The ERP Discussion

[Fabricant451]

ERP. We all know about it. We all see it being alluded to in certain checks. We've all probably...well...probably not all done it but it's fair to say that we all have thoughts about it be they negative, positive, or somewhere inbetween. It's as much a part of RP as anything else even if much of the time people like to pretend otherwise.

This topic is for people to discuss their thoughts on the subject matter free of judgment or ridicule which I suspect will last about ten posts, if it even gets that far. It goes without saying that because this is a mature subject matter that maturity is expected but then, we're all mature folks here.

Keep it in your pants and let's talk about it.

[Dion]

So on the level of 'is it ok?' I'd say it's OK so long as everyone included in the RP is enjoying it (because that's what matters). Something I've noticed on RPG specifically is that there are a lot of underage roleplayers or roleplayers that appear underage that RP smut. But overall the smut community on RPG seems to be pretty dead or is more prevalent on other websites that cater particularly to writing smut (because as much as it pains me I cannot call it erotica when you write a paragraph about 'stick de pepeepee into the vagene', lol).

I've also noticed that a lot of the ERP on RPG is super low quality comparable to free RP levels of writing (oneliners or single paragraph) which isn't a problem but just doesn't do anything for me. Combine that with low-brow writing styles, word usage and overall not the greatest sense of literacy and you basically have the perfect means to make any literotica writer shake their heads and move to greener pastures. I'm not saying this is bad, since as long as both sides enjoy it, I'm OK with it -- I'm saying it doesn't do anything for me.

I've also had some bad experiences with partners whether it be unsolicited OOC stuff that I wasn't interested in or just downright weird stuff that wasn't sexual but just made me really uncomfortable.

This is my reasoning for mostly passing on the matter of ERP.

But literotica is something else entirely to me, but it's just impossible for me to find partners that write literate erotica and who I can get along with.

[Lady Absinthia]

I personally have no issue with ERP, in fact I welcome it with the right partner. Granted I grew up with a mother who wrote Romance novels, so I was inducted early into the ~scene~ of erotic writing. Written my fair share of short eroticas and had some actually wonderful partners here on RPG in that department. The scene though is a bit difficult here since you do have to worry about younger writers on top of the usual finding someone you mesh with and has the same style and goals as you in that department. To me though it just adds another layer of filters when seeking out a partner in that slice of the RP world. Luckily I have a wonderful partner that caters to my personal tastes.

Now I have wanted to do larger ERP's than your typical 1x1, or at least general Rps that cater a little more in that area but because of the rules here, I cannot. (Which honestly I wouldn't want to change the rules in that department, it it fitting for the general feel and age range that can be found on RPG.)

That being said, I am kicking around the idea of branching out an upcoming Rp to by hosted not only here but on my groups private forum, a tandem RP if you will where the subject matters that are rated PG-13 get posted here and there is a ~blank holder~ post for anything R+ related which will be done out more fully on the private forum. If that will happen is yet to be seen but it is on the table. For now though, I do encourage the more mature members of my Rps to feel free to Rp out their ~behind the scenes ERP~ stuff that gets faded to black on RPG to Rp things out fully via pm's. Yes, a lot of it might be smut but it can lead to some wonderful character development that cannot be obtained fully any other way.

I'm open minded about it. I have had bad partners in the past but bad ERP partners is like having a bad ex-lover. You can't let it taint future possibilities but in the same breath you have to feel comfortable, both people do or even all parties considered if you are going for more than 1x1. A free, open, and safe environment for all is a per-requisite. Safety is key and safe words are a must. That is beyond even your basic EPR level. Many of my Rps cross a lot of trigger lines, so I make sure in my rules that is addressed and people are aware that certain subjects will be openly discussed and rped out.

There are my two copper pieces on the matter.

[Hero]

Good smut is so hard to come by, though, half the time you got people who think they're being sexy but don't have the guts to say the proper term for genitalia and insist on 'manhood' and 'womanhood' and the other half is odd kinks that feel forced.

