Iconics just aren't in general a great place for diversity, since they never show up in the setting except in comics and stuff. I like that they're diverse, but it's a different aspect of diversity in contrast to having, say, an ace NPC who helps the PCs out.
That said, it is quite easy to depict. Just have a character who has never been in a physical relationship, and say it's because they aren't interested. Or have two NPCs, and say they used to be a couple but it didn't work out due to _____'s lack of an interest in the relationship's physical side..
Which could signal to the reader that the character was traumatized at that point in their life, just wasn't into that other peson, or more likely has a sexual attraction opposite the other character.
The latter two are ruled out if you phrase it as the character just being uninterested in sex in general. The former is impossible to fully rule out if people are determined to assume it, but referring to it as "uninterested" instead of "afraid" or "incapable" would be a good start.
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I suppose the only flaw in this is that one time, one of the developers said that every character was bisexual.
That comment has been taking completely out of context. And it was probably worded poorly in the first place, which didn't help.
The point he was trying to make was that NPCs aren't locked into being gay or straight. The GM should feel free to make them whatever sexuality works best for the individual campaign and playing group.
So he wasn't say that every character is bisexual in every campaign. He was saying that every character has the potential to go either way, depending on the group playing that adventure, and what would make for the most interesting story. Or, since we're discussing it here, some of them might be asexual, again depending on what's best for the story being told/played out by the group.
I've tried portraying an asexual character in a different RP setting where sex comes up often. About all she does is on rare occasion snark about it and continue on. Still, while it is a facet of her, it's not something that really comes to the fore in most interactions. I think I've mentioned it in OOC discussions with the others there, but it's not something she goes in to announce. (She'd rather announce other things but that's more a genre convention.)
That said, part of me says ideally it would be treated as folks minding their own business, although that's not the real tone of how things work in reality.
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I thought Seoni was asexual?
If memory serve, Kyra is a lesbian and Merisiel is bisexual.
Valeros seems very heterosexual (he keeps trying with Kyra and Merisiel) and I have no clue about the others.
Am I close or way off?
Seoni's sexuality is unclear. She's been shown in a wedding dress (it's implied possibly for a wedding with Valeros) and looking very happy (in Ultimate Campaign). She's certainly not promiscuous, but asexual's a stretch at the moment.
And Valeros mostly stopped hitting on those two when he found out they were a couple, I think.
You're dead-on on Kyra and Merisiel, though.
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Then again, Seoni could marry Valeros and still be asexual, to my understanding. There's just no solid evidence either way.
Though, come to think of it, "very heterosexual" Valeros might struggle in a relationship with someone without much sex drive, barring some sort of open relationship. :P
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While not Golarian-related, I suggest tracking down (if you haven't already - and if not, why not? It's a great story AND gives you a terrible scene along the way that might inform your use of Zon-Kuthon, along with a plot that's perfect for a worshipper of Norgorber as the Reaper of Reputation) The Deed of Paksenarrion.
The title character is very decidedly ace. There's a few things that involve her sexuality as part of the plot, but she's not held up as 'weird' except by people who want to get her to sleep with them, and most people choose to respect her feelings.
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Then again, Seoni could marry Valeros and still be asexual, to my understanding. There's just no solid evidence either way.
Yep, that's why I noted it as ambiguous.
Though, come to think of it, "very heterosexual" Valeros might struggle in a relationship with someone without much sex drive, barring some sort of open relationship. :P
Indeed. This is why I mentioned him as a possibility for the marriage...it seemed relevant for precisely this reason. Especially since she'd know this about his character and is (assuming it's the two of them marrying) smiling anyway.
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If we're just talking about fantasy novels with ace characters, I really enjoyed Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen. Sometimes I think I'm the only one, though.
If we're just talking about fantasy novels with ace characters, I really enjoyed Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen. Sometimes I think I'm the only one, though.
You're not =) I liked it a lot. Wish we got to see more of that character, both immediately following the events of Clariel and her later incarnation.
One of them as of the ACG was already transsexual, but it was never said who. My personal suspicion was always Damiel.
The Shaman, whose name escapes me at the moment. Unless you mean in addition to her.
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Then again, Seoni could marry Valeros and still be asexual, to my understanding. There's just no solid evidence either way.Yep, that's why I noted it as ambiguous.
Hmmm... according to the comics so far, methinks Valeros and Seoni do not have a past (I might have missed a couple of the early issues though, anyone?)
I know Seoni has a past with Seltyiel, but it's more on the deep hatred axis than on the like/love axis... ;)
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Hmmm... according to the comics so far, methinks Valeros and Seoni do not have a past (I might have missed a couple of the early issues though, anyone?)
I know Seoni has a past with Seltyiel, but it's more on the deep hatred axis than on the like/love axis... ;)
A past? No. You're quite right.
I think the speculation on that front is all future oriented.
One of them as of the ACG was already transsexual, but it was never said who. My personal suspicion was always Damiel.
The creators said they were thinking of having Damiel be transsexual but thought it would be disrespectful to have their first transsexual iconic be a crazed murderer. I know he's listed as CN but he's definitely on the darker side of that.
Shardra, the iconic Shaman, was created as a new character that was transsexual from day one rather than it being a retcon and she's not an a*+#%#%.
BTW, Reiko was said to be asexual and genderfluid by her creator in this very thread.
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If you'd like more information on this, GLAAD breaks it down pretty succinctly: http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender.
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I actually try to play off most of my characters as being polyromantic/asexual and moderately genderfluid, even outside of Pathfinder.
That sounds extremely complicated to pull off as a character. You must have quite the acting skills! (I struggle with having my characters appear happy, angry or fearful...)
No offense to anyone in real life with this label, of course.