Sex and Character types
- Thread starter Rashak Mani
- Start date
), there's not a problem.Of course it all depends on how the game world has shaped up the cultures around these races and classes (while it is modern to look at a fuction as a job and career, the middle ages looked at it as desitiny and something not to be bucked.)
I've been in games were elves where cool and aloof and other games where elves never refused the opportunity -- never! I have also been in some games were the elves where cool and aloof and then when they were able to find a suitable mate, unleashed a century of pent up passion in one night -- or 10 minutes.
We seemed to have skipped the stereotypes for psions and psi warriors, though.
I would think that Pisons would SEEM abstinate, but if you can share memories, thoughts and sensations, who needs to take their clothes off?
I percieve psi warriors to be either disiplined or driven. So what ever they do, the do it with an intenstity that is manical.
I've been in games were elves where cool and aloof and other games where elves never refused the opportunity -- never! I have also been in some games were the elves where cool and aloof and then when they were able to find a suitable mate, unleashed a century of pent up passion in one night -- or 10 minutes.
We seemed to have skipped the stereotypes for psions and psi warriors, though.
I would think that Pisons would SEEM abstinate, but if you can share memories, thoughts and sensations, who needs to take their clothes off?
I percieve psi warriors to be either disiplined or driven. So what ever they do, the do it with an intenstity that is manical.
LostSoul
Adventurer
I think different culture's attitudes towards sex would be based on the availability of magical birth control. When you don't have to worry about getting pregnant, sex can be just another recreational/religious/intimate/spiritual experience.
With Cure Disease somewhat available, you wouldn't have to worry about the life-threatening STDs.
With Cure Disease somewhat available, you wouldn't have to worry about the life-threatening STDs.
I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
I don't see it varying a lot with class so much as with race. Paladins don't have to be uptight (nothin' in the code says they have to be celebate), and could actually be quite permiscuous, as long as they treat their paramours with the same dignity, respect, and saving grace that they treat everyone else with. Falling in love with a paladin may be (in the paladin's eyes) the best thing that has ever happened to the street urchin woman or the prostitute, because the paladin has the chance to redeem them...
....hm...but society would condemn them both....I think I've got a story idea!
Clerics, too. Nothings says that they can't have families or have intercourse.
Odly enough, I would see Monks as probably the most restrained, since they're the most likely to deprive themselves of *any* worldly pleasure, including this.
As far as races go:
Humans: Without the advantage of the Western culture's domination by the Catholic Church, there's really no telling what this may become. I just sort of go with today's ideas for the most part, because it's easier to deal with.
Dwarves: More conservative. Dwarves generally don't cotton to any sort of promiscuity or messin' about...that generally goes with patrilineal clans, anyway. I do see dwarves as fairly strongly patriarchal, though IMHO, women in dwarven communities are seen as special treasures, very close to the forces of life and death, and the most mystic of the dwarven people. Dwarven warriors and kings are male. Dwarven priests and magic-users are female. The patriarchy is enforced with a taboo against using wizardly magic, which, to dwarves, is a dangerous and potent force that mere mortals shouldn't mess around with. There could easily be legends and such detailing the dangers of women who went and got magic and then helped bring down a dwarven fortress or something. IMHO, to dwarves, Magic = Women = Spiritual, and that's subordinate to Might = Men = Physical, but still a very valuable peice of reality.
Elves: Well, IMHO and IMC, elves have very low reproductive rates...because even male elves have a sort of menstraul cycle. This means that every 5 years, when the stars are right and the moon is full, elves become potent for a week, and gather into great elfmeets to reproduce. Basically, big elf-orgy. Other than that, they can't reproduce...which means that contraceptives are NOT a problem. The problem comes when the stars are right, and they're nowhere near an elfmeet -- that's how half-elves are born. They get the urge, and often satisfy it on the nearest creature. Elves have a strong sense of artistry and enjoyment of the physical world they live in, making them ready and willing to include intercourse as part of that experience. Elves also have very little dichotomy between male and female -- for a large part, to elves, they're one in the same. Thus, many elves may be what would be termed bisexual, but, to an elf, beauty's beauty, and it doesn't matter what gender it is. This leads to a certain custom IMC of calling humans and others with sexual tastes that aren't the norm to be labeled "elfish."
Gnomes: Somewhere between the elvish thirst for pleasure and the dwarvish rejection of it lay the gnomes. Though not particularly concerned with keeping strict monogamy or with having intercourse with anything that seems like it might be fun, gnomes have a sense that it is important to keep family unity, and that it is enjoyable, so there. I think gnomes as more structured around the family unit than most other races. When a gnome has a family, it is their responsibility to get another parent, and to raise them according to gnomish custom. Of course, after the kids are all grown up, the gnomes are free to go their own ways, without hard feelings. The only bitterness that erupts is when someone skimps while the kids still need a stable family. Then, entire communities of gnomes will gather to oust the charlatan. But, if you don't have a family, you're free to wander and do as you please. I think that some form of contraceptive is a gnome-bachelor's best friend.
