My group was always cool with all sorts of "mature" stuff, but honestly nothing of that sort has come up in our games for a very long time. I dunno, we've just been in "go here, kill stuff, get loot" mode for the past year.Well, after a while it just stops being cool and edgy :D
If that were the case, we would've been out of it since AD&D.
It's just the group dynamic; our DM is really hesitant to try any "edgy" story arcs, and is just using modules; which, really, consist of "go here, kill this, get loot." He's tried to do interesting, world-changing events and it's always backfired on him. These particular players are very aggressive and agenda-fueled, and will chew up and spit your setting back at you if given enough of a chance.
So, now he just runs modules, and everyone stays on a tight leash. I wish it were a bit more immersive and player-centric. But, at the same time, I don't blame the DM one bit for playing it safe.
Some day I'd like a chance to DM this group, but everyone seems content with the "go here, kill stuff, get loot" formula that it's hard to get a turn behind the screen.
I LOVE horror and creepy but won't go for physical and sexual abuse themes or allow players to get into them. Other "adult themes" depend on the group.
I've played a long time and nothing brings out the awkward like sex at the game table. Just don't go there unless that is really what you all like o.O. It's one thing to say the the guard captain is having a loud amorous encounter in another room, but it really doesn't need to get more graphic than that in your basic rpg session does it? All gaming groups are different but until you really know your group, keep that kind of thing light. At least that's my thought on it. I get pretty dark with the horror and some adult theme stuff but I know my players really well.
Sometimes I have some under age kids sit in with family members and I ALWAYS tone everything down.
Agreed. Horror is much more effective as an atmosphere thing, instead of just endless descriptions of gore. It's difficult to set the mood quite right, but some people(I've been told I do it well) can do it. The less that is shown, the scarier something is. RPG heroes aren't afraid of a man-eating monster they can see in broad daylight, they're afraid of OH CRAP WHAT'S SCRAPING NOISE ON THE WINDOW! All of the good monster movies back in the day showed very little of the big bad monster until the very end.
Same with "adult" stuff. I won't shy away from mentioning that something is happening, but I'm not one to go into details of the actual encounter. I'm all for incorporating some gamist structures built around adult encounters, such as rolling saves against disease, pregnancy/breeding(half-dragons everywhere!), jilted lovers, psycho-exes, etc. But as for the actual sex itself, that happens off-screen, and is best left to the imagination.