geoffrey d`glanville
First Post
MatrexsVigil said:
Thanks for the answers, folks, so far! Very nice.
Girls (Females) in D&D/Roleplaying
- Thread starter geoffrey d`glanville
- Start date
Thanks for the answers, folks, so far! Very nice.
fuindordm
Adventurer
1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?
2 out of 6 players, plus myself the DM.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
Highly variable, but post high-school there has usually been at least one in a group and more often 2. If I had to lump all my adulthood campaigns together I'd guess around 25%.
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
I don't think it has an appreciable impact on the style of play. Strong personalities and interesting characters, male or female, affect the style of play much more than another body at the table.
But again, I'm not including my high-school games in the equation, and I'm sure that in that age group
the presence of the opposite gender can be sufficienty embarassing to change people's behavior.
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?
Definitely not.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
Nope.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
It's true that a game of D&D with men only can turn into a good boys' night out with all that entails, but I've never been the kind of guy who looks for that kind of entertainment anyway. I prefer mixed groups because it makes the game feel more 'real' socially, I guess.
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
First, because the easiest way to play D&D is hack and slash with very little story--this is how most of us started to play the game while we were learning the rules. This style of play is much more likely to hold the interest of a male teenager than a female teenager.
Second, because of culture and marketing.
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, because they encourage social role-playing on a more fundamental level, which means that the first games a novice runs or plays are more likely to have a good balance of story, interaction and combat.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
No, I think once a woman gets into gaming they're generally happy to explore multiple systems and settings.
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?
Never--if they have so little interest then they stop playing.
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 all-male groups, and they've been pretty much like the mixed groups.
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?
Sure, but isn't the same true of any other activity? My first girlfriend introduced me to backpacking and skiing, and so forth.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?[
15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why?
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?
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
Nope to all of these.
Cheers,
Ben
2 out of 6 players, plus myself the DM.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
Highly variable, but post high-school there has usually been at least one in a group and more often 2. If I had to lump all my adulthood campaigns together I'd guess around 25%.
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
I don't think it has an appreciable impact on the style of play. Strong personalities and interesting characters, male or female, affect the style of play much more than another body at the table.
But again, I'm not including my high-school games in the equation, and I'm sure that in that age group
the presence of the opposite gender can be sufficienty embarassing to change people's behavior.
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?
Definitely not.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
Nope.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
It's true that a game of D&D with men only can turn into a good boys' night out with all that entails, but I've never been the kind of guy who looks for that kind of entertainment anyway. I prefer mixed groups because it makes the game feel more 'real' socially, I guess.
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
First, because the easiest way to play D&D is hack and slash with very little story--this is how most of us started to play the game while we were learning the rules. This style of play is much more likely to hold the interest of a male teenager than a female teenager.
Second, because of culture and marketing.
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, because they encourage social role-playing on a more fundamental level, which means that the first games a novice runs or plays are more likely to have a good balance of story, interaction and combat.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
No, I think once a woman gets into gaming they're generally happy to explore multiple systems and settings.
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?
Never--if they have so little interest then they stop playing.
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 all-male groups, and they've been pretty much like the mixed groups.
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?
Sure, but isn't the same true of any other activity? My first girlfriend introduced me to backpacking and skiing, and so forth.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?[
15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why?
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?
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
Nope to all of these.
Cheers,
Ben
Doug McCrae
Legend
I don't mean to be ungrateful but any chance I could get everlasting life instead of everlasting glory?Nikodemos said:
ThirdWizard
First Post
1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?
One.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
8% maybe?
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
Our jokes get a bit more perverted, I suppose.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?
No. Recently a male player of mine commented how he loved just sitting around town roleplaying out what they were doing and interacting. The female member of the group said that she wanted to kill more things (only 1 combat that session).
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?
Haha, no. Nobody wants their character to be a weakling.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
In my experience... they react the same as males in this regard.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
It's more fun whena woman is involved. Regarding anything in life, really.
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
Same reason more males buy Shonen Jump, we're the target audience. That, and it can probably be easier for a male to get into the hobby. Because its a male dominated past-time, its easier for males to get involved than females in an endless circle.
