Girls (Females) in D&D/Roleplaying
- Thread starter geoffrey d`glanville
- Start date
reanjr
First Post
fusangite said:
Or maybe they are just giving an example to illustrate their point. A single example among dozens in their experience. I, for one, tried to look for the ACTUAL pattern causing different gaming behavior and tried to illustrate that in my post. I have found that any finding of statistical gender differences are almost always non-causative. A better way to ask these questions would be to ask, for instance: "What out-of-game similarities have you noticed about powergamers". The questions are weighted, so many people probably try to remove the chaff before answering the question to give a more useful answer.
Interesting thread, however I agree that this will not generate any reliable stats for female gamers for anyone. Apart from the odd tweaking of answers to put things into a better light 
we are all guilty of doing this on the odd occasion, it's just too variable in my opinion.
As per my intro on this site, I am a female gamer. And ok fair enough I started because my boyfriend explained what it was all about and it sounded good. A benefit for him because I go along to game when he does, so no arguments about 'you spend more time gaming than with me...etc'.
I do try and read the PHB but as per my first game of D&D I learnt more in four hours playing with far more experienced players than reading the book.
we are all guilty of doing this on the odd occasion, it's just too variable in my opinion.As per my intro on this site, I am a female gamer. And ok fair enough I started because my boyfriend explained what it was all about and it sounded good. A benefit for him because I go along to game when he does, so no arguments about 'you spend more time gaming than with me...etc'.
I do try and read the PHB but as per my first game of D&D I learnt more in four hours playing with far more experienced players than reading the book.
Life to you, Geoffrey. And everlasting glory.
Answers are in the quote.
Answers are in the quote.
Hello everybody out there!
After a heated discussion on a German board a while ago, I wanted to ask the people on EN World on how they perceive female roleplayers in their campaigns.
Please stick to the questions:
1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?
Three
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
20% and 80%
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
Depends on the female.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?
No idea
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?
I am sure some are and some aren't
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
Only those that join a game to be with their boyfriend/partner/husband.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
We start playing as kids, when we imagine our selfs as cops & robbers, cowboys & indians, soldiers or super heroes. Roleplaying gives us a structured way of playing all characters we use to imagine as kids.
9. Do you think that socalled "Storytelling Games" like e.g. "Vampire" draw more female roleplayers to their genre than traditional roleplaying games like D&D? If so, why?
No idea
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
No idea
11. Do you know female gamers, that, even after some years of play, have only miniscule/no knowledge of even the simplest rules? If so, why?
12. Did you ever play in groups that only featured female gamers?
No
Did you (if so, how often percentagewise) play in a group that only featured male gamers?
99.9%
How do those groups differ in style?
No idea
13. Do you think a lot of female gamers are drawn into the hobby because their boyfriends are already playing it, or they want to get to know a boy better in the group, rather than out of personal interest?
I would think so, most of the time.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?
No
15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why?
No idea
16. Is there generally more quarreling in a group that features some female gamers? If so, why? Could this be also to the benefit of the gaming, e.g. problems are being dicussed rather than ignored?
Not that i've noticed
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
No idea
Thanks for participation. I also would like to mention that this is only a purely statistical question of mine and should of course have nothing to do with discrimination of either of the genders at all.
Just checkin` if the stereotypes are right, and if so, why.
1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)? 1
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males? 15-20%
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups? Very sliughtly. A bit less toilet humour.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why? No. The motivations for play seem to share the same continuum as male gamers.
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why? No. I've seen it.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself? No.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers? Wider social viewpoint, same as any other variation in gaming group.
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby? Because is a hobby that has generally appealed to young male. Why are more males involved in hunting?
9. Do you think that socalled "Storytelling Games" like e.g. "Vampire" draw more female roleplayers to their genre than traditional roleplaying games like D&D? If so, why? Yes. Stronger penetration of females in goth/vampire subculture.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why? F.A.T.A.L. probably, Reason s obvious for anyone who has read it.
11. Do you know female gamers, that, even after some years of play, have only miniscule/no knowledge of even the simplest rules? If so, why? Same percentage as the males. Some people don't want to learn -- are participating for other reasons.
12. Did you ever play in groups that only featured female gamers? Did you (if so, how often percentagewise) play in a group that only featured male gamers? Only female woujld be impossible for me since I'm male. Only male, yes.
How do those groups differ in style? See #3
13. Do you think a lot of female gamers are drawn into the hobby because their boyfriends are already playing it, or they want to get to know a boy better in the group, rather than out of personal interest? Define 'a lot'. It happens -- happens with males too.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why? Yes; same reasons reltionships break elsewhere -- lack of compatibility/trust/differing goals/differing expectations.
15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why? No. Males do it all the time.
16. Is there generally more quarreling in a group that features some female gamers? If so, why? Could this be also to the benefit of the gaming, e.g. problemes are being dicussed rather that ignored? No.
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how? Individually, probably. Over the population -- no.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males? 15-20%
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups? Very sliughtly. A bit less toilet humour.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why? No. The motivations for play seem to share the same continuum as male gamers.
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why? No. I've seen it.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself? No.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers? Wider social viewpoint, same as any other variation in gaming group.
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby? Because is a hobby that has generally appealed to young male. Why are more males involved in hunting?
9. Do you think that socalled "Storytelling Games" like e.g. "Vampire" draw more female roleplayers to their genre than traditional roleplaying games like D&D? If so, why? Yes. Stronger penetration of females in goth/vampire subculture.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why? F.A.T.A.L. probably, Reason s obvious for anyone who has read it.
11. Do you know female gamers, that, even after some years of play, have only miniscule/no knowledge of even the simplest rules? If so, why? Same percentage as the males. Some people don't want to learn -- are participating for other reasons.
12. Did you ever play in groups that only featured female gamers? Did you (if so, how often percentagewise) play in a group that only featured male gamers? Only female woujld be impossible for me since I'm male. Only male, yes.
How do those groups differ in style? See #3
13. Do you think a lot of female gamers are drawn into the hobby because their boyfriends are already playing it, or they want to get to know a boy better in the group, rather than out of personal interest? Define 'a lot'. It happens -- happens with males too.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why? Yes; same reasons reltionships break elsewhere -- lack of compatibility/trust/differing goals/differing expectations.
15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why? No. Males do it all the time.
16. Is there generally more quarreling in a group that features some female gamers? If so, why? Could this be also to the benefit of the gaming, e.g. problemes are being dicussed rather that ignored? No.
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how? Individually, probably. Over the population -- no.
Why.
Too many questions!
I currently have 1 female player in my 4e tabletop campaign, normally I have 1 or 2 out of 5-7 total, between 1/6 and 1/3. Some female players, perhaps most, are indistinguishable from male players, some are more experience-of-being (immersion-seeking) than achievement-oriented (challenge-seeking), eg IME you are a bit more likely to see a female player who wants the experience of being a military genius, without herself making any tactical or strategic decisions. I remember a female PBEM GM whose Space: Above & Beyond game focused more on intrapersonal relations among the PCs than on fighting the Chiggers.
Most D&D players are male because it's a game about playing a group of people who primarily engage in killing things and taking their stuff. As a concept it's more commonly attractive to males than to females. However plenty of females do enjoy the killing of things, especially when combined with other stuff - my wife greatly enjoyed Neverwinter Nights CRPG, but as much for the ability to design clothes for her PC as for the hacking & slashing. I suspect the 'natural' ratio of male to female players is at least 2:1, but the actual ratio is more like 5:1, and this is partly due to some potential female players being deterred by the male-dominated gaming environment, not being able to find a group with other females, etc.
Finally, I think highly crunch-heavy games like 4e D&D can deter a somewhat higher proportion of female RPers. Some prefer less rules heavy systems to ones that require a strong focus on the mechanics. The two female players I've had in my 4e campaign are/were both rules maestros, but another refused to play 4e because of the crunch. One of my male 4e players is weak on the rules, but it doesn't seem to deter him.
I currently have 1 female player in my 4e tabletop campaign, normally I have 1 or 2 out of 5-7 total, between 1/6 and 1/3. Some female players, perhaps most, are indistinguishable from male players, some are more experience-of-being (immersion-seeking) than achievement-oriented (challenge-seeking), eg IME you are a bit more likely to see a female player who wants the experience of being a military genius, without herself making any tactical or strategic decisions. I remember a female PBEM GM whose Space: Above & Beyond game focused more on intrapersonal relations among the PCs than on fighting the Chiggers.
Most D&D players are male because it's a game about playing a group of people who primarily engage in killing things and taking their stuff. As a concept it's more commonly attractive to males than to females. However plenty of females do enjoy the killing of things, especially when combined with other stuff - my wife greatly enjoyed Neverwinter Nights CRPG, but as much for the ability to design clothes for her PC as for the hacking & slashing. I suspect the 'natural' ratio of male to female players is at least 2:1, but the actual ratio is more like 5:1, and this is partly due to some potential female players being deterred by the male-dominated gaming environment, not being able to find a group with other females, etc.
Finally, I think highly crunch-heavy games like 4e D&D can deter a somewhat higher proportion of female RPers. Some prefer less rules heavy systems to ones that require a strong focus on the mechanics. The two female players I've had in my 4e campaign are/were both rules maestros, but another refused to play 4e because of the crunch. One of my male 4e players is weak on the rules, but it doesn't seem to deter him.
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