CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION: Difficult Subject Matter.

[jonesy]

If I used a chart with random backgrounds to generate NPC's (and I don't), I might put rape somewhere on there. These are dangerous worlds that our games depict.


Also, Tanis Half-Elven has been the PC of many a player, and he has rape as the background for his existance.

Edit: what I mean is, if your group is familiar with the novels, and you set out to play in Dragonlance, you are likely to play as the Heroes of the Lance, which rather makes them random backgrounds, since someone needs to pick Tanis, right?

 

[Water Bob]

I don't know what you put on your character background charts, but I ever decided rape would be fun to put in a game there would be a very clear difference between a chart to help you decide what major events influenced your dwarf bard as he grew up and rules to help him rape the barmaid.

We just play different types of games. I run a fairly realistic, gritty game (Conan). The Hyborian Age isn't full of daiseys.

Looking through the character background charts from the Player's Guide to the Hyborian Age:

There is all sorts of unsavory stuff that could have happened in a player's background. Just flipping through the book, I see that a close person to the PC could have committed suicide or could have been sacrificed to a god or demon. If you can have stuff like that, you sure as heck can include rape.

 

[Ettin]

Edit: what I mean is, if your group is familiar with the novels, and you set out to play in Dragonlance, you are likely to play as the Heroes of the Lance, which rather makes them random backgrounds, since someone needs to pick Tanis, right?

That is fine too! I was just talking about needing actual rules for that kind of grapple check, not whether rape should be included as a story mechanic.

The other replies I got that didn't see a difference are actually getting kind of weird.

V very weird.

 

[Water Bob]

Edit: what I mean is, if your group is familiar with the novels, and you set out to play in Dragonlance, you are likely to play as the Heroes of the Lance, which rather makes them random backgrounds, since someone needs to pick Tanis, right?

That's a good point. And, let's not forget that in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series, that two of the main charactres, sister and brother, are sleeping with each other.

 

[Visigani]

You don't really need a "rape" chart because the mechanics of the game already include all the necessary tools.

Grapple checks, intimidation and demoralization, paralyzation, etc etc. You're already playing a game that gives you the tools to mechanically act out the situation. You simply elect not to.

I would be the first to agree with you that that sort of violence should be done "off screen" if done at all.

What is more difficult is when a player is playing an Evil (note capital letter there) PC and decided to engage in this violent action. It becomes one of those "shall we break" moments... because it's such a massive faux pas if it's not known WAY ahead of time that this character could or would engage in something like this and wanted to do so "mechanically".

It's one thing to say "And I have my way with the tavern wench" and another to "I want to roll initiative on the tavern wench" and then promptly beat her into submission at the table and roll a Constitution check for orgasm.

 

[jonesy]

It's one thing to say "And I have my way with the tavern wench" and another to "I want to roll initiative on the tavern wench" and then promptly beat her into submission at the table and roll a Constitution check for orgasm.

Okay, that creeped me out. And that's not easy to do.

 

[Water Bob]

What is more difficult is when a player is playing an Evil (note capital letter there) PC and decided to engage in this violent action.

One of my players was running a game. I wasn't in it, and was back in the 90's. But, one of his players played an evil Cleric, and the player really, really got into the character. He did all sorts of screwed up crap. Like, if the barmaid was slow with his drink, he'd ressurect her dead grandmother and have her visit the bar maid.

Can you imagine?

These powers the players have, with a realisitic bent, are quite creepy.

That same GM ran another game (again I wasn't in it) where the bad guy was an evil cleric. And, when I say "evil", I mean "evil". He would paralyze women, then rape them. They were aware of what was going on but could do nothing about it.

And, that was pretty light compared to some of the other things the bad guy in his campaign did.

I'll tell you this. It sure motivated the players. They hated the bad guy. They didn't have to fake it all. They wanted to mutilate his butt.

Not sure what ever happened to that game. I need to ask him.

Okay, that creeped me out. And that's not easy to do.

Same here. Kinda creeped me out, too.

Hmm....new tool for the game? Maybe.

I mean, if I'm creeped out....

I look for things that will drive emotional responses. It's not always "bad" stuff. I've got this cute little 6 year old girl NPC who idolizes one of the PCs in my game. I'm not doing anything bad to her. She's too valuable just the way she is. I think the player sees his own real life daughter in this NPC. He's got a real emotional attachment to her.

And, if I ever kidnap or do something vile to that NPC, I think I'll have a player rebellion on my hands.

 

[PureGoldx58]

D&D is a roleplay game, in our campaign world anything can happen.

We like to add real world logic to our game-world where characters have more depth than what is clearly defined by the "rules". My character is an Uncivilized Druid that worships Silvanus and aims to destroy all civilization everywhere and even potentially reduce the material plane to it's base components, yet she is like a child when angered and will lash out irrationally just like she should. (edit: she also speaks common but doesn't understand some words...like "yield" she had to be told that one once...)

Rape isn't too far from this. In fact less people are hurt than a level 12 angry druid storming through the city burning every building on the way out.

There doesn't have to be random charts, heck, my DM might even attempt to try it against my character just to see how horrible the attacker would look after she got through with him/her/it.

 

[Ettin]

Personally, if my DM ever had my character raped, I would probably not think "This roleplaying game sure is deep and realistic."

Violence is fine in the right amount but there are better things to brag about. Like anything.

 

[Visigani]

Different strokes for different folks.

To be blunt I would be incredibly offended if a DM had my character "raped". It wouldn't simply be a violation of my imaginary character, it would be a violation of the social contract between the DM and the Player. You do not push players where they do not want to go.

Losing an eye? Sure. Family members die from the plague? Whatever. But in this posters estimation, it would simply be going a bit too far. I would find another gaming group at that point and I would not be shy about why I was looking for one.


In a gritty world I can see it being used as a plot device... such as the above character I outlined. It may not be wholesome but it recognizes the darkness of the world without making that darkness personal.