Why do you play a female character?

AbysmalGhul

I have both genders on my roster, but I mainly play on my male character. No reason as to why I created both genders *shrugs*

WeyounTM

This one nearly always choses do be different in a bunch of ways. So why play as a male if this one already is one in real life? And why play as a human if there is a kind of beast race to chose from, yes?
You might be thinking that me having mostly female characters in RPGs is weird...but for me it is the essence of escaping from every day life. It is a *ROLE* playing game anyways and your choices are yours and yours alone. Even if people suspect some weird sexual undertone along the way...doesn't matter to this one.

AlboMalefica

I’m a male and I have 14 toons, 11 female & 3 male. I don’t make my any of my toons “hyper sexualised” like a lot of JRPGs make characters, this annoys me a lot lol. I don’t have a particular reason as to why I mainly run females tbh, I try my best to make a toon with a good back story and the gender matches said background that’s all

TheFamousMockingbird

Character gender for me follows Name and Play concept. I love thinking up cool character names and then building to match.

sudaki_eso

I like woman.
Not doing RP and i dont identify myself with the videogame character. i am one of those who likes to play a female char if i play a game for thousends of hours. A guy can look great too but i prefer the feminine look - also see my first sentence.
Thinking about it i could also be that i was playing male heroes for more then 25 years and they become boring - there werent much games around till the early 2000's where the hero was a woman.

barney2525

First and foremost - I have to like the look of any character I play. Right down to the colors and look of the outfit. Females are generally easy (in this game ) to create something that looks good. That said, there are Races that I will never make a character for this reason. Orc for example. I don't care what combat benefits they would have. I will play the class with a race and gender that I like to look at. It's kind of like Comedian Jim Gaffigan and his view of the horrible taste of Kale. He says ' if I find out Kale cures cancer, I'm telling the doctor - I'm just gonna do the chemo. I've tried the Kale'.

I'm going to be spending a Lot of time with the character staring me in the face. If it's butt ugly, I will lose interest and make something else. For example, the only way I have been able to stick with a vampire is by using the Ice skin.

eyeseezombiesub17_ESO

I play both. I have 11 characters so far with 5 being male and 6 being female. I don't RP but I try to think up an interesting background for toons before I create them, nothing more than a general/generic synopsis, and sometimes it sounds better with a female character. I have characters for each class and depending on which ones I've made male or female already I'll make the next one the opposite with templars the only exception for some odd reason.

Fur_like_snow

My one and only female character is a Dunmer Templar. Unfortunately I don’t enjoy healing in ESO or any other MMO so now she is a dedicated crafting mule. My other characters are male who fulfill different archetypes like barbarian/destroyer(Orc) wayward hero(Breton) cowardly rogue(khajhit) or drunken master(Nord).

Bouldercleave

8 Characters - 7 male and 1 female.

For me the female character just fit the role of a DW / Bow Stamina Warden. At least the one that I had envisioned in my head for one...

I like having one female character as it's good to have a different template for seeing different armors on the different races and sexes

I also have an Lizard and a Kitty for the same reason.

Vecro

My main right now is a Female Bosmer. Im planning on going Male Khajit though. My main thing is that females get extra customization through facial hair. Since females cant but any facial hair on they get to use whatever eye choices. Whereas on a Male you have to pick between having blind eye(s) or a beard, which is weird. Really want them to come out with a eye section to combat this.

merpins

I play male argonian because i like the look of male argonian. Plus the default argonian dance (male version) is great, whereas all the female dance animations are hot garbage. I play male or female khajiit, both are cool looking so I play either. I play female dark elf, imperial, wood elf, and high elf because the female versions are better looking than the male versions. It depends on the race I'm choosing.

ArchMikem

West1389 wrote: »

I think the new generation likes to play female characters. I can understand women playing with male characters. They played barbie and Ken when little. Guys didnt do that, so that's why it's weird to me. The ones saying they like to look at butts, that's a scapegoat.

