Why do girls get to have all the fun??

[MeepoTheMighty]

Anyone remember way back in 1st ed. when a character's maximum strength was limited by both race and gender? Female halflings could only have a 14 Strength! Ahhh, the '70's. Not many game producers would dare suggest that today. What made it worse was that there was no bonus to counter the Str "glass ceiling" for female characters.

Well, according to some sexist guy who wrote a letter in to Dragon, women don't need high Strength because they have the "gender-exclusive ability to bear children."

IRL, I've been in a position where women were not allowed for a very practical reason. About 12 years ago I was in the ballistic missile program of the Submarine service in the US Navy. That meant going out "on patrol" for three months at a time was a part of my job description. I don't believe that anyone I ever talked to had doubts about a woman's ability to do the work that was required on a sub, but it was honestly tough to see how a co-ed crew would work on board. Military discipline could only be so helpful, especially on a ship full of "old boys". One of the problems was trying to figure out how to seperate thirty year old vessels into male and female facilities. Something to think about in those space games.

BTW, I don't know if they've since worked that out. I hope so.

From my understanding of the situation, their primary concern is that when you pack a bunch of undersexed twenty year old men on a boat with a handful of women, somebody's going to end up pregnant. Medical facilities on board a ship really aren't equipped to handle such things, and returning to port could jeopardize a mission. So, no women on subs.

It's not a problem on surface vessels, because a pregnant woman could always be flown to shore. Subs, however, need to maintain secrecy for weeks at a time.

That is, if Tom Clancy has taught me anything.

 

[Kilmore]

"Well, according to some sexist guy who wrote a letter in to Dragon, women don't need high Strength because they have the "gender-exclusive ability to bear children." "

I remember that fiasco! He got shouted down like the lout he was!

As far as the sub thing goes, you are absolutely correct. The whole submarine warship concept gets figuratively and literally blown out of the water if you don't stay very secret.

Someone suggested all-female submarines, but how would you train them without men on board? Plus... not to be sexist... but I hear that studies show that women who stay in close contact with each other for long periods of time synchronize their monthly cycles.

Now arm them with nuclear weapons.


Just kidding. Don't kill me.

 

[Dragongirl]

Someone suggested all-female submarines, but how would you train them without men on board? Plus... not to be sexist... but I hear that studies show that women who stay in close contact with each other for long periods of time synchronize their monthly cycles.

Now arm them with nuclear weapons.


Just kidding. Don't kill me.

You just had to add that last part didn't you? The first part is true though. I will leave it at that and not say what is on my mind.

 

[Theuderic]

I think we're going to def con 2.......

 

[Nifft]

IMC women are the physical and intellectual equals to men, but there are fewer female adventurers than male, simply because they are the ones who bear children.

Human population is low, due to predation from monsters and monstrous races. While women can adventure, they are resented. Family sizes tend to be large, but life expectancy low.

Female Experts, Clerics, etc. -- anything but adventurers -- are just as common as male, though.

IMC there are no submarines.

-- Nifft

 

[Kilmore]

Getting back on track (bad Kilmore! Bad! *slap*): The main reasons I can see for creating an all male PrC are:

1.) You need to have a mixed set of chromosomes to get the supernatural benefits of the class, something like the WoT mage guys.

2.) Like in the submarine service, the nature of the work the PrC does doesn't welcome a mixing of the sexes, and there are statistical or cultural reasons why males would be more suited for the class.

3.) An arbitrary decision on the part of the PrC founders or leadership.

4.) A magical or divine effect causes female characters that join a PrC to become male. Though if we're playing with that kind of power, I would think that some religious groups would be interested in a power that makes it's personell lose ANY sexual characteristics, either as a sacrifice or to keep their minds on work.

Of course, all of this can be turned completely around.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

The WoT PrC things kind of make me laugh when I look at them from outside, as it were.

Y'know, the way all the female channellers form into secretive power groups that try to manipulate their part of the world in a nice way in order to stop the stupid men from ruining things...

...and then an all male channeling group comes along and guess what? They all start competing to be the most powerful and are exclusively trained to kill things!



And I don't think that's any kind of comment on The Real World(tm) at all, no sirree, no way, uh-uh...

 

[Corlon]

The WoT PrC things kind of make me laugh when I look at them from outside, as it were.

Y'know, the way all the female channellers form into secretive power groups that try to manipulate their part of the world in a nice way in order to stop the stupid men from ruining things...

...and then an all male channeling group comes along and guess what? They all start competing to be the most powerful and are exclusively trained to kill things!



And I don't think that's any kind of comment on The Real World(tm) at all, no sirree, no way, uh-uh...

Well... that's how Jordan writes

The women get too worked up, I wish rand would just throw a couple Ase-Sedai out the window and let them splat on the pavement, then they might respect him more, if out of fear

That's why I love Mat's ter'angreal so much, I wish all the men had one of those

But back on track, please, no more enuck warlock posts

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

Jordan and his bizarre gender roles...

I mean, the man lost all credibility when he segued from a collection of strong, independent women to "We all love you, but we have no jealousy or possessiveness over it at all and are happy to share you. Now please have sex with each of us at your leisure."

Can you say, "Vicarious fantasy" ?

 

[RobNJ]

Jordan and his bizarre gender roles...

My problem with Jordan's gender roles isn't even the one you list (he's ta'veren (or however you spell it; it's been a while), and he's got that whole, "bending your will," thing and besides which, it fits a nice fantasy (not sexual) trope, the king with three brides). It's more that Jordan appears to believe that either of the following phrases can ever be used with regard to behavior: "All men," or "all women."