Forums » RP Discussion » Sex in RP: Your Thoughts

Personally, in most (if not all) of my character's IC relationship include sex in some form or fashion. That's part of being a couple, so why wouldn't fictional characters have that same privileged? However, the amount of sex they get, the circumstances around it, and how it's played out is different for each one. Not every character can be some kind of ultra sex machine, right?

On one end of the spectrum, I have a character who was a bit of a prude - and so was her significant other. So there was hardly any sex there, though the tension between them from not doing it is causing her to look for physical satisfaction from another source. Since it's just plain ol' sex with a plain ol' purpose, I don't see a need to play it out at all. We always assume it happens or to a fade-to-black when it's about to happen. Me and my RP partner don't see a reason to waste precious RP time on it.

But on the other end of my character spectrum is the character who's struggle with her inner beast during intimate moments plays a very important role in their relationship. With her, we do play out what happens because what happens during that time can effect how happy they are. Her struggle and his affect on it is something they constantly need to keep track of or she end up eating him or something. We are both adults and are comfortable with the situations, so we don't mind.

So how about you?
The stances on this subject seem to vary wildly, so I'm curious about you guys thoughts on it!

I agree with you. Sex exists, and as long as my partner is cool with it I'm all for it.

As I mentioned, I have a Sex Mage character. Ergo, sex tends to be very sexualy oriented.

I'm not about to deprive my characters of something they should naturally have. Otherwise they'd never have kids or a real relationship either. Sex in RP is fine for me, but I don't RP it out. It goes against my beliefs in a way (Don't ask me to explain. It just makes me feel guilty when I do it, and so if I feel guilty I shouldn't be doing it, right?), so I always use the Fade To Black method. I'm not a prude though; I'll do some sweet touches and innocent intimacy, but I'm usually clear with how far is too far when I RP with my RP partners.

So basically; sex in RP is fine, it's a natural part of any story and any character. But it's just my personal preference that I don't RP it out.


Also: sex for the sake of character development is fine. Sex just for sex so that you can fulfill your twisted little need for 'action' is gross. (see rant in the 'pet peeves'.)

A good deal of my characters have had sex at one point or another. Most of it's in backstory, or just played out as fade-to-black, or just discussed and planned out as to what happened OOC. (Rhaetia ended up tumbling at least half of an Assassin's Guild once, that latter way - long story.)

Some are more sexual than others - Rhae has no problems with taking fellows to bed whenever she feels like it. Daelin, on the other hand, has had a dry spell of four hundred years, and is perfectly fine with that. Icewing, for the extreme other end of the spectrum, has no reproductive or sexual organs at all (although she identifies as female), and thinks sex is rather disgusting and not something she ever wants to participate in.

I do play sexytimes out occasionally, usually when there's story or development to be had. I have done scenes without any immediate development to be seen, though, usually when there's an intriguing character involved that meshes interestingly with my own character. Just so long as one respects their partner's boundaries, and is good at the whole keeping IC and OOC thing seperate, I don't really tend to care too much. And no, my husband doesn't mind, either, hehe - I guess that would be important, too, if it's the sort of thing that can be an issue with one's actual partner.

Welp, I've no interest in roleplaying these things, but I don't avoid 'em either. I'm Switzerland, with the one exception that I generally stay away from narratives that are obviously sex-driven to the exclusion of other options.

Also, you could argue that my (only) character is a Strong and Independent Busy Career-Lady Who Just Doesn't Have Time For Your Silly Shenanigans, so it's kinda IC-plausible.

It happens. My main character is highly sexualized- she even started out pretty one dimensional but has grown by leaps and bounds over the years.
Most of my characters have an easy, comfortable stance on sex, though it is entertaining to play the one or two that the idea causes them to blush or stammer.
I think it's an important part in roleplay (unless you simply have zero interest and neither does your character which is perfectly acceptable), but it isn't necessary to actually roleplay it out. In some rare instances, I may say yes, but otherwise I always do a fade-to-black, have a brief OOC discussion of what took place. I'd rather roleplay the before and after.

My view is pretty similiar to those already posted, sex is something people do, so there's no reason characters shouldn't either.

As for acting out those scenes, it really depends, do I feel comfortable roleplaying sex with the other person? Do they feel comfortable with me? Would it benefit the story?

