Playing cross-gender PCs

[Wombat]

First part: I am the GM for my group (have been, under many game systems). As such, I have played multiple female NPCs. No one ever seems to complain or worry about that; in fact, some female gamers have really admired by female NPCs.

Second part: Yep, I cross-gender roleplay. Why not? I mean, as I've already done it as the GM, why not as a player? I've never seen any real problem with it.

The interesting thing I've found is the biggest "opposition" to me playing female characters has come from female gamers; I happen to know my sampling is extremely small, but I found this amusing. One woman adamantly stated (the only person of either gender that I've heard this from publically) that it is impossible for men to play women and vice-versa, thus cross-gender roleplay should be banned. By that same token, no male would ever be able to write about female characters in books and there goes Lady MacBeth, amongst others. Then again, I was in a game (Ars Magica) where there four players, two male, two female -- both of the women had both male and female characters, but neither had a female magus, so I decided to play a maga, simply to balance things out. One of the women thought this was freaky and was a bit creeped out by my choice; the other simply accepted as part of the game.

In gaming, all I really care about is that the players have an interesting character that they feel comfortable playing. If they want to play their own gender, fine. If not, also fine. As has been said many times, if you are allowed to play a non-human, why shouldn't you be allowed to play a human of a different gender and/or persuassion.

Makes the world go 'round.

 

[Gez]

I think you're trying too hard Buttercup. We men are not that complex.

All you need to do when you encounter anything is ask the following series of questions (in any order):

1) Can I kill it?
2) Can I eat it?
3) Can I sleep with it?

Then move on and repeat.

I can't believe you forgot the most important rule:

0) Can I take it?
1) Can I kill it?
2) Can I eat it?
3) Can I sleep with it?

And I've found that women aren't much more complicated, either:

0) Is it shiny ? If so, can I take it?
1) Can I kill it?
2) Can I eat it?
3) Can I pet it?

 

[hong]

This poll doesn't really tell you much except support the fact that rpgers are "creepy" "abnormal" people in general. It's embarassing enough that us grown men hang out together pretending to be warriors & spellcasters of various races. It doesn't help our image anymore when the general public knows that most of you grown men pretend to be women too.

R U A GURL??/ I M ICQ1NG U R1T3 N0W, BAY-BEE!!!1

 

[MonsterMash]

I can't believe you forgot the most important rule:

0) Can I take it?
1) Can I kill it?
2) Can I eat it?
3) Can I sleep with it?

And I've found that women aren't much more complicated, either:

0) Is it shiny ? If so, can I take it?
1) Can I kill it?
2) Can I eat it?
3) Can I pet it?

For a female playing a male in D20 modern it should be easy just remember there are two main things on any mans mind at all times:
1 Sports (sex can be put under this heading)
2 Beer (and pretty much food in general)

Everything else is secondary

 

[Gez]

Question for the DMs that do not allow guys to play female characters.

Do you also forbid them from playing elves?

Because, you know, "elf" is another name for "female character".

 

[fusangite]

Question for the DMs that do not allow guys to play female characters.

Do you also forbid them from playing elves?

Because, you know, "elf" is another name for "female character".

One of the highly likeable things about the woman who just joined my campaign is that when I met with her to discuss the game, she did this rant about how she will never play an elven archer and how she has essentially no respect for women who insist that every one of their characters be (a) hot, (b) good with a bow, (c) elvish and (d) usually all three. Naturally, I was only too pleased to include her in my campaign.

 

[reanjr]

Yeah, but is she hot? I have found that the better looking the girl, the more likely she wants to play a good looking character. Just an observation that I'm sure is incorrect on several levels; good taste being one of them.

 

[fusangite]

Yeah, but is she hot? I have found that the better looking the girl, the more likely she wants to play a good looking character. Just an observation that I'm sure is incorrect on several levels; good taste being one of them.

You know: I have found the absolute dead opposite. Good taste was barring me from making that observation here but now that you've taken the bullet for me, I find that the people most likely to want to play pretty girls are, in order of commitment to the idea (not probability), (a) a certain subset of gay men, (b) unattractive women involved in the performing arts, (c) straight men who read a lot of lesbian porn, (d) everyone else, (e) pretty girls.

 

[der_kluge]

My last few female characters were "pretty" but that is probably due in large part to them being sorcerers, so obviously charisma is my primary score for mechanical reasons.

I tend to usually play clerics and sorcerers, so charisma is always at least somewhat important, even for the clerics. So, unless I want a worthless character, they have to at least be charismatic.

The only non-caster female I can recall offhand was a female gnome rogue, and I'm certain her charisma was quite average.

 

[hong]

You know: I have found the absolute dead opposite. Good taste was barring me from making that observation here but now that you've taken the bullet for me, I find that the people most likely to want to play pretty girls are, in order of commitment to the idea (not probability), (a) a certain subset of gay men, (b) unattractive women involved in the performing arts, (c) straight men who read a lot of lesbian porn,

Memo to self: next new player interview, ask them what pr0n they like.


Hong "purely in the interests of science, you understand" Ooi