List of Sexual Deviations that can be rolled on the old RPGs

[Tor]

I'm not sure exactly what this was called but read about this on Wikipedia...

The original edition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness was published with a section detailing a comprehensive list of mental illnesses ostensibly drawn from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Players could either select a form of insanity as an optional step in character creation or randomly assign one during the course of gameplay as a result of their characters undergoing some kind of trauma, such as demonic possession, near-death experience, or torture.

specifically:

After parents of younger players objected to the list of sexual deviations – which had previously appeared in the Palladium Role-Playing Game and Heroes Unlimited rulebooks – Palladium Books covered it with a plain white sticker. Subsequent printings removed the list of mental illnesses entirely, although occasional references to it remained elsewhere in the book.

I completely understand the PC reasons why sexual deviation tables would be taken out, but I do wonder if perhaps they might be provided as a list of online errata?

As controversial as the idea is of trauma changing someone from one orientation to the other, it's not necessarily any more extreme than the 'reborn' option which switches someone's alignment from good to evil or vice versa almost as Azlum does.

If it isn't possible to provide a copy of this and a guideline on how to work it into existing insanity tables, I am wondering if anyone has info in regard to which editions of which old books might have it.

I think it could be possible to represent a wide range of things under the 'insanity' system without actually implying everything there is insanity. I mean really, in all neutrality, we have things like 'obsession' and it is not outside of saneness to have an obsession with something. Insanity means out of touch with reality, and if someone is obsessed with say, earning money, that doesn't mean they're out of touch with reality, just that they have a different value systems.

It could cover stuff like say, switching to (or from) a vegetarian diet, or a change in fashion preferences or hair cut, changes in how one grooms oneself, etc. If we cover other mundane things, I think stuff like 'the gender characteristics that you prefer change' being a result of trauma would be less singled out and less likely to offend.

Not to mean that it should be included in any future books, but I don't see the harm in optional errata or whatever.

[Jefffar]

The table, as was consistent with the medical literature of the time, listed alternate sexual orientations upon it.

In the current era, a table that equates sexual orientation with insanity and allows for it to be treated and cured would be viewed as an example of bigotry of the first order.

So, the table going away back in the 1980s and never resurfacing is a very good thing for the company.

[drewkitty ~..~]

So, the table going away back in the 1980s and never resurfacing is a very good thing for the company.

Defining: "good thing for the company": avoiding getting sued into bankruptcy if something like that came to the attention of those who advocate for 'alternate lifestyles'.

Wether or not living such 'alternate lifestyles' are insane or not is not the concern of a worldly business.

[Tor]

The table, as was consistent with the medical literature of the time, listed alternate sexual orientations upon it.

In the current era, a table that equates sexual orientation with insanity and allows for it to be treated and cured would be viewed as an example of bigotry of the first order.

So, the table going away back in the 1980s and never resurfacing is a very good thing for the company.

True, but I am wondering if we can expand the 'Insanity' system beyond that of just 'Insanity'. Like minor quirks and so forth, of which any sort of preference (sexual or otherwise) could fall under. Things like this may often initially fall under 'fleshing out the character' or something along those lines, but are also things which could change as a result of trauma.

One might for example, love fine china, but lose one's passion for fine china after a werewolf smashes your dining set. You may not have an actual phobia of china, but it would be a big alteration. Tables for that would be cool.

Trauma reaction is also something more extensive than insanity. The 'reborn' alignment switch is not an insanity (it is not insane to be either Principled or Diabolic) yet can happen. If someone's alignment can switch, why not also their gender identity or sexual preference?

a table that equates sexual orientation with insanity and allows for it to be treated and cured would be viewed as an example of bigotry of the first order.

The way I took it (the option which made inherent homosexuals into heterosexuals and vice versa as a result of trauma), it was more an option of being at odds with oneself or being in denial of oneself. It worked both directions and seemed balanced.

Whether or not living such 'alternate lifestyles' are insane or not is not the concern of a worldly business.

Psh, sure it is. If we can come down on people who become psychiatrists or people who become paramedics I don't see the issue. We're just as rude to those with DID/MPD since that's an option.

[Jefffar]

I think this topic has gone as far as it can without a debate on homosexuality itself, which is not a topic for this part of the forums. I'd suggest Sound Off if you want to respectfully discuss that topic.