Halflings: I could see halflings as basically polyandrous, perhaps similar to animals like elephants, where the family line is traced through the mother, and males exist on the outskirts, allowed in occasionally to reproduce, and then moved on when they reach of age or are finished raising the kid. The cycle probably repeats itself every few years, with men perhaps returning to the same women (or going to different women) year after year. There are probably male competitions to impress the ladies, in order to get chosen. All the husbands of a particular woman help raise the kids she gets, but she also has to do it, so fewer husbands = fewer kids = fewer funds drained. But I think halflings like big families, personally. I mean, when your major deity is a variation on the mother-goddess, how can you *not* have a strong population of women?
Orcs: Orcs are sort of the reverse of elves, IMHO and IMC, in that they are basically bisexual, but see it in a very different way. To an orc, intercourse = power, and so the more people who want it from you, the more power you have. Show off, show your might, triumph over the enemy, and be worthy of the idolization of others in the community. However, be careful, because if you pick someone who isn't actually impressed by you, not only will you be ridiculed (reducing your impressiveness), but they may choose *you* the next time around, to let you know just how weak you really are. If you are the choser, you have power over those who whish to be chosen, and the reason they want to be chosen is because they recognize your power. Orcs often participate in what other races may call a rape, in that they'll sometimes simply take the mate they want. However, in orcish society, this is, again, a sign of dominance over the mate...if they didn't want to be taken, they should be able to defend themselves. This creates an especially bad environment for women, because they have to either rely on themselves or on men they dominate to care for their young, and it's never safe to trust the men you dominate -- they may try to dominate your young. Fortuneately, there is a bit of a prohibition against this -- if you're a dominated man trying to take advantage of you're domineer's kid, you better bet that the domineer is going to come down on you like a ton of bricks.
....hm...but society would condemn them both....I think I've got a story idea!
Clerics, too. Nothings says that they can't have families or have intercourse.
Odly enough, I would see Monks as probably the most restrained, since they're the most likely to deprive themselves of *any* worldly pleasure, including this.
As far as races go:
Humans: Without the advantage of the Western culture's domination by the Catholic Church, there's really no telling what this may become. I just sort of go with today's ideas for the most part, because it's easier to deal with.
Dwarves: More conservative. Dwarves generally don't cotton to any sort of promiscuity or messin' about...that generally goes with patrilineal clans, anyway. I do see dwarves as fairly strongly patriarchal, though IMHO, women in dwarven communities are seen as special treasures, very close to the forces of life and death, and the most mystic of the dwarven people. Dwarven warriors and kings are male. Dwarven priests and magic-users are female. The patriarchy is enforced with a taboo against using wizardly magic, which, to dwarves, is a dangerous and potent force that mere mortals shouldn't mess around with. There could easily be legends and such detailing the dangers of women who went and got magic and then helped bring down a dwarven fortress or something. IMHO, to dwarves, Magic = Women = Spiritual, and that's subordinate to Might = Men = Physical, but still a very valuable peice of reality.
Elves: Well, IMHO and IMC, elves have very low reproductive rates...because even male elves have a sort of menstraul cycle. This means that every 5 years, when the stars are right and the moon is full, elves become potent for a week, and gather into great elfmeets to reproduce. Basically, big elf-orgy. Other than that, they can't reproduce...which means that contraceptives are NOT a problem. The problem comes when the stars are right, and they're nowhere near an elfmeet -- that's how half-elves are born. They get the urge, and often satisfy it on the nearest creature. Elves have a strong sense of artistry and enjoyment of the physical world they live in, making them ready and willing to include intercourse as part of that experience. Elves also have very little dichotomy between male and female -- for a large part, to elves, they're one in the same. Thus, many elves may be what would be termed bisexual, but, to an elf, beauty's beauty, and it doesn't matter what gender it is. This leads to a certain custom IMC of calling humans and others with sexual tastes that aren't the norm to be labeled "elfish."
