Quote from: islan;302420Just a question: how would a mature game not end in flames in our age of moral ambiguity

QuoteAs opposed to Adult / 18+ / XXX / NC17 / Cinemax After Dark. In other words, as preferred by the OP.

OK - I'm the OP. in answer to your question - very easily, all the time. I have *never* had such a game end up in anything like flames. Maybe the ultimate answer is that my group is not morally ambiguous. They're just good kids.

-clash

Quote from: islan;302412Just a question: how would a mature game not end in flames in our age of moral ambiguity, unless the group is private and on the same page on the subject?

Well, you would definitely need mature people, and many of the contentious issues in our age are usually discussed immaturely in public. The entire politics of resentment and moral outrage are like that - an appeal to primal urges and childish temper tantrums. In many companies of supposed adults, you would still get a juvenile result, because this is how the world we live in is built up. It is not even a gamer-specific issue; wander across to your local pub and start discussing politics with strangers. Yeah.

I do love a good moral or ethical dilemma, though - such as coming across a basically dehumanising civilisation the locals take for granted (if unpleasant), living in a millieu where things alien or distasteful to the modern mindset (e.g. slavery or drug use) are commonplace, or considering the limits you as a game world actor can actually change your environment - and whether your actions would change it for the better or the worse. Much of my current campaign has focused on this latter issue - do your actions as adventurers have an inherent meaning or purpose? Is good something that can be defined and then applied to the situation of others, or does it have to be invented by every person for him- or herself? And what about those who don't have similar aspirations, and are content with a life that, by IRL standards, is not worth living? And how does Detect Evil/Good figure into all this, since it does detect something?

That's the good stuff. Or so I think.

Adding to thise, a good game that covers Social Science Fiction (science ficiton in which "mature" topics are dealt with) is Shock.  

It is a game where you do nothing but deal with these issues.

http://www.glyphpress.com/shock/

I like and dislike the game.  THe game itself is not nearly as interesting or easy to use as the examples of its play you might see on the web, yet the concept is intriguing.    I want to try in a couple more times.