male playing female PC

[Quasqueton]

For me, and what I've seen, this is such a non-issue. I'm astonished that anyone would have a problem with it.

One of my recent characters was a female human rogue. An image in the ELH of Lidda inspired me. Unfortunately, I only played her for a couple game sessions, but I liked her, and would have continued playing her.

As a DM, I've seen a few guys play female characters:

A female human paladin.

A female human cleric.

A female half-elf wizard.

A female human rogue.


One player in a game I DMed played a male elf who went by the name "Bob". During the campaign, he often spoke of his baby sister, "Babbette". Later, when that player wanted to DM that world a bit, I created "Babbette" to play. During that short campaign, she was looking for her long, lost brother "Bob".

I have never witnessed any juvenile silliness when playing a cross-gender role.

Quasqueton

 

[seasong]

edit: my next post says what I wanted to say. No reason to be patronizing on top .

 

[seasong]

Originally posted by lokiqc
Will he be capable of pulling that? I have a very hard time to believe that the character's roleplay will be credible... especially when I'll look at him and see his beard!..... and before you ask, no he's not playing a dwarf!

Hey, look at that. The answer is in the question: NO.

Why? You're the DM. You have a hard time believing the character's roleplay will be credible. You'll have a hard time getting past seeing his beard. Will it work in the game?

PROBABLY NOT.

It's got nothin' to do with universal truths, gender egalitarianism, socialization of women vs men, or any of the other side topics being brought up here - it's purely a matter of YOUR player in YOUR game, and my opinion, based on what you wrote, is that it won't work there.

 

[Arnwyn]

*shrug* It really depends on your group, and how freaky/weird/immature that player or your group is. Some people think it's too weird, others don't even notice. This is something that your group will have to decide. Clearly, though, it is not an entirely uncommon occurrence.

(P.S. Trying to compare physical attributes to behavior is laughable at best. The nature vs. nurture argument has hardly been researched enough to support some of the hilarious notions put forth in some of the above posts.)

 

[Mark]

I just started a new campaign and a guy made a female PC. From the start I was very sceptic (sp?) about the whole idea and on top of that the PC is a bard with 18 Charisma.

Will he be capable of pulling that? I have a very hard time to believe that the character's roleplay will be credible... especially when I'll look at him and see his beard!..... and before you ask, no he's not playing a dwarf!

What do you all think Did people in your group pull off something like that and roleplayed the character very well? Did everyone enjoyed themselves or was it just freaky...?

Thanks for your input...hopefully I won't have to send extraplanar creatures to kill her quickly (mwahahahahaha!!)

Let the player play whatever they feel they want to play. Don't prejudge the way they will be playing the character and if they take the game to a place you do not wish the game to go, then you as the DM can pull in the reins any time you wish. Have fun!

 

[Kilmore]

So let me get this straight... I, a straight male inventory specialist and drawer of pictures in my early 30's am competent to play a gay half-dwarf / half-ogre archmage from the world of Greyhawk with one leg and a third eye in the middle of his forehead?

But I should not be considered competent to play a member of a broad group of 3.5 billion or so, each with seperate and distinct personalities, even though I do so fairly enough as a DM on a semi-regular basis and actually KNOW a few of them in real life?

I do not agree.

 

[lokiqc]

Damn!! Work sure gets in the way of my time on the board... lol

Thank you all for your input. It'll help me a great deal. Now, a few clarification. We're all over 20 even one player over 35 so we're mature...well sort of!. The guy playing the female PC, I really don't know him well but the 3 other players I know very well. He's been playing for a long time. The game will definately be serious and I expect pretty good roleplaying from my players.

I think my biggest apprehension was the fact that it's a bard and the charisma is way up. Thanks fusangite you've said it clearer that I could have. If you're heavy into roleplaying, then bard is the way to go, it would have been a lot easier if the PC was a Fighter or Barbarian

I've only seen 1 player play a female PC in my life, but I was a PC back then. 1st time DMing it. Quite frankly everyone was confused by the whole issue, calling her a "he" et al. but that was another group.

In any case I'll see how it goes and if it's just annoying I'll realease the hounds!!

 

[seasong]

As for the whole universal truths, thing... Teflon Billy, fusangite, etc., tend to take a hard line on it because their experiences have been so bad. Truth to tell, if I played with the people they played with, I'd probably take the same tack.

Heck, I'd probably be harsher. And more bitter .

And as they said - this is their opinion. I know people are already jumping on them, but really, they were ASKED for their opinion. And, as regards their groups and their players and their GMs... they're right.

So far as I can see, lokiqc was just asking for opinions, and given what he's said about his player, I think they're right about his group, too.

(Obligatory brag and disclaimer: I, of course, am a paragon of roleplaying expertise. Both as GM and Player, I have left only awe and marvel in my wake as I roleplay characters of all genders, races, heights and weights. My group is only slightly less paragon-ish than myself. So in MY group, you can be certain, gender-bending is allowed, and often marvelously crafted.)

(The above is true. Just ask me.)

 

[thud13x]

Hey lokiqc,

Good idea to just play it by ear. One can speculate all one wants, but one will never truly know until one tries.

And...

Don't forget the number 1 rule of Gaming:

Just have Fun!

And whatever happens, happens.

nk

 

[Mark]

In any case I'll see how it goes and if it's just annoying I'll realease the hounds!!

Naw. Just nudge them back toward where you want the game to be. I've been DMing for a quarter of a century and there's really no reason to over-react if they start to stray from what you feel is acceptable. Anyone wishing to take risks role-playing like your player seems to be willing to take is likely enough to be understanding if you feel the reins need drawing in a bit.