Playing cross-gender PCs

[Insight]

A good and experienced roleplayer can play a character of either gender. I don't see why this is any more troublesome to people than playing non-humans. Heck, as Bagpuss mentioned, you likely know a lot more people of the opposite gender in real life than gnomes, elves, halflings, etc (if you actually met any of those, please pass whatever it is that you're smoking to the next participant - you've obviously had enough). I don't see why a player can't use these experiences to imagine what a character of the opposing gender might do in a given situation.

I also agree that staying away from stereotypes is important when playing a character of the opposing gender. There's nothing that says "Ewwww" like some big, hairy man trying to roleplay a waifish fairy princess. Making your character unique is important in any roleplaying situation, no more so when playing the opposite gender than playing your own.

 

[lukelightning]

Male, play characters of both genders; probably 75% Male, 24% Female, 1% other (robots, et. al.).

I don't really RP any differently for the genders. I don't try to make a "kick-ass female fighter;" she's just kick-ass 'cuz she is, not because I want to make a woman that somehow special. To tell the truth, I sometimes make female characters for meta-gaming reasons; all the other players in my group have male characters, so I figure having a girl in the group might be useful.

I used to go for the very-cliche "gorgeous adventurer" type, but my most recent female character was a rather frumpy druid.

 

[der_kluge]

I'm female, and when given a choice, I always play a female character. However, when playing in a one-shot or the like, I'll play whatever I'm handed. I guess I just don't find it all that appealing to play male characters, maybe because it's too difficult to get into their heads.

Easy. Play a female, then take away reason, and accountability. Oh, wait...

Even in computer games I always play a female character. That's the main thing I hated about Planescape: Torment--your only choice of protagonist was male, so I couldn't get into the game.

That's an interesting sidebar. My tendency to play female characters extends to CRPGs as well. In Baldur's Gate 1, I made a female elven cleric. I made a female human cleric in NWN. I played the same female elven cleric from BG1 into BG2, and beat it. Then I went back and played BG2 again with a male wizard, and took a different party structure. I did it in part because I'd read about a lot of love interests that could occur in the game, but there weren't as many opportunities for that with female characters. Apparently, one of the male PCs would hit on female characters, but he was obnoxious.

And that's a shame, because PS:Torment is one of the greatest games I've ever played. You should really try to give it a shot.

 

[der_kluge]

In thinking of this, it occurred to me that while I play a lot of humans, and the occasional gnome, and I'm still planning on making a halfling one of these days. I can't find it in me to play an elf.

So, while fully 50% of my characters are females, usually human, with one female gnome in a one-shot, I can't wrap my head around playing an elf.

So, for me at least, playing an elf is a harder stretch for role-playing than playing a female human.

Anyone else feel this way?

 

[der_kluge]

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.

LOL! I think this is the funniest thing I've read on here today!

 

[Rafael Ceurdepyr]

I'm female, but my most memorable characters have been male. My screen name's from my favorite one. I usually decide based on the world, and based on the relationship the other female in the group and I decide our characters should have (long-estranged lover, possible new conquest, etc.)--whatever makes for a more angst-ridden subtext for the characters. (I'm exaggerating, but I bet the males in our group would disagree.) In our current d20 Modern game I'm a guy, and actually photoshopped a photo of him and his fiancee. In our upcoming Iron Kingdoms, I'm going to be female, partly because the mini my husband's painting for me is female, partly because it just seems cool.

But then I get accused of thinking/acting like a guy, so maybe that's why.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

I don't know where Undead Pete lives, but I'd wager that it's a small town. The less cosmopolitan a place is, the worse people are at pretending to be female/black/gay/whateveritisthattheyaren't.

Not necessarily... I live in a town of about 30k in southeast Iowa. It is comprised primarily of churches and bars. However, we have an excellent gaming community and so far in the 12 years I've lived and gamed here I have only heard of 1 person who was uncomfortable with people cross-gender roleplaying in D&D.

 

[Mavnn]

I'm male, and I've played a number of female characters. I find them a fun challenge, and have been reliably informed that they come across as both 3 dimensional and realistically feminine.

I was slightly freaked when my tabletop GM decided to use the PCs from her tabletop game as NPCs in a LARP she was running - and told me she thought I'd have no problem pulling off my female PC live action.

Given I'm a six foot bloke with a bass voice, and my character was a professional ballet dancer (read: tiny), I gave that idea a skip...

Michael

 

[malladin]

I am a heterosexual male and always play male characters (but only mainly heterosexual). Mainly, however, I GM, and would have no problem with someone sensible playing a charater of a different gender. No one has ever wanted to (my personal thoughts on the issue, particualrly for one of them, is that they are trapped in their closet and can risk even looking out of the door ).

However, I draw the line at Live Roleplay - particualrly in a public place!! I once heard of a game where an overly skinny, crooked-toothed, greasy-haired 40 year old man (with beard) tried to play a beautifyul elven sorceress in a game that was running in the local park. I shudder at the thought .

Cheerio,

Ben

 

[Psychic Warrior]

I've never gamed with anyone that comes from your "vast majority".

Never seen 1.
Only case of 2 that I can remember was with a female satyr in a Changeling game. (And she was bi.) She was also "unnecessarily" engaging in drinking contests and in top-lung bawdy singing.
Never seen 3 either.

I've seen all three (sadly in a single game once too ). I wouldn't say it's a 'vast majority' but there are a lot of players out there who think they are much better role-players than they really are. I don't have a problem with cross-gender PCs and would never bar a player from playing one. It's badly played cross-gender PCs I have a problem with.