To give an example, the first time two characters come together would be more interesting to act out for story and character to development than maybe a week or so later when sex is an everyday event for them.

Some of my characters were restricted from it (ie, Pulchra... only not now <,<), and some have a relaxed attitude to it (ie, Fachtna). It generally depends on their backstories. A Vestal Virgin is going to have a different attitude to sex than a Cleric convicted for armed brawling, for example.

I'll RP it, although it depends on the person I'm rping with.

I'm pretty weird about it ooc, actually - I WILL RP it as long as I'm comfortable with who I'm Roleplaying with; I've had plenty of friends I'd never be caught dead getting naaastay with, so we'll fade to black.
Some of my characters however (cough cough Garfunkle) are pretty open when it comes to sex, and it's actually out of character for him to turn it down - kicked myself in the shins, there.

For me though see, I'm a lesbian who RPs to escape real life and be able to enjoy something a little different; almost ALL of my characters are male, and almost ALL of their interactions are gay. Which is funny in a way. And I don't think I'd change a thing - I get more uncomfortable playing females in an X setting, and am more likely to fade to black every time. (Poor Marling's never getting ANY )

I like to roleplay sex every now and again, but it's not something I need. If it pops up, it's IC, and it works, good- sex is had. If not, then sex is not had. Simple as that.

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Replies so far are interesting! Thank you guys for sharing!
I agree with this. Especially when it's really unconventional fetishes like inflation and vore. That just, to me... ugh no. I'd be okay if a character had a well-kept fetish that was revealed, say a foot fetish or something realistic like that, but otherwise fetish play makes me want to mash my face against my screen and groan very unhappily.

Totally agree. I've had prudent, shy characters, a celibate nun, best friends, and then the couple of very sexually active characters. I normally play out only the character's first time and a relationship's first time. If the other person doesn't agree, then we fade to black. If not, we continue until one of us ends up laughing...

Seriously, it does seem kind of funny. It's so awkward to be having sex in writing and not in person. And there are only so many ways you can write the word for certain genitalia before it gets stupid sounding.

I would never act out sex in RP if I was in a relationship, though. Because you're emotionally connected with your characters, it's already like cheating on your significant other to have a storyline lover. To consummate that would definitely make me feel scandalous.

I'm not going to lie, I don't care anymore. There are a few fetishes I draw the line at; but thats because they are illegal or are just so werid they squeeg me out. There just has to be a reason that such a thing can happen- and since I created a god of sex who is... partners with the goddess of chaos; ANYTHING can happen.

I don't do it to fufil sexual fantasys- I got a girl friend for that, and what the other roleplayer does when they aren't typing is their own buisness. Since my aproch to sexuality is rather relaxed I tend to go at it from the same angle when roleplaying.

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Fetishes. *shivers* ESPECIALLY inflation, it makes me go 'yuuuuuck'. Like, really, why do you want your character's boobies growing until they're the SIZE OF A HOUSE?

Some things are just creepy. I hope the guy I marry isn't into stuff like that, but then again if he is then I guess I wouldn't marry him 'cause I don't like that stuff.

I used to avoid roleplaying sex scenes like the plague, simply because I had no idea what the heck I was doing (and I still kinda don't lol) but there are times now where it just happens in the plot. On the forums that I participate in, there's one character that is really into getting rough and dirty with her lover. On the other hand, most of my characters hardly see any action at all. And they're alright with that, for the most part. It depends on their personalities and their own quirks. I don't mind it so much anymore, as long as we're both OOCly comfortable with rping it out, and it helps with the story in some way. I'd rather not just waste my night sex'n it up when I could be doing other things with them, you know? As long as it isn't sex 24/7... Yeesh.

I don't mind RPing it as long as it involves emotional progression. I don't do it 'just for fun'. Except for Andromeda... cuz she would enjoy it no matter what. But all my other characters would need an emotional connection. To me, it's usually the 'next step' in a relationship.

I don't mind rping it for character development, emotional bonds for the characters, or good plotline.
It's there. It's not like it doesn't exist. The thing that gets me is those people that only RP for the sex.

It's like, No. My character is not your personal pornstar. Go away please. You know?

Rp sex...interesting concept. Yeah I do it. But aside from fantasy elements I only use it to further achieve a sense of realism. Such as budding relationships etc.