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Old 01-08-2020, 07:58 AM   #1
Polydamas
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
Default Alternatives to Lecherousness

So we have been talking about how the wording of Lecherousness leans towards one particularly gross approach and other disadvantages can be better for representing some famous oversexed characters. Someone with the Basic Set's Lecherousness keeps making passes on a significant fraction of the people he or she meets, and continues even if rejected ("If someone turns you down very firmly (e.g., a black eye, or an arrest for sexual harassment) the GM may give you a bonus to future self-control rolls regarding that individual . . ."). Does the following trait sound like it fits SJG's house style and avoids the issues with the wording of Lecherousness?

Compulsive Seduction [-10*]
Quote:
You are always looking for new lovers. When someone strikes your fancy, you set out to make your interest known, using all the skills and wiles at your disposal. Depending on the situation, this might be a blunt invitation or a delicate campaign of seduction, but you escalate your advances until you get what you want or are firmly and unambiguously rejected. If they refuse, you move on; if they accept, after days to months a period proportionate to the initial courtship your eyes will start to wander again. If you have not met anyone appealing for some time you may widen your standards of attractiveness! You are not normally deterred by possible consequences, except when your advances on one person could hurt your chances with another, and often pursue people with possessive families or partners or who could help or harm your current adventure. Make a self-control roll, at -5 if the object of your affections is Handsome/Beautiful and -10 for Very Handsome/Beautiful, to avoid pursuing a specific appealing person.
This is aimed at characters like Harry P. Flashman who don't obsessively harass the wait staff at their favourite restaurant but do keep making advances at people who pass through their lives.

Compulsive Sexual Activity [-5 or -10 points*] Pyramid #3-06 p. 6 represents people like Bruno's friend who constantly seek sex but not necessarily new partners.

Odious Personal Habit (Groping or Catcalling) If you can't go through a public space without putting your hands on someone but can resist specific people with power to hurt you (eg. a police officer or your boss), that is typically a split reaction penalty eg. -3 vs. the gender you are interested in, -1 to all other people for a base [-10 points]
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Last edited by Polydamas; 01-19-2023 at 03:55 PM.
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