There is an almost inexhaustible variety of BDSM roles and fetish personalities. Which often overlap in their motivations, behaviours and sexual preferences. It’s like having to navigate through a dense thicket to find clarity. However, to bring some structure to this apparent chaos, we have put together a comprehensive overview with detailed descriptions. From dominant rulers to submissive servants, from sadists and masochists to petplay enthusiasts – the selection is diverse and fascinating. Immerse yourself in the world of sexual discovery and learn more about the wide range of possibilities open to you.
Top
The “Top”- BDSM roles denote the dominant parties, also known as D-types. These people take consensual control over others on a physical, emotional or mental level. Whether for a single session, a play relationship or ideally even a love relationship, playing the “top” role promises fun. But also carries a considerable responsibility for the well-being of the subs.
| Top | A person who voluntarily takes control of BDSM activities. This term serves more as a generic term for a variety of dominant roles. |
| Dom | An abbreviation for “dominant” that describes a person who voluntarily assumes power, authority or control in a relationship, session, or other activity. |
| Brat-Tamer | A dominant person who disciplines an inherently submissive but rebellious or rebellious person and sees this as a challenge. |
| Daddy / Caregiver | A person who takes on a caring, paternal, or maternal role within a relationship dynamic and in the context of ageplay. |
| Master | A person who voluntarily takes ownership of another person with whom they are in a relationship. |
| Sadist | A person who enjoys inflicting consensual humiliation or pain on others, whether emotionally, mentally, or physically. |
| Rigger / Rope Top | The active role in rope bondage that consensually restrains one or more people with safety precautions in place. |
| Primal Predator | A person who favours animalistic play, behaving like a primal animal that loves to hunt and catch prey. |
| Handler | The dominant role in a pet role-playing game, responsible for the care and control of the human “pet”. |
| Maker | A person who has control over a human puppet and generally sets the rules and commands by which it acts and reacts. |
| Trainer | A person who can take on various dominant roles, but mainly passes on their knowledge to others and trains them towards a specific goal. |
| Disciplinarian | A person who sets strict disciplinary rules for others to follow. |
| Protector | A person who protects another and, for example, accompanies them to activities to ensure their safety. |
| Degrader | A person who derives pleasure from consensually humiliating and degrading others. |
| Spanker | A person who enjoys spanking others on the bum or other parts of the body. |
Bottom
The “bottom”- BDSM roles refer to the submissive or submissive parties, also known as s-types. They are often written with a lowercase initial letter in forums and BDSM literature to emphasise their status. People who take on the “bottom” roles give themselves to others on a physical, emotional, psychological or even financial level. Whether for a single session, a play relationship or within a romantic relationship, submission does not mean giving up responsibility. But requires a clear awareness of one’s own desires and boundaries. As well as the ability to communicate these clearly and unambiguously.
| Bottom | A person who agrees to relinquish control or receive stimulation during kinky activities that may or may not involve submission. |
| Sub | A person who agrees to submit or relinquish control in a relationship, session, or activity. |
| Brat | A person who likes to exhibit certain behaviours such as teasing, playful, devious, mischievous, stubborn, rebellious, disrespectful, or disobedient to challenge a dominant partner. |
| Little | A person who feels like a toddler in terms of age or likes to adopt childlike behaviours and seeks a relationship with a parental or caring caregiver. See also ageplay. |
| Middle | A person who identifies with a teenage mindset or behaviour and seeks a relationship with a caring but strict parental figure. See also Ageplay. |
| Serf | A person who agrees to give up total control to someone with whom they are in a relationship. Worth noting: “Serf” is a newer term from the USA for the type of play commonly understood under the term slave. Out of respect for historical meanings and possible triggers, the term “serf”, which means “servant” or “serf”, is now preferred in the public sphere. |
| Masochist | A person who enjoys receiving consensual pain or humiliation, whether emotional, mental, or physical. |
| Bunny / Rope Bottom | A person who consensually allows themselves to be tied up with ropes by others, considering safety risks. |
| Sissy | A male-identified person who undergoes feminization and, if necessary, the associated humiliation. |
| Primal Prey | A person who is into animalistic games and behaves like a primal animal being hunted by another. |
| Pet | A person who identifies as or behaves like a particular animal, usually a pet, and wants to be treated in a caring, loving or occasionally strict manner. |
| Doll | A person who likes to be objectified and wants to be transformed into a kind of living doll by their own or other people’s powers. |
| Toy | A person who likes to be treated like a toy or object and wants to be used for playful purposes instead of being treated like a human person. |
| Degradee | A person who loves to be degraded or humiliated because they derive pleasure or excitement from it. |
| Spankee | A person who enjoys being spanked on the bum or other parts of the body. |
Others
There are also roles in the BDSM spectrum that cannot simply be categorised as “top” and “bottom”, such as switchers. These individuals display both dominant and submissive characteristics. And can engage in classic D/s play, bondage or impact play, depending on their preference.
Apart from this, there are other BDSM roles where there is not necessarily an obvious power play at the centre. But one may be present.
| Switch | A person who can be dominant or submissive depending on their partner, mood, or situation. Some switch with one partner, while others have several partners, with each of whom they fulfil one of these roles. |
| Kinkster | A person who participates in kinky activities involving power play, role play or sadomasochism, or who lives out fetishes but does not wish to define their role precisely. |
| Fetishist | A person who is aroused by objects or non-sexual body parts. |
| Latex lover | A person who prefers the shiny material latex and would like to share this with others. |
| Ageplayer | A person who takes part in role-playing games in which one or more participants assume a different mental age and behave accordingly. |
| Adult Baby / Diaper Lover | A person who derives pleasure, often of a sexual nature, from wearing or using nappies. Some enjoy wetting their nappies, some like to play with them, and some love both. |
| Sadomasochist | A person whose focus is on the consensual infliction and reception of pain. |
| Slut | A person who ignores social conventions and lives out their sexuality with their partners according to their desires. |
| Exhibitionist | A person who enjoys showing themselves in a public or semi-public way to attract attention, but without involving bystanders without consent. |
| Voyeur | A person who enjoys watching others, usually in a sexual context, but without directly interacting with them, but without involving bystanders without consent. |
| Primal | A person who is into animalistic games, behaves like a primal animal, rejects rules, traditions, and protocols, and prefers to define their own role. |
| Furry | A person who identifies as an animal or creature with human characteristics, wearing costumes or symbols that represent the animal. |
| Spanko | A person who loves spanking and being spanked themselves. |
| Exploring | Someone who goes on a journey of discovery through the world of kink and does not want to commit. |
| Evolving | Someone who is in the process of changing or redefining his or her kink personality. |
| Not sure | You’re still new? That’s okay, no one has to commit from the start. You often find your kink personality through sharing with others. |
Here we present a comprehensive selection of BDSM roles, but it is far from complete – and that’s a good thing. Our selection deliberately focusses on the most commonly encountered play personalities that exhibit at least some degree of power. However, the diversity within the BDSM community is infinite and constantly changing. Every man brings his own nuances and preferences to his roles, and the possibilities are almost limitless.
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