I suppose some amount of eroticism is okay, seeing as how we have a vinyl mat to protect our dining room table. Just be quick about it, and don't spill any drinks.:-)

And one small observation.

Having a prostitute in a game is not erotic". Especially if you've ever actually been approached by one. (Had that happen at GenCon walking to the hotel from the con.)

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;871576The single biggest reason there is a "Random Harlot Table" in the AD&D 1st Ed DMG is that Gary Gygax really liked Lankhmar.

Probably in the same vein as the single biggest reason there's fire-and-forget spells was probably that Gygax was a Jack Vance fan.  (shrugs)

Quote from: Omega;871648Having a prostitute in a game is not "erotic."

I think we can all agree that "erotic," in terms of this thread, is code for "of and pertaining to overt sexuality."

Quote from: Omega;871648And one small observation.

Having a prostitute in a game is not erotic". Especially if you've ever actually been approached by one. (Had that happen at GenCon walking to the hotel from the con.)

True that.

I'm not big on erotica in my games and I don't think caveat one failed vampire game I've every played with anyone who very much was.

Even the fact that one PC in my current E6 Pathfinder game grew up around prostitutes and was a brothel; guard is just a source for an off color joke no one else, in the group me included likes and a little drama.

I do see very  occasional "family" and "romance" and "girl/boy/thing friend" relationships but most players are there for the action and combat. YCMV of course

For myself  I don't think any of my characters even have romantic inclinations or sex drives to speak of. I'm not there to play some Lothario, I'm trying for Reacher or sometimes Jayne  or the like.

I applaud these two for their efforts to combine two...distinct styles of role playing.

Quote from: Omega;871648And one small observation.

Having a prostitute in a game is not erotic". Especially if you've ever actually been approached by one. (Had that happen at GenCon walking to the hotel from the con.)

Obviously, you are going to the wrong conventions to attract the appropriate prostitutes.

Quote from: Nexus;871694I applaud these two for their efforts to combine two...distinct styles of role playing.

Oi...Fred Perry's Gold Digger...

I used to read that comic religiously, but the entire thing was genre-savvy pop-culture references. That joke, made in that page there? That particular style of humor is funny as comic relief, but when it's the only kind of joke that the comic knows how to make, and makes it a lot - including interrupting the action/dramatic scenes to do - it very quickly gets old.

Throw in the fact that everything had to be uber-powered ("This explosion is going to take out half the universe if we don't stop it!" "This entire parallel dimension is actually a refugee-ship from before the Big Bang!" "Another universe is hurtling towards ours, and they'll both be destroyed by the collision!"), and I just couldn't bring myself to keep reading it.

There's a way to do high-epic material, and to my mind it's to build up to it over time, while establishing an internal consistency for the setting to explain how things can reach such heights. Moreover, it helps to take high-stakes at least somewhat seriously, if only to establish that what you're fighting for is worth the enormous effort that you're putting into it.

Reading Gold Digger was like reading about somebody's Monty Haul campaign where the characters all started at 20th level and got XP bonuses for making wisecracks.

Quote from: Alzrius;871793Oi...Fred Perry's Gold Digger...

I used to read that comic religiously, but the entire thing was genre-savvy pop-culture references. That joke, made in that page there? That particular style of humor is funny as comic relief, but when it's the only kind of joke that the comic knows how to make, and makes it a lot - including interrupting the action/dramatic scenes to do - it very quickly gets old.

Throw in the fact that everything had to be uber-powered ("This explosion is going to take out half the universe if we don't stop it!" "This entire parallel dimension is actually a refugee-ship from before the Big Bang!" "Another universe is hurtling towards ours, and they'll both be destroyed by the collision!"), and I just couldn't bring myself to keep reading it.

There's a way to do high-epic material, and to my mind it's to build up to it over time, while establishing an internal consistency for the setting to explain how things can reach such heights. Moreover, it helps to take high-stakes at least somewhat seriously, if only to establish that what you're fighting for is worth the enormous effort that you're putting into it.

Reading Gold Digger was like reading about somebody's Monty Haul campaign where the characters all started at 20th level and got XP bonuses for making wisecracks.

Okay... personally I really enjoy it. Just thought the picture was amusing and related to the topic at hand.

Quote from: Nexus;871798Just thought the picture was amusing and related to the topic at hand.

It was; however, that particular comic triggers me.

As such, even though there's no way you could have known that, and there's no particular reason for you to respect that, I still feel that you owe me an apology, and that everyone else on this board refrain from ever bringing up that comic again.

For great (social) justice!

Quote from: Alzrius;871814It was; however, that particular comic triggers me.