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?
Hmm well I have known some female LARPers who really liked it, my boss last year for one. However, I have known far more women into video game hack and slashes, so I have to say no.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
Misogyny the game? Just kidding. Women play that too. Okay okay, just kidding, there had better not be a game called that.
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?
Define simplest rules. If by that you mean calculating attacks, movement, skill use, and character creation/leveling, then no. Overall, the same as the men I game with. But, I've had bad luck finding people who learn *any* rules beyond their own characters necessities.
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 not.
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?
Every time it has been the opposite. The female gamers have brought their boyfriends to the table. We got a very fun player that way, if busy and unavailable much of the time unfortunately.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?
No... as the DM if anything like that started up, I would tell 'em to take it outside. Two members are ex'es, however. It hasn't caused a problem, and I don't expect it to.
15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why?
God, who puts up with that kind of thing? My friends are all mature enough not to.
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?
An odd question. We don't argue in my group. I suppose that's because we're all friends, rather than anything else.
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
Nope, I think females are just as varied and different from each other as males are, at least in my experience. If anything, they're more powergamers than what I'm used to, but most of my players arn't anywhere near powergamers, so that is waaaay skewed I'm sure. Powergamer in this case means about the way the average ENWorlder probably plays among my current group. They're that sad.
One.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
8% maybe?
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
Our jokes get a bit more perverted, I suppose.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?
No. Recently a male player of mine commented how he loved just sitting around town roleplaying out what they were doing and interacting. The female member of the group said that she wanted to kill more things (only 1 combat that session).
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?
Haha, no. Nobody wants their character to be a weakling.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
In my experience... they react the same as males in this regard.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
It's more fun whena woman is involved. Regarding anything in life, really.
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
Same reason more males buy Shonen Jump, we're the target audience. That, and it can probably be easier for a male to get into the hobby. Because its a male dominated past-time, its easier for males to get involved than females in an endless circle.
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?
Hmm well I have known some female LARPers who really liked it, my boss last year for one. However, I have known far more women into video game hack and slashes, so I have to say no.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
Misogyny the game? Just kidding. Women play that too. Okay okay, just kidding, there had better not be a game called that.
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?
Define simplest rules. If by that you mean calculating attacks, movement, skill use, and character creation/leveling, then no. Overall, the same as the men I game with. But, I've had bad luck finding people who learn *any* rules beyond their own characters necessities.
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 not.
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?
Every time it has been the opposite. The female gamers have brought their boyfriends to the table. We got a very fun player that way, if busy and unavailable much of the time unfortunately.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?
No... as the DM if anything like that started up, I would tell 'em to take it outside. Two members are ex'es, however. It hasn't caused a problem, and I don't expect it to.
15. Do you think that female gamers are more prone to draw private problems/conflicts into the actual roleplaying than males? If so, why?
God, who puts up with that kind of thing? My friends are all mature enough not to.
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?
An odd question. We don't argue in my group. I suppose that's because we're all friends, rather than anything else.
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
Nope, I think females are just as varied and different from each other as males are, at least in my experience. If anything, they're more powergamers than what I'm used to, but most of my players arn't anywhere near powergamers, so that is waaaay skewed I'm sure. Powergamer in this case means about the way the average ENWorlder probably plays among my current group. They're that sad.
Last edited:
Raven Crowking
First Post
1. How many female roleplayers do you have presently in your campaign(s)?
Right now, the group is entirely male. So far as I am aware, my EnWorld game is also all-male, as are my play-by-posts.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
In high school, it was 33.3% female. In the U.S. Army, my games were about 10% female. Post-army California games were about 10-15% female, depending. I had one game that was 100% female, though it was very short-lived. After having moved to Canada, I would say about 10%, again depending. Overall, maybe 10-20% of the players I have run games for, or been a player with, have been female.
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
That really depends upon the individual. I do think that there is a different dynamic. The game is made a bit more realistic by adding more points of view, perhaps.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?
