male playing female PC
- Thread starter lokiqc
- Start date
Sixchan
First Post
1. The Race Analogy: The idea of a human being playing an elf or dwarf being analogous to a male playing a female is absurd. That's because there is no living model of a fully 3-dimensional dwarf or elf character. Perhaps if there really were elves and dwarves in the world, people's reactions to humans playing them might be similar to the general reaction to men playing women ie. "Oh my God, this guy doesn't have a clue about real elves. The elves I know aren't anything like that. I don't think he has the slightest clue about elven motivation and thought patterns."
So since we can't possibly know the mindset of female Elves, there's nothing wrong with playing them is there?
And people have been mentioning how males play female stereotypes. Well DUH. And as strange as it sounds, I think its probably not so unrealistic.
People are more likely to become Adventurers if they don't 'fit in', right? Hell, it even says that in the PHB a few times. So since realism seems to be important here, take your average fantasy world modelled on Medieval Europe. Chances are, there will be at least some prejudice against either women, homosexuals or having too much sex (Unless of course you are playing in a world where prejudice just doesn't exist--which is unrealistic in itself--and if so, one might wonder why there never have been lesbian heroes). Exceptional people who are experiencing prejudice could become adventurers. Given this, would a lesbian who could cast spells from a place where homosexuality is frowned upon be SO unusual (I mean out of the people from the place who become adventurers, not that society in general)? Would a 'slut' (and I dislike using this term because I think sleeping around is fine for men and women) with a strong sword arm be far out the ordinary if she came from a village where the main temple was dedicated to the god of Chastity?
So since we can't possibly know the mindset of female Elves, there's nothing wrong with playing them is there?
And people have been mentioning how males play female stereotypes. Well DUH. And as strange as it sounds, I think its probably not so unrealistic.
People are more likely to become Adventurers if they don't 'fit in', right? Hell, it even says that in the PHB a few times. So since realism seems to be important here, take your average fantasy world modelled on Medieval Europe. Chances are, there will be at least some prejudice against either women, homosexuals or having too much sex (Unless of course you are playing in a world where prejudice just doesn't exist--which is unrealistic in itself--and if so, one might wonder why there never have been lesbian heroes). Exceptional people who are experiencing prejudice could become adventurers. Given this, would a lesbian who could cast spells from a place where homosexuality is frowned upon be SO unusual (I mean out of the people from the place who become adventurers, not that society in general)? Would a 'slut' (and I dislike using this term because I think sleeping around is fine for men and women) with a strong sword arm be far out the ordinary if she came from a village where the main temple was dedicated to the god of Chastity?
Sejs
First Post
I had a big ol' reply all ready and stuff.. but then people above already said what I was gonna.. Kilmore, mainly.
to this..
..however, I will reply. I will endevor to be succinct, and no it will not be diplomatic.
Thank you, Captain Armchair-Psychiatrist. In the future, please feel free to keep your incorrect assumptions on the inner workings of the minds of others to yourself. Your comment is as offensive as it is wrong.
*takes a deep breath* Ah, there we go. Much better. Think I'll go play some Bubble Bobble now.
to this..
..however, I will reply. I will endevor to be succinct, and no it will not be diplomatic.
Thank you, Captain Armchair-Psychiatrist. In the future, please feel free to keep your incorrect assumptions on the inner workings of the minds of others to yourself. Your comment is as offensive as it is wrong.
*takes a deep breath* Ah, there we go. Much better. Think I'll go play some Bubble Bobble now.
Plane Sailing
Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!
lokiqc said:
Hmmm, tricky.
Wants to play a Bard with an 18 Charisma. Well, I guess that makes sense, doesn't it? Like a Cleric having an 18 Wisdom, or a Rogue having an 18 Dex?
Could the player pull off role-playing that kind of Charisma? I'll agree that role-playing of the mental attributes (Int/Wis/Cha) is much harder than the physicial attributes, because they show up more in the way one talks, plans and inter-reacts. For Charisma I think there is partly an onus on the DM and other players to *react* to the player in an appropriate way. One gamer in my group has a high Cha character and although the player is not particularly charismatic, my PC tends to look at his PC's plans and comments in the most favourable light.
Of course, a lot has to depend upon the use of skill checks which allow those attributes to shine through, of course.
I'd say - give the player a chance. He might have fun trying, having an 18 Cha character around will keep him, you and your other players on their toes.
Cheers
mistergone
First Post
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Funny how these topics pop up and everyone brings out their magazine collections (issues...tehe). My own experience, which I've been told on these boards "does not mean what I think it means", whatever that means, is that players playing characters of opposite genders is SICK AND WRONG.
Oh no wait... wait... no, that's LARPs that I find SICK AND WRONG. D'oh! (tehe again)
Well, anyways... I think the most important thing here is the original poster's concern: It kinda sorta maybe bothered him that a guy was gonna play a female character that would not only be (obviously) very opposite his gender, but a rather stand-out example of oppositeness (not only female but a high-charisma female bard that will most likely enter into some intense roleplaying situations). He said it sort of "freaked him out" looking at this bearded guy that will be acting like a female in character.
Well, man, if it freaks you out, DON'T DO IT. I mean really. It's just a game, not an exercise in testing your moral, eithical, and emotional limits. (Sure, some folks may act like it is, but it's not... it's just a game.) If you aren't comfortable with it, don't allow it in your game. Because you are the DM, you actually CAN say "I'd rather not anyone play a character of their opposite gender, because I'm not particulalry comfortable with it." If your players don't like that, then talk to them. I don't think you're killing anyone's creative soul by asking them to play a character of their own gender.
