Curse

Solith · May 08, 2005, 01:50 PM // 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longshaft

maybe its just me, but i find it a lil....erm....odd, that 95% of the female characters (i've talked to) in GW are played by "males." it becomes even more...erm..interesting..when u consider that GW is a role playing game, and part of its main feature is building and developing a character u can ..erm..identify with. the Freudian implications are breathtaking.

Who says you must develop a character you can identify with? What is wrong with pretending to be someone completely different? Think of roleplaying as acting, just because Jack Nicholson played a mental freak with alcohol issues in The Shining, it doesn't mean he identifies himself with the main character. Some people will seemingly never understand that not everybody tries to live as their alter ago online. Homophobics

Devil's Dictionary · May 08, 2005, 01:53 PM // 13:53

Quote:

I have my two char's, 'Sekkira Nendedaga' and my pvp 'Yuskei Sto Helit'(bonus points if you recognise where the last name is from).

Yuskei's last name is from the same place I got the caps in my name from. Is she a relative of Suzan, then?

I made only one female character for the simple reason that I like the Morrigan haircut for female necromancers. I believe that people who are uncomfortable with their sex aren't boys who play females but those who are afraid to play females.

Riyal · May 08, 2005, 01:57 PM // 13:57

I Find it odd that this topic gets bought up on forums again and again. Are there really that many people that want to form a romantic relationship with someone they met in game? Thats what life is for, go outside and meet people in the flesh

If you do want to meet someone online there are many dating and chat sites that allow this, these sites actually contain people specifically looking for a relationship.

Why stop at sex? we should all make chars (of the correct gender) using our own names. Then we can stand about not learning any skills because I know I can't hurl fireballs about or call upon divine powers to heal people

Ramus · May 08, 2005, 02:12 PM // 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Principa Discordia

I've seen this "penomenon" in every online game I have ever played, and it still doesn't bother me in the slightest.

If a guy wants to play with a female character, why not? Is it the implication that the player may be homosexual? Is it some threat to their masculinity?

I'm female at the keyboard, but I generally play a male character in every game that I play. Make what you will of that, but it's not something I'm ashamed of, and cross-gender gaming shouldn't offend guys either.

*Shrug.*

A/S/L!?!?!?!

Kidding

But agreed, it happens in everygame. And it is a bigger deal in mmorpgs when you actually have social contact with other people.

Games like SWG where social interaction is half the game tends to get strange, you have men playing females but marrying men and flirting and never telling. But hell, it is a video game, so its not much of a big deal anyway.

In guild wars though... it does not matter much at all. No one even talks to eachother. :P

Devil's Dictionary · May 08, 2005, 02:20 PM // 14:20

Quote:

No one even talks to eachother. :P

Oh? I found myself making a lot of game-friends with the PUGs. Two days ago I got this great PUG where everyone were simply insane. We laughed all the way to the Ice Gates.

CrazyGirl · May 08, 2005, 02:27 PM // 14:27

girls int hat game=hotter then the guys in that game...fact

Tharkon · May 08, 2005, 02:52 PM // 14:52

I agree with Principa there. Only bad thing with it all is that some guys only take girls cause they think it's fun and they think it's fun to scam people by starting a discussion pretending they are a girl. This I hate.

Oh also if you would to get tougheter in game with a Female character that actully is a male in real life and you got to know it. It would feel realy weird :P

Last Gasp · May 08, 2005, 02:55 PM // 14:55

The girl models are generally smaller in mosts games. Having a smaller model is an advantage in a PvP game.

Tharkon · May 08, 2005, 02:58 PM // 14:58

Dude don't tell me people actully do it cause of that ? :P

Miths · May 08, 2005, 03:01 PM // 15:01

I usually stick to playing male characters in mmo's even though I'm not a roleplayer, but since GW seems closer to a game like Diablo than to the standard mmorpg's where at least some people end up in roleplaying situations (and I tend to try to respond in character if I run into a roleplayer), I went strictly for style and appearance this time around. Especially since my main is a necromancer.
I didn't care much for the sickly hunchback look of the male necromancers, but has anyone seen one of those female necromancers in necrotic armor? Hot, very hot, and yes, I don't have a problem saying a bunch of pixels on a monitor look "hot" - all those nude photos you have lying around on your harddrives of women you'll never see in real life are composed of exactly the same virtual pixels

.

If I only have the option of playing one those smooth clean-shaven boys aspiring to be men, that seems to be the general look even for big brawly warriors in these games, I am likely to choose a female character as well.
I started a male ranger in GW though - at least they have some bearded faces that fits my image of a fighter (in the general sense, not as a class) best.

Besides, mmo's are not dating services but games. I play to whack some virtual monsters, not to be hit on by horny 13 year old boys who for God knows what reason still seems to want to think that a female character equals a female player

.

Naga Siu · May 08, 2005, 03:21 PM // 15:21

I really dont see what the big deal is. If someone wants to be a girl, or if a girl wants to be a guy let them. Your calling ppl that play the opposite sex homosexual/pervs, well just dont talk to anyone then, if your so paranoid.

The only way you would find out is if you asked them a/s/l, and that in itself makes you just as creepy in some peoples eyes.

chalt2 · May 08, 2005, 03:22 PM // 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

female characters are treated better then males

My guildmates and I have tested this to be true, several of our members are male playing female characters and we set up at the fountain and asked questions and tried to sell things and the females got most, like 85% of the attention.

Ramus · May 08, 2005, 03:26 PM // 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naga Siu

I really dont see what the big deal is. If someone wants to be a girl, or if a girl wants to be a guy let them. Your calling ppl that play the opposite sex homosexual/pervs, well just dont talk to anyone then, if your so paranoid.

