Which is more intimidating??

[ghettognome]

When you come to a big battle in a campaign, which intimidates you more; a male villian, or a female villian?
For me it would be female, here's why. They are less predictable, more devious and cunning, and they know how to use their power. Sure a male is intimidating, they are strong and vicious, but at least with a male villian you can sort of predict what you are up against. Females keep you guessing, they appear weak and vulnerable and then BAM your a toy for her to play with.

 

[Darkness]

Neither. You can have female bruisers and male manipulators in D&D just as easily as the other way around.

A eunuch warlock is pretty shocking, though, considering he mutilated himself just to get more power.

 

[Turanil]

I only see prejudice in this opinion, maybe bordering on some kind of weird political correctness ("No, women are not feeble despite looking so, they can be bad too dude!").

For me ability to intimidate has nothing to do with gender in itself. It's about a sum of various characteristics in the right circumstances (plus how many ranks you've got in Intimidate of course).

 

[Remathilis]

Careful, your treading on thin ice over the gender-wars lake...

I tend to believe male villians are more overt; female villians are more subtle.

Intimidating? Heck hath no fury like a woman scorned, but I'd rather not meet a male villian in a dark alley...

 

[Turanil]

Careful, your treading on thin ice over the gender-wars lake...

What I like with this thread, is its potential for useless heated arguments, and good chances for being closed in a near future. Well, waiting to add fire to the oil.

 

[ghettognome]

It wasn't meant to be a gender wars issue. It was just meant to be if all you knew of the villan was gender, which would be worse. But I guess there is no good way to put it without bringing up politically correct gender arguements, I just meant it for conversation.

 

[francisca]

When you come to a big battle in a campaign, which intimidates you more; a male villian, or a female villian?
For me it would be female, here's why. They are less predictable, more devious and cunning, and they know how to use their power. Sure a male is intimidating, they are strong and vicious, but at least with a male villian you can sort of predict what you are up against. Females keep you guessing, they appear weak and vulnerable and then BAM your a toy for her to play with.

I think you should seek professional help. Or a DM who plays all BBEGs sly and vile.

Kill all of your enemies, without regard to gender, and you won't have these issues.

 

[Piratecat]

If you can figure out a way to phrase the question that isn't a loaded question leading to gender arguments, then feel free to restart this thread. I think there's some really interesting possibilities out there involving non-traditional villians; the female bruiser who whups male fighters left and right, Darkness's cool example of a eunuch warlock, and the like.

As this thread is phrased, though, it's remarkably difficult to discuss without insulting one gender or the other. That means it's really not going anywhere but down in flames. We'll save a little time and take the unusual action of preemptively closing it.

Klunk.