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[Adult Game] Courtesans?

Posted by RossN
RossN
member, 228 posts
Sun 12 Apr 2015
at 08:26
  • msg #14

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Reasonably high I think - the sample characters seem pretty okay with me, though I'd prefer to come up with my own obviously!
steelsmiter
member, 1354 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Sun 12 Apr 2015
at 09:17
  • msg #15

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

No, the other kind of description. I mean actions.
RossN
member, 229 posts
Sun 12 Apr 2015
at 09:29
  • msg #16

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Ah, okay, sorry!

To be honest I'd probably be somewhat more into the social intercourse than the, uh, other kind of intercourse but I'd be okay with most descriptions there. Would probably mean I'd be drawn to play either a starry eyed romantic (Goldenheart, though Actress or Fallen Lady could fit too) or a mercenary character in it for the cash (Professional) or power (Schemer) rather than a very lustful gal though!
steelsmiter
member, 1355 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Sun 12 Apr 2015
at 15:35
  • msg #17

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

I see. I'm still thinking on this. It's difficult to come up with something for this type of story (that is to say, one where there is no clear objective). I'm trying to accommodate for the era but I can't get all the modern stuff out of my head.
RossN
member, 230 posts
Sun 12 Apr 2015
at 16:20
  • msg #18

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

I understand, and yeah the game seems mostly designed to be player driven rather than plot driven.

Maybe two rival groups of courtesans supporting different factions over something big (abolition of slavery, American Revolution, war with France, etc.)? Not everything would be a constant clash between the two groups but it would spice things up - Schemers would shine here.

Alternately, perhaps the courtesans could be spies. Maybe Napoleon's agents working in London (or English agents in Paris?) using their feminine wiles to winkle out information.
M-Type
member, 112 posts
Sun 12 Apr 2015
at 21:14
  • msg #19

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

I don't want to butt in and derail things, but this game does sound rather interesting and I might have to take a look at it now (though I don't think I'd ever fine RL players for it haha).

In reading the thread I was thinking of a WWII-era French Resistance type deal, where the players where spying on (and possibly assassinating) the occupying German forces and getting info for the Resistance. I know the time period is off so I don't know how difficult it would be, but I'm a big WWII buff and that was my first thought on what I would do if I were to run a game like this.

Would probably help if I bought and read the rules before throwing out ideas haha.
RossN
member, 231 posts
Sun 12 Apr 2015
at 23:36
  • msg #20

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Honestly, while I like the idea I don't think the game would be particularly well suited for that. Aside from the setting, the Courtesans presumes a big emphasis on player vs. player which would be hard to pull off in a Resistance game. There also isn't a combat system (the default game assumes that courtesans destroy their enemies by scandal, blackmail and the occassional hiring of thugs but don't really get their hands dirty.)

Doxy (which has a proper combat system) might work a little better, but again there is a big player vs. player element.
M-Type
member, 113 posts
Mon 13 Apr 2015
at 01:02
  • msg #21

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Ah, I understand. Again, I should've actually reviewed the rules before attempting something like that! Didn't know about Doxy, so maybe I'll look into that one.

But yeah, the player vs. player element would be a bit awkward in that setting since it would imply that one side is 'rooting' for the Germans, which I don't think anyone wants to do.
steelsmiter
member, 1358 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Mon 13 Apr 2015
at 01:50
  • msg #22

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

RossN:
Honestly, while I like the idea I don't think the game would be particularly well suited for that. Aside from the setting, the Courtesans presumes a big emphasis on player vs. player which would be hard to pull off in a Resistance game. There also isn't a combat system (the default game assumes that courtesans destroy their enemies by scandal, blackmail and the occasional hiring of thugs but don't really get their hands dirty.)

Well, there's the rules on 202, and 206 re: Weapons and Fatigue. But they're kind of lethal, and I probably wouldn't use those in the game idea I've been thinking of. Which is a reality show called Reality Sucks (see what I did there?) about being a nobody in the porn industry (complete with a land lady that doesn't have a particularly noteworthy boobpedia entry).

