Satyr - An excuse for rape, or an interesting creature?

[Glyfair]

Does this creature have a place in D&D?

But it's fundamental to the question. The answer heavily hinges on "does rape have a place in D&D."

IMO, the D&D Satyr isn't the creature you describe. The Monster Manual states that they are "mischievous" and "for the most part leave travelers alone." That doesn't sound like the rapist you, or mythology, are painting. D&D creatures are not necessarily the same as their mythological counterpart.

IMO, rape has no part in the game (at least as a threat to PCs). Thus your satyrs have no place in D&D. The D&D Satyr does have a place in the game.

 

[frankthedm]

Meh, I do not see satyrs going for sleepers. They are chronic horndogs, but I view them wanting more than unconscious lump of warm flesh. He might Sleep the group, carry her of to a secluded place and afetr the sleep wears off, try to seduce using charm, booze or Charm, giving up and heading off after his advances are firmly, but politely turned down.

Rude refusals or threats result in initiative roles since this is D&D.

 

[ZombieButch]

Thus your satyrs have no place in D&D. The D&D Satyr does have a place in the game.

I like the satyrs in Uresia: Grave of Heaven. The worst of their antics is the occasional panty raid.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

A lot of creatures from D&D do not match their mythological/folkloric counterparts. Why should the Satyr be any different?

The Satyr, as described in the Monster Manual, belongs in D&D as much as any other creature in that book.

 

[Vorput]

Does this creature have a place in D&D?

Yes. As has been said, in a campaign where the players are ok with it. As an example, My father was murdered in a cocaine-related shooting. In a modern d20 campaign, the DM was going to set up the pretense that we were drug runners sneaking cocaine into the country. I felt uncomfortable about it, so I talked to him beforehand, and he changed the plot so I wasn't offended/uncomfortable.

Maybe I'm terribly insensitive, but I see rape in the same light. It's something that needs to be discussed beforehand. Hopefully you're not playing with a group where a player would ummm 'beat the crap out of you' or 'storm out' if it came up. However, its not something you want to throw into your campaign willy-nilly without having a fairly good idea of what effect it may have.

Also, no matter how much sense it would make- said Satyr shouldn't rape a character unless you now for sure that it's not going to be a problem. As other poster's reactions have indicated, it can be a very volitable subject.

Rape, torture, serial killings, cannibalism, demonic possession (which was something i coulnd't put in a campaign once because of someone's personal experience) are all things that CAN have a place in a D&D game- if the players/DM are ok with them. There needs to be acceptance among the characters about what's going to occur though, else there will be problems as posts above have illustrated.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

A discussion of rape in game is useless without the unique perspective of Edena. He needs to come here to address these points.

 

[Vorput]

A discussion of rape in game is useless without the unique perspective of Edena. He needs to come here to address these points.

...Edena?

 

[Rhun]

IMO, rape has no part in the game (at least as a threat to PCs). Thus your satyrs have no place in D&D. The D&D Satyr does have a place in the game.

While perhaps the threat of rape wasn't aimed at PCs, 'rape' is an element of D&D...perhaps not 3.X D&D, but earlier editions to be sure. Read through the original ToEE...many of the paintings and frescoes are shown as depicting rape.

As far as the Der Kluge Satyr goes, I would say that depends on an individual's game and the gaming group. Obviously many people feel it would not be appropriate in their games. I could use it in my current campaign though and it probably wouldn't even get a raised eyebrow.

 

[Desdichado]

A discussion of rape in game is useless without the unique perspective of Edena. He needs to come here to address these points.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Read any George RR Martin? Rape is pretty common in A Song of Fire and Ice.

which is regularly called out as unusual and many people dislike those books for just that sort of reason. One series no matter how rabid its fanboys, does not a change in the genre make.

It really all comes down to how your group can deal with adult subject matter. If someone in the group is incapable of dealing with it, then I agree that it should be glossed over or left out entirely. In a group that is at ease handling such subject matter, I don't see a problem.

"can deal" "incapable of dealing" etc place a strong negative value judgment on not wanting to have rape in your roleplaying game, or even a natural reaction of being disgusted by it. As much as I wouldn't play with a DM who introduced rape or torture themes*, I wouldn't play with one who was condescending to me acting as though he was holding back because I couldn't handle it, or any other such tripe.

*leaving out value judgements or social concerns, rape and torture are house rules, and I don't play with DMs who introduce house rules in mid session and haven't designed their games to reasonably accomodate those house rules.