[Dion]

[...] half the time you got people who think they're being sexy [...]

@Hero

Almost sounds like real life.

[Fabricant451]

Good smut is so hard to come by, though, half the time you got people who think they're being sexy but don't have the guts to say the proper term for genitalia and insist on 'manhood' and 'womanhood' and the other half is odd kinks that feel forced.

@Hero

But it's sexier to have euphemisms that's what all the translated doujins and eroge tell me.

[Hero]

<Snipped quote by Hero>

But it's sexier to have euphemisms that's what all the translated doujins and eroge tell me.

@Fabricant451

One or two is alright, I suppose, but when you see 'manhood' used in several sentences consecutively, it gets old.

Also I feel like those doujins are in a league of their own.

[wisteria]

Hmmm it's okay. I've never tried it bc most of the people I saw advertising it didnt make it seem interesting or fun at all. Just gross. And honestly if i went through their posts they had like a free kind of writing style as someone else said. Not really anything fun to read from my pov.

Im guessing it can be done well and i'd want to give it a shot. But i think i'd also be bored. I think i'd also want to focus on giving the erp a meaning. Not just smut but maybe like throw some symbolism or even character development lmao or just something in there if that makes sense.

[Penny]

One or two is alright, I suppose, but when you see 'manhood' used in several sentences consecutively, it gets old.

@Hero

Using the same version of any noun repeatedly is always risky!

[NuttsnBolts]

I believe what has to be noted is that there is really two (maybe three) types of ERPs.

Firstly you will have the erotica, or literotica cause that's a cool word, where a story will be a mixture of a romance, love, and intercourse. The balance between those aspects may vary with some leaning more to one than the other, but these will be the roleplays that read much like a story with actual characters, depth, and a built up understanding as to who they may be.

Next you will come across what is just simply porn writing. This will be the roleplays that will play out with little to no plot, and can be pretty much summed up in a single comic strip. It's not wrong, there's nothing against this type of writing, but for many writers this may be where they draw the lines on what they feel comfortable with. To compare it to food the first example would be like a three course meal ending on dessert while this one is a pizza and Sara Lee icecream cake that you order from Dominos.

The last one shouldn't be counted but I've seen too many of them, and some people have taken it so far as to earn themselves a ban... but it's "that weird shit". Being a mod... seeing some of the things that get reported... I think the worse thing I have seen, and thank christ it was not on this forum, was a smut between a human and a Ridley Scott xenomorph Alien. I would love to see that stuff off the forum but PMs are private so it becomes difficult to monitor.

[Hero]

The last one shouldn't be counted but I've seen too many of them, and some people have taken it so far as to earn themselves a ban... but it's "that weird shit". Being a mod... seeing some of the things that get reported... I think the worse thing I have seen, and thank christ it was not on this forum, was a smut between a human and a Ridley Scott xenomorph Alien. I would love to see that stuff off the forum but PMs are private so it becomes difficult to monitor.

@NuttsnBolts

[Sunbather]

I don't care for writing it in a public setting, and very rarely in general tbh. I feel like the genre as a whole attracts a lot of young people (which makes sense, hormones and stuff) and that alone is enough to drive me away. It also seems to attract, well, bad writers. Kinda judgy, but just my perception. Also I very rarely ever see actual value in sex-scenes. 99 out of 100 are fanservice (or self-service in an rp setting, I guess). Off the top of my head I can remember about two sex-scenes in movies/mangas/shows/books that genuinely contributed to the story or the character's development in a way a fade-to-black wouldn't have achieved. And, going bakc to the 1 out of a 100, even less people than that actually want to write erotica for that purpose, so, eh. I can respect erotica if it's well-written and delivers a story, but pure smut is just blegh to me. If everyone involved enjoys it and consents, do it regardless, sure, but it's not for me. I do read stories with sex scenes sometimes, but I don't enjoy them if they're written only to enable the smut rather than include it.

