The Fanatical Swordsman

“Uh, hey bro. Sorry I hit on you earlier…”

As I have stated in my previous posts, I’ve run the gamut of World of Warcraft since retail release something of 7 years ago. Originally, yes, as an aspiring roleplayer I chose to create male characters to play as. They were strong paragons of might, rising over time from humble beginnings to powerful masters of their discipline. Well, who says women can’t be strong heroes? (Heroines to you feminists.) Well, no one really. More importantly, why can’t a male play a female character, free of any potential stigma that comes with it?

Preface…A Brief Anecdote

As most of you know (and as I’ve said above), I played World of Warcraft. Before WoW, I played Diablo II, Morrowind, and Oblivion. Through all of these rpgs, I have played mostly male characters. In the KotORs, my first Revan and Exile was a male (funny how she the Exile (Meetra Surik) is female according to canon. Nice for a change, as opposed to Revan and Jaden Korr (Jedi Academy).) My Dragon Age: Origins Warden was a City Elf male, and my favored Hawke was a male Rogue. My current Jedi, Sith Marauder, and future Miraluka Mercenary are all males. I am in no small way a role-player of male characters. I figured I’d preface what I have to say with that.

Abhorus, Kelenn, and Ulrhon

The Other Perspective…More Anecdotes

Despite these facts, I have also played my share of female characters in RPGs. I believe this first started when my only option in Diablo II to play a mage-type character was the Sorceress (Necromancer doesn’t count!). It was around this time the Lord of the Rings movies came out, and I began writing my fantasy epic story. As I’ve developed the plot and my characters, I figured getting to understand the complexity of the female gender might be pursued by story-driven elements of the RPGs. It’s one thing to know actual women, but at that age I really couldn’t get my head around how any “real life knowledge” might be applied to the fantasy epic setting.

Now, this is of course problematic, and in so many ways is fallible. I realize many women characters in media are written by men. However, in a lot of ways, I pushed to try to pursue my actions and experiences from a different perspective than I was used to. Despite these motives (and my obsessive need to justify myself in my defense), I was repeatedly made fun of, even by my best friends. I was repeatedly called a number of things, which may or may not have been true. Yet, the pursuit did not stop.

Now, especially when it came to WoW, I never impersonated an actual female person when I played one. Granted, I asked for a strata of stupidity I’d never before understood when I chose to play Night Elves for a brief moment. That phase ended really fast (mailbox dancers, anyone?). After enough incredibly awkward propositions, I kept to playing men. When Burning Crusade rolled around, I created three female Blood Elves. Again, I kind of asked for it. However, it didn’t turn out so bad. If you read my intro post, I talked about a Shadow Priest and Retribution Paladin I played. Yup. Both Blood Elf females. I also made a mage named Toastadora…with intent to get the Explorer achievement.

I know, I’m so punny.

To complete this lovely anecdote, here are two little statements:

1. My wife, who ALWAYS plays female characters, plays with me and never has had a problem with me playing females. And no, we don’t do creepy things on the internet.

2. Now, in SWTOR, I have Rhyla my 50 Scoundrel and Kaytra my 50 Sorcerer, as well my Vanguard Rheymi and Sage Shoraay well on their way up.

So…what’s the point, Chip?

Not Quite the Point Yet…Reasonings

“My eyes are up here.”

I’ve heard plenty of reasons that men play female characters. They are typically varied, but usually boil down to these few (and they are not ranked):

1. The Backside

“If I’m going to look at something for hours at a time, why not look at something aesthetically pleasing?”

I’ve also heard that a particular gentlemen played a Tauren male in World of Warcraft because he liked to watch the tail swing back and forth as he ran. Just remember, guys, the character you play is not your girlfriend. Sorry.

Potential Stigma: “You’re a perv.”

2. Completion/ The Other Perspective

Let’s face it, some games are more interesting if you play both a male and a female character…ie. Just about anything Bioware…and increasingly more as they make more games. It’s a different experience on play-through, whether minor or not.

Potential Stigma: “Is that really the reason you play a girl character?”

3. Manipulation

“I like to act like a girl, because guys are more likely to give me stuff, invite me raids (and carry me) and are less likely to rage at me.”

Personally, it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re a guy or a girl, I’ll treat you the same in-game, but there are those out there more inclined to help out girls in need. Just don’t get on Ventrilo without a girl next to you with the microphone repeating everything you say.

