What are practical uses for Erotic Art?

[Ubiquitous]

1. Passing time
2. Hiding things
3. Makes for fun betting games

There, that's a few.

No really though; I'm looking to make a character who's all shady-seductress except when being a ninja (so original, someone get my award), but it seems like Sex Appeal is a better investment since Erotic Art seems so cut-and-dry. You can't make money off it (since most practitioners have hourly rates pre-done, thus MOS becomes irrelevant), impressing people with it would lead to prime Ninja'ing time (night...usually) being taken up (not if you're really good I guess), and I doubt it makes for good interrogative technique (results here may vary).

Anyway, Sex Appeal has distraction value for subterfuge and at the very least could impromptu-substitute a Panhandling rule.

Would Erotic Art be a good investment or should I just whip a point in it for Fluff' sake and be done?

[Maz]

For anyone working the streets, Sex Appeal get you customers. Erotics art (might) bring them back. Although things like Acting and Diplomacy is probably more important in bringing back customers.

If your a model (most likely nude) Erotic art might get you better shots, so more money.

[Ubiquitous]

Originally Posted by Maz

For anyone working the streets, Sex Appeal get you customers. Erotics art (might) bring them back. Although things like Acting and Diplomacy is probably more important in bringing back customers.

If your a model (most likely nude) Erotic art might get you better shots, so more money.

But then my ninja'd have to model and have her face well-known. Das bat.

[sir_pudding]

Margin of success might help Ritual Magic skill for many traditions in a manner analogous to Symbol Drawing. As an Average skill it's too easy for a core skill, but it might cap the core skill. It could be a prerequisite for some magical Books if using that system (hmmm that gives me an idea...).

[Phil Masters]

successful use on another character probably ought to give you bonuses to Influence skills (and mind control magic) against that same character for some time afterwards.

Getting mildly cinematic about it, you could probably use it to inflict penalties to all the subject's skill and attribute rolls for a day or two. Or even bonuses (self-confidence is a wonderful thing).

[Keiichi]

Wow, and i always thought erotic art was merely an extension of the birds and bees thing...

[Phil Masters]

Originally Posted by Keiichi

Wow, and i always thought erotic art was merely an extension of the birds and bees thing...

Any routine human activity can be extended, used, misused, and if necessary distorted into the basis of a magic system.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

Any routine human activity can be extended, used, misused, and if necessary distorted into the basis of a magic system.

E.g sex magick and tantric sex.

[panton41]

(Given the title and nature of the thread, and the assumption we're all grown ups I'm going to be a bit blunt in places.)

I've always been under the impression that Erotic Arts isn't as much "the sex skill" as the "specially trained courtesan" skill since the text read "advanced sexual technique". I recall Kromm stating once that even most "ordinary people" porn stars (who probably have more than 200 hours of "training") probably don't even have one point in it. Which raises the question if they don't, who does?

I've assumed the modern day people who have it might be a professional lifestyle Dominator/Dominatrix who often take a much more scientific view to sexuality than just "bumping uglies". Sexologists likely have the skill for all practical purposes, though IQ based. Tantric sex practitioners. Probably more than a few Neopagans. And, most likely, "veteran" porn stars who's done the job a long time. (And consider that many top-billing actors/actresses often retire after only a few years.)

I've had the question of what the middle ground is. I mean there's Sex Appeal for flirting and Erotic Arts for "advanced sexual technique" but what if you just want to know if your partner had a good time? I imagine the Erotic Arts skill might actually frighten off less worldly partners.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by ciaran_skye

I've had the question of what the middle ground is. I mean there's Sex Appeal for flirting and Erotic Arts for "advanced sexual technique" but what if you just want to know if your partner had a good time? I imagine the Erotic Arts skill might actually frighten off less worldly partners.

I've generally rolled against Sex Appeal or default Erotic Art, if nobody critically fails, everybody had fun. An ordinary reaction roll could work too, though humans are hard wired for this to be fun, if you are trying in the first place, you have to mess up pretty badly to get a result worse than neutral.