PC sex relative to player sex
- Thread starter Arbiter of Wyrms
- Start date
I said that the majority of my characters are the same sex as me. But there's a reason for this, and it isn't any aversion to cross-gender roleplaying. It's because:
(1) In most of the settings which have inspired D&D worlds (all the historical ones, and most of the fantasy ones), exploring subterranean vaults, slaying dragons, doing battle with evil, etc., are traditionally roles for a certain gender. Specifically, the male. Absent specific DM instructions to the contrary I expect something similar in the campaign world. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be the occasional Jeanne d'Arc. But Jeanne d'Arc would not have acquired her particular mystique if she didn't pursue a calling that was unusual for women. In order to preserve this flavour aspect, such characters shouldn't be a dime a dozen.
I therefore think it appropriate the the majority of PCs be male, unless the DM has specifically decided to toy with gender relations and roles in the campaign world and do a setting in which women are as likely as men to become adventurers.
I do sometimes (maybe 1 out of every 3-4 characters) create a female character, for variety's sake, but I don't want to make them too common.
(2) I also have a particular sex, namely male.
Since (1) and (2) happen to coincide, it follows that about 70% of my characters are male.
I'd be interested to see the results of this poll broken down by respondent's sex. I wonder, are male players more likely to create female characters than vice versa? Are the people who more often than not play cross-gender mostly women and girls applying reasoning similar to me?
(1) In most of the settings which have inspired D&D worlds (all the historical ones, and most of the fantasy ones), exploring subterranean vaults, slaying dragons, doing battle with evil, etc., are traditionally roles for a certain gender. Specifically, the male. Absent specific DM instructions to the contrary I expect something similar in the campaign world. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be the occasional Jeanne d'Arc. But Jeanne d'Arc would not have acquired her particular mystique if she didn't pursue a calling that was unusual for women. In order to preserve this flavour aspect, such characters shouldn't be a dime a dozen.
I therefore think it appropriate the the majority of PCs be male, unless the DM has specifically decided to toy with gender relations and roles in the campaign world and do a setting in which women are as likely as men to become adventurers.
I do sometimes (maybe 1 out of every 3-4 characters) create a female character, for variety's sake, but I don't want to make them too common.
(2) I also have a particular sex, namely male.
Since (1) and (2) happen to coincide, it follows that about 70% of my characters are male.
I'd be interested to see the results of this poll broken down by respondent's sex. I wonder, are male players more likely to create female characters than vice versa? Are the people who more often than not play cross-gender mostly women and girls applying reasoning similar to me?
Wombat
First Post
Our group runs just about 50/50 -- of course part of this is modified due to the fact that everyone has at least 2 characters, and one wildman actually has 4 (they can only play one character per session, however).
I have female gamers playing male characters, male players with female characters, and of course match-ups as well.
We just go with "whatever feels appropriate at the time".
It's all good
I have female gamers playing male characters, male players with female characters, and of course match-ups as well.
We just go with "whatever feels appropriate at the time".
It's all good
Arbiter of Wyrms
First Post
Yes, unless you yourself are sexless.AZNtrogdor said:
That said, if you're a man who plays macho warforged, macho dromites, and a mindflayer known as Jim "You know what big tentacles mean, don't you," the Manly Man Thing From Beyond, then no, I'd say that for the purposes of this poll you'd say that most or all of your PCs are of your same gender.
Arbiter of Wyrms
First Post
Gez said:
This again . . . have I missed an earlier thread/poll on the same topic?
Kemrain
First Post
I'm about 50% male and female. I have no problem with cross gender roleplay, and I can speak in a male voice or a female voice where appropriate. Around people I don't know, I tend to play male characters, as it makes people less uncomforable, but in my gaming group I can go either way. I've played males, females, a sexless creature (who tended to portray itsself as a female because of the better reactions it got from strangers), and I've even had characters who switched gender half way throuhg their career and went on adventuring. It isn't a significant issue around my table.
- Kemrain the Ambiguous.
- Kemrain the Ambiguous.
deadestdai
First Post
I think it all comes down to gamer maturity levels and that of the party/GM you are gaming with.
I play mostly males because I am just that and so it's easier for roleplaying purposes. But I also create female characters from time to time to give myself a challenge. Rp'ing as a convincing female role, is very hard to do well. And I'm not that good - but it's fun to try.
I play mostly males because I am just that and so it's easier for roleplaying purposes. But I also create female characters from time to time to give myself a challenge. Rp'ing as a convincing female role, is very hard to do well. And I'm not that good - but it's fun to try.
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