My male cousin plays a female i ask why he will never tell me. He looks away or changes topics. Hes part or the new generation. Some are into toon women that's fine, little weird but fine.

If people like you want an actual, winded explanation as to why a Male would play Female characters in a video game, I guess I'll go ahead and give mine.

Women fascinate me, would be the gist. My experience with the opposite sex throughout my developing years can be summarized as "Looking on from the sidelines". My shy insecure demeanor combined with a less attractive physicality did not lure in many, if at all friends of the fairer gender, and thus I only socialized with girls when I was rather forced to either through school or other events. My only REAL delve into the world of Women was when I had a Girlfriend, and that only lasted five years, but they were the best years of my life with an overall wonderful person.

When it comes to media where I can control the main character, I like to create Women because my Literary mind enjoys delving to a world I could only stand on the outside looking into. I imagine her personality, her likes and dislikes, what her thought process in situations would be like as opposed to my own. I live vicariously through her as I've been restricted in reality to the Male side of the spectrum of Society. And yes I have used the excuse, "Cause I like to look at Female butts" before, even if that's actually true. But to me there's SO much more to my enjoyment of Female Characters on top of them looking beautiful.

My Female Characters are people that I admire and wish were real, cause I'd love to be their friend.

zyk

ArchMikem wrote: »

And yes I have used the excuse, "Cause I like to look at Female butts" before, even if that's actually true. But to me there's SO much more to my enjoyment of Female Characters on top of them looking beautiful.

There's obviously a bias in this thread towards butts. Buff boobs?

My Female Characters are people that I admire and wish were real, cause I'd love to be their friend.

You need better waifu fantasies. Free yourself from the sidelines!

ArchMikem

zyk wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

And yes I have used the excuse, "Cause I like to look at Female butts" before, even if that's actually true. But to me there's SO much more to my enjoyment of Female Characters on top of them looking beautiful.

There's obviously a bias in this thread towards butts. Buff boobs?

My Female Characters are people that I admire and wish were real, cause I'd love to be their friend.

You need better waifu fantasies. Free yourself from the sidelines!

Are all friends Waifus? Are all Waifus, friends?

Watchdog

zyk wrote: »

There's obviously a bias in this thread towards butts. Buff boobs?

Given the options available to us already, I would say that suggestion is apparently calling for some extreme measures. I dare say out of proportion even.

Mr_Walker

Variety.

Seebs

My newest character is a female but thats mostly cause I have 7 other characters that are guys, just felt like changing it up.

In rpgs like dragon age and such, I usually will play through as both genders to see differences in stories and the like. Typically in other games I usually play a guy though. I find it harder to immerse myself as a female in games.

ku5h

Always make my assassin, archer, mage classes female and brawlers male. In any RPG i play.
When i think about it, it actually might be the consequence of playing Diablo 2 for so long.

Integral1900

Depends on your relationship with the game

If you are someone who see the character in the game as you... as in I am the hero running round and smacking stuff over the head with a ruddy great sword then most likey you will play a character that is also your gender.

Personally I never felt that in any game, I always felt more like a story teller. The character is seperate from me the player in the same way as any storybook charecter is seperate from the reader, the bonus being that in a game you have some degree of control.

I am a guy but my characters are all female because they are more interesting characters and frankly I’m bored to death of male hero’s, also maxed out female Nords remind me of my wife... and yes you can make a very attractive nord 😎

kitsune_beth

tactx wrote: »

1) Why do you play a female instead of a male?
2) If you're a female do you play male characters? Or is this a 1 sided sort of thing?

1) Because I'm female.
2) If the games only option is to play as a male.

Tigerseye

I'm female.

I don't tend to play male chars, no.

Probably for the same reason you don't play female chars.

I have nothing against people who do like to play the opposite gender, though.

Katheriah

I'm a woman and most of my characters are female, but I do have some male characters. It's a game. You can spit fire, you can have pointy ears or fur. You can also choose what's between your legs. Who cares.

Tigerseye

Chicharron wrote: »

I do not know, I can not play with a female character, for example Tomb Raider, no matter how good it is, I will never play it.