Hopefully, the idea is to explore the stigma of being a member of the industry. There was a documentary on popcornflicks about it. The characters would all be part of a Voyeur Dorm type setup and I've got a pretty good idea about how I'd change quite a lot of stuff to suit a more modern setting. Most, if not all of the functions (game stat wise) would pretty much be the same, but like an Acting procurement might be a webcam show and a pleasing roll might be a casting couch call. Letters of Introduction would definitely make sense as e-mails, the ball at the end of a season could be the AVN awards (or a made up award event). You'd still have people wanting to save their woman's souls, but for those that don't particularly want that, Kept Contracts could actually be with Production Companies (I am defaulting to Vivid being the big one, but other companies could court young stars as well. And who knows? Maybe the players actually win some awards? Those would correlate directly.)

Still, I'll keep plugging away on the other era for at least a little bit. I want to wait about two weeks as I'm also looking into other projects, and inspiration may spark between now and then. I'll of course, keep this thread in mind.

quote:
Doxy (which has a proper combat system) might work a little better, but again there is a big player vs. player element.

Sounds more adventure game-y and for some games, I think I like that for the world war game, but if I were running such a game, I'd probably more likely consider the Wild West.
This message was last edited by the user at 01:52, Mon 13 Apr 2015.
RossN
member, 233 posts
Mon 13 Apr 2015
at 22:34
  • msg #23

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Understood steelsmiter, I'll keep the thread running up. :)

Doxy would be very well suited to the Wild West actually.
Elayan
member, 5 posts
Wed 15 Apr 2015
at 08:26
  • msg #24

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Did anyone did something about this? :)
RossN
member, 234 posts
Wed 15 Apr 2015
at 11:09
  • msg #25

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Not yet, though we are still willing. :)

Do you have a copy of the game?
RossN
member, 235 posts
Fri 17 Apr 2015
at 09:08
  • msg #26

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Any other interest?
steelsmiter
member, 1378 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Fri 17 Apr 2015
at 09:16
  • msg #27

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Elayan:
Did anyone did something about this? :)

Not yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to run it in the setting it's supposed to be ran in.
Gaffer
member, 1272 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Fri 17 Apr 2015
at 12:52
  • msg #28

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

The old En Garde RPG was set in Musketeer-era France (IIRC) and getting and maintaining a mistress was an element of it.

If the PCs are courtesans, there is a lot of opportunity for cooperation and competition -- friends, rivals, friendly rivals, two-faced hypocrite, etc. I haven't seen these rules, but it seems the goals could be (should be?) very personal to the individuals -- love, wealth, position, power, and throw in espionage as a kicker, maybe even revenge. Each PC could have her secret ambition known only to her and to the GM.

If you wanted to do openly competing cliques, it would require a lot more players, unless each player controlled a courtesan on each side.

It does sound intriguing.
RossN
member, 236 posts
Tue 28 Apr 2015
at 22:43
  • msg #29

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Bump for interest.

I've been Tough Justice (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/pr.../91284/Tough-Justice), the sister game to Courtesans (and Doxy). It is set around trials in 18th century/early 19th century Britain when there were two hundred hanging offences on the books. The PCs play the lawyers fighting over the case and their allies doing the investigating and in the case of Thief Takers (privately hired cops) arresting. So it is more than just trials, sort of like Law and Order with wigs and far more hanging.

(Weirdly it has possibly the widest range of character types in the 'default' setting - the sample PCs include the male lawyers, an ex-soldier Thief Taker, a Courtesan and a Doxy and both games can do crossovers.)
steelsmiter
member, 1384 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Wed 29 Apr 2015
at 01:03
  • msg #30

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

I'm still interested, but I've been dealing with a computer virus, so i haven't really had time to set up anything in the default setting. Some of the legalities of the setting are annoying so that's still in limbo anyway.
steelsmiter
member, 1385 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Wed 29 Apr 2015
at 01:06
  • msg #31

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

I mean anal kind of bothers me if it's described or depicted in detail, but it's a little much to hang someone over.
RossN
member, 237 posts
Wed 29 Apr 2015
at 01:27
  • msg #32

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

I understand. To be honest it is the character interaction and setting that draw me more than the actual sex descriptions!