I'd give that a qualified "Yes". Several of the women I've role-played with were new to the game, and new players are almost universal more drawn to the storytelling aspect of the game...if given the opportunity to be. While the people who have invested the most in their characters (and hence, in the world and story that their characters are part of) have not universally been women in my experience, I would say that they comprise a large percentage.
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?
God, no. Back in the days of 2Ed, I had a player affectionately referred to as "the Shark," due both to her prowess at min/maxing and the utter ruthlessness of her characters.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
No. New players generally fit that description. People who join in once or twice because of Significant Others might fit that description. Generally, people who play learn enough rules to play. In high school (AD&D), I had one female player who convinced me to allow her to use new rules from Dragon (bounty hunter class)...certainly none of the male players at that time were reading the rules as much.
BTW, hop over to DND Chick's Realm if you like, and take a look at the rules she's posted there. Clearly, here is a female player who not only knows the rules, but knows how to modify them to her purpose.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
More people close the bathroom door when the urinate.
(Unfortunately, based on actual experience 
)
8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
A combination of early marketing and the limitations of earlier editions of the game. Let's face it, the more options for what characters can do, the larger an audience a game is likely to attract.
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?
Marketing. Also, these games focused on eliminating some of the limitations of early D&D-type rpgs. Remember, early D&D was just killing things and looting them with the occasional trick or trap to deal with. Role-playing, when it occurred, occurred within that context.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
Not that I know of.
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?
Once, in Califonia. This game was actually designed for the girlfriends of some of the players in my regular game, and my ex (who was not my ex then). It was a "players new to the game" game, and I am not at all certain that a transcription would allow an outsider to identify the genders of everyone at the table.
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?
Nah. A lot of female gamers try the game because of boyfriends, maybe, but if they're going to be "drawn into the hobby", there has to be some personal interest already.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?
Yes. However, that's pretty personal stuff for the people involved. Suffice to say that it didn't happen during the game, and oddly enough didn't impact the game. Actually, that last part is still pretty amazing when I think of it.
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, but only because I have experienced both genders drawing personal problems into a game. Right now I am running a game where all the players are male, and I am trying to teach the players (many of whom are high school students) not to bring their personal problems 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. There is generally more quarreling in a group with less mature players. I remember some pretty serious spats in high school. Less so as I got older. Nowadays, even though I am DMing a much younger group, I am able to keep the quarreling largely out of the game. I would say this is a function of age, not gender.
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
I think that there is enough difference that I would be happier with a more balanced (genderly-speaking) group of players in my regular game. However, I'd have a hard time saying exactly why that would be so. Perhaps there is a general difference in outlook, allowing a mixed-gender group to find more things interesting, and thus drive the campaign forward better. I am not entirely convinced that this is true, though.
It could just be that the best gaming groups I had were mixed-gender. It could be, really, that I would just like to gather those players back to my gaming table again.
Not sure.
Hope these answers helped.
RC
Right now, the group is entirely male. So far as I am aware, my EnWorld game is also all-male, as are my play-by-posts.
2. Percentagewise, with how many females did you share your hobby in your own gaming history so far in comparison to the males?
In high school, it was 33.3% female. In the U.S. Army, my games were about 10% female. Post-army California games were about 10-15% female, depending. I had one game that was 100% female, though it was very short-lived. After having moved to Canada, I would say about 10%, again depending. Overall, maybe 10-20% of the players I have run games for, or been a player with, have been female.
3. How do female roleplayers change the style of play in your groups?
That really depends upon the individual. I do think that there is a different dynamic. The game is made a bit more realistic by adding more points of view, perhaps.
4. Do you think that female roleplayers are more drawn in to the storytelling aspect of the game? If so, why?
I'd give that a qualified "Yes". Several of the women I've role-played with were new to the game, and new players are almost universal more drawn to the storytelling aspect of the game...if given the opportunity to be. While the people who have invested the most in their characters (and hence, in the world and story that their characters are part of) have not universally been women in my experience, I would say that they comprise a large percentage.
5. Do you think that female roleplayers are more or less immune to powergaming/maximizing? If so, why?
God, no. Back in the days of 2Ed, I had a player affectionately referred to as "the Shark," due both to her prowess at min/maxing and the utter ruthlessness of her characters.
