D&D General Gore in D&D

[Li Shenron]

Are you someone delights in describing bloody scenes, and when might this cross the proverbial 'line'?

No.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

Are you someone delights in describing bloody scenes, and when might this cross the proverbial 'line'?

Yes
Never
"What is your method for describing gore in D&D, and do you recommend and forms of description, especially of violence."
Physiological intricate structural description just like in a medical class.

When describing scaphism for instance i take special care to mention the successive layers the insects crawl through, what day in the process this generally happens and how many structural layers deep the first generation of eggs tend to penetrate when being laid. I also describe the forced feeding process of subjects leading up to the ordeal and so on. All medically precise info.

Before playing in my campaigns i require that players promise they are a "no limits" kind of person so we dont accidentilly scar anyone.

There is a lot of moral grey and "not for the faint of heart" type stuff in my campaigns.

 

[Imaculata]

The problem with gore is that too much of it loses impact, and that it can really turn your players off from the game. I don't mind including some violence in the game, but I prefer to hint at the violence rather than describe the violence in great detail.

Sometimes it is simply more effective to tell your players that they see something grotesque that is the stuff of nightmares, than to actually describe what it is they see.

When it comes to players decapitating a monster, I reserve that for epic moments.

 

[generic]

Yes
Never
"What is your method for describing gore in D&D, and do you recommend and forms of description, especially of violence."
Physiological intricate structural description just like in a medical class.

When describing scaphism for instance i take special care to mention the successive layers the insects crawl through, what day in the process this generally happens and how many structural layers deep the first generation of eggs tend to penetrate when being laid. I also describe the forced feeding process of subjects leading up to the ordeal and so on. All medically precise info.

Before playing in my campaigns i require that players promise they are a "no limits" kind of person so we dont accidentilly scar anyone.

There is a lot of moral grey and "not for the faint of heart" type stuff in my campaigns.

Interesting, why is it that you use gore in this way? Is it fun for your group or for you? Does it enhance realism or the horror in the campaign?

Medically-precise, you say?

It's interesting to see one poster who seems to exult in the gore.

 

[Bitbrain]

Descriptive, but I try to keep it tasteful at the same time.

There will be splatters of blood on the wall, but I don’t go into further detail.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

Much like all the other, "where is your line" topics that have come up, it depends entirely on the table.

I personally don't have a line. I am perfectly happy to discuss how the sausage is made, so to speak.

 

[Disappointment]

My Undead Lv1. Fighter Revenant got stabbed through the chest and watched as his organs spilled out on the ground, but thanks to the Fighters Second Wind, and the Revenants natural regeneration, I immediately recovered on my next turn.

Honestly gore is fine, but what about 18+ content. When am I gonna see some of that?

 

[Salamandyr]

I play with grown ups...but nobody is really looking for purple descriptions, so my game is approximately 90's PG-13.

So by today's standards, Hard R.

 

[Umbran]

What is your approach to gore in D&D, and in violent RPGs in general?

Are you someone delights in describing bloody scenes, and when might this cross the proverbial 'line'?

In D&D, no.

Generally, what is your approach to gore and gory imagery in RPGs?

My approach to gore imagery is driven by genre. I, personally, find high levels of gore to be appropriate in horror... but not really anywhere else. So, if I am running a horror scenario, my descriptions may get grody. Otherwise, I generally stay to the less nasty end of the spectrum.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I do the same, albeit only for meaningful monsters - goblins and other mooks don't need that full treatment.

I try to keep things pg-13 with my violence. I might say that a monster's skull gets caved in, a hole blasted in them, they get cut in two, or blood sprays everywhere. But generally I don't describe viscera and organs. Other than the blood, the insides don't end up on their outsides.

And I'm actually trying to tone it down these days. I'm all for painting a picture with words, but sometimes one can over-rely on the color red.

My DM lets us narrate how we kill the enemy, as long as we actually kill him per the rules. It gets...interesting.