swearing

[Psion]

"Modern" swear words come across as modern slang, and therefore would ruin the mood for me of this being a fantasy setting removed from the modern world we know (and love.) That said, I do like to come up with all-new swear words, often bsed on ingame religion and the like.

Yup, precisely. Just like we yanks don't seem to appreciate that to the brits, "bloody" is strong language, there is no reason to assume that something that is taken as course language in our world would be considered so in the game world. So I do make expressions in my world that are considered coarse. For example, "Frey's Daughters!" is an expression used by less reverent members of the Aborian culture.

 

[DaveMage]

There is no swearing at all in the games that I play in. Not because were opposed to swearing - but, as Joshua said, because it would ruin the atmosphere we've created.

 

[Rip]

Re: Re: swearing

W-word? You're messing with us, right?

A mild-mannered bookkeeper is a lot less likely to swear than a grizzled sergeant.

Exactly, right now it is being played out as unruly type soldiers, cursing during battles or just being aggressive.

I'm assuming most here are tabletop players as opposed to online message board games? I'll admit this question would have never came up, because I wouldn't feel right swearing during the game either!
But it is fitting pretty good in text and since it is a world I created, players can except it more then having the feeling of it not creating the proper mood.
Most players in my game are also involved in several other message board games, from straight laced 3E mod games, to KOK storylines etc, so I feel with them playing mine is a different edge for them compared to the professional stuff.

 

[Voadam]

My viking background PC uses oaths a bunch, including "Odin's missing eye!" "Tyr's severed hand!" "Loki's envious heart!" and "Freyja's bountiful bosom!"

Keep em short, they are easier to utter and have more impact. The form: figure, adjective, noun works well and feels best when tied to a mythological story, or mythological figure's attributes. Have a couple (or one) prepared before hand so you can just roll em out as normal speech when appropriate.

They helped people immerse in the game because they felt right.

 

[Teflon Billy]

My group swears like sailors, both in character and out.

I barely notice it any more. It tends to "roll off the tongue" a little easier and moe realistically than "Creation's Blight", "By the Hammer of Moaradin" and suchlike.

Plus, those aren't really profanity to my mind; they are more akin to a North American English speaker saying something like "Saint's preserve us!" or something.

 

[Voadam]

Re: Re: swearing

W-word? You're messing with us, right?

Daniel

Daniel it took me a little to figure out what he might be referencing but I think it is along the lines of "I spend my gold on ale and wh***s"

My first thought was "some people consider "wicked" a swear?"

 

[Mercule]

Well, when my daughters are around, there's a strict "no foul language" rule.

Otherwise, we don't worry too much about it. Actually, I think most cussing/cursing is done OOC. Personally, I consider cussing to be little more than rude and casual, but I don't curse (religious connotations) or swear out of character or in character.

Personally, I've always wanted to see a group use colorful curses ("Pelor's shiny nipples!" and the like), but no group I've DMed for (my most common role) has really gotten into it. I'd do it, but my last couple of characters have been a bit prudish and refined.

 

[Orias]

My group & I have a pretty laid-back, yet role playing heavy setting. That sometimes we don't have the knowledge of what an actual curse would be in the cultural or racial vernacular used by a character, sometimes we end up using curse words.

 

[Pielorinho]

Re: Re: Re: swearing

Daniel it took me a little to figure out what he might be referencing but I think it is along the lines of "I spend my gold on ale and wh***s"

Thought of that; also weewee, wanker, willy, and psycho whose beast. Are any of those worthy of being called the w-word?

Daniel

 

[Moulin Rogue]

I just like the ring of "Nine Hells" substituted for the way "hell" is normally used. "How/Who/Where/What in the Nine Hells..."