Me personally, I don't allow it in games I run. It's just a personal preference. I've not seen it work out well before. I even prefer to have female players play females. Part of it is the whole "lesbian evil dominatrix" thing that a lot of guys do. Another is that I've seen twice from different people, guys playing females and then flirting with other player's male characters just for the sake of making the player squirm and be uncomfortable. I've even seen a female player use a male character to do the same thing. Cross-gender roleplaying just, to me, has too much potential for abuse. When I game, I like the players to have fun, ALL the players, and if the actions of one player, due to gender issue or otherwise, cause other players to not have fun, it's a problem.
Now, the only thing outside of the original poster's concern I otherwise feel the need to address here is the notion that some people have that "not allowing a player to play a character of opposite gender from themselves is wrong and close-minded." That's ENTIRELY your opinion. But you knew that, eh? It's a lot like saying "not allowing a player to play a half-dragon half-celestial because that's the only type of character that they have fun playing is wrong and close-minded!" Or insert any other type of character, "evil", "undead", "ninja"... It's all DM's caveat, totally. You can't argue against that. If you don't like the way someone runs their game, don't play in it. With the apparent width and breadth of types of players and tastes, it seems that you can find the type of game you want to play in somewhere. Cries of "roleplaying-oppression" are such a non-issue to me, I cringe at even bringing it up. There's always another game, kids.
So, to sum up:
If it makes you uncomfortable, there's probably a reason, and it might be a good reason, but a game ain't the place to figure out why.
The DM is the Man (or the Woman), and it's their game, they run it, you play it, and while meeting people halfway is good and fine, it's still the DM's game.
If it walks like a woman and talks like a man, and you like it, hey, that's your thing, and it's okay. But don't expect everyone else to think it's okay.
Funny how these topics pop up and everyone brings out their magazine collections (issues...tehe). My own experience, which I've been told on these boards "does not mean what I think it means", whatever that means, is that players playing characters of opposite genders is SICK AND WRONG.
Oh no wait... wait... no, that's LARPs that I find SICK AND WRONG. D'oh! (tehe again)
Well, anyways... I think the most important thing here is the original poster's concern: It kinda sorta maybe bothered him that a guy was gonna play a female character that would not only be (obviously) very opposite his gender, but a rather stand-out example of oppositeness (not only female but a high-charisma female bard that will most likely enter into some intense roleplaying situations). He said it sort of "freaked him out" looking at this bearded guy that will be acting like a female in character.
Well, man, if it freaks you out, DON'T DO IT. I mean really. It's just a game, not an exercise in testing your moral, eithical, and emotional limits. (Sure, some folks may act like it is, but it's not... it's just a game.) If you aren't comfortable with it, don't allow it in your game. Because you are the DM, you actually CAN say "I'd rather not anyone play a character of their opposite gender, because I'm not particulalry comfortable with it." If your players don't like that, then talk to them. I don't think you're killing anyone's creative soul by asking them to play a character of their own gender.
Me personally, I don't allow it in games I run. It's just a personal preference. I've not seen it work out well before. I even prefer to have female players play females. Part of it is the whole "lesbian evil dominatrix" thing that a lot of guys do. Another is that I've seen twice from different people, guys playing females and then flirting with other player's male characters just for the sake of making the player squirm and be uncomfortable. I've even seen a female player use a male character to do the same thing. Cross-gender roleplaying just, to me, has too much potential for abuse. When I game, I like the players to have fun, ALL the players, and if the actions of one player, due to gender issue or otherwise, cause other players to not have fun, it's a problem.
Now, the only thing outside of the original poster's concern I otherwise feel the need to address here is the notion that some people have that "not allowing a player to play a character of opposite gender from themselves is wrong and close-minded." That's ENTIRELY your opinion. But you knew that, eh? It's a lot like saying "not allowing a player to play a half-dragon half-celestial because that's the only type of character that they have fun playing is wrong and close-minded!" Or insert any other type of character, "evil", "undead", "ninja"... It's all DM's caveat, totally. You can't argue against that. If you don't like the way someone runs their game, don't play in it. With the apparent width and breadth of types of players and tastes, it seems that you can find the type of game you want to play in somewhere. Cries of "roleplaying-oppression" are such a non-issue to me, I cringe at even bringing it up. There's always another game, kids.
So, to sum up:
If it makes you uncomfortable, there's probably a reason, and it might be a good reason, but a game ain't the place to figure out why.
The DM is the Man (or the Woman), and it's their game, they run it, you play it, and while meeting people halfway is good and fine, it's still the DM's game.
If it walks like a woman and talks like a man, and you like it, hey, that's your thing, and it's okay. But don't expect everyone else to think it's okay.
der_kluge
Adventurer
I started out playing a female bard. The only problem I had with it was that Bard's suck. So, now she is a rog1/sor6. 
Seriously, I play a lot of female characters. The biggest hurdle is the imagination, since I am a guy, and have a goatee, even. So, while some things are difficult for me to really be able to role-play, like a romance, or something, for the most part, it works.
Seriously, I play a lot of female characters. The biggest hurdle is the imagination, since I am a guy, and have a goatee, even. So, while some things are difficult for me to really be able to role-play, like a romance, or something, for the most part, it works.
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