Girls (Females) in D&D/Roleplaying

[the Jester]

1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?
None, regretfully.

2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
Around 20%. I have almost always had at least one female in my campaigns; in fact, though my game is terribly full right now, if the right female player came along I'd be awfully tempted to add her in, despite having told several other folks no.

3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
Hmm... they tend to be a little more immersive on the roleplaying end of things, but I have excellent rpers in general in my campaign. Females tend to enhance this element slightly. There's also something indefinable that female gamers bring to the table- a sort of balancing chemistry that I really like.

4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?
I'd say rather that male gamers are more drawn to the combat and violent aspects of the game. Testosterone, I suspect.

5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?
I don't think so. I do think they're more prone to fully immerse themselves in their character; for instance, the only 3.0 ranger I saw with undead as a favored enemy was played by a female player. But that doesn't mean that females are immune to powergaming.

6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
Only at first, until they get a chance to learn. Of course, it depends; but I would say, in general, not really much more so than male rpers.

7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
I love gaming with women. They do add an intangibly different element to the game, both in game and out of game. There's a certain chemistry that develops. I dig it. On the other hand, I love gaming period.

8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
Well, traditionally there have been lots of boobies in chain mail bikinis on the covers of fantasy stuff, and our fantasy literature is traditionally dominated by males. (Heck, not one of the main characters of the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings was female!) I think this is starting to change, and there are some really cool strong female fantasy archetypes out there, but not near as many as there are male ones.

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, and again, I think it's the literature. Vampire is all Anne Rice in flavor and feel, and the Anne Rice vampire chronicles are what all the goth girls grow up on. It's a natural progression. There's a certain sensuality to Rice, and I think females are more comfortable with acting that out in game than males are. (How often do two male players have a romance between their characters, even if one of them is female?)

10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
Shrug. Dunno.

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?
Hmm, don't think I do.

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?
How do those groups differ in style?
Once in a while, I have been in an all-guy group (like now). I'd say, hmm, 30% of the time?

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?
Sadly, yes. These are also often the gamer girls who play six sessions in six months in a once-a-week game, distract their bf at the table, and talk loudly on their cell phones throughout the game. Sadly, this was the last female in our group- I had to ask her to stop coming if she couldn't change her behavior.

14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?
I've seen relationships split two people from a group, when their drama overcame them. I haven't got much patience for that- leave it at home, please.

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, I don't think so. I do think that female gamers who are there to be with their bfs are more likely to cause problems at the table, just because they aren't really there to game. (If they are, they no longer count as being there to be with their bf.)

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, not that I have noticed.

17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
Fuller immersion into the character than a male, in general, but that's about it.

 

[Stormborn]

1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?

Two, which is 1/2 the group or 2/3 of the players.

2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?

I know more males who game, but have gamed with more females.

3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?

Somewhat, but in my case I think it has more to do with personalities than anything else. The women in are group are always making the realitonships and the backstories of the chracters more complicated than they need to be cause thats what makes it fun for them.

4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?

Perhaps, but again more personality than gender, see previous answer.

5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?

Nope. That has nothing to do with gender.

6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?

You sir are obviously not married to an editor who plays DnD. She may be less aware of them than I am, but thats because I tend to run the games. She wants to know all of them and if she had more time would. She HATES not knowing every single rule. Most of the editors I know personally are female and I would bet most of them are the same way.


7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?

Well, it does keep it from being a one note game.

8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?

Stereotypes in the minds of those who play and those who make the games causes the game to be marketed to males rather than females. It has nothing to do with the concept of roleplaying itself. You could ask why were most sports men only in the US in the last 50 years, same thing. That has changed, or is chaning, so too with RPGS.


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?

They seem to, but I think thats marketing again. Vampire is associated with a subculture, in my experiance althoug I realize thats not totally true, Goth. If DnD were associated with a subcultre (other than Nerd) it would draw more females I bet. Marketing again.

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?

No.

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?
How do those groups differ in style?