Potential Stigma: “You’re an idiot.”

4. Anonimity

“I just plain don’t want people to know who I am IRL.”

And if playing behind an avatar wasn’t enough, now you are playing the opposite gender. Now make sure you don’t share your password and credit card information. Oh, and again, don’t bother getting on Ventrilo.

Potential Stigma: “Really? Who cares?! Just play a dude, brah!” 

5. Creepy Things

I’m going to leave it at that. I’ve met enough people and have had enough awkward propositional whispers to know that while this doesn’t seem to be the most common response, deviate behavior exists in this realm. Granted, some argue that a guy playing a girl character is evidence enough, and is in fact based upon this. I can only disagree, however, in my own case.

Potential Stigma: “You’re a PERV! And keep it up and I’ll report you! /ignore. “

6. The Girlfriend

“My girlfriend tried out my account, and since she already made a character and started leveling it, there was no reason I shouldn’t keep the character and keep going after she buys her own account/ stops playing/ we break up.” 

I have experienced this, and am not the only one. Guess what, she got her own account. Oh, and what’s more? We’re married. Epic Win. Just learn from all the poor saps who shared an account with their girlfriend and got their characters deleted for any number of reasons. Be careful. And log her in yourself…don’t give her your password. Then again, if you do, you could become an internet sensation known for taking out your temper on inanimate objects OVER inanimate objects. Your choice, I guess.

Potential Stigma: …really don’t have one for this. Honestly.

7. The Unknown Reason

I like seven points, and this point is included for anything I missed. Please feel free to comment.

The Point…Finally

Here’s my own perspective on it.

As a writer, I look for inspiration in crafting characters from three sources: people around me, from pre-existing characters in other media, and from engrossing myself into a character in an RPG. For reason three, it comes from not only as a means to an end, mind you, but also in an enjoyment of experiencing a story in which a character exists…either male or female. I am writing this character’s destiny as I go, and no one thus far in my own experience grants me this freedom as well as Bioware. (Though, I haven’t played Skyrim yet.) Women characters, to me, are as interesting as men characters. Also, the way I “roleplay”, my characters are involved and connected somehow. Luckily, the Legacy system in Swtor has helped encourage that. I see my characters as characters in my story, not as an incarnation of myself.

One of the few smiles seen by Brooding Fenris, but more interesting than a certain sparkly vampire. Image Cite: images.wikia.com/dragonage/images/f/ fa/Fenris_close.png

Also, I’m a sucker for romances. While there is enough disconnect for me (as I myself am not involved in this romance), I like watching them unfold. Like I’m writing a love story. My favorite romance story in-game so far was in Dragon Age II, with a female Hawke pursuing a romance with Fenris. To me, this was the benefit of playing a female character, getting to see another side to characters that I otherwise wouldn’t have. Since I’ve played SWTOR, I’ve only had the opportunity to pursue two at the moment, and only chose to pursue one (Rhyla/ Corso Riggs). Some say romances and love interests are overrated. Some make them out to be more than they really are. They are an interesting part, and can be an important part of the character’s story. I say, when done right, they are the icing on the cake. I love icing.

Potential Stigma: “Is that REALLY the reason you play a girl character?”

Yes. Yes, it is.

A Concluding Thought

No one likes a stalker. Not even these kind.

All-in-all, I don’t feel there’s any harm in a guy playing a female character under the preface that people understand that while you are playing a female, you are a male, and you aren’t doing some creeper role-playing. Granted, some people don’t care even if you do. Many assume you are a male, anyway, and seem pleasantly surprised when you (for our potential female readers out there) confess “I’m a girl.” Personally, I don’t see why there is such a stigma, or a leaning to only play characters of the player’s gender, but that just seems to be the thing. It’s kind of like one of my old High School friends who made fun of me for liking the band Evanescence because he “doesn’t like to listen to female singers” as he jammed to Shinedown and Three Days Grace. Don’t get me wrong, guys, if you want to play only guy characters because that’s how you roll, then go for it. In the end, the game is about your enjoyment (keeping in mind terms of use, laws, and general courtesy, if you’d please). For those guys wanting to play girls, go for it. I’d just suggest keeping in mind not to be creepers, because come on…no one likes a stalker.

That’s about all I have. Go, Fight, Win!…and please don’t take an arrow to the knee.

Fried, not baked, and with more sodium than the competitor,

Chipchops