'Getting it on' or Sex in Role-playing

A while ago. '94 or '95, round about there, White Wolf did an article about sex in role playing, correctly pointing out that, unless something is wrong with an individual, everyone at one time or another has had, thought about, dreamed about and/or fanaticized about sex. Sex. Simply put, is an integral part of what it means to be human. We as humans use it to express a whole multitude of emotions from the sweetest, most tender love, to the primal desire for what we find attractive, to rage and eventually power over another and all things in between good and bad.

When players try to RP well they should be trying to bring a wealth of emotions to the table. With most mundane things, it gets glossed over. Considering things like hygiene, players generally assume their pc has an acceptable level of personal hygiene unless it is part of the character not to; just like in real life there are people who you would swear don't know what a bar of soap is, or what a razor does, for that matter. However, most people just assume every pc knows what the three" S'" are Sex, Shower and Shave. How does this apply to sex, you might ask? Just as much people gloss over the three "S'", most players just assume their PC gets a regular amount of sex whether they have a "girlfriend," or a fixer who knows a hooker. However, it should be known most things shouldn't be assumed. While it is not necessary to RP taking a shower, would it be a whacked out thing if a player said something like, "You know, I'm feeling sluggish today. How much for a bottle of Fiber-Con?"

Role playing an intimate relationship can be one of the most satisfying experiences and at the same time, one of the most embarrassing and terrifying. I mean, come on, unless the role player is your significant other, or someone of your preferred gender, whose "door swings the same way," it's a little difficult to sit there and look into the other person's eyes, be he/she a fellow roleplayer or gamemaster, and try to imagine love, let alone lovemaking.

From this, one must ask how best to deal with this touchy subject. The best way is with group consent to make sure somebody doesn't feel uncomfortable with tact and maturity. However, both you and I know that teenagers are going to act as such. But, unless they start acting out the movie "Kids," (If you want porno go rent a real one; at least you know the script before hand.) they should be all right. Now if you don't know what I'm talking about you're lucky, and skip the movie unless you want to be sickened. Everybody associated with that quasi-kiddie porn should be drug out into the streets and shot in the back of the skull. When I say "Everybody," I mean the producers, the writers, the director, actors all the way down to the guy who looked into the shot on Tuesday. O.K., I'm done. Back on track all juveniles will act like juveniles and eventually grow out of it; assuming they grow up. Now for the adults here, if we act like a bunch of juveniles, check to make sure nobody is offended, and, if not, feel free to knock yourself out. But, you're denying yourself a chance to do some real RP.

When RP'ing sex, you have to ask yourself, "Are you just having sex, or, are you making love?" With sex, it's easy; you and your partner do the nasty. However, if you are making love, it's a different matter altogether. The emotions are more vivid and deep. Hot and soft in a crazy amalgamation, ending in euphoric security. How does one even begin to describe that? With taste it should go something like this: "You and your partner tentatively touch one another with anticipation at first caressing, becoming more intense. Your eyes lock and know that the next few moments will be filled with the tenderness of love. What was forgotten in day to day life is remembered with white-hot intensity and at the same time the outside fades away. Now that is classy and has taste; nothing like thrusting your purple warrior into her quenching femininity or such nonsense. That is about it.

*Authors note: You'll notice the lack of mentioning STD's. You shouldn't make people worry about dying. After all, it's 2050 plus. So, unless you're stupid, don't worry about it, the worst thing that can happen in 2050 plus is pregnancy and VITAS. One is fixed with the goodies from Shadowtech and the other, well, just ask Bull. :)

Nightlife - 2nd January 2001