Which sorts of characters are you willing / unwilling to play and why?

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by ClayDowling

It might be a swell idea to do two things:

1. Limit the conversation in this thread to things in this thread. The big dust up seems to be over something not present in this thread.

It was in the thread when I posted. Vicky moved the post.

2. Remember that there are some members of this particular board who are not neuro-typical, and understand that they are going to have problems in areas related to empathy and socially normative behavior. Please try to make allowances.

Allowances for autism? Sure. Allowances for trivializing rape? Never.

[Keiko]

Originally Posted by ClayDowling

It might be a swell idea to do two things:

1. Limit the conversation in this thread to things in this thread. The big dust up seems to be over something not present in this thread.

True and I apologize for that. I just really react poorly to situations like this. I'll leave the thread and let it get back on track

2. Remember that there are some members of this particular board who are not neuro-typical, and understand that they are going to have problems in areas related to empathy and socially normative behavior. Please try to make allowances.

I can understand that as well but I do think its partially the responsible of people with such issues to understand they have them and moderate their actions to some degree, at least meet people halfway. Most I've dealt with in real life at least try.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Keiko

You really seem to lack the ability to grasp concepts like "humor" and "joke" or the difference between fiction and reality. That's unfortunate but it doesn't offend me.

My sense of humor was shot off in the war. Maybe you should make an "allowance".

What offended me is you labeling a real person a very insulting thing (and by implication me as well since I felt much the same way).

I never labeled anybody anything. I said that if you think that what algonauts would go through if they existed is "kinky sex" then you might be a sociopath. I never said that anybody here was a sociopath.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by ClayDowling

It might be a swell idea to do two things:

1. Limit the conversation in this thread to things in this thread. The big dust up seems to be over something not present in this thread.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

It was in the thread when I posted. Vicky moved the post.

This thread got started due to the tangent that is linked to in the OP. It's more appropriate here than there, since it's still about what people are willing/unwilling to play (or tolerate).

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Keiko

I don't have a problem with fictional racism. I don't play violently racist PCs because I like to immerse and identify with my PC as much as I can and getting deeply into the mindset of that sort of character does make me uncomfortable. But playing in settings that have it or running NPCs that feel that way is no problem. I've even had PCs with some racist (and sexist or other "ism" attitude) to a lesser degree than violent, "they" are worth nothing/the only good one is a dead one level.

The one and only time I was supposed to play a significantly sexist character, I failed miserably. As in, nobody even noticed. I suppose I do have slight sexist bits IRL (I suspect most people have, even those who won't admit it to themselves), but can't manage to ramp it up even to a Quirk. (It was a Zardoz LARP.)

Interestingly, the fact that my current character is Broad-Minded is largely an outcome of the concept discussion on this very forum. He could be Chauvinistic, but IMO it would've made him a hypocrite.

Originally Posted by Keiko

I'm not thrilled by the idea of needless suffering myself. But I also attacking someone based on a low key comment (which was more poking fun at a person over an in-joke tangentially related to the topic at hand) by calling them something as dangerous and vile as a sociopath is a big over reaction.
If someone plays a racist in a rpg I'm not going to accuse them of real life racism without something more to go on.

You bring up an interesting, second firewall. Usually people draw firewalls between the player and a character, but you point at the less-often-mentioned between a player's speech (e.g. posts on this forum) and the same person's internal state.

Originally Posted by Keiko

And again, its fiction, not real. Algonauts and their ilk are a godawful idea (in a credible provocative and entertaining way that makes for good plots) and would be horrible if they existed but they don't (and possibly can't) so I feel there's allot more leeway in reacting to their fictional condition. But I don't like getting smeared because of something that seems so utterly trivial.

I must admit that I Sir_Pudding and I have such strong feelings about them, then the authors did a great job making their fiction affect their audience.

Originally Posted by Keiko

Particularly in a hobby where things like the deliberate and methodical assult and killing of thinking beings, theft, grave robbery and desecration and numerous other acts that would be criminal at best and atrocity at worst are fantasized about for fun. The ability to see the difference between fiction and reality seems critical.

Eh, actually it's been a long while since I played anything resembling a dungeon crawl of that sort. I think the most evil character I played as of late was a thief with Pacifism (Cannot Kill). Before that, there were vampire hunters with grey-and-gray morality.

Originally Posted by Keiko

It wasn't an accusation. It was a joke. I really didn't get a vibe that it was meant to be "plausible" in any sense.

Well, yeah, we know it was a joking accusation. But the context gave it a subtle implication that a submissa bioroid isn't kinky at all.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

I must admit that I Sir_Pudding and I have such strong feelings about them, then the authors did a great job making their fiction affect their audience.

Yes, it certainly is effective horror. I'm still amazed that more people seem to squick at "Sentient Snacks" which being just edible bioshells with NAIs pretending to be eaten aren't nearly as bad, IMO.

[RogerBW]

I like to play SAIs, though the huge point cost of the templates tends to mean that you end up either stuck in a very naff body or doing everything remotely. I went for the former in the TS campaign I've played in, and ended up playing up the template advantages because that was where most of my points had gone.

The characterisation I chose was based loosely on my poor understanding of Buddhist thought: Vajra is not sure what form transcendent thought may take, but is trying to abandon physical possessions and feels that not having a flashy body is a good start.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Keiko

True and I apologize for that. I just really react poorly to situations like this. I'll leave the thread and let it get back on track

No need to apologize. The thread was inspired by this very topic in the bio-tech thread. I just directed the OP at the less heated side of the question, that's all.

And now I'll reply to the less heated side of it.

Originally Posted by Owen Smith

In the original thread context, I'm not sure I'd be willing to play an SAI. In a campaign where all characters were SAIs I'd give it a go, but given a wider choice I don't think I'd ever pick an SAI. I can't really enumerate why, except that I feel they should be a bit more not human than they're usually played and I know I can't do that. I'm not sure I'm explaining myself very well here.

Originally Posted by RogerBW

I like to play SAIs, though the huge point cost of the templates tends to mean that you end up either stuck in a very naff body or doing everything remotely. I went for the former in the TS campaign I've played in, and ended up playing up the template advantages because that was where most of my points had gone.

For me, one big deterrent from putting SAIs high on my playability list is indeed that I'm unsure about the alien minds, and the other is indeed the point cost. The point cost is somewhat reduced by the opportunity to buy skills as programs for cash, but, eh, not all that good nonetheless. The alienness of the mind is mostly something that no matter how you do it, someone will see it as wrong/implausible/skiffy/etc.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Allowances for trivializing rape? Never.

I should hope not; I was comparing it to murder.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Yes, it certainly is effective horror. I'm still amazed that more people seem to squick at "Sentient Snacks" which being just edible bioshells with NAIs pretending to be eaten aren't nearly as bad, IMO.

Being eaten is an incredibly powerful horrifying fear to most people. It's really the only reason I can see why even serial killers will gleefully admit to the most heinous of murders but will often refuse to admit to eating their victims.