Only played in all male games at a Con. Have played in all female games, but this was my wife and out best friend the game was done with them in mind.

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?

While my wife and I started hanging out and then dating becuase we met playing DnD, she did not start playing to meet me or keep playing because of me. So she played out of personal interest. Same is true of the other female in the group. She played cause thats what her friends did, just happened that most of her friends were male at the time.

14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?

no. May it never be. We have two married couples in out group.

15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why?

I don't know. But recently my Paladin has been dealing with the death of his father, and since my father has been ill lately that has made ME draw private problems into the game. Don't know if thats what you were talking about, but there you go.

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 idea.

17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?

Perhaps. See above answers. Male gamers seem to be more about the combat and less about the story, but I have seen it both ways so I don't think there is a clear answer here.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?

2 out of 7.

2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?

If I discount gaming in circumstances that would bias the answer (i.e. pre-teen gaming groups that went out of their way to keep girls out, school gaming groups in the single-sex schools I attended, etc.) then the answer is about 20-25%.

3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?

They don't.

4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?

No.

5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?

No.

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?

I don't see advantages or drawbacks.

8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?

Most people get into gaming in childhood or teens, and at this age, girls didn't (historically) encounter role-models or materials which encourage them to game. They also don't have a tradition of imagining themselves as the hero(ine) of a fantasy tale.

21st Century films and books are becoming less chauvinistic and female gamers are starting to come out of the closet about gaming. I imagine that my son's generation will see a much healthier gender balance among gamers.

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.

10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?

One of the previous posters says F.A.T.A.L. but I can't imagine anybody playing that, male or female. So I'd say no.

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?

No. Female gamers become familiar with the rules faster than the male ones in my experience.

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? How do those groups differ in style?

I've played in groups that were female-only plus me, if that counts. (I'm male.) I've also played in groups that were male-only.

The all-males tended to drink more and eat more pizza and potato crisps at the gaming table. The all-females-except-me tended to smoke more and swear more.

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 know female gamers brought into the hobby by their partners (my wife's a good example) but also male gamers brought into the hobby by their girlfriends.

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.

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?

Male gamers have a slight tendency to prefer warrior and mage archetypes in my experience, while female gamers have a slight tendency to prefer rogue and priest archetypes. Can't say I've noticed any other real difference.

 

[The_Universe]

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?

Approximately 35% of gamers I have encountered in a game setting have been female. (this is just a rough estimate).

3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?

Very little. Perhaps a slight increase in role-play over roll-play, but on average there has been no noticeable difference.

4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?

Nope. I think it's just a matter of individual taste. Gals can be bloodthirsty, too. As a general rule, women tend to be more involved in the game (all aspects) - story telling is part of that, I suppose.

5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?

Absolutely not. Women powergame and min/max as well (and often) as men do.

6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?

No. I think *new players* are rules-ignorant. But everyone does (and can) learn.

7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?

Girls tend to be meaner to *each other* then men are to their male counterparts. In a group with an odd number of females, frequently one of the women will be "left out" of something that the other two participate in or wish to do.

8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?

Because the hobby grew out of wargaming, which has traditionally been a male pastime. As it has grown from its base, it has attracted more female gamers.

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?

They have "reached out" to female gamers in their advertising and playstyle in ways that other games have not. However, I think the difference is mostly advertising, not really any inherent attractiveness in the gaming style.

10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?

Of course not.

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?

Nope.

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?
How do those groups differ in style?

I have never been in an all-girl group. I have never been in a group that was consistently all-guys (though there were sessions that the women did not attend).

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 think many people are exposed to the hobby because a friend or significant other is already involved. A girlfriend coming because of a boyfriend is certainly plausible, but is far from the only way.

14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?

Of course - especially in high school. People get emotional about things that don't matter. People who game get too upset about games, people who like football might stop being friends because of team rivalry - it happens.

15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why?

Slightly. Girls tend to form shifting alliances and cliques in real life that can often have an effect in game. Usually, it's not a big deal. Occaisonally, however, it can bleed into the game.