Maybe it was the way I was raised.

Maybe.

Although, I was raised by a former teacher, who believed in encouraging kids (of both genders) to play with both traditionally male and traditionally female toys.

...and gender neutral toys, obviously.

She didn't want me to dress in pink dresses and have long hair (which is what I wanted, when I was a baby/small child) - she wanted me to wear blue babygrows and then, later, jeans and play in sandpits.

I still find I only play as female, when there is a choice.

In the end, you are what you are.

West1389

ArchMikem wrote: »

West1389 wrote: »

I think the new generation likes to play female characters. I can understand women playing with male characters. They played barbie and Ken when little. Guys didnt do that, so that's why it's weird to me. The ones saying they like to look at butts, that's a scapegoat.

My male cousin plays a female i ask why he will never tell me. He looks away or changes topics. Hes part or the new generation. Some are into toon women that's fine, little weird but fine.

If people like you want an actual, winded explanation as to why a Male would play Female characters in a video game, I guess I'll go ahead and give mine.

Women fascinate me, would be the gist. My experience with the opposite sex throughout my developing years can be summarized as "Looking on from the sidelines". My shy insecure demeanor combined with a less attractive physicality did not lure in many, if at all friends of the fairer gender, and thus I only socialized with girls when I was rather forced to either through school or other events. My only REAL delve into the world of Women was when I had a Girlfriend, and that only lasted five years, but they were the best years of my life with an overall wonderful person.

When it comes to media where I can control the main character, I like to create Women because my Literary mind enjoys delving to a world I could only stand on the outside looking into. I imagine her personality, her likes and dislikes, what her thought process in situations would be like as opposed to my own. I live vicariously through her as I've been restricted in reality to the Male side of the spectrum of Society. And yes I have used the excuse, "Cause I like to look at Female butts" before, even if that's actually true. But to me there's SO much more to my enjoyment of Female Characters on top of them looking beautiful.

My Female Characters are people that I admire and wish were real, cause I'd love to be their friend.

So you could a said in short we were right. You guys are trying to make a girlfriend and wish they were real. I don't get why it's hard to say. We know the reason men play female.

1. They are not good with women and make one they wish was resl.
2. The are with someone they wish looked liked the toon.
3. They are more feminine.

Girl this is not why you play male. Again toy played with Ken doll when younger so its not weird you play male. Last I seen some play female and make them after family that to me not weird and makes more sense.

Azurya

tactx wrote: »

In all seriousness:
1) Why do you play a female instead of a male?

I play female characters only, because they represent my sisters I never had, we were an all-boy family and though we begged our parents over and over to have a little sis, we never got one, fate or curse, whatever, and now my currently female characters are those sisters I never had.
And although I didn´t do that in previous games, I started it in Skyrim, and I loved it. It adds an very emotional dimension for me.

ArchMikem

West1389 wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

West1389 wrote: »

I think the new generation likes to play female characters. I can understand women playing with male characters. They played barbie and Ken when little. Guys didnt do that, so that's why it's weird to me. The ones saying they like to look at butts, that's a scapegoat.

My male cousin plays a female i ask why he will never tell me. He looks away or changes topics. Hes part or the new generation. Some are into toon women that's fine, little weird but fine.

If people like you want an actual, winded explanation as to why a Male would play Female characters in a video game, I guess I'll go ahead and give mine.

Women fascinate me, would be the gist. My experience with the opposite sex throughout my developing years can be summarized as "Looking on from the sidelines". My shy insecure demeanor combined with a less attractive physicality did not lure in many, if at all friends of the fairer gender, and thus I only socialized with girls when I was rather forced to either through school or other events. My only REAL delve into the world of Women was when I had a Girlfriend, and that only lasted five years, but they were the best years of my life with an overall wonderful person.

