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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
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 Posted: 26-Oct-2003 08:47 Post subject: Gender in RPG |
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Sir Henry and I were having a discussion earlier and this subject came up.
How many of you regularly play a gender opposite of your's in games?
And do you think that women (as players) are often underestimated?
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2003 09:03 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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I know that women characters are underestimated.
I, for one, play female characters all the time in my RPGs. It puts the Male characters on edge trying to either ignoring the fact that the character is a female or get the attention of said character. They're attention wanders away from the task at hand... They try to protect/care for/lay the female Character and that gives me an advantage.
Paladins are the worst for this... I get under their skin in a hurry.....
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2003 10:52 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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edit: cross-gender characters are seen in almost every game I play. I too have one in an AD&D 2nd ed game.
Few people are able to pull it off without going stereotype. Same goes for women playing male characters. Most cross-gender characters I've seen (and played) could as well have been the gender of the player to begin with. They're not realistic, the gender just doesn't make any difference in how the character is played. You get a female character acting just like a man, or vice versa...No potential for romance since the player just isn't capable of portraying it or the ST isn't comfortable with it. So the only thing these cross-gender characters are good for is an excuse to find a picture of some attractive person to look at.
What? No, I certainly don't underestimate female players. I don't think anyone does, if he's played with women for any amount of time. Did that sound corny? There are some differences in how we think, but it doesn't make women less capable of playing in a RPG. They actually become an asset, since they see angles we men just don't think about.
[ This Message was edited by: Nightmare on 2003-10-26 10:55 ]
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Raven!
Clan Snow Raven
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1326
Location: United States
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2003 11:07 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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Hey Chihawk,
I jump all around the gender of my characters, usually though, when I play a female character, I'm basing it off of a book or tv show or movie i've seen. My favorite female character I ever played was a wizard who had a long list of personal spells all based around indirect methods of doing things.
As to female players, my main group is 50% female. 6 players: 3 female, 3 male. Sometimes we get 8 players, cause another couple joins us, but the division stays the same. So no one underestimates them. Except the Bard, but thats cuase she just whines alot and wonders how her clothing will survive whatever next inferno we're about to run into. And she never does damage in a fight.Seriously. She's two levels higher then my gnome illusionist and he could kick her ass.
Raven!
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Pinhead
The Bloody Clans
Joined: 25-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2003 17:03 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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I played an online text based roleplaying game for years called Gemstone 3. For a while I played a character that I created named Misdy Meanor...
I didn't let anyone know it was a man behind the screen, and as far as anyone knew the character was played by a woman.
The game was originally hosted on the Genie network and eventually they invited AOL in. AOL came in with a horde of players and really changed that game.
One of the AOL guys got involved with a Genie player's female character (all the Genie folks knew this was a guy behind the screen) and was VERY pissed off when he found out, so he started a huge thread on the game's bulletin board.
The quote that came out of that thread that I've always just had to chuckle over was this: It is easy to tell a man played character versus a female played character, all you have to do is look at the little things. For example, a character that couldn't possibly be played by a man is Misdy Meanor, as she has all the little nuances of just being female.
I pretty much almost died of laughter when a friend sent that to me.
In online games that have pictures of the characters, I often play a female, mostly cause I'd rather look at some cartoonish hot chick than some cartoonish hot guy while I play
In face to face games though, it is VERY difficult to play what I would see as a complete female character if you are a male. You cannot flirt, pout, giggle, get pissy, or a whole host of other activities in a face to face situation without causing a few problems. I do sometimes play female characters in AD&D, just not the over the top type.
Pin
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2003 17:12 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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It's funny you mentioned "It is easy to tell a man played character versus a female played character, all you have to do is look at the little things." because that statement is generally true because most men play female charcters terribly bad and it is easy to tell--provided you know what too look for.
A good role-player can pull it off, but they are few and far between.
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Gunslinger Patch
Royal Black Watch Regiment
Major
Joined: 04-Mar-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 26-Oct-2003 18:04 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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In E and B I chose to create a female terran warrior named Mallory and the ship Norway in honor of one of my favorite sci-fi universes. It was actually the first time I'd muchplayed a female, much less a pretty hot looking blond female. The only other time was a crafter in Ultima online who never left the house. You know, I was surprised how many male avatars started sidleing up to Mallory.
I mean please, its a game, not a singles bar.
Now on the other hand my best friend (a male) always does a female character named Dascha. Back when he was in the Navy his ship got to visit the Ukraine, where he met this girl and spent the weekend with her, etc. And now he always plays a female named Dascha.
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Jade_Dragon
8th Sword of Light
Sho-sho
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| Posted: 03-Nov-2003 15:18 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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I often will play a female character in a PBeM, mainly because the groups I regularly play in are short of those characters. If things are going to be face to face I usually don't as I cannot RP that well.
As far as underestimating women in gaming, I am probably guilty of that fact, however, I have very little experience gaming with them other than myself trying to teach one.
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Pinhead
The Bloody Clans
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| Posted: 03-Nov-2003 20:13 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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As far as underestimating women in gaming...
A few years ago John Casey and I played in some big mechwarrior tournament 180+ players over the course of 4 or 5 days held in Baltimore.
On the second day, the table next to me had a VERY good looking young lady at it. She wore a thin silk shirt, unbottoned a bit, and she kept leaning over the board to check out her moves.
I don't think the guy she played ever even saw the board, and she just plain wiped him out. It was actually kind of funny. She eventually placed in the top ten, as she was much more than just a pretty young lady. She was a very good player also.
Pin
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
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| Posted: 03-Nov-2003 21:13 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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Quote:
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On 2003-11-03 20:13, Pinhead wrote:
As far as underestimating women in gaming...
A few years ago John Casey and I played in some big mechwarrior tournament 180+ players over the course of 4 or 5 days held in Baltimore.
On the second day, the table next to me had a VERY good looking young lady at it. She wore a thin silk shirt, unbottoned a bit, and she kept leaning over the board to check out her moves.
I don't think the guy she played ever even saw the board, and she just plain wiped him out. It was actually kind of funny. She eventually placed in the top ten, as she was much more than just a pretty young lady. She was a very good player also.
Pin
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I seem to recall a young woman doing that at TotalCon 
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Pinhead
The Bloody Clans
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| Posted: 04-Nov-2003 01:47 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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You know, if you can convince Lynn to play, I would have to play the other team just to dance again
Pin
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 04-Nov-2003 06:06 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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Quote:
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On 2003-11-04 01:47, Pinhead wrote:
You know, if you can convince Lynn to play, I would have to play the other team just to dance again
Pin
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I can arrange that
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 04-Nov-2003 07:55 Post subject: RE: Gender in RPG |
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See, the power of Women over Men extends everywhere..... 
I'd like to get in that game too, if you could move it closer???
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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