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Jazuela · 06-15-2006, 10:34 PM

If you roleplay a pet in a (fairly) realistic manner, sure. But even fairly realistic means: You don't leave your pet unattended for game-days while you go hunting. When you're mudsexing your partner, your pet is likely to wonder what all that grunting is about behind closed doors and scratch at the door to get in. If the door's open, he'll probably wander in to see for himself.

Are these people all bringing their pets into taverns? Are these pets house-trained? Do they pee on buildings when you take them for a walk? DO you take them for a walk? Does your feline ever hock a furball at very inconvenient moments? Does your pet bird poop on your shoulder, or worse - on the bar right in front of where a senior agent of the merchant house is sitting? Does your pet hunting hawk (who wouldn't have his wings clipped or he wouldn't be able to hunt) fly around the store you're shopping in and claw up the silk dresses on the rack?

Does your pet bird try to eat your pet snake? Has your pet snake ever gotten lost in the coils of your couch? Do you feed and water these animals regularly?

Do you do anything even remotely realistic with these pets, or do they exist only to bark and meow and squawk cutely so people can crouch down and pet them? Do they actually add anything to the atmosphere? Do they bring a little conflict into things, like if you meet up with someone who's allergic to the fur, or has a morbid fear of that kind of animal? Or are they just props? If that's all they are, teach your character to whittle interesting things into wood instead. You'll notice no difference in the "quality" of roleplay environment than a pet that exists only as a piece of fluff.

My opinion is even more emphatic when it comes to roleplaying pregnancy, childbirth, and care/feeding of infants. If you're gonna do it, do it in a way that people will actually believe your character is caring for an actual baby, and not some inanimate object that coos and makes cute gurgling noises and never wets her diaper or projectile-vomits on random passers-by.

06-15-2006, 10:34 PM	#17
Jazuela Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New England Posts: 849	If you roleplay a pet in a (fairly) realistic manner, sure. But even fairly realistic means: You don't leave your pet unattended for game-days while you go hunting. When you're mudsexing your partner, your pet is likely to wonder what all that grunting is about behind closed doors and scratch at the door to get in. If the door's open, he'll probably wander in to see for himself. Are these people all bringing their pets into taverns? Are these pets house-trained? Do they pee on buildings when you take them for a walk? DO you take them for a walk? Does your feline ever hock a furball at very inconvenient moments? Does your pet bird poop on your shoulder, or worse - on the bar right in front of where a senior agent of the merchant house is sitting? Does your pet hunting hawk (who wouldn't have his wings clipped or he wouldn't be able to hunt) fly around the store you're shopping in and claw up the silk dresses on the rack? Does your pet bird try to eat your pet snake? Has your pet snake ever gotten lost in the coils of your couch? Do you feed and water these animals regularly? Do you do anything even remotely realistic with these pets, or do they exist only to bark and meow and squawk cutely so people can crouch down and pet them? Do they actually add anything to the atmosphere? Do they bring a little conflict into things, like if you meet up with someone who's allergic to the fur, or has a morbid fear of that kind of animal? Or are they just props? If that's all they are, teach your character to whittle interesting things into wood instead. You'll notice no difference in the "quality" of roleplay environment than a pet that exists only as a piece of fluff. My opinion is even more emphatic when it comes to roleplaying pregnancy, childbirth, and care/feeding of infants. If you're gonna do it, do it in a way that people will actually believe your character is caring for an actual baby, and not some inanimate object that coos and makes cute gurgling noises and never wets her diaper or projectile-vomits on random passers-by.