate for teenage minors, as long as nothing "happens" onscreen... personally, when I was playing D&D in elementary school, I remember the occasional immature reference to something sexual... but I can understand that an *adult* DMing a game with kids, particularly playing with their *own* kids, would probably not want to go there. (Eww, it'd be creepy.)

Anyway, though, I'm sure not all of the people here have minors in their games. (But that'd be another interesting poll.) So tell me: what kind of potentially offensive stuff exists in your games?

For my own part, I'd say that my current campaign I'm DMing is definitely "R". I love making up bloody and gory descriptions for wounds and deaths, and while I'd never DM or role-play a sex scene*, I've mentioned the existence of things like prostitutes in the big city. Oh yes, and also I've been using the rules for drug use from the BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS. One of the player characters finally succumbed to the dark side and started taking "griffin testicles", which provide an increase to STR (I figured if, in the real world, people would sell rhinoceros horn and other exotic animal parts for medicine, then why not...)

Jason

* This is only marginally on-topic, but a few years ago, when I was playing in a campaign with a bunch of other people in our mid-20s, one of the players asked "How come our characters never get laid?" Another player responded "Because that would be so pathetic I would kill myself immediately."

 

[Darkness]

It depends on the exact campaign. Some are more tame than others.

Usually it's around R. No surprise there, considering all the incestuous, demon-worshipping, drug-addled, sado/masochistic cannibals I use.

BTW, here's a handy link for those who don't know the exact meanings of the ratings by heart.

 

[The Shaman]

My last D&D game was PG-13 for violence, sexual situations, and drug use - my current tabletop Modern game is the same.

My PbP Modern game (see the link in my sig) will be rated R due to scenes of graphic violence including torture.

About the only completely taboo subjects in my games are rape and child abuse.

 

[hero4hire]

Depends on my mood...Mostly PG13, occasionally R, X-Rated maybe a handful of times. (Get me going Roleplaying an NPC Priest of Loviater or Sharess I'll get graphic!)

 

[Rabelais]

Pg

Our game keeps most of the true ugliness of the villains off-camera. Our players are forthright, and sturdy individuals.

 

[Mouseferatu]

PG-13 to R on average. Some are PG simply because nothing particularly "mature" happens, whereas a few have crossed over into NC-17 territory. But the vast majority of the time, PG-13 to R.

 

[ivocaliban]

PG-13 is the norm for my campaigns. While there are sessions that have strayed into R-rated material there's been nothing of the NC-17 variety since I was a teen. Ironic, huh?

 

[Yair]

Usually R, sometimes NC-17, mainly due to one of my players (and me playing ball). That's for the sexual angle, the violene is normally pertty normal for a D&D game or action movie... I gues that's PG-13 nowdays?

 

[Baron Opal]

Before my son could understand what I was saying, it was PG-13 for violence, occasionally drifting to NC-17 if one particular cult was involved (gruesome rituals, etc.). Now that my son is sort-of understanding what I'm saying and repeats it at random times it is firmly PG.

(He's 3. Don't need the pre-school teachers wondering about all the impalings and skull chalices are that Dr. Schmidt's son talks about.)

 

[arwink]

PG+, although exactly how far it goes depends a lot on the players. In some games where the heroes aren't exactly shining examples of goodness, the depravity of the bad guys can get pushed out a little. Nothing to outre, but certainly enough to get the game rated for mature audiances under Australian censorship laws.