6. Do you think that female roleplayers are generally ignorant about the rules, concentrating more on the stories and the roleplaying itself?
No. New players generally fit that description. People who join in once or twice because of Significant Others might fit that description. Generally, people who play learn enough rules to play. In high school (AD&D), I had one female player who convinced me to allow her to use new rules from Dragon (bounty hunter class)...certainly none of the male players at that time were reading the rules as much.
BTW, hop over to DND Chick's Realm if you like, and take a look at the rules she's posted there. Clearly, here is a female player who not only knows the rules, but knows how to modify them to her purpose.
7. Where do you see advantages/disadvantages of a group that features some/majority/none female roleplayers?
More people close the bathroom door when the urinate.
(Unfortunately, based on actual experience )8. Why do you think that male roleplayers are the vast majority in the hobby?
A combination of early marketing and the limitations of earlier editions of the game. Let's face it, the more options for what characters can do, the larger an audience a game is likely to attract.
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?
Marketing. Also, these games focused on eliminating some of the limitations of early D&D-type rpgs. Remember, early D&D was just killing things and looting them with the occasional trick or trap to deal with. Role-playing, when it occurred, occurred within that context.
10. Are there systems/settings out there in your estimation that are completely devoid of female roleplayers? If so, why?
Not that I know of.
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?
Once, in Califonia. This game was actually designed for the girlfriends of some of the players in my regular game, and my ex (who was not my ex then). It was a "players new to the game" game, and I am not at all certain that a transcription would allow an outsider to identify the genders of everyone at the table.
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?
Nah. A lot of female gamers try the game because of boyfriends, maybe, but if they're going to be "drawn into the hobby", there has to be some personal interest already.
14. Have you ever seen relationships break in a group, maybe even while playing? If so, why?
Yes. However, that's pretty personal stuff for the people involved. Suffice to say that it didn't happen during the game, and oddly enough didn't impact the game. Actually, that last part is still pretty amazing when I think of it.
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, but only because I have experienced both genders drawing personal problems into a game. Right now I am running a game where all the players are male, and I am trying to teach the players (many of whom are high school students) not to bring their personal problems 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. There is generally more quarreling in a group with less mature players. I remember some pretty serious spats in high school. Less so as I got older. Nowadays, even though I am DMing a much younger group, I am able to keep the quarreling largely out of the game. I would say this is a function of age, not gender.
17. Do you think that the general approach of a female gamer is different from a male gamer? If so, how?
I think that there is enough difference that I would be happier with a more balanced (genderly-speaking) group of players in my regular game. However, I'd have a hard time saying exactly why that would be so. Perhaps there is a general difference in outlook, allowing a mixed-gender group to find more things interesting, and thus drive the campaign forward better. I am not entirely convinced that this is true, though.
It could just be that the best gaming groups I had were mixed-gender. It could be, really, that I would just like to gather those players back to my gaming table again.
Not sure.
Hope these answers helped.
RC
Doug McCrae
Legend
I have known the occasional female powergamer (the percentage was certainly less than that for males) but the method employed to powergame would always be social rather by min-maxing - charm, browbeating, having breasts, whatever.
I've gamed with hundreds of people, probably upwards of thirty of them female, and not a single girl has been a number cruncher. I imagine this is for much the same reason that computer programmers, mathematicians and nerds in general are much more likely to be male than female. Whatever that is.
I've gamed with hundreds of people, probably upwards of thirty of them female, and not a single girl has been a number cruncher. I imagine this is for much the same reason that computer programmers, mathematicians and nerds in general are much more likely to be male than female. Whatever that is.
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
And if they are female, they're almost invariably Chinese. At least the programmers are.Doug McCrae said:
Seriously, EVERY woman I've ever known who was a programmer was Chinese. I'm talking eight women over a career of as many years, which sure isn't very many, but it IS 100% of the women programmers I've met.
I have no explanation for this phenomenon. Or is it strictly a local occurence? Any Vancouver population is likely to skew towards Asian ethnicities, anyway.
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