Sex as a skill

[Susano]

No, this is not a set-up for some sort of joke.

 

I'm interested in opinions on how to express skilled sexual ability. Basically, I have come across some descriptions of a race of beings who are described as irresistible seducers, very sexually active, and experts at lovemaking.

 

So... is this KS: (Sexual Techniques), or is it PS:? Or both?

 

Oh, and anyone who says it's actually a combination of Acrobatics, Breakfall, and Contortionist gets a smack to the back of the head.

[JMcL63]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

I would say a basic DEX roll, with modifiers for how ambitious you were being, and for anatomical differences based on species variations, with KS as a complementary. PS would be if you were actually working at some sort of job I'd say. That might be a lot of crap, but basically I wouldn't favour the idea of a PS unless you were actually talking about a profession instead of just some kind of talent for intercourse.

[nexus]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

No, this is not a set-up for some sort of joke.

 

I'm interested in opinions on how to express skilled sexual ability. Basically, I have come across some descriptions of a race of beings who are described as irresistible seducers, very sexually active, and experts at lovemaking.

 

So... is this KS: (Sexual Techniques), or is it PS:? Or both?

 

Oh, and anyone who says it's actually a combination of Acrobatics, Breakfall, and Contortionist gets a smack to the back of the head.

 

PS:Courtesan, Hooker, Catamite, Dominatrix, etc etc.

 

KS: Sexual techniques (You can get as specific as you want/dare) as complimentary.

 

Acrobatics, and Contortionist could be complimentary skills, KS:Sex show

 

If you can find Gurps:Hot and Heavy it will give you some ideas for fleshing this out (no pun intended).

 

I once wrote up some sex based Talents on a lark, but I've since misplaced the document. I'll see if I can find it, if you like.

[NuSoardGraphite]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

There will be a Knowledge Skill (Sexual Techniques), a Professional Skill (Hooker, Porn Star, Dominatrix etc), and a Science Skill (Sexology)

 

Many prefer to use the Seduction skill to represent actual sexual ability, though most groups I've played with never want to take their games quite that far...some things should simply be assumed

[Sean Waters]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Depends what sort of campaign you are running, but I ran a campaign where the main villain had sex powers, and the main effect was that every time he had sex with someone he did a small transform attack that 'addicted' them to him so they kept coming back for more, and by rationing his favours he had half the local government and law enforcement working for him or owing him favours.

 

If it isn't that sort of campaign, I wouldn't go with a DEX roll. I'd think it would be PRE, with COM as a complementary skill (sex isn't about what you can do with your body, it is about what you can make other people want to do with it). To make it realistic, max the roll out at 11- unless you have bought a relevant skill. Most people have low enough expectations that that will be plenty.

[Susano]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

There will be a Knowledge Skill (Sexual Techniques)' date=' a Professional Skill (Hooker, Porn Star, Dominatrix etc), and a Science Skill (Sexology)[/quote']

 

Hmm... since the beings in question come from the same place that brought us the Karma Sutra, I think the KS sums it up pretty well. Thanks.

[Steve]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Susano, you used a KS: "Arts of Pleasure" on your Escort Synthetics in Kazei Five. Isn't that what you are describing here?

[OddHat]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

I agree with the combination of a PS and a KS on this. To be as PG rated as possible about this, Madame Soon may know everything in the world about sexual positions, but unless she has the appropriate PS she'll be fairly clumsy getting into them.

[JMcL63]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

I agree with the combination of a PS and a KS on this. To be as PG rated as possible about this' date=' Madame Soon may know everything in the world about sexual positions, but unless she has the appropriate PS she'll be fairly clumsy getting into them.[/quote']That's a good point about the difference between the abstract side of KS and the practical side of PS, but I have to reiterate that I don't think that the notion of a profession adequately conveys the central idea of what Susano raised (I could be getting a bit too hung up on the terminology of the skill names here, but what the heck!). The activity in question is something that anyone can do, and everything else should be contributory to that innate ability, whether it be abstract knowledge (eg. of xeno-anatomy in an SF setting), or practical expertise (which could either be a PS, or as suggested above, a SCI). My point remains: however important the practical dimension of this matter is, it is mistaken to define the basic skill as a PS, because that immediately introduces what, IMO, is an inappropriate degree of job-related specialisation.

