Game vs Real-world gender

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Just out of curiosity, how many of you have ever played any role playing games as members of the opposite sex? If you have, why did you do so? What did playing a charcter of a different gender "feel" like? How was doing so different than playing a character of the same sex as you? How often, percentage-wise, do you play opposite sex characters in CRPGs? Do you do so when playing multiplayer - if not, why not?

I am asking because of a college class that I am taking for my Masters degree - the readings we have had to do make certain claims that seem weird to me and I wanted to see if they are "verifiable."

Any comments or responses are appreciated. Thanks.

 

I play both sexes fairly regularly in CRPGs, not for any specific reason. I suppose sometimes spoilers about the storyline options (like the romances in BG2) might make a difference, which is why I've restarted the game as a male this time. But mostly in CRPGs I just check out all the portraits and pick the one I like best, be it male or female and go with it.

In regular RPGs, (most of mine being online ) I tend to play female characters. Not really from any preference, but only because the guys I play with always play men. *shrug* So I play a female for variety and to add to the flavor of the Role-Playing.

However, I have played several male PCs, and actually, one of my favorites I'm playing now is a male elven Ranger. He's a blast! The sex of a PC doesn't matter all that much in terms of how I play the game. When I create a character, he/she is an individual, and depending on the background, may have "typical" traits of either sex. I've played women that are friendly, nurturing, and helpful, and women that are cold, solitary fighter types... And the men I've played are just as varied.

I guess, sex isn't really a determining factor for my gameplay other than determining the interaction between characters in a party. In a CRPG where it's all scripted beforehand, my choice is less important. In a DnD game, it's more about what sort of interaction I want to get withing the party. In general, I think a female character has the potential to be more interesting, sole based on the fact that there aren't too many of them around, in my experience. Whether she's played by a guy or a girl, doesn't matter.

Ok, I'm rambling now. I'll shut up and let someone else talk. Hope some of this helps.

 

I never play females unless the hero MUST be female in the game (i.e. Septerra Core).
I really don't know why is it so, because I enjoyed those "must be female hero" games.
Perhaps it is just a habbit to choose always male. No, I won't change the habbit. Too late.

[EDIT]
Just spotted multiplayer question... No, I never play online. Even the games of the year. Why? Because of cheaters online. I don't need that, trust me. It has nothing to do with gender.

[This message has been edited by Extremist (edited October 23, 2001).]

 

In CRPG's I have male PC's most of the time, but I have played with a female PC once. That was way back, my first game BG1. I took the female gender, because I understood the gender discription wrong. It said that females can go to every area they want (or something like that) and I thought that males couldn't enter certain places. But after that I only played with male PC's. Except if I made the entire party myself (like I did in BG2 one time) then I make female and male characters.

 

I would have a hard time playing a female in roleplaying games...I'd never leave the castle!!! just kidding!

I prefer to play guys...Don't ask me why, it's just my preference. I suppose playing a woman would definitely stretch the roleplaying experience...But I've never really thought about playing a female character. Just a reflex, I suppose...to go with a male character...Roleplaying for me is the class and race I play, not the gender.

[This message has been edited by Sir Belisarius (edited October 23, 2001).]

 

I'd have to say I always play a male, and it's strictly out of bordem that I try out a female character. I've tried a female on Fallout1, and BG2.

I guess it's in the back of my mind that the vast majority (+90%) of game programmers are male. To their credit, they try to do a 'woman's perspective' well, and I probably couldn't do it any better.

But the games are setup for males. That's why you can sleep with 3 different elf/half-elf chicks in BG2, rather than one male (half-male) as a female. With all those elven erotic-arts, something has to be *awesome*.

 

I'm a woman, and currently, I happen to be playing both, in different campaigns. With my female PC, I tend to let my nurturing, "den-mother" side come out. I hand out healing potions to the party, find myself moderating arguments, she's also a bard, so I wind up giving pep talks, and telling bedtime stories. She has strength, but it's strength of character, not muscular. It definitely feels more "me" to play a female, I have to act less and I feel that my responses are more natural.

My main male character is a tough, cold, gritty ex-knight. He's a pit fighter, and I find it a refereshing change to role-play a harsh calculating military mind. I tend to let him "wade" into battle more, and let him take more damage than I allow for my female. He's got a more tangible power than my female PC has.

CRPG's are another story entirely, as you're not really role-playing, just acting through a predetermined set of traits. (Like the alignment-based responses of BG1 and BG2). Gender doesn't seem to matter, knights act valiant, theives act sneaky, no matter what gender.

 

I appreciate all the responses so far. Most of them are variants of the stuff I have had to read. However, a number of your comments are quite a bit more insightful than the academese that has been written on the subject.

I'd appreciate hearing more, from more people as well as any additional comments that those who have posted might wish to add.

Thanks for the responses.

 

Heh. I'd be very hard put to it to roleplay a woman. It's difficult for me to think like one. And, truth to tell, not worth the effort.