When it comes to media where I can control the main character, I like to create Women because my Literary mind enjoys delving to a world I could only stand on the outside looking into. I imagine her personality, her likes and dislikes, what her thought process in situations would be like as opposed to my own. I live vicariously through her as I've been restricted in reality to the Male side of the spectrum of Society. And yes I have used the excuse, "Cause I like to look at Female butts" before, even if that's actually true. But to me there's SO much more to my enjoyment of Female Characters on top of them looking beautiful.

My Female Characters are people that I admire and wish were real, cause I'd love to be their friend.

So you could a said in short we were right. You guys are trying to make a girlfriend and wish they were real. I don't get why it's hard to say. We know the reason men play female.

1. They are not good with women and make one they wish was resl.
2. The are with someone they wish looked liked the toon.
3. They are more feminine.

Girl this is not why you play male. Again toy played with Ken doll when younger so its not weird you play male. Last I seen some play female and make them after family that to me not weird and makes more sense.

Did you see the word 'girl' in front of when i said friend? No you didnt.

Michae

Ha! Way to feel threatened by other people's preferences. Who is insecure here again?

West1389

ArchMikem wrote: »

West1389 wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

West1389 wrote: »

I think the new generation likes to play female characters. I can understand women playing with male characters. They played barbie and Ken when little. Guys didnt do that, so that's why it's weird to me. The ones saying they like to look at butts, that's a scapegoat.

My male cousin plays a female i ask why he will never tell me. He looks away or changes topics. Hes part or the new generation. Some are into toon women that's fine, little weird but fine.

If people like you want an actual, winded explanation as to why a Male would play Female characters in a video game, I guess I'll go ahead and give mine.

Women fascinate me, would be the gist. My experience with the opposite sex throughout my developing years can be summarized as "Looking on from the sidelines". My shy insecure demeanor combined with a less attractive physicality did not lure in many, if at all friends of the fairer gender, and thus I only socialized with girls when I was rather forced to either through school or other events. My only REAL delve into the world of Women was when I had a Girlfriend, and that only lasted five years, but they were the best years of my life with an overall wonderful person.

When it comes to media where I can control the main character, I like to create Women because my Literary mind enjoys delving to a world I could only stand on the outside looking into. I imagine her personality, her likes and dislikes, what her thought process in situations would be like as opposed to my own. I live vicariously through her as I've been restricted in reality to the Male side of the spectrum of Society. And yes I have used the excuse, "Cause I like to look at Female butts" before, even if that's actually true. But to me there's SO much more to my enjoyment of Female Characters on top of them looking beautiful.

My Female Characters are people that I admire and wish were real, cause I'd love to be their friend.

So you could a said in short we were right. You guys are trying to make a girlfriend and wish they were real. I don't get why it's hard to say. We know the reason men play female.

1. They are not good with women and make one they wish was resl.
2. The are with someone they wish looked liked the toon.
3. They are more feminine.

Girl this is not why you play male. Again toy played with Ken doll when younger so its not weird you play male. Last I seen some play female and make them after family that to me not weird and makes more sense.

Did you see the word 'girl' in front of when i said friend? No you didnt.

So it still goes to one of my 3. Look no one really cares it's a question. Like I said I think its weird but the new gen is weird so makes sense.

West1389

Michae wrote: »

Ha! Way to feel threatened by other people's preferences. Who is insecure here again?

Not sure anyone one feels threatened. Why should we is zos gonna force us to play female. Does them playing female hurt us no. So not sure how we feel threatened, why dont you you tell us.

Michae

So far in this thread I've seen posts people who explain their game choices of why they play opposite gender characters or why they don't do it, but also posts berating people for their game choces. And those berating posts came exclusively from people on the "play the same gender as your own" side, as far as I've seen them, if I missed some comments like that from the other side then I'm sorry, although my point still stands as I oppose berating people for their preferences, not the preferences alone. Hence my perception of them feeling threatened by other's people choices. People are pouring their hearts out here and then they are ridiculed because some other people have this strange ick factor to playing as the character of the opposite gender. I don't feel the need to insult other peoples preferences if I don't share them, ok? And yet some people do and I'm trying to call that out. If that's not your case, good, I'm not adressing you.