IC profanity is fine. Some characters swear some don't.

Quote from: GameDaddy;465103It's just a distraction, that's all. For the most part it takes away the focus on more important things, like roleplaying, and ... creative thinking and problem solving.

It might actually enhance teamwork, if all the players swear together or in a colorful manner, but how many situations actually exist, even in a fantasy world, that would warrant such an emo outburst?

Depends on your setting. Criminals, soldiers, cops and gangsters swear all the time. Most average people stick in the occasional profanity. Only the really posh or religious don't swear at all.

I don't mind swearing as long as it isn't hostile. Some games I expect some swearing in character. In game books I don't mind it if it fits the concept of the game. If it is there just to be shocking or edgy it's kind of like listening to you dad rap.

Quote from: Soylent Green;464966A just for the sake of comparison, the sheer amount profanity didn't affect my enjoyment of The Wire or the Sopranos in the least. It does bug me a bit in Game of Thrones as, no matter they try to dress it up as adult drama, it's still about dragons and zombie and a lot of kids would actually enjoy it given half a chance.

Count me in for another vote of "seriously?"  

GoT is basically a political thriller about everyone trying to violently murder / sleep with everyone else while complaining about their lousy childhoods.  How exactly does that scream "made for kids"?

Dramas aren't the only genre of entertainment for adults, you know.  Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Comedy, Action - they can all be made for adults.  Being in a specific genre doesn't automatically make something only for adolescents and children.

Quote from: jgants;465145Count me in for another vote of "seriously?"  

GoT is basically a political thriller about everyone trying to violently murder / sleep with everyone else while complaining about their lousy childhoods.  How exactly does that scream "made for kids"?

Dramas aren't the only genre of entertainment for adults, you know.  Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Comedy, Action - they can all be made for adults.  Being in a specific genre doesn't automatically make something only for adolescents and children.

People seem to forget sometimes that sex and violence have always been woven into the human condition as a whole throughout all of history. For some reason it's common to view either as a part of a cosmetic layer that by default does not belong in a work.

Quote from: jgants;465145Dramas aren't the only genre of entertainment for adults, you know.  Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Comedy, Action - they can all be made for adults.  Being in a specific genre doesn't automatically make something only for adolescents and children.

I concur. Any genre can be "adult". The reflex to say "hey it's got dragons, it's for kids" is lame and shallow.

As for swearing in a game book, it all depends on the game. It can be part of the feel of the game (I'm thinking Cyberpunk games, In Nomine Satanis/Magna Veritas, here). After, nobody's forcing anyone to play this or that game because there'd be a "fuck" here and there.

So, if it fits, thematically, I'm okay with it. If it doesn't fit well... it doesn't fit and that's that.

As for IC dialog at a game table, that totally depends on the characters' personalities, habits and whatnot. OOC, it'll depend on the players, their personalities, habits, whatnot. I tend to swear like a sailor, personally, but I can hold my tongue.

I think it's about context. I couldn't imagine a Deadwood RPG without huge amounts of epic swearing, for example. And I have absolutely no problem with swearing in real life. But for the most part I don't think it really belongs in a game text, it's just unprofessional looking.

You should either have loads of swearing (because it's justified by the genre/setting) or none (because it isn't).

Can't wait to get on to my Spin Doctor RPG.

Swearing will be a Stat!

Quote from: Ian Warner;465167Can't wait to get on to my Spin Doctor RPG.

Swearing will be a Stat!

Heh. What are the other stats? Toadying, Shift Blame, and Improvise Legislation?

Shameless self-promotion.

Back in 1989, Shadowrun 1E had special fake future-swear words that it used exclusively instead of real swear words. SR4 in 2005 used the real ones. That's pretty common. The 80s were prudish and people lived in fear of Tom Hanks. In the 21st century, we say Fuck.

-Frank

Since you ask

Swearing
Intrigue
Weird Logic
Sensitivity
Wit
Bollocks

Quote from: FrankTrollman;465172Back in 1989, Shadowrun 1E had special fake future-swear words that it used exclusively instead of real swear words. SR4 in 2005 used the real ones. That's pretty common. The 80s were prudish and people lived in fear of Tom Hanks. In the 21st century, we say Fuck.

-Frank

I find that a bit weird, because I've always thought of Shadowrun, like Rifts and D&D, as one of those games that appeals to a significant amount of younger gamers. (I'm not saying that only kids play them or anything, BTW! Just that they have additional appeal in that market that other games might not)

Quote from: jgants;465145Count me in for another vote of "seriously?"  

GoT is basically a political thriller about everyone trying to violently murder / sleep with everyone else while complaining about their lousy childhoods.  How exactly does that scream "made for kids"?

Dramas aren't the only genre of entertainment for adults, you know.  Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Comedy, Action - they can all be made for adults.  Being in a specific genre doesn't automatically make something only for adolescents and children.

Here is the way I see it. Take George R R Martin's "Windhaven". It's scf-fi book full of intrigue and politics. Even though the issues are imaginary and set of a fantastical world, it still made you think. The issues weren't just clashes of personalities, they had enough substance that you could see the different arguments and draw parallels to real world issues. It's a very good book; it's entertaining but it also has something to say.

Martin's "Game of Thrones" however is a much about politics as Dallas was about the oil business.  It captures the trappings and atmosphere of politics, but there is no context, no issues beyond personalities and nothing to take away from it. It's beautifully executed soap opera.

But that's not all bad. Dune, which I really enjoyed and highly rate, is very much in the same mould.  The point I'm getting at is the filmed versions of Dune (and in my mind the TV mini series is the better one) can pull off the whole deep intrigue feel without needing profanity and graphic nudity thus making in it accessible to both adults and younger viewers.

Profanity in RPG books, unless illustrating an actual play and/or emulating genre, highlights 3 things.

1. The author isn't a very good writer.

2. The author isn't a very good RPG writer.

3. Shock tactics are all the author has.

Explicit obcenity pretty much shows the same 3 things, but without the qualifier.