 

I've always played male characters for many years. (Incase you don't already know.. i'm female) When I first started playing RPG's there was no option for gender. It was always male. I've grown quite used to playing Male characters so when BG came out I didn't think twice about creating a male character. Strangely enough I feel more comfortable playing them. Maybe it's habit. I'm not quite sure. I have, however, recently begun playing in one of The RC games here at SP. I am playing a female Druid. I thought I might try something new.
I'm enjoying myself and feel comfortable with the character. Although, it is still a different experience for me.

[This message has been edited by Xenecor (edited October 24, 2001).]

 

I can almost guess the answers most people are going to give. Men are going to say no, they tend to play only male characters and do not gender swap as a rule. Females on the other hand are more open minded and not worried about the stigmas people will place on them for playing a male character. I personally have played many different characters. I prefer female however, i just think it is easier to play. When it comes to crpg's i have no preference as some games do not allow you to play female characters

 

Kiti, Kiti, Kiti.

It might be more accurate to say that women who play RPGs are less likely to feel intimidated by playing male characters because they're the sort who've already stepped into what is a mostly male world. Why not take the next step?

Anyway, I don't play online anymore. Found too many jerks who're just out to cause problems. I learned how to dodge a lot of them, though, so I expect I'll get back into it once I find a MMRPG that I like.

As far as gender, I usually play males just because with pretty much every character I make I try to be myself -- at least in terms of alignment, gender, personality, etc. Sometimes I'll add minor quirks that are different, but that's about it.

On the old MUD's, however, I created entire lives as a woman by the name of Kate. Even got married. It worked really well since my real name is Jamie, so when my Internet "husband" fingered my account he really thought I was female. Heh. (WildHeh, even.)

 

I create female characters but I haven't yet played one. Probably just cuz I'm a char generator junkie. Hopefully, I'll get to play my female halfling Ranger I created last week for Heroes Quest (we're playing the old game with 3E characters). I'm looking forward to it. I'll bite you in the kneecap, take that! lol

 

I've mostly played male characters, however in games where you create more than one PC, like IWD I usually have a 50/50 male/female split.

One of the reasons I tend towards male characters is that I have a tough time listening to female pain. My main character tends to get hit more often than the others, and the female sound fx make me cringe.

In early high school the DM let our high level party role up side-kicks, lower level PC's who would fight by our sides. For that role, I chose a female Bard named Slonta. (She eventually even got a flying broom, but that's another story )

One story to illustrate why I never chose a female PC in a non-computer RPG ...

Remember, we were all male between the ages of 13-16 having no clue about how women really were.

The DM thought it would be funny to have my female PC have her period in the middle of a combat.

I had to roll a saving through at -15.

Failing, I was incapacitated for 3d20 rounds.

I never played a female PC again! And .... now that I'm married, I realize how big of a mistake that the DM made with that circumstance. If anything, that should have sent Slonta into a bezerker rage allowing her to slay all the enemies in the dungeon, after-which she would collapse in tears wondering if her chainmail made her look fat!

 

For CRPG's, I play a Male character unless I make up all of the players, then I make an even number of male and female characters. (I like to look at the female portraits, but play all of the characters the same, like a male) In RPG's I play Male characters. The reason is not that I'm closed minded, but rather I am a male, and know what and how a male thinks and how a male reacts. Not being female, I have no real clue as to what Females think or what motivates them, with the exception of my wife. (Trust me I really know what she likes) This is not something to be ashamed of, it is reality. As for those females who play both and think that they know the male mind, you are deluding yourselves. You are females and think like females, not males, and even if you think that you know how to play a male, you still don't think like a male and never will. This is a good thing. Viva la diference.

[This message has been edited by Baldak Oakfist (edited October 24, 2001).]

 

The main character has to be a male. We clearly can't have a female Mollusken running around, can we? But other than that I don't mind playing females in CRPGs. They look different, sound different and adds variety to the game. And some of the female portraits in Icewind Dale have a very nice appearance .

 

Baldak: I do not feel like I understand the male psyche nor that I will react in the same way a male would. My point was simply that I was used to playing male characters. I felt more comfortable with it. While some women may feel that they know what a man thinks, I , on the other hand, do not. Instead of making general assumptions on how a gender thinks I make the assumption on the plot and situation I'm in. So I feel I am expempt from your opinion that women who play males are "deluded".

 

I (male) usually play male characters. It simply helps me "get into character" more easily. As I grew up in a rural, wooded area (western Connecticut, USA) and camped, hiked, and basically lived in the woods, I often play as a Ranger as well. It makes me feel like I am in the game.

 

Most of the time, my personal choice is female. Exceptions: games where you cannot choose your PC's gender. I also played male PC's in BG2, because the female romance option sucks.... With no outside influence, I would play female because this is what I identify with, but I am not uncomfortable with playing male. Males may try to act stronger and tougher, and may be less compassionate, but a male Paladin would be no less "good" than a female one, I believe.

 

Funny, in BG i almost always played females and it was a female that was the first of the two charcters i completed the game with (two years after i got the game i completed it for the first time ). But now i almost instinctively choose male characters (which annoys me a bit because i dont have nearly as many male ports as femlae ones )
I like to have the choice though, and i recently played BG2 with a female just to get through the Anomen romance, and try the female responces from NPCs.