Why do you play a female character?

twev · January 2019

My femme 'toons are so cute - even I'd do me.

OrdoHermetica · January 2019

I'm male and 11/15 of my characters are male. As for why I made the remaining four female: concept. I'm not a RPer, at least in MMORPGs (play plenty of tabletop RPGs, though), but I do care about immersion and lore. So, whenever I play an RPG, MMO or otherwise, I try to think up a bit of a backstory for my characters that informs how I play them. All four of my female characters are female because that's what works best for the little backstories I came up with for them - one of them is a femme fatale Morag Tong devotee of Mephala, for example, while another is an Amazonian-style warpriestess of Trinimac. Neither of them would have worked as well as male characters.

Weirdly, all four of my female characters also happen to be primarily PvP characters. That wasn't intentional, but go figure.

Sheezabeast · January 2019

Do guys realize they can max out the butt sliders for male toons too? Give you something to look at

Katahdin · January 2019

I am female in real life, I identify as female and I am attracted to the opposite sex. My entire life, I have always been a bit of a tom boy. I played more with matchbox cars, toy trains, plastic cowboys and Indians and Lincoln logs than I did with barbie dolls.

Even today, my interests and hobbies are things that are traditionally (or stereotypically) more male oriented than things that are female oriented. This makes my husband happy because we share the one of our major hobbies together and I don't spend lots of money on shoes!

I am very comfortable with who I am.

I've played a few MMOs were I had choice in the gender of my characters and I've played a lot of FPS and single player games where I've played didn't have a choice.

It never bothered me either way in any way.

I have 7 male characters and 8 female. I will make 2 more female when the slots become available. 7 of my characters are khajiit and one is argonian. The rest are altmer, bosmer, nord, Breton and imperial.

ESO is a game, something I do to escape from the drudgery of real life for a few hours. I am not a role player, but I do lose myself in my characters when I play them as I would lose myself in the characters of a good novel.

I choose my characters gender based on the vision I have for them. Some of them have a rudimentary back story in my mind. I make story choices in the game with what I have in mind for their personality.

ESO is story time/play time where I can be whatever I want in the ESO universe, whether it is the hero Khajiit that fights in the 3 banners war for his fellow countrymen, or the thief and rogue that lives in a cave in Craglorn with a conclave of other thieves or the ex slave Argonian turned healer, or the nord warrior, etc etc.

ZonasArch · January 2019

Sheezabeast wrote: »

Do guys realize they can max out the butt sliders for male toons too? Give you something to look at

My redguard boy has quite a butt actually. /Dance is hilarious with his huge butt 😂

Vahrokh · January 2019

I love how women look. If I have to stare at a character for hours, it may as well be an awesome woman.

I actually miss a game teaching how women would react to situations (I know, ESO is certainly not it) as seen from their head.

Women are so close to us men, yet so mysterious and intriguing!

Starlock · January 2019

Two words: Role Player.

Honestly, for the vast majority of the tales I weave, sex is entirely irrelevant. In all senses of what that word means. It's a minuscule and trivial detail about a character and who they are. Male, female, intersexed... makes no difference.

EvilAutoTech · January 2019

Cuz I luv me some womenfolk.

Kikazaru · January 2019

Men gotta embrace their feminine side somehow... and this is one way to do it!

russelmmendoza · January 2019

Im a male.
I like looking at females.
Thats my only reason.

dreamer05 · February 2019

I’m sorry but the hetero males using “I don’t want to stare at a mans butt” as their reasoning for playing female characters are full of bs. Maybe they feel less masculine playing a female character, but nobody is constantly staring at their characters butt, unless they have some fetish. I’m a gay male and I only play female characters, I don’t even notice their butts. Be more honest with yourselves.

Sylvermynx · February 2019

Katahdin wrote: »

I am female in real life, I identify as female and I am attracted to the opposite sex. My entire life, I have always been a bit of a tom boy. I played more with matchbox cars, toy trains, plastic cowboys and Indians and Lincoln logs than I did with barbie dolls.

Even today, my interests and hobbies are things that are traditionally (or stereotypically) more male oriented than things that are female oriented. This makes my husband happy because we share the one of our major hobbies together and I don't spend lots of money on shoes!

I am very comfortable with who I am.

I've played a few MMOs were I had choice in the gender of my characters and I've played a lot of FPS and single player games where I've played didn't have a choice.

It never bothered me either way in any way.

I have 7 male characters and 8 female. I will make 2 more female when the slots become available. 7 of my characters are khajiit and one is argonian. The rest are altmer, bosmer, nord, Breton and imperial.

ESO is a game, something I do to escape from the drudgery of real life for a few hours. I am not a role player, but I do lose myself in my characters when I play them as I would lose myself in the characters of a good novel.

I choose my characters gender based on the vision I have for them. Some of them have a rudimentary back story in my mind. I make story choices in the game with what I have in mind for their personality.

ESO is story time/play time where I can be whatever I want in the ESO universe, whether it is the hero Khajiit that fights in the 3 banners war for his fellow countrymen, or the thief and rogue that lives in a cave in Craglorn with a conclave of other thieves or the ex slave Argonian turned healer, or the nord warrior, etc etc.

From the list of toys you must belong to the generation just younger than me. I was like that too.... still am! Horses, dogs, cars, trucks (it's MY truck.... heh) - well, cats too though I'm currently catless - hunting, target shooting, hiking, building a house.... The women around here diss me because I talk to the men about stuff, because I am NOT interested in grandbabies, sewing, or church stuff.... all they ever talk about....

Katahdin · February 2019

Sylvermynx wrote: »

Katahdin wrote: »

I am female in real life, I identify as female and I am attracted to the opposite sex. My entire life, I have always been a bit of a tom boy. I played more with matchbox cars, toy trains, plastic cowboys and Indians and Lincoln logs than I did with barbie dolls.

Even today, my interests and hobbies are things