Gnomes: Somewhere between the elvish thirst for pleasure and the dwarvish rejection of it lay the gnomes. Though not particularly concerned with keeping strict monogamy or with having intercourse with anything that seems like it might be fun, gnomes have a sense that it is important to keep family unity, and that it is enjoyable, so there. I think gnomes as more structured around the family unit than most other races. When a gnome has a family, it is their responsibility to get another parent, and to raise them according to gnomish custom. Of course, after the kids are all grown up, the gnomes are free to go their own ways, without hard feelings. The only bitterness that erupts is when someone skimps while the kids still need a stable family. Then, entire communities of gnomes will gather to oust the charlatan. But, if you don't have a family, you're free to wander and do as you please. I think that some form of contraceptive is a gnome-bachelor's best friend.
Halflings: I could see halflings as basically polyandrous, perhaps similar to animals like elephants, where the family line is traced through the mother, and males exist on the outskirts, allowed in occasionally to reproduce, and then moved on when they reach of age or are finished raising the kid. The cycle probably repeats itself every few years, with men perhaps returning to the same women (or going to different women) year after year. There are probably male competitions to impress the ladies, in order to get chosen. All the husbands of a particular woman help raise the kids she gets, but she also has to do it, so fewer husbands = fewer kids = fewer funds drained. But I think halflings like big families, personally.
I mean, when your major deity is a variation on the mother-goddess, how can you *not* have a strong population of women? Orcs: Orcs are sort of the reverse of elves, IMHO and IMC, in that they are basically bisexual, but see it in a very different way. To an orc, intercourse = power, and so the more people who want it from you, the more power you have. Show off, show your might, triumph over the enemy, and be worthy of the idolization of others in the community. However, be careful, because if you pick someone who isn't actually impressed by you, not only will you be ridiculed (reducing your impressiveness), but they may choose *you* the next time around, to let you know just how weak you really are. If you are the choser, you have power over those who whish to be chosen, and the reason they want to be chosen is because they recognize your power. Orcs often participate in what other races may call a rape, in that they'll sometimes simply take the mate they want. However, in orcish society, this is, again, a sign of dominance over the mate...if they didn't want to be taken, they should be able to defend themselves. This creates an especially bad environment for women, because they have to either rely on themselves or on men they dominate to care for their young, and it's never safe to trust the men you dominate -- they may try to dominate your young. Fortuneately, there is a bit of a prohibition against this -- if you're a dominated man trying to take advantage of you're domineer's kid, you better bet that the domineer is going to come down on you like a ton of bricks.
Other Guy
First Post
Fun with Sexual Tendencies
Not a whole lot of constructive stuff here, but here's something that I once did which I had a little fun with. It's nothing bad, just sort of a short example of how, depending on your point of view, anything is possible
.
I once played an elf who got very offended when anyone ever connected elves with homosexuality. As he would say, elves have such low birth rates already -- the last thing they need is somebody that wastes their sexual energies on something that won't even produce children. He was, however, very open and supportive of homosexuals of other races, especially humans. After all, with all the constant breeding those creatures do anything that would prevent something from arising from it is quite welcome in his eyes.
Though I do view elves as having a more "life should be a pleasurable experience" sort of attitude I figured that a character like that might be fun for a session.
The groups I've played in have generally treated love and relationships (and pretty much everything else) with more of a joking attitude, but it's definitely nice to see how the real roleplayers handle these things.
Not a whole lot of constructive stuff here, but here's something that I once did which I had a little fun with. It's nothing bad, just sort of a short example of how, depending on your point of view, anything is possible
.I once played an elf who got very offended when anyone ever connected elves with homosexuality. As he would say, elves have such low birth rates already -- the last thing they need is somebody that wastes their sexual energies on something that won't even produce children. He was, however, very open and supportive of homosexuals of other races, especially humans. After all, with all the constant breeding those creatures do anything that would prevent something from arising from it is quite welcome in his eyes.
Though I do view elves as having a more "life should be a pleasurable experience" sort of attitude I figured that a character like that might be fun for a session.
The groups I've played in have generally treated love and relationships (and pretty much everything else) with more of a joking attitude, but it's definitely nice to see how the real roleplayers handle these things
.
Mordax_sighs
First Post
Hrm. Well, if it's okay to swap funny stories about this:
The only time I recall giving much thought to the sexual preference of a character, I was playing a summoner of demons. (GURPS, not D&D.) He was a Very Bad Man. Took anything he wanted.
He never touched a woman, because he'd had succubi - humans couldn't compete. Only trouble was, he wouldn't touch another succubus, 'cause of the whole "they eat life energy" thing - didn't want to risk permanent injury over a little action.
He drank rather a lot.
I think the only time it came up in actual play, another PC found a succubus hooker for a night, and my character almost resorted to violence to separate them. Don't think any of the other PCs figured out why he took it so personally.
The only time I recall giving much thought to the sexual preference of a character, I was playing a summoner of demons. (GURPS, not D&D.) He was a Very Bad Man. Took anything he wanted.
