Alternatives to Lecherousness

[DeadParrot]

Keep in mind that it is Supposed to be a Disadvantage. It is supposed to get the character into trouble. Trouble can range from unplanned interaction with law enforcement to a forced honor duel to worse.

In a setting where relationships are open, sex is 'easy', Free Love settings, etc, the behavior in Lecherousness might well be an Advantage and turning down enough advances might get a prudish character into trouble.

[Donny Brook]

For my games (and I think it's the general view of my gaming group), many of the Disads as written are far too disruptive of the game than they ought to be.

I almost always 'read down' the descriptions, especially to amend compelled behavior to be more suitable to the setting. I also generally allow a voluntary investment of down-time and/or game money in role-playing that supports or confronts the disadvantage to give a bonus on situational control tests. For example a character with Trickster would get this for laying the groundwork for a big prank. Or a Lecherous character might have a routine of mortifying herself with cold showers.

[swampthing]

Originally Posted by DeadParrot

In a setting where relationships are open, sex is 'easy', Free Love settings, etc, the behavior in Lecherousness might well be an Advantage and turning down enough advances might get a prudish character into trouble.

Even in such a setting, anything that constrains your behavior is generally considered a disadvantage, though how much trouble it gets you into bears on the value of the disadvantage. That includes Compulsive behavior that's socially acceptable - it's the "Compulsive" part that makes it a disadvantage.

[Stormcrow]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Or a Lecherous character might have a routine of mortifying herself with cold showers.

A Lecherous character who reduces the severity of her Lecherousness with in-game actions should have this reflected on the character sheet with a higher self-control number. That is, she shouldn't have Lecherousness (12) and taking a cold shower every day gives her a +3 bonus to the self-control roll; she should just take Lecherousness (15). Otherwise she's just getting free character points.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

A Lecherous character who reduces the severity of her Lecherousness with in-game actions should have this reflected on the character sheet with a higher self-control number. That is, she shouldn't have Lecherousness (12) and taking a cold shower every day gives her a +3 bonus to the self-control roll; she should just take Lecherousness (15). Otherwise she's just getting free character points.

Or there's the idea of Mitigator . . .

[Donny Brook]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

A Lecherous character who reduces the severity of her Lecherousness with in-game actions should have this reflected on the character sheet with a higher self-control number. That is, she shouldn't have Lecherousness (12) and taking a cold shower every day gives her a +3 bonus to the self-control roll; she should just take Lecherousness (15). Otherwise she's just getting free character points.

I view it differently. I regard it as a way a character who has Lecherousness can role-play how a person might try to manage it.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Dragon

Looks good to me. Compulsive Sexual Activity at -5* points is one that I've already adopted (I forget which GURPS book has something like that). And Compulsive Seduction at -10* looks like an appropriately limited Lecherousness.

Originally Posted by Polydamas

Would an Odious Personal Habit (-3 to the gender you are interested in, -1 to others) [-10] be suitable for people who aggressively catcall, pinch, or grope? That is another major real and fictional archetype.

these are really quite good. I only wish I had a place to track and store gems like these.

[Stormcrow]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

I view it differently. I regard it as a way a character who has Lecherousness can role-play how a person might try to manage it.

Rolling a self-control roll IS managing it. And one is usually encouraged (including with bonus character points) to role-play one's disadvantages rather than to role-play avoiding one's disadvantages.

You can, of course, run it as you see fit, but I just see free character points in your scheme.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by ericthered

these are really quite good. I only wish I had a place to track and store gems like these.

I've added them to the Disadvantage of the Week thread on OPH.

[maximara]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

But some people seem to be giving their characters a 15-point disadvantage, not because it fits their vision for their character, but because its the only "oversexed" disadvantage they know. In that thread, I see a lot of people saying "well, what the disadvantage says is too severe, so we don't enforce it" but a 15-point disadvantage should be severe and the wording fits one real and fictional pattern of behaviour.

I think that the better solution is to help them find the right quirk, 5-point, or 10-point disadvantage for their character.

It seems everyone has forgotten that Lecherousness is one of the "can be resisted" mental disadvantages.

Only the 12- version is 15 points. The 15- version (Resist almost all the time) is 7 points.