Why do you play a female character?

DocFrost72

So to be clear, there's no question how people can play bipedal lizards and cats while casting magic at dragons, because it is a videogame, right? I'm pretty sure choosing a woman is not as big a leap as the above.

Perhaps then, you already have your answer. Or at any rate, you have mine.

(12 male, 3 female toons).

Elsonso

Wait, you mean we can make male characters? Are you sure? I'm going to have to go look.

Just kidding. Actually, I have a mix of both.

Edit: Oops... Why? Sometimes my characters are related, and families tend to be a mix.

bearbelly

I'm all about the Matriarchy.
**** the patriarchy.

Onefrkncrzypope

Male grunts... That's why I play female

dovakiin5574

DocFrost72 wrote: »

So to be clear, there's no question how people can play bipedal lizards and cats while casting magic at dragons, because it is a videogame, right? I'm pretty sure choosing a woman is not as big a leap as the above.

Perhaps then, you already have your answer. Or at any rate, you have mine.

(12 male, 3 female toons).

Them spoilers tho

Danikat

None of my characters are me. They are not supposed to look like me, or act like me, or look and act how I would like to. They're characters I created to play a role in a story. Sometimes the character I want to make is more masculine, sometimes more feminine, I match their sex, race, class, and everything else to the idea I have in my head. (Which can come up with some odd choices, for example my argonian DD nightblade uses a sword and shield for no reason other than I cannot imagine her using anything else. Any sensible weapon choice feels wrong.)

The nearest I've ever come to an idealised version of myself in a game is giving one of my girls long, straight black hair (mine is actually longer, but brown and frizzy) and occasionally getting amused at the fact that it never gets tangled round her weapons or clothes, never blows in her face and stays styled even when she's swimming through rushing, muddy water. But that's as far as it goes.

Also, one of them is a cat, one is a lizard, two are elves and all of them can kill people with their bare hands or with a variety of weapons and do on a regular basis, often attacking first because the other person looks like they might be a threat (sometimes based on nothing more than standing in a cave I know is going to be full of enemies without a quest marker above their heads) so if they're supposed to be anything like me I think there's bigger concerns than their sex.

Ravena

I like the female body shape. Mostly the hips.

And IMO it's difficult to make a male character look good in ESO.

Humanoid ones, at least. The cats and lizards can still look cute, I'm considering making a male cat.

I tried making pretty boys before, but they never look quite right.

Oh, and I'm transgender IRL.

Inerar

8 male, 5 female currently. My main is a dunmer male and i think it's me and the others have their own personalities. It's like when u write something, u can't just tell about main character, u need side characters. Even sometimes u love them more or they shine more. ESO is a life-like or novel-like game. We call it story rich, yes? So, this is the way how i fill my Tamriel diary. I like to think that they're like a family but also each has different paths. For sure, everybody has their own ways to play ESO and there will be multiple explanations for this kind questions...

dovakiin5574

Ravena wrote: »

I like the female body shape. Mostly the hips.

And IMO it's difficult to make a male character look good in ESO.

Humanoid ones, at least. The cats and lizards can still look cute, I'm considering making a male cat.

I tried making pretty boys before, but they never look quite right.

Oh, and I'm transgender IRL.

Making pretty males is a bit of an art in ESO, I knew this lady once who had fabulous male characters. Alas, I could never replicate it

MyKillv2.0

DocFrost72 wrote: »

So to be clear, there's no question how people can play bipedal lizards and cats while casting magic at dragons, because it is a videogame, right? I'm pretty sure choosing a woman is not as big a leap as the above.

Perhaps then, you already have your answer. Or at any rate, you have mine.

(12 male, 3 female toons).

@DocFrost72 5 years of this game and this is my favorite response to this question, EVER! Well done

Neyane

I'm a female and I always choose female characters. Makes it easier to RP with, and in my opinion more fun. I just can't play as a male unless it's forced (in other games).

leeux

For me it boils down to four reasons:

1. It's a character and not me, and I repeat: It's a character and not me some people don't seem to grasp this simple idea.
2. I like watching a strong female perform feats of heroism and get things done, since males doing that are ultra super common in all other forms of media, video games it's what's left for that
3. I connect better with a female character than a male character
4. Aesthetics: I like the female body form more than the male body form (eyecandy-wise) that's why I get annoyed at costumes that deform the body

Browiseth

1) because I want to
2) ???????????

RogueShark

I'm a girl and I almost exclusively play male characters in games, especially with a roleplaying element. It isn't that I dislike female aesthetics... I love occasionally making a really cute girl model.
I just tend to prefer playing male characters. Dunno. I also prefer stories (movies/books/games) with male protagonists.
/shrug

MooseKnuckles88

Does it really matter?

