How do you handle mature topics in your games?

[BiggusGeekus]

I wouldn't do such a thing in my game.

An older version of the word "rape" meant "abduct" and that's the version/description we use. If a dragon is captured by an evil princess, the dragon will be found tied to a chair, while the princess recites her demands to the party before her minions attack.

I have not noticed a decline in the maturity level of my players. If anything "good" and "neutral" have become more fleshed out. But this has just been my experience.

 

[Kaleon Moonshae]

Hmm... I'm starting to wonder if everyone thinks I'm a sexual deviant after my last post! That incident I described was a one-shot event, tailored specifically to engage the paladin player in the story. I felt he wasn't really into it: "Eh, yet another hunting-green-skins-adventure..." He was in a bit of a RPing rut, I think, and needed waking up.

He woke up, all right! Suddenly he (and his PC!) had all the motivation in the world to hunt orcs!

Normally, any sexual stuff happens "off-screen".

I've done similar things. Once ran a mortal game where the hunters were investigating a child slavery ring. They found a video in the big evil powerlord's room in his penthouse (after killing him before they located the children) and they watched it. I gave them the option if they wanted it graphically or overview and they asked for graphic so I gave it to them, I didn't hold back and I did my best to truly make them hate and fear for the children. It worked, specially since the video was of a Black Spiral Dancer afterhours orgy, heck I gave myself nightmares that night. They didn't waste time the entire rest of the campaign and kept pushing themselves without sleep.

 

[Kashell]

Taboo.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Sex and especially graphic violence only happen off-camera in my campaign.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Mostly we just don't "go there" in game-wise. It's usually fade to black. But there are all sorts of "mild" jokes about one or two characters, usually warranted by actions by that character's player and the fact we like to tease him about this particular character. We've told him that his cleric not only is a virgin but sleeps with sheep..... and has a fear of females who aren't of the "exotic" variety (Drow, fire giant....)

Then there's one married couple who's characters for the most part end up being lovers. Some jokes but mostly the fade to black style.

 

[Silver Moon]

Our group ranges in age from 39 to 51, so "mature subject matter" isn't a problem. We do refrain from explicit sexual content, letting most of that "action" take place off-screen. In a similar manner we usually don't go into excessive graphic detail on the violence unless it is absolutely necessary for the storyline.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Sex is off camera. I describe battles as gory and bloody as I want (generally just slightly over the top).

 

[Sejs]

How do you handle mature topics in your games?

With a lot of giggling and childish euphemisms.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Do mature themes exist in my games? Yes. Murder, mutilation, rape, etc. They are the dark side of human nature, but a part of human nature nonetheless.

Do I describe mature themes in my games? No. I don't see a point to it. I might describe a warrior getting his arm hacked off in battle, but if a woman is being raped by a soldier, I see no need to get into the details. Likewise even with consensual sex. If players want to hear someone talk dirty, they can pick up a phone and pay 9.99 for the first minute, etc. etc. and hear it from a professional.

 

[Umbran]

As a general rule - if I don't know that my players can handle it without my saying anything beforehand, then I don't include the subject matter. If I am unsure of the maturity of my players, I don't include mature subject matter at all.

In general, I have yet to see a game where being explicit about sex adds to the experience, except in terms of engendering disgust in the PCs. And I can do that without being explicit, so I generally make strong implications and "fade to black".

I have, at times, used very graphic and gory violence to decent effect. I find that it really only works well when used sparingly and by surprise. If players expect it, it loses it's punch.