Male player + female character: a new twist

[ltclnlbrain]

I played a male changeling character who spent the majority of his time in female form, although his background was a bit more...twisted than Joshua Dyal's. Suffice it to say that the changeling had psychological problems and actually thought of himself as female. It was interesting to say the least.

 

[fusangite]

Any comments on this situation from those who don't like male players playing female characters?

As one such GM, I would welcome your character concept. Generally, the kind of cross-gender pathological play I try to keep out of my games is practiced by guys who want to "be" female. Your character would not, in my estimation, attract such players. Furthermore, your character would not cause any problems with suspension disbelief when his motivation or actions ring false/masculine in a particular scene -- after all, he's just a guy pretending to be a girl.

In contrast, reveal's example has all my alarm bells going off.

 

[reveal]

In contrast, reveal's example has all my alarm bells going off.

Why?

 

[Tinner]

Why?

Well, it twigs me out a little too.
Here's how I see the difference.

The first PC is a guy with some plot hooks that have forced his PC to "hide out" it's got a "Some Like it Hot" or "Robotech: TNG - Lancer/Yellow Dancer" kind of vibe to it. Bit of a classic really.

The second feels like a guy with some gender issues who's trying to work them out IC, or who just wants to "freak the mundanes." No thanks, kindly keep your psychodrama out of my adventure story please.

Granted, this is all just my personal bias, and without knowing the players in question, I could be reading the whole scenario wrong.

 

[Tarangil]

I think there was a movie with that type of twist. I think it was Victor Victoria. It had to do with a woman pretending to be a man that's pretending to be a woman. Funny stuff.

 

[Corsair]

I've done the opposite before. Played a female changeling pretending to be a male when she joined the party.

 

[solkan_uk]

I really don't see the issues here, I mean as GM I play everone except the PC's whether male, female or otherwise - so when I create a character I sometimes enjoy playing a female character, sometimes a male, it doesn't mean I have real life issues.
I don't even think the arguement of being unable to play a realistic woman works, I've met women in all shapes and sizes and some of them even act very much like how men stereotype them (not many - for which I'm thankful really), you can't say that a particular way of playing a character is wrong.

Unless of course it conflicts with your campaign style, in which case tell the player why.

 

[Quasqueton]

A male Player in my game has been playing a female [halfling] PC pretending to be a male. All the other PCs/Players knew something was "up" with the halfling, but didn't know what. We went 21 game sessions with no one figuring it out, until this past game session when the halfling had to "come out" because she was pregnant (as much a surprise to the halfling PC/Player as to the other PCs/Players).

Quasqueton

 

[Desdichado]

Yeah, I was honestly surprised when I joined up here and found people that had issues with cross gender PCs. I've heard some of their horror stories, and I can see where they're coming from, though.

I know for a fact that we wouldn't have any wierd gender issues being explored in my group, so we don't think much of it. We're probably more "authorial" in style rather than "method actor" so we'll have female PCs is the concept for the PC feels more resonant as a female, and not if not.

 

[reveal]

Granted, this is all just my personal bias, and without knowing the players in question, I could be reading the whole scenario wrong.

You are.