As such, even though there's no way you could have known that, and there's no particular reason for you to respect that, I still feel that you owe me an apology, and that everyone else on this board refrain from ever bringing up that comic again.

For great (social) justice!

Please don't use the word: Trigger. I find it problematic.

But seriously we all have our "things" that set off Nerd Rage.  I was just a bit blindsided. I admit a little puzzled by it too since it seems GD does much of what you described. Its a very long running series that started off at the low end and built up to its current levels. Its always struck as being like a long running rpg campaign more than anything else. It started out with two girls looking for artifacts to examine (and sell). The characters didn't start out that potent but have grown over their years of adventure. But have forged relationships, allies, discovered facets of the world and the things that are happening now tie into these things in a way I find pretty satisfying and consistent. It ties together.

 But taste is taste, YMMV, IMHO, letter salad, amen.

I suppose its kind of off topic though Gold Digger definitely incorporates eroticism into its setting, not too surprising given its origin. Some find it fun and sexy while others find it skeazy. The risk you run incorporating those elements so like with most things its important to know your group and have good communication.

Quote from: Alzrius;871814It was; however, that particular comic triggers me.

As such, even though there's no way you could have known that, and there's no particular reason for you to respect that, I still feel that you owe me an apology, and that everyone else on this board refrain from ever bringing up that comic again.

For great (social) justice!

You havent seen Fred's X rated comics then. :eek:

But yeah. Fred is alot like Phil Foglio. Except without that spark for scope or pacing Phil has.

Quote from: AsenRG;871635Sure, we could add it. But why does that matter to the discussion?

The reason it matters is because if we're playing the scene out, say, for the sake of information gathering, everyone on the table is clear that we're doing it for information gathering, not for the sake of perversion. I think that removes the eroticism from the experience at the player level. (At the character level, it's still an erotic encounter.)

I would disqualify "role play" as a qualifying purpose for reasons that would require a metaphysical discussion on free will vs determinism to spell out. The simple version is that there is no one correct way to role play the character. You could just as easily choose not make time with the harlot without breaking character. To the extent that we are role playing sentient, willed beings, role playing can never be a sole purpose. It's always coterminous with some other purpose. (Does that break GNS theory?)

Quote from: Lunamancer;871883The reason it matters is because if we're playing the scene out, say, for the sake of information gathering, everyone on the table is clear that we're doing it for information gathering, not for the sake of perversion. I think that removes the eroticism from the experience at the player level. (At the character level, it's still an erotic encounter.)

Because people can only do things for one reason so if they are seeking information there can't possibly be an erotic component to the scene, right? :rolleyes:

Also, eroticism and perversion have different meanings, they aren't synonyms. Switching from discussing eroticism in gaming to perversion is a major goal post switch.

Quote from: Lunamancer;871883The reason it matters is because if we're playing the scene out, say, for the sake of information gathering, everyone on the table is clear that we're doing it for information gathering, not for the sake of perversion.

First, what Bren said, both on account of switching non sinonimous words, and on account of scenes not having a purpose. That's an indie narrativist idea I never quite adopted.
To me, scenes have opportunities, not goals. Characters might be more interested in some of those goals, but unless we're playing a narrativist game with conflict resolution, no guarantee said opportunities would even get a roll.

QuoteI think that removes the eroticism from the experience at the player level.

It might remove it or it might not.

Quote(At the character level, it's still an erotic encounter.)

Yes, though characters can have multiple goals as well.

QuoteI would disqualify "role play" as a qualifying purpose for reasons that would require a metaphysical discussion on free will vs determinism to spell out.

Fair warning: I've had this discussion and always found myself on the other side.

QuoteThe simple version is that there is no one correct way to role play the character. You could just as easily choose not make time with the harlot without breaking character. To the extent that we are role playing sentient, willed beings, role playing can never be a sole purpose.

Some schools of thought about roleplaying would totally disagree.

QuoteIt's always coterminous with some other purpose. (Does that break GNS theory?)

No, it's part of the premise of narrativist theory, so no, it actually is trying to confirm the parts that I disagree with.

Quote from: Bren;871923Because people can only do things for one reason so if they are seeking information there can't possibly be an erotic component to the scene, right? :rolleyes:

Also, eroticism and perversion have different meanings, they aren't synonyms. Switching from discussing eroticism in gaming to perversion is a major goal post switch.

Bren's post I was referring to.

Quote from: Bren;871923Because people can only do things for one reason so if they are seeking information there can't possibly be an erotic component to the scene, right? :rolleyes:

Also, eroticism and perversion have different meanings, they aren't synonyms. Switching from discussing eroticism in gaming to perversion is a major goal post switch.

Remember, kinky is using a feather.  Perverted is using the whole chicken.

JG