Why Are Warrior Women Never Ugly?

[The Shaman]

SEX. SELLS.

Any questions?

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

The most "ugly" (i.e. lean, muscular and man-like, even in the face) woman I've ever seen depicted as a she-warrior was Grace Jones as Zula, in the movie, Conan the Destroyer.

I think she must have inspired that monk in the PHB.

If I were a sucessful warrior or wizard or something, I would certainly be tempted to slip the portrait artist a few gold to "make me look good".

Or alternately:

Artist: There. Done.
Artist's friend: What the heck? That doesn't look anything like her.
Artist: Did you see that magic sword she's got? It's got hooks all over it! I value life and freedom from pain. So I'm bringing out her "inner beauty."

 

[Reynard]

Got it in one. It's darwinian. Fantasy is an ideal, and our current cultural ideal is heavy with the sexxiness.

Current?

 

[Sejs]

The most "ugly" (i.e. lean, muscular and man-like, even in the face) woman I've ever seen depicted as a she-warrior was Grace Jones as Zula, in the movie, Conan the Destroyer.

Heh, small world. My group and I were talking about that exact same character this weekend. Dichotomy. Not a high ranker on the traditional feminine nesting drive scale of beauity, but quite the shower physical fitness/symmetry scale. Basically she wouldn't make a good painting, but she'd make one heck of a statue.

 

[Remathilis]

I blame Boris Vallejo and his ilk for feeding the cheesecake warrior syndrome.

My stance comes at this: I've never played and ugly PC. Ever. Even my dwarves looked normal for dwarves. None of them have scars (cept for occasional ones specifically earned in game). None are short, fat, or missing teeth. Male or female. I don't expect any of my players to become hit with the ugly stick either.

When I play a female: she's cute. At least not an eyesore. Why? Cuz I'm rather plain in real life and I'd rather imagine myself a mildly attractive hero with a toned, muscular body in some fantasy-idea of beauty. I can go out on the street and be that.

That said, none of my females are under-dressed (without purpose ) or skinny-twigs. None have breasts that defy gravity or act like super-skanks (like some male-female PC I've seen).

Is it wish fullfillment? Probably. Either way, I don't lose sleep over it.

 

[JPL]

Fat Dragon Games would NEVER put a shapely female on the cover of our products just to sell them!

I'd be surprised, actually, if a cover like that helped you sell books.

To me, the combination of soft-core porn and RPGs is somehow exponentially more shameful than either by itself.

 

[megamania]

SEX SELLS


'nuff said

 

[megamania]

Ack! Someone beat me to it.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I'd be surprised, actually, if a cover like that helped you sell books.

To me, the combination of soft-core porn and RPGs is somehow exponentially more shameful than either by itself.

I will never be buying it or anything by that company. I prefer my rpg suplements not be made of The Tacky.

 

[sniffles]

I don't mind if people want to describe their characters as physically attractive - it's fantasy, after all. If you're going to be the mighty warrior or the powerful wizard, you might as well be a good-looking one, regardless of gender.

That said, I've always liked the cover of the RuneQuest supplement River of Cradles - there's a female character on that that is darned unattractive by most peoples' standards. It's just nice to see some game art that isn't of the chainmail bikini variety.

I have to say I love Claudio's female shifter. It is nice to see a female character who doesn't have exaggerated body proportions. I don't mind some bare flesh, as long as it's not ridiculous. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the Fat Dragon Games cover. I am really turned off by that chick in pasties and g-string. I think I'd probably be happier with that if she was nude. A teensy-weensy bikini is just so modern-day real-world. :\