What else can we define as a 'style'?

[mlangsdorf]

Originally Posted by Dwarf99

Where [are Classic Pin-Up; Sexy Pose] at?

Powerups 2: Perks, page 4 and page 15 respectively. Classic Pin-Up is a variant of Classic Features and Sexy Pose is an example Influence Shtick.

[Dwarf99]

Thanks I'm gonna use that for my GURPS Sex supplement.

[Sam Baughn]

Originally Posted by Perfect Organism

The other day it occured to me that BDSM Doms kind of have a 'style' which could be defined in GURPS; central skills would probably be Erotic Art and various forms of Combat Art (Brawling Art, Wrestling Art, Whip Art and whatever you use for canes and crops...) with stuff like Knot Tying, Intimidation and Hypnotism as options. Not sure I'd actually want to play a game where anyone went into that much detail on the subject (I like to keep my hobbies seperate, thanks) but an amusing thought.

God help me, I actually wrote it up to see how well it would fit and it seems to work. If you replaced the Combat Art skills with actual combat skills, it would be a moderately functional Martial Art (probably well suited for the racier kind of fantasy Dark Elf and so on).

BDSM
2 points

Skills: Erotic Art.
Techniques: Arm Lock {D}; Choke Hold {D}; Crack {D}; Handcuffing {D}; Scissors Hold.
Cinematic Techniques: Binding {D}.
Perks: Attribute Substitution (Sex Appeal based on Will) {D}; Cheaper Gear (Fetish Wear or Restraints); Controllable Disadvantage (Callous) {D}; Dabbler (Carpentry, Electrician, Leatherworking and Machinist); Efficient (Knot Tying) {D}; Fearsome Stare {D}; Hands-Free (Erotic Art or Housekeeping) {s}; Patience of Job {s}.

Optional Traits
Advantages: High Pain Threshold {s}.
Disadvantages: Callous {D}; Lecherousnes {s}; Odious Personal Habit (Indiscreet Kinkster); Reputation (Pervert). Pop-culture dominants often add full-blown Sadism while pop-culture submissives are likely to have Low Self Image.
Skills: Autohypnosis {s}; Brawling Art {D}; Breath Control {s}; Connoisseur (Fetish); Escape {s}; Garrote Art {D}; Housekeeping {s}; Hypnotism {D}; Intimidation {D}; Knot Tying {D}; Sex Appeal; Smallsword Art {D}; Whip Art {D}; Wrestling Art.
Techniques: Slip Handcuffs {s}; Work by Touch (Erotic Art or Housekeeping) {s}.
Perks: Compact Frame {s}; Flourish (Brawling Art or Whip Art) {D}; Ground Guard; High-Heeled Heroine*; High-Heeled Hurt* {D}; Improvised Weapons (Brawling Art, Whip Art) {D}.

Traits marked {D} are generally only suitable for dominants/sadists while those marked {s} are more suitable for submissives/masochists. I wrote it up as one style instead of two because (a) they should share the same style familiarity, (b) they do have a fair number of traits in common and (c) some people like to 'switch' between roles and reportedly learn a lot about one role while performing the other (in GURPS terms, they take Dom perks while buying sub skills or vice-versa).

[Lord Carnifex]

Originally Posted by Perfect Organism

God help me, I actually wrote it up to see how well it would fit and it seems to work. If you replaced the Combat Art skills with actual combat skills, it would be a moderately functional Martial Art (probably well suited for the racier kind of fantasy Dark Elf and so on).

BDSM

Nicely done. I'd probably add Dabbler (Psychology) and optional skill First-Aid. Most of the professionals I know are CPR certified at the very least, as well as having some basic familiarity with treating minor wounds and sterilizing instruments.

At some point I've always meant to write up firefighting and paramedicine* as styles, Also, the 7th season of The West Wing is playing in the background right now, so "Political Operative' or 'Campaign Manager' might be useful social styles.

*Yes, 'paramedicine' isn't a recognized word, but shouldn't it be? It's the kind of medicine paramedics practice.

[Polydamas]

Some fields may not be interesting enough for the full rigamorole of styles though. As I see it, styles are designed for a field where there are several competing approaches, whereas the License perk works better for more unified or less interesting fields.

Take schools of historian for example: "Ahah! Like you I'm a 'North American theory-agnostic', but I trained for a year in Nancy and have the Humanistic Style Familiarity (French Post-Modernist). Unless you have that perk, that gives you an extra -1, so you fail to resist my Write Slandrous Review attack. Now I try to use the hit to your reputation to get your request to visit the Bibliotheque Nationale rejected." Probably not a good focus for a campaign!

[aesir23]

Circus Strongman 4

Skills: Hobby Skill (Feats of Strength), Lifting, Performance
Techniques: None.
Cinematic Skills: Breaking Blow, Power Blow, Immovable Stance
Cinematic Techniques: None.
Perks: Special Exercises (Arm ST +1), Special Exercise (Lifting ST +1)*, Special Exercises (ST may exceed 20)

Optional: Public Speaking

*May be purchased multiple times up to Lifting ST +3.

[Genesis]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

Some fields may not be interesting enough for the full rigamorole of styles though. As I see it, styles are designed for a field where there are several competing approaches, whereas the License perk works better for more unified or less interesting fields.

Take schools of historian for example: "Ahah! Like you I'm a 'North American theory-agnostic', but I trained for a year in Nancy and have the Humanistic Style Familiarity (French Post-Modernist). Unless you have that perk, that gives you an extra -1, so you fail to resist my Write Slandrous Review attack. Now I try to use the hit to your reputation to get your request to visit the Bibliotheque Nationale rejected." Probably not a good focus for a campaign!

I entirely disagree. It's a longstanding dream of mine to play in a campaign detailing the infighting and politics of a Comparative Literature department at a perfectly mundane university.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Genesis

I entirely disagree. It's a longstanding dream of mine to play in a campaign detailing the infighting and politics of a Comparative Literature department at a perfectly mundane university.

Luckily you applied the 'mundane' qualifier to the university rather than the department. Otherwise I fear the campaign might sound a little dull.