male playing female PC

[thud13x]

I have played a female PC only once. It was in my DM's homebrewed high fantasy, low magic campaign and he wanted the characters to be a certain way. I rolled up the abilities, filled in the numbers, and decided how to play her. The DM had very strict guidelines on what she was and who she had been, so all I had to do was play her. It was like acting with a very hands-on director.

If your player is mature enough and a good role-player to boot, his selection should not present a problem.

nk

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

I don't have much of an opinion on this in PnP RPGs but when I see my buddies play a female character on a CRPG it freaks me out. I mean, what do I say? "Hey, Bruce! Nice butt!" ?

 

[fusangite]

Addendum:

As to the question asked in the first post, my response as a DM would be NO NO NO NO NO NO! This guy's idea about what kind of character he wants to play should raise a massive red flag.

 

[thud13x]

fusangite:

My question to you is why? What kind of red flag does it raise?

An RPGer who wishes to play a certain character type, be it racial, class, or sex, should be allowed to do so if done in a context that matches the game. If no one in the game finds it to be a problem then he should be fine to role play the character in whatever way he wants.

lokiqc:

My question to you is: Is your player a good role-player? From your post it seems the only reason you are totally okay with his selection is the fact that looks masculine (the beard). A good role-player can make you look beyond the player's physical looks and his own personality and create a mental image of the PC that works for your game.

nk

 

[Mercule]

I've seen gender-bending done well, just not often. In theory, I've got no problem with it. In practice, though, I've got a strict no-bending rule in my game.

Why did I enact said rule? I think it was after the 8th leather-clad, arrogant, lesbian, misanthropic drow ranger/dominatrix appeared in my game. Some variation on that theme would describe 90% of all the bending I've ever seen.

Of the people I've gamed with in the last ~12 years since implementing the rule, most everyone (two exceptions, IRRC) has fallen into two categories: the purile dominatrix players, and those who have no interest in bending.

Anymore, I could probably be talked into allowing it if someone had interest in it and showed me it was necessary for the concept, but no one has tried.

 

[S'mon]

>>3. Stay Away From Sex: If you're going to play a female character, try to stay away from romance and sex. Consciously or not, when you do this, you're using the game to work out your own psychological issues around inter-gender relations. More importantly, by engaging in quasi-masturbatory role playing, you're spoiling the game for your fellow players. Unless of course your fellow players don't mind or are right in there with you in which case I suggest that therapy may be a better use of your weekly gaming time.<<

I find this slightly obnoxious advice - if someone wants to play a 'hot babe in a chainmail bikini' and no one else has a problem with that, where's the harm? More importantly, I can't see why "working out your own psychological issues around inter-gender relations" is such a crime - heck, it might even let people grow as a person, or something...

Admittedly I've never played a 'Red Sonja' or similar type myself - my own female PCs have tended to be somewhat asexual, but not transexual. Er...

-Simon "Yes, I am happily married, thank you"

 

[KnowTheToe]

I have only seen it done well once. I don't really see the point, but that is just me. I also do not like it when girls play male characters. They usually do as poor a job as males playing females. That all said, I would not stop anyone, maybe tease them or make an occasional crude joke, but that again, is just me.

 

[fusangite]

fusangite:

My question to you is why? What kind of red flag does it raise?

An RPGer who wishes to play a certain character type, be it racial, class, or sex, should be allowed to do so if done in a context that matches the game. If no one in the game finds it to be a problem then he should be fine to role play the character in whatever way he wants.

I don't think anyone's proposing federal legislation to shut down gender-bending RP (although I wouldn't put it past the Bush administration). So, obviously, "no one finds it to be a problem" go ahead and do it. The purpose of my advice, however, was to alert people to problems which may not be immediately apparent; this is the advice that was being sought in the first post to this thread.

What is the problem of a male playing a female character in the most Charisma-based class with the highest-possible starting Charisma score? I would argue that to pull this off, this PC would have to be one of the best role-players on the face of the planet. I cannot think of a harder character for a man to play. The Bard is the most socially-focused class that exists in D&D. If you don't understand why I think this is a problem, re-read my first post.

 

[S'mon]

Why did I enact said rule? I think it was after the 8th leather-clad, arrogant, lesbian, misanthropic drow ranger/dominatrix appeared in my game.

Isn't that the standard female drow (apart from the Ranger bit)?

If you were playing d20 modern and every single (human) female PC fit that description, I could understand your objection...

 

[ejja_1]

What's wrong with that?

I have had several players that occasionaly delve into roleplaying the opposite sex, and the majority of them have been able to play it without any problems.
We did have one player who was playing a female rogue in a well known module, they came across an area where there was a roper across a stream. She was paralyzed and fell into the water and was being swept down stream, a fellow character pulled her out and set her aside where she wouldnt get into any more trouble. Later on the rogue offered to sexually compensate the other player that had saved her.
As creepy as it was, the other player politely refused and we moved on with the adventure.
No harm no foul.