[Dion]

<Snipped quote by Hero>

Using the same version of any noun repeatedly is always risky!

@Penny

Seeing 'cock' or 'pussy' repeatedly isn't really that interesting either, I must agree.

[spicykvnt]

It definitely falls under "good for them, not for me" personally.

[Penny]

smut between a human and a Ridley Scott xenomorph Alien.

@NuttsnBolts

Hey, whatever makes people happy, consenting adults and all that. Also the Sexual Politics of Xenomorphs would be an awesome article title...

[POOHEAD189]

I can (and sometimes enjoy) writing good steamy scenes, but when the pants come off I mostly just can't find words I think sound sexy or classically romantic which is one of the reasons I don't go into full smut.

Good smut is so hard to come by, though, half the time you got people who think they're being sexy but don't have the guts to say the proper term for genitalia and insist on 'manhood' and 'womanhood' and the other half is odd kinks that feel forced.

@Hero

I see what you mean, but it's also kind of equally odd on the otherside of the coin. I'd type "he sucked on her titty as they fucked, and then he rubbed the cooch" and I'll laugh that I actually tried to type that seriously, but I'll feel equally unerotic when I switch it to "sucking on a mammary as they engaged coitus, and then he kneaded the vagina™."

[Hero]

<Snipped quote by Hero>
I see what you mean, but it's also kind of equally odd on the otherside of the coin. I'd type "he sucked on her titty as they fucked, and then he rubbed the cooch" and I'll laugh that I actually tried to type that seriously, but I'll feel equally unerotic when I switch it to "sucking on a mammary as they engaged coitus, and then he kneaded the vagina™."

@POOHEAD189

Let me tell you that both those quotes are leagues better than half the stuff out there, though.

[POOHEAD189]

Let me tell you that both those quotes are leagues better than half the stuff out there, though.

@Hero

...You're probably not wrong.
Maybe I'm just high maintenance when it comes to writing.

[Fabricant451]

I see what you mean, but it's also kind of equally odd on the otherside of the coin. I'd type "he sucked on her titty as they fucked, and then he rubbed the cooch" and I'll laugh that I actually tried to type that seriously, but I'll feel equally unerotic when I switch it to "sucking on a mammary as they engaged coitus, and then he kneaded the vagina™."

@POOHEAD189

That's where imagery comes into play and really how you can tell the 'good' smut writers from the 'thinks sex is just like porn' writers. Over-explaining the actions is sometimes beneficial in a smut scene since writing sex is obviously different from doing it or even watching it. There is a way to make 'sucking on a breast' erotic to read and typically the quickest way is to relate to a sensation you want your partner - and their character - to feel. Too often you have writers just do "And then Chad sucked on Stacy's nipple" and it's like, yeah okay this isn't exactly erotic it's just routine.

ERP isn't for everyone and I'll be the first to admit as a seasoned 'pro' at it that like 90 percent of the time it's about as erotic as grass growing. Writing erotica tends to be easier when you're doing it by yourself since you're in control of the players and their actions and feelings. It's hard to write a recipient when the partner gives them little to work with or respond to other than "Stacy moans as her nipple is sucked."

This really got away from me but what I'm saying is that for how easy it is to write it off, good ERP is hard to do well which is why it's often hard to find good partners anywhere. It's especially hard if someone is legit trying to use it for titillation or as an aide when you're working with instant message cyber sex levels of involvement.

[Dion]

Too often you have writers just do "And then Chad sucked on Stacy's nipple" and it's like, yeah okay this isn't exactly erotic it's just routine.

@Fabricant451

I don't know about you guys but this always made me think 'yeah you're just trynna have a quick wank/shlick before bed and just want me to write some good shit for you while you do the bare minimum to keep me writing'.

It's hard to write a recipient when the partner gives them little to work with or respond to other than "Stacy moans as her nipple is sucked."

@Fabricant451

And then this is what happens when two of those 'I only wanna JACK/SHLICK MY ASS OFF and not WRITE' people meet and agree to roleplay...