That said the period certainly does set that particular act as a hanging crime. I definitely don't think the players are meant to agree with it though! The thing is though that if you shift things into a more modern liberal setting the game looses much of the edge it has; things are supposed to be dangerous. Technically the balancing factor (at least in Doxy and Courtesans) is that hetrosexual characters run the danger of pregnancy with a not insignificant risk of death by childbirth.

Tough Justice could probably work without explicit sex (in fact there is advice for running such in the book) but it is still a game about potentially hanging people for trivial offences (and to be fair vicious crimes too.)
steelsmiter
member, 1386 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Wed 29 Apr 2015
at 03:38
  • msg #33

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Yeah, I like most of the mechanics for character interaction, I just don't like that level of gritty I guess. I like the idea that pregnancy is a risk though, and I'm all fine with contraceptives being kind of a big deal, even if it's more political than anything.

I think Disease and Drug Addictions could step up to the plate if done right. I think I'd need to be creative on the effects of modern drugs though, even if Consumption was just an STD.
steelsmiter
member, 1387 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Wed 29 Apr 2015
at 03:40
  • msg #34

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

There's always the false perception of STDs being spawned from the so called sodomy, and whether that takes the risk of being hanged. Depends on if that's perceptively too unrealistic.
icosahedron152
member, 464 posts
Thu 30 Apr 2015
at 15:45
  • msg #35

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

I've had a look at this, with limited success.
I'd be interested in playing, ideally as a Mature game rather than Adult, but I don't have the time to GM it just now, even if I could get the rules.

I've been unable to find a price for the rules, or anywhere to buy it from that doesn't want my entire life history before it will allow me to view the page...

However, I've managed to view the first eighty odd pages on Google Books. Personally, I could have condensed that material into eight pages at most, and probably four, which doesn't bode well for parting with my hard-earned money. None of those pages gave me any hint of how the rules play out except that it seems to be some form of 1D6 roll over mechanic. Which is a little more promising.

The subject material intrigues me, especially the three rule sets combined, as they might be a useful inclusion in my existing games, but I'd want to dip my toe as a player before investing in three rule sets that seem to be rather verbose.
RossN
member, 238 posts
Thu 30 Apr 2015
at 16:00
  • msg #36

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

icosahedron152:
I've had a look at this, with limited success.
I'd be interested in playing, ideally as a Mature game rather than Adult, but I don't have the time to GM it just now, even if I could get the rules.

I've been unable to find a price for the rules, or anywhere to buy it from that doesn't want my entire life history before it will allow me to view the page...

However, I've managed to view the first eighty odd pages on Google Books. Personally, I could have condensed that material into eight pages at most, and probably four, which doesn't bode well for parting with my hard-earned money. None of those pages gave me any hint of how the rules play out except that it seems to be some form of 1D6 roll over mechanic. Which is a little more promising.

The subject material intrigues me, especially the three rule sets combined, as they might be a useful inclusion in my existing games, but I'd want to dip my toe as a player before investing in three rule sets that seem to be rather verbose.



In fairness a large portion of all three books are given over sample characters and examples of play. Courtesans has six beginning PCs, a landlady character (ie. the main GM character) and two more 'advanced' sample NPCs, all of whom are given plenty of background. I know that's not something everyone wants but I think it adds flavour.

Courtesans could adapt very easily to Mature and Tough Justice could too with a little tinkering (Doxy would need a lot of work - it is both grimmer and filthier!)
This message was last edited by the user at 16:03, Thu 30 Apr 2015.
steelsmiter
member, 1389 posts
GURPS, BESM, Fate, Indies
NO FREEFORM!
Fri 1 May 2015
at 00:34
  • msg #37

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Well, I've been dealing with a virus, but I have a picture that I'd use for the landlady if I ran it. I submitted it before the virus hit. Don't know about running it though.
RossN
member, 240 posts
Sun 3 May 2015
at 00:56
  • msg #38

Re: [Adult Game] Courtesans?

Okay, I probably would have prefered to be a player but I'll have a look at setting up a game myself if I can find the time. Keep watching this space!
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