MasterSpatula

I'm male. 51% of the population is female. 3/8 of my characters are female, so as someone who values the RP experience of being someone different for a while, I'm actually not doing that great a job. However, my main is female, so I spend most of my time playing a woman, so there's that.

If I can play an anthropomorphic cat who isn't a complete klutz or a tall golden racist who lobs fireballs at people, I can certainly play 51% of the population.

That said, I don't go crazy with lipsticks and adornments, and I like my flesh protected.

Ackwalan

When I play monopoly I always play as the boot. Because deep down inside, I feel like an old heel.

Serious answer: I play both male and female in the game to see how the story line changes. I choose their outfits and personality depending on what looks neat.

bearbelly

MooseKnuckles88 wrote: »

Does it really matter?

Not in the slightest.
People just can't help arm-chair psychoanalyzing people who do things that don't conform to their (the "researchers") ideas of what is "proper."

lzzy

If I made a character I didn't prefer I'd be spending too much time trying to make it satisfactory, or having that gnawing thought in the back of my head that I'd rather have chosen something else. Going for what I like means I can just move on and enjoy the game.

A choice like this doesn't require any further thought.

Alinhbo_Tyaka

I've always played males that had many of my RL characteristics and decided to go against type when I started this game. Since I'm not a altaholic it means I spend a lot of in game time in a dress (having daughters a modest dress at that). If I ever create an alt it will probably be male but I have enough to do with one character for now.

GraphicArtistYT

tactx wrote: »

Many female characters in game with the most feminine outfits and names, all the details with lipstick, personality, etc. are played by guys. My wife asked me why do so many guys play females? I play a male character. I didn't really know why. I said in jest, maybe they had a sister and didn't get to participate in the doll dress up stuff when they were growing up?

I know some say "because I like how they look", but many she's encountered take it to another level and then she finds out on discord it's a guy and she's really surprised.

In all seriousness:
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?

Girls look better in video games.

Ravena

dovakiin5574 wrote: »

Ravena wrote: »

I like the female body shape. Mostly the hips.

And IMO it's difficult to make a male character look good in ESO.

Humanoid ones, at least. The cats and lizards can still look cute, I'm considering making a male cat.

I tried making pretty boys before, but they never look quite right.

Oh, and I'm transgender IRL.

Making pretty males is a bit of an art in ESO, I knew this lady once who had fabulous male characters. Alas, I could never replicate it

I wish I could find pictures of fabulous male chars. I need inspiration.

If any of you guys have them, post them here ;p

Vhozek

For some reason I care more about my character when she is female and therefore I make sure she looks great, performs great, and sounds great. I even give her a ton of detail with little things such as a name that fits the race, class, AND build.

GabiAlex

I play both genders. I just like to create a character, play for a while, then develop a backstory for them.

Vhozek

dovakiin5574 wrote: »

I am a female and 12 out of my 15 characters are MALE. I only have some female characters because my fiance asked me to make some female since he plays mostly male and idk he's odd

I thought you said you were genderless...

CompM4s

I play as a polygender argonian that also identifies as a kahjiit monday-friday.

max_only

Ravena wrote: »

I like the female body shape. Mostly the hips.

And IMO it's difficult to make a male character look good in ESO.

Humanoid ones, at least. The cats and lizards can still look cute, I'm considering making a male cat.

I tried making pretty boys before, but they never look quite right.

Oh, and I'm transgender IRL.

Ravena wrote: »

dovakiin5574 wrote: »

Ravena wrote: »

I like the female body shape. Mostly the hips.

And IMO it's difficult to make a male character look good in ESO.

Humanoid ones, at least. The cats and lizards can still look cute, I'm considering making a male cat.

I tried making pretty boys before, but they never look quite right.

Oh, and I'm transgender IRL.

Making pretty males is a bit of an art in ESO, I knew this lady once who had fabulous male characters. Alas, I could never replicate it

I wish I could find pictures of fabulous male chars. I need inspiration.

If any of you guys have them, post them here ;p

Try this thread, https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/425129/androgynous-gender-bending-characters-outfits/p1 some of my characters are in there and if you needed a different game race let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

As for the topic, I always assume a good looking male character is run by a woman and a over painted female character is run by a man.

The more it looks like a Ron Jeremy fantasy the more likely it’s a man running it.

The more it looks like a Boris Vallejo/ Julie Bell fantasy the more likely it’s a woman running it.

SirCassiusClay

I like to mix it up so I play both.

max_only

This might be generational. Back in my day a young man choosing a female character was unfortunately mocked for being gay. Now the attitude has switched.

phileunderx2

I'm female and my characters are of both genders and I have no idea why. Lol