[Steve]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

My point remains: however important the practical dimension of this matter is' date=' it is mistaken to define the basic skill as a PS, because that immediately introduces what, IMO, is an inappropriate degree of job-related specialisation. [/quote']

 

Well, while I understand the intent of your comment to be humorous, Dr. Destroyer is built with a KS: Chess and also a PS: Play Chess, so this would seem to be a similar situation. To my understanding, a KS is knowing intellectually about a subject, and a PS is the practical application of a subject. I guess a similar (related?) notion would be gymnastics as a KS and PS. Both are valid, but they have different applications and I could see the KS: Gymnastics be a possible complimentary skill to the PS: Gymnast.

[OddHat]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

That's a good point about the difference between the abstract side of KS and the practical side of PS' date=' but I have to reiterate that I don't think that the notion of a [i']profession[/i] adequately conveys the central idea of what Susano raised (I could be getting a bit too hung up on the terminology of the skill names here, but what the heck!). The activity in question is something that anyone can do, and everything else should be contributory to that innate ability, whether it be abstract knowledge (eg. of xeno-anatomy in an SF setting), or practical expertise (which could either be a PS, or as suggested above, a SCI). My point remains: however important the practical dimension of this matter is, it is mistaken to define the basic skill as a PS, because that immediately introduces what, IMO, is an inappropriate degree of job-related specialisation.

 

I've been really surprised by the difference between a practitioner with only a KS and one with a KS, a PS, and a few complimentary skills.

[caris]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

That's a good point about the difference between the abstract side of KS and the practical side of PS' date=' but I have to reiterate that I don't think that the notion of a [i']profession[/i] adequately conveys the central idea of what Susano raised (I could be getting a bit too hung up on the terminology of the skill names here, but what the heck!). The activity in question is something that anyone can do, and everything else should be contributory to that innate ability, whether it be abstract knowledge (eg. of xeno-anatomy in an SF setting), or practical expertise (which could either be a PS, or as suggested above, a SCI). My point remains: however important the practical dimension of this matter is, it is mistaken to define the basic skill as a PS, because that immediately introduces what, IMO, is an inappropriate degree of job-related specialisation.

The problem is that while the basic ability to do it is pretty much inherent to everyone, like singing, dancing, cooking, etc. The simple fact that there are some people who are just better at it that others. Yes, there are innumerable factors that impact who some one prefers having the experience with or how enjoyable the experience is a certain amount of raw talent/skill is one of those factors. Traditionally Professional Skills are used to represent the ability to do something even if the person doesn’t do the activity as a job, when there is no existing skill to cover the situation. I tend to look at the situation like the Acting Skill vs. the Professional Skill: Actor. Take a person that is a talented cook, but does not know how to cook in a professional environment or manage a kitchen might have PS: Cooking, instead of PS: Chef. A martial arts instructor might take PS: Teaching to represent their ability to train students, but not PS: Teacher, because they have no knowledge of their areas public or private education system and the intricacies of working in it.

[Susano]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Susano' date=' you used a KS: "Arts of Pleasure" on your Escort Synthetics in Kazei Five. Isn't that what you are describing here?[/quote']

 

Basically. In the revised version, I did switch it to read simply "Sexual Techniques." I'm asking here to try and get a general consensus for a project.

[Susano]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Well' date=' while I understand the intent of your comment to be humorous, Dr. Destroyer is built with a KS: Chess and also a PS: Play Chess, so this would seem to be a similar situation. To my understanding, a KS is knowing intellectually about a subject, and a PS is the practical application of a subject. I guess a similar (related?) notion would be gymnastics as a KS and PS. Both are valid, but they have different applications and I could see the KS: Gymnastics be a possible complimentary skill to the PS: Gymnast.[/quote']

 

Odd... I don't see the need for a PS: Play Chess. That's why we have Gambling (Board Games). IMO -- Gambling covers how to play chess and play it well. KS: Covers moves, history, how to play in a tourney, and so on.

[OddHat]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Odd... I don't see the need for a PS: Play Chess. That's why we have Gambling (Board Games). IMO -- Gambling covers how to play chess and play it well. KS: Covers moves' date=' history, how to play in a tourney, and so on.[/quote']

 

So are you suggesting KS:Sexual Technique together with Contortionist, Acrobatics, Seduction, Paramendic, and a good CON score?

[Susano]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

So are you suggesting KS:Sexual Technique together with Contortionist' date=' Acrobatics, Seduction, Paramendic, and a good CON score? [/quote']

 

In all seriousness... the skill set I think I'll use will be:

 

Acrobatics, Contortionist, KS: Dance, KS: Sexual Techniques, PS: Dance, PS: Sexual Techniques, and scads of Seduction. Oh, and a 24+ COM. Swap out the Dance for Musician, and we have the men as well.

