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Post by uncommonman on Jun 4, 2018 10:01:30 GMT -8
The most recent episode (#8) gave me a bad feeling.
Seriously Taïs is a bad person and if she was male no one would be okay with her behavior.
She was really close to taking advantage of her husband in a sexual nature while he was unable to consent.
She spy on her friends sex life.
And no one at the table seems to have any problems with this.
Am I overly sensitive or does anyone else have a problem with this?
I recall much talk about consent and needless sexualisation of women in roll playing games and how horrible men are when they are acting "creepy".
It just rub me the wrong way that her actions are laughed of as unimportant or "just having fun".
Btw. I don't have any problems with the character acting badly/immoral the problem I have is that the table doesn't acknowledge that something bad/immortal has happened.
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Post by weaverchilde on Jun 5, 2018 16:04:50 GMT -8
By far the 'worst' character in the bunch and that was with a tentacle to god's honest mythos monster in the mix. Tais was a perfect example of a normal person drunk on god juice and just showering in the sheer amount of HUBRIS to put her whims above the consequences that others will have to live with...
All that said, I loved watching/listening, it was like the Kardashians doing porn on a train about to derail into lava. Also, consider that for being so horrible, she didn't go through it.
As for the male double standard... I obviously can't speak for the cast, but I felt like they all knew it was bad and just enjoyed the drama of it in the way that a "this isn't real" power fantasy allows.
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Post by Linus on Jun 5, 2018 16:52:06 GMT -8
I got the impression that the comments about oracular peeping was done in jest by the table, ie. just the players riffing on the outrageous possibilities of having actual and reliable scrying powers.
But she has peered into highly private experiences, and I don't feel particularly uncomfortable with the table laughing at that. It's quite possible that I'm projecting V:tM sensibilities with this. Both games feature characters that pass as and interact with humans - but most definitely are not. They are also in possession of powers that severely alters the base expectations of human-to-human interactions.
However, V:tM is very clear about the character's moral degradation and that they're fighting a losing battle for the remainder of their humanity. Most of them start to view humans as a resources rather than peers and companions. Morally questionable characters and actions are expected, and my table often laughs at their character's atrocities.
Demigods doesn't appear to take a stand about what desires and urges a character is motivated by, other than what has been defined at character gen. There is a polar relationship between Humanity and Godhood, and the characters can only move towards the latter, but their very existence is not a perpetual violation.
There are no coincidences, though. IIRC, Thaï's infatuation was defined in character gen, so that triangle drama will come to an end. Fate will force her, her husband and the spindle to a confrontation. Strong, conflicting desires can make you do some bad things to your loved ones. Taking advantage of someone, or allow yourself to be taken advantage of, is one of them. That too can cause plenty of laughter at my table. We recognize the potential shitshow a'brewing and it's deliciously darkly comedic.
(Personally, I think it all went too well. Everyone happy and content in a polyamorous relationship? That's just the best possible outcome. Since I am an evil and cruel Herald, I'd start feeding her demon whispers of the insecurities hinted at earlier, such as "They don't love You, they are only entranced by your divine glamour", or "Did they really want this? Or did You want this, and you twisted Fate and made it happen, forcing them into it?")
I don't think you are overly sensitive. An AP is kind of a unique thing that has all the possibilities and pitfalls of a con game, but apart from the playing table, there's additional people listening in, with their own veils and lines. The table may ensure the comfort of the table, but can do little for the listeners; and nor should they IMO. A player actively trying to keep their game "clean" becomes a performer, not a player, and the game will suffer because of it.
So, what to do? Talking about it is always a good thing. There's no right and wrong here, and the more viewpoints we get, the better. For instance, I think there's a strong element of physical attractiveness in the game banter, swinging back and forth between power-fantasy (I'm hot and shirtless!) to objectification (They're hot and shirtless!), played tongue-in-cheek but still very much present. Now, I'm speculating, but I think this may be influenced by shared table insight into shipping/slash fan-fic subculture: not just punny hashtags, but as a cultural expression whereas the community both create and consume vicarious experiences of sex, love and relationships. The game banter appear to incorporate certain tropes I'm not particularly familiar with, so I would love to hear from others about this - players and listeners! (Don't derail the thread, though. We'll split it if necessary.)
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Jun 5, 2018 17:50:17 GMT -8
We are definitely listening to at least a few Garbage characters with phenomenal cosmic power...bad things are bound to happen. I don't expect this game to be about heroes. I've heard the players state this fact several times. "She's a horrible person..." has been narrated by Kimi about Raven and Abria has certainly said much the same regarding Tais. I don't think a double standard is being presented. Just multiple power fantasy tropes carried out by amoral characters.
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tomes
Supporter
Hello madness
Posts: 1,438
Currently Running: Dungeon World, hippie games, Fallout Shelter RPG hack
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Post by tomes on Jun 5, 2018 17:57:35 GMT -8
I don't think you are overly sensitive. An AP is kind of a unique thing that has all the possibilities and pitfalls of a con game, but apart from the playing table, there's additional people listening in, with their own veils and lines. The table may ensure the comfort of the table, but can do little for the listeners; and nor should they IMO. A player actively trying to keep their game "clean" becomes a performer, not a player, and the game will suffer because of it. So, what to do? All that was really well thought out and said. The only thing that could additionally be beneficial to the audience is content warnings, if it's gotten to that place where people deem it necessary. (I haven't listened to the AP so have no opinion on this, but for example I'd fully appreciate a content warning on a Bluebeard's Bride game, for example... that can easily go into territory of abuse, sexual violence, and so on, depending on the table and their comfort.)
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