We may not be homosexuals, but we are quite definitely pervs.

Studio Ghibli · May 08, 2005, 03:35 PM // 15:35

.. everyone who feels uncomfortable in this matter needs to question why -exactly- it bothers them that someone is choosing a female avatar to use in a video game.

You also need to question exactly -why- you feel that my choosing of a female avatar implies some underhandedness on my part, whether for perversion or subversion, as opposed to simply preferring the female avatars over the males (which I do).

In fact, you really need to ask yourself why I have any -reason- at all to represent myself as I am in real-life. If this were the case, none of the avatars would be suitable for me.

There are, after all, no avatars chair-bound, small-frammed, five-foot-six, with long hair, a pronounced nose, high cheek bones, a surgery scar on their left cheek, et cet.

I'm assuming you're not a monk in real life? Or whatever character you drive?

It's a game.

I'm going to say that again, to reemphasize it:

It's a game.

I choose what I do to enjoy the gaming experience. If I'm going to be staring at my avatar for X+100 number of hours, I'm going to choose what I like, and that chose has no bearing on whether or not I'm a pervert, whether or not I'm homosexual, whether or not I'm trying to trick you for any reason.

This isn't a dating service, the last time I checked.

Longshaft · May 08, 2005, 03:37 PM // 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramus

We may not be homosexuals, but we are quite definitely pervs.

lol. ah...i love the honesty. better than the "the female character has better shadding and pixel quality than the male charcter," line.

Slade xTekno · May 08, 2005, 03:45 PM // 15:45

I am undecided on this issue.

I play D&D as well. When I make a char that runs more on stealth, deception, or offensive spells, like Assassins or Bards, I make them female. However, if I make a char based on attacks or support, like most fighter classes and clerics, I play a male. I also always make a char in every RPG I play named Slade Carter.
I found that this has carried over to Guid Wars [sort of]. My Ele/Mnk heal spammer is male. Slade Carter, my Me/W, is also male. My PvP char always changes sexes, depending on what I am playing at the moment. I plan to make a R/N, and it will probably be female.

I'd like to be optimistic and say that males play females because it just fits, but it doesn't seem to be the case. Most people, along with myself, will say that they like female characters for their "asthetic value." Chances are, a majority of them have also undressed their female chars and had them /dance at least once.

To be honest, there are a variety of reasons. Toward your points
1] You've got to realize that everyone is a pervert. Chances are the women have undressed their male chars as well. They're just not as open/forward about it as guys are.
2] The target audience for most games, especially RPGs, are closet-dwelling male teenagers. Don't tell me the reason people initially bought EQ wasn't the scantily-dressed girl on the cover...
3] Maybe we are. I have no problem judging other guys, nor do I have anything against wearing pink or purple. Then again, I'm a liberal, rather feminine guy.

I have a friend that plays nothing but female chars in whatever he plays, and you won't find someone more apathic toward girls than he is. Then again, it might be a ruse...

Studio Ghibli · May 08, 2005, 03:50 PM // 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naga Siu

The only way you would find out is if you asked them a/s/l, and that in itself makes you just as creepy in some peoples eyes.

Just wanted to point out that -anyone- who asks me a/s/l -always- creeps me out. It's, like, woah, why are you suddenly taking a personal interest in me. Just a game, buddy.

Ramus · May 08, 2005, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slade xTekno

2] The target audience for most games, especially RPGs, are closet-dwelling male teenagers. Don't tell me the reason people initially bought EQ wasn't the scantily-dressed girl on the cover...

What about closet-dwelling male adults.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Studio Ghibli

Just wanted to point out that -anyone- who asks me a/s/l -always- creeps me out. It's, like, woah, why are you suddenly taking a personal interest in me. Just a game, buddy.

A/S/L?!?!?!?!

chalt2 · May 08, 2005, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Studio Ghibli

.. everyone who feels uncomfortable in this matter needs to question why -exactly- it bothers them that someone is choosing a female avatar to use in a video game.

You also need to question exactly -why- you feel that my choosing of a female avatar implies some underhandedness on my part, whether for perversion or subversion, as opposed to simply preferring the female avatars over the males (which I do).

In fact, you really need to ask yourself why I have any -reason- at all to represent myself as I am in real-life. If this were the case, none of the avatars would be suitable for me.

There are, after all, no avatars chair-bound, small-frammed, five-foot-six, with long hair, a pronounced nose, high cheek bones, a surgery scar on their left cheek, et cet.

I'm assuming you're not a monk in real life? Or whatever character you drive?

It's a game.

I'm going to say that again, to reemphasize it:

It's a game.

I choose what I do to enjoy the gaming experience. If I'm going to be staring at my avatar for X+100 number of hours, I'm going to choose what I like, and that chose has no bearing on whether or not I'm a pervert, whether or not I'm homosexual, whether or not I'm trying to trick you for any reason.

This isn't a dating service, the last time I checked.

Aahhh...the refreshing breeze of common sense...

Thank you

Longshaft · May 08, 2005, 03:54 PM // 15:54

more like a fart than a breeze.

its not a matter of being uncomfortable with males who like to roleplay as females. its a matter of being curious as to why they do so.

hey, ill paint your toes and can call u pretty if u like...just curious as to why u like.

And what is wrong with wanting to form friendships online in game? to me, that is half of what gaming is about; joking, sharing, storytelling. and i prefer to form friendships (no, that doesnt mean cyber) with real ppl, not their fantasy-land characters.