He never touched a woman, because he'd had succubi - humans couldn't compete. Only trouble was, he wouldn't touch another succubus, 'cause of the whole "they eat life energy" thing - didn't want to risk permanent injury over a little action.
He drank rather a lot.
I think the only time it came up in actual play, another PC found a succubus hooker for a night, and my character almost resorted to violence to separate them. Don't think any of the other PCs figured out why he took it so personally.
David Argall
First Post
misc points
The attitude towards sex will vary more within classes than between classes. [We might except the paladin, but that is because he is limited to one alignment. Compared to other LGs, he too likely should vary more between paladins than between classes.] In particular it will vary more between the sexes than between classes.
Game principles require that if you want her, she is going to say NO, at least until you go to way too much work. No matter how much you try to persuade her there is a much easier way to protect her from the virgin-eating dragon, she is going to insist you kill it. Then she will consider the idea.
You get the reward after you finish the adventure, not before.
Do not assume there is any form of birth control available in a game.
a-We are modeling societies that had distinctly limited abilities to limit birth, which means the default is that females can't easily prevent pregnancy.
b-As several female posters have complained, a number of male DMs are downright eager to knock up female PC.
c-Unplanned pregnancy has great story potential.
So there is a name for female PC who just assume there is birth control. They are called mothers.
"Estrus animals go into heat. When in heat the female feels an uncontrollable urge to mate and emits pheromones letting nearby males know this.
Menstrual animals are always in heat. They tend to develop complex social systems to control this; but unlike Estrus animals their females are nearly always in heat and 'emitting'.
I believe that in 'the real world' only humans, apes, and some other primates are Menstrual, with the rest of nature being Estrus."
This is no more than casually correct. Estrus females only sometimes emit pheromones. Those where the female seeks out the male, a frequent case, don't bother.
Properly speaking, there are no menstrual animals. The estrus cycle is reduced and not visible in some cases such as humans, but the interest in sex still varies over the cycle.
The relationship between always receptive females and complex social systems is speculative, but likely the reverse. The complex social system causes the female to be constantly receptive. [In many species the male kills children of other males. By having sex with several males, the female confuses paternity and thus may be able to protect her child.]
Most apes should not be classified as menstrual. The gorilla uses a system little different from the horse. The bonobo has a very visible extrus, but has sex all the time.
The attitude towards sex will vary more within classes than between classes. [We might except the paladin, but that is because he is limited to one alignment. Compared to other LGs, he too likely should vary more between paladins than between classes.] In particular it will vary more between the sexes than between classes.
Game principles require that if you want her, she is going to say NO, at least until you go to way too much work. No matter how much you try to persuade her there is a much easier way to protect her from the virgin-eating dragon, she is going to insist you kill it. Then she will consider the idea.
You get the reward after you finish the adventure, not before.
Do not assume there is any form of birth control available in a game.
a-We are modeling societies that had distinctly limited abilities to limit birth, which means the default is that females can't easily prevent pregnancy.
b-As several female posters have complained, a number of male DMs are downright eager to knock up female PC.
c-Unplanned pregnancy has great story potential.
So there is a name for female PC who just assume there is birth control. They are called mothers.
"Estrus animals go into heat. When in heat the female feels an uncontrollable urge to mate and emits pheromones letting nearby males know this.
Menstrual animals are always in heat. They tend to develop complex social systems to control this; but unlike Estrus animals their females are nearly always in heat and 'emitting'.
I believe that in 'the real world' only humans, apes, and some other primates are Menstrual, with the rest of nature being Estrus."
This is no more than casually correct. Estrus females only sometimes emit pheromones. Those where the female seeks out the male, a frequent case, don't bother.
Properly speaking, there are no menstrual animals. The estrus cycle is reduced and not visible in some cases such as humans, but the interest in sex still varies over the cycle.
The relationship between always receptive females and complex social systems is speculative, but likely the reverse. The complex social system causes the female to be constantly receptive. [In many species the male kills children of other males. By having sex with several males, the female confuses paternity and thus may be able to protect her child.]
Most apes should not be classified as menstrual. The gorilla uses a system little different from the horse. The bonobo has a very visible extrus, but has sex all the time.
Deedlit
First Post
Though I can't say this holds true for all of elvenkind, only the elves I have known(And I have known many, seeing as how being an elf, I was raised among elvenkind.), I have gathered the conclusion that elves are very passionate and loyal, and will not wait for marriage, but the idea of a one-night stand for an elf is crazy. Obviously, when elves mate, it rarely produces kids, but this is due to elves not wanting to overpopulate, not low fertility. Remember, Solostaran did not say whore, he said human whore.
