Profanity in mods, [split by Baronius; Domi's request] Options

[Domi]

BG1 is a PG13 game, so the developper to start with did not intend it for children. There are characters in BG1 that say stuff like "Will one of you rugged adventurers give me a good, hard shag?"

The mods/mods components are sometimes rated as well (for example some of BG1NPC Romances are rated R for language or adult situations), while the mod itself is the same as the game, to avoid embaracing the selective players. It will be nice, if people used the rating system more vigorously.

I guess this is why most sci-fi/fantasy tv creates new profanities - frac, frell etc

And that is why the authors who have guts to carter to adult audience and have no pangs of guilt about it, read so real and have their own appreciative following. (Points to Martin).

In other words, do what you feel is right, just warn the consummer about it. I always make a point of explaining that Martin is gritty, uses the obscenities and does not draw curtains when his characters decided to make love, when I recommend his books. Yes, I love what he does. No, I don't expect everyone to agree with me that it is how it should be done.

This post has been edited by Domi: Jan 9 2006, 09:03 PM

[Domi]

So I would warn against using profanity too easily, in banters f.e. I would only use them when characters are at some sort of breaking point.

Yes, agreed.

Basically, I was thinking about that ever since I wrote Shar, because one of the characters I am currently working on I did model to use obscenities extensively, and there are a few things I want to mull over, and well, talking with self is not the best form of discussing

The frequency is a very good point - Kulyok first raised it.

The two thing might happen (just like with every speech quork):

1) The profanity becomes commonplace and does not stand out. Say, we go to Slums, and everyone we meet spouts f**n' this and f**n' that. I don't think it's bad when it creates atmosphere. After a while the player stops clicking on the commoners, knowing that they will talk differently there than in, say, Promenade. But for an NPC boredom is a dismissal from party.

2) It can actually become annoying, just like it is annoying in RL. Worst than boring, because smaller things caused people to spend hours and hours actually hating an NPC. Not loving to hate, mind. Nothing wrong with that one.

So, like with all risky choices, it is definetly an issue toseek the feedback and probably from more than one person before finalizing the talks.

3. Profanity is rarely as effective as cleverly-designed dialogues. f.e. I can't remember Edwin using any profanity, but that doesn't make his remarks and comments less 'stingy', on the contrary.

For me original Edwin sounds too contrived to be a good alternative, to be honest. From all the "insulters" Jan is probably my favorite.

This post has been edited by Domi: Jan 10 2006, 08:56 PM