[OddHat]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

In all seriousness... the skill set I think I'll use will be:

 

Acrobatics, Contortionist, KS: Dance, KS: Sexual Techniques, PS: Dance, PS: Sexual Techniques, and scads of Seduction. Oh, and a 24+ COM. Swap out the Dance for Musician, and we have the men as well.

 

Sounds good. May I suggest a good PRE as well? Not joking; personality and the ability to relate to people count for a lot.

[JmOz]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

PS: Sex Technique (dex based, everyman skill)

 

Seduction

KS: Sex Technique

Acrobatics

Breakfall

Contortionist

 

Are all complimentary

[Chris Goodwin]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Is Professional Skill specifically and only the ability to make money doing something? If so then we're missing something, which is the ability to actually do it (which KS doesn't cover). I suggest a new skill, call it Performance Skill. Cost it the same as the other General Skills (2 for 11- or 3 for CHA, 1/+1). This the ability to actually do something that's not covered by another skill.

[Susano]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Sounds good. May I suggest a good PRE as well? Not joking; personality and the ability to relate to people count for a lot.

 

Considering they are semi-divine beings, I am thinking a 20.

[Susano]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Is Professional Skill specifically and only the ability to make money doing something? If so then we're missing something' date=' which is the ability to actually [i']do[/i] it (which KS doesn't cover). I suggest a new skill, call it Performance Skill. Cost it the same as the other General Skills (2 for 11- or 3 for CHA, 1/+1). This the ability to actually do something that's not covered by another skill.

 

IMO? No. A KS covers the theory, a PS covers the execution. So KS: Art means you know all about art materials, color theory, what paper to use when, which pens work best on what paper, and so on. PS: Artist lets you draw pretty pictures.

 

So... to get back to my original question, KS: Sexual Techniques means you know all sorts of different positions (and their names), as well as know about various toys and other aids. PS: Sexual Techniques means you know how to put that knowledge to practical use and actually do something, not just talk about it.

 

Guess I just answered my own question.

[Steve]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

PS: Sex Technique (dex based, everyman skill)

 

Seduction

KS: Sex Technique

Acrobatics

Breakfall

Contortionist

 

Are all complimentary

 

Uh, Breakfall? That's an interesting choice for the list.

[Dino]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

Is Professional Skill specifically and only the ability to make money doing something?

 

Not according to the book. PS can cover just about any practical (as opposed to theoretical) activity, such as playing musical intruments, sports, crafts, and hobbies, as well as vocational skills. PS can also be used to define a specialty that would normally fall under a "real skill" (you get to roll your PS as complimentary).

 

In my game group we have always bought sexual proficiency as a PS (often with an amusing name like "Sex Kitten". KS can cover specific techniques.

 

While I agree that anyone who is willing and enthused can put in a good performance, a PS is the best way to represent someone who has a lot of experiance at pleasing thier partners and has developed "mad skills".

[JMcL63]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

(I could be getting a bit too hung up on the terminology of the skill names here' date=' but what the heck!) [/quote']Well, it appears that that was exactly what I was doing. Thanks for all the comments clarfiying this point folks.

[Hugh Neilson]

Re: Sex as a skill

 

The problem is that while the basic ability to do it is pretty much inherent to everyone' date=' like singing, dancing, cooking, etc. The simple fact that there are some people who are just better at it that others. [/quote']

 

That would, in my opinion, be a case for an "everyman skill". Everyone can do it, with an 8-. That's enough to join a refrain of "row row row your boat", but you won't be singing the National Anthem at sporting events any time soon.

 

I like the "perform" skill someone suggested. Simply replace "professional" with "perform" throughout (best of all, published charac5ers still have PS so it's reverse compatible).

 

To the discussion of KS and PS, a character with PS: Play Chess would be a good chess player (or a great one - depends on level of the skill). He would get a bonus against a "PS: Board Games" character (say +2 or +3) - his knowledge is more specific, so therefore more depth with less breadth (just like SS: Physics takes a penalty vs SS: Temporal Physics when we're dealing with the latter).

 

Someone with KS: Chess would know the history of the game, some classic moves, the treat players, where the pieces originiated and how they have changed over the years, etc. But he may be a poor player without the PS. Analogize to KS; Sports. He may know all the statistics, but he's still a couch potato who would be crushed by the Pee Wee players.