[YA BoEF thread] Usefulness of BoEF in your campaign?

[buzz]

Leaving moral judgements aside for the moment...

Now that Valar Project has seemingly switched from pushing the book as shock porn and suggesting images of Liv Tyler nude to stating that it will be a serious treatment of sexuality (inlusive of issues such as childbirth and marriage)* in RPG terms, who here thinks that the book will be of use in their campaign?

In the forums over at the Valar site, I saw a few posts making statements like, "I have a PC in my campaign who was raped by a prison guard; this book will be great for helping work out the repercussions of that" and so on.

Now, the DMs I know (myself included) don't seem to make a habit out of having NPCs rape PCs, much make any refernce at all to a PC's sexual life beyond the occasional puerile joking. My reaction to the BoEF is much like my reaction to a (very good) article on homosexuality in gaming I read over on RPG.net, i.e., this is all well and good, but what kinds of campaigns are people playing in which these subjects even come up?

In over 20 years of gaming, even in a campaign such as my current HERO game which invovles my PC's ex-wife and DNPC son, I simply have never had any serious need for a rules treatment of these sorts of subjects. Even if they do come up, they're "off camera" or simply plot elements that don't need to be handled with dice.

But, not everybody plays the way my groups do, I suppose.


*Which I think was pretty deliberate; I don't buy that it was due to Valterra's supposed inexperience writing PR copy. But that's another thread...

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

my PC's ex-wife and DNPC son,

What's "DNPC" mean? "Dead NPC?" "Does Not Produce Chicken?"

Anyway, I think there's a fourth option, which I would have chosen: No, I don't plan on using it, but it might be nice to have if such subjects come up in game. Note, I said might--depend on the quality of the book.

 

[Carnifex]

Re: Re: [YA BoEF thread] Usefulness of BoEF in your campaign?

What's "DNPC" mean? "Dead NPC?" "Does Not Produce Chicken?"

IIRC, DNPC means Dependant NPC - someone who is depends on the PC character for whatever reason. Children, significant others, etc.

And sometimes they do end up as Dead NPC's too if you have an evil DM

 

[dren]

Sex, while not graphicly described, is common place in my campaigns especially when encountering the hedonistic fey (satyr and nymph in particular.)

With this being said, I have no intention of buying or using the rules in this book.

 

[Azul]

In over 20 years of gaming, even in a campaign such as my current HERO game which invovles my PC's ex-wife and DNPC son, I simply have never had any serious need for a rules treatment of these sorts of subjects. Even if they do come up, they're "off camera" or simply plot elements that don't need to be handled with dice.

Well, personally, I could care less about having lots of rules to deal with this stuff. Seems like people only buy supplements for extra rules these days. What I'd like to see is lots of advice on tastefully dealing with various sexual topics... not so heavy on the "crunchy bits" but rather full of non-crunchy food for thought. This book is a perfect place for including info on half-breeds, including not just rules on half-breeds, but also an extensive discussion of how they come about (are all half-orcs the products of orc males raping female humans... seems pretty unlikely to me...). What would result in someone being attracted to another humanoid race, how difficult is it to overcome societal limits to the point of having a sexual relationship with someone not of your race? I see plenty of parallels to modern day issues surrounding fetishists (on one hand) and mixed ethnicity couples (on the other hand). Parallels can be drawn to both. Is a human who likes elven women seen as perverse, lucky, or socially rebellious?

Discussions of how different cultures view sexual deviation could be very useful in discussing plot issues. I can imagine elves not caring about homosexuality but being shocked by S&M (well, except the drow I suppose). But what do halflings and gnomes think of such things? It sounds frivolous until you think about just how many "black sheep" seem to exist in PC and campaign backgrounds. In real life, how many of these "black sheep" are so because they have lifestyles their families disapprove of. Also, think of how amusing and humourous a flamboyantly gay dwarven bard would be as an NPC (or PC for that matter).

The inclusion of rules for sexually related magic makes enchanters and other more subtle spellcasters more intreguing. Just how is the king's new concubine keeping such a strong hold on him? Perhaps she is using something more advanced and more difficult to detect than a simple charm person spell? Perhaps the king is literally addicted to her?

I have no idea if BoEF will be well done or not, but I am definitely curious to see if it does address the topic well. Puritanically avoiding mentioning sexuality may make the game safe for kids, but it leaves it feeling rather sterile for those of us who play with entirely adult groups (not that unusual these days).

 

[Truth Seeker]

The Need of the S-E-X Manual.

Here is my two bits and a dime.

After much consideration, a lot of it. I have concluded....that what is offered as adult content, does not serve the whole communtiy of roleplayers.

Ages young to old.

Second, I have found it insulting that this can help a 'sexual' situation by stating a few guidelines on how to deal with it.

My insight and flexible play is my answer to the book, Sorry Anythony.....I myself don't need a 'guide'.....I have something better that.....experience is my teacher.

But for curiousity sake, I will buy it, look, go "oh!".....then put it in my storage box.

So, if I wrong on this, pleasssee correct me, but most of the current material out does serve the WHOLE gaming community, well maybe except for BoVD......but then again, I read some stuff, and it made my skin crawl. Nothing crazy. And not serving a certain niche.(A specifc auidence)

Bring it October, it is in my box NOvember. And maybe some adult friend get it in December.

 

[fba827]

First off -- I really know little of the book or its intention beyond what has been floating around as rumor and such.

Having said that, having seen the number of people who *look* at (let alone use) the Adult Carnal Knowledge thread (or previous 2e incarnations) seems to be an indicator that some folks would like such info ...

It doesn't come up in my games for many of the reasons already stated -- they're topics that pretty much remain "off screen" and some of the topics (rape, etc) are things that some of my friends are senesitive to so it's avoided altogether.

I guess whatever floats your boat though. For those who would like it, I'd imagine they appreciate the fact that it is written up to give them good guildines. For those who aren't interested they simply don't need to purchase/support the book.

is there really much need for discussion beyond that? I don't mean to sound critical or condescending.. really, I don't... just rambling out loud.

carry on.

 

[PowerWordDumb]

Can't currently foresee a use, but...

While I have absolutely no interest in introducing the sexual aspects into my games (not from any sort of disapproving moral stance, it just doesn't fit into my perception of the game), some tidbits I have read here and there have led me to believe there *may* be some very small portion which may be of interest.

I'm completely uninterested in naked heaving elven bosoms or any of the other 'fantasy porn' aspects, but rules about effects of spellcasting during pregnancy (both upon the mother and the child), other forms of magical systems drawn from tantric practices... some of that begins to offer hints of possible inspiration. Just like the BoVD, I may not like all the content, but the more pigments you have on your palette, the more interesting art you can create.

But as far as rolling dice to determine arousal? Give me a break. If I wanted something that puerile, I'd be reading the G.U.C.K. threads instead.

 

[Angcuru]

If it's anything like the GUCK as in pregnancy factors, in terms of spells and possible complications, it'd be very useful. It may not be useful in all campaigns, but every now and then something comes up where you wish "DAMN I wish I had rules for this situation." One rule from the GUCK that could be useful for all female PC's is the so-called b*tch rule. I.E. roll 1d6 to see if you're hormones are acting up! Imagine an epic Sorcerer waking up one day and burninating the countryside 'cause she's having her period.

 

[Wormwood]

Actually, it will serve a useful purpose at our gaming table.

If anyone suggests using it, I'll know we have to watch him verrry carefully from now on.