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 *more* quarelling - generally, the fighting has just been about different things.

17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?

I think they tend to get more involved in the game - apart from that, the approaches have been largely identical.

 

[Terath Ninir]

1) If you expect me to help on the research for your Master's or PhD thesis, you best pay me first.

 

[barsoomcore]

Hee. I would have said that, but then I wouldn't have had the chance to mention that I DM stewardesses.

Is everyone clear on that? Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[jcfiala]

1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?
Which campaigns? In my weekly we have 2, in my bi-weekly I have 4, in my other weekly I don't know (anonymous, online), in my other bi-weekly I think we have three, and then in my monthly I only have one.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
Until I came to Denver, I'd say maybe 10%. Since then it's been about 40%?
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
I'm not sure. I've changed so much between when I was roleplaying before and since that I couldn't say easily.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?
No more than the men.
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?
No.
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?
Couldn't say, really.
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
Because they don't bathe.
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?
They looked better, and the male gamers there were bathing more.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
Macho Women With Guns, I suspect.
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?
No.
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?
How do those groups differ in style?
a) Can't, as I'm a guy. b) Maybe some corser jokes.
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?
No.
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.
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?
No, other than possibly them being more intellegent.

I should note, on the side, that generally the large gaming conventions, and gaming clubs, in Denver are run by women.

 

[jgbrowning]

Hee. I would have said that, but then I wouldn't have had the chance to mention that I DM stewardesses.

Is everyone clear on that? Let me know if you have any questions.

I"m sorry, I'm a bit confused, who do you DM again?


joe b.

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?

Three. Married to one for twenty years, the other is dating our oldest son, who is also in the group (as is the younger son. Both our children game with us).

2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?

About half. 50%.

3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?

Not at all. I've never had a group without any, and I don't think it would change my style at all either way.

4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?

My wife and her best friend are the bloodthirsty killers who try to move us on to Hack & Slash, whereas my sons are more into the story.

5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?

See above. My wife can squeeze a build til it bleeds efficiency.

6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?

Also backwards for us. She gets annoyed at how often the game is based on cinematic and dramatic logic than "the real rules".

7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?

A single gender group would be non-diverse. I don't think she or I do anything in single-gender groups.

8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?

In my experience, they're usually immature whiners who feel threatened by their own self-imposed artificial gender-based interactivity. They drive the girls away deliberately. Of course, you have to realize, gaming is a freak thing to begin with. Like any other extremely specialized, time-consuming hobby. Not many of us in comparison to even stamp collecting.

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 opimion, since I don't pay any mind to them in any sense, and know no one personally who plays them.

10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?

No data. However, I have yet to see one.

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?

Yes, and male ones, too. Some people of either gender just don't want to look under the hood, they want to take the ride.

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?
How do those groups differ in style?

I've seen one in action once. An all-female group (which, of course, would cease to be so if I played... ). No male-only. I noted no real differences.

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?

Probably, but a lot of male gamers are drawn in because of friends or to be popular with someone, or other pointless shaved monkey reasons.

14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?

Two of my players are divorced. They still game with us. It had nothing to do with gaming at all. Otherwise, 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?

I think both groups are prone to stupid shaved monkey behaviour. 50/50 there.

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, most groups I've seen function like a well-oiled machine, or not at all, regardless of composition.

17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?

In my personal, direct experience, they're more casually violent.

 

[barsoomcore]

I"m sorry, I'm a bit confused, who do you DM again?

Oh, perhaps I wasn't clear. See, there's a trio of single Air Canada flight attendants, one of whom is Columbian/Quebecois so she has a sort of Spanish/French accent, one who's from Trinidad and likewise has a French accent and one of whom is a former beauty pageant winner (a truth only unearthed after many years of acquiantanceship), along with a red-headed geology professor and my very, very talented and lovely wife.

I DM stewardesses. And they LOVE it. They BEG for it. And they had their Power Attacks/Rapid Shots/Maximise Power feats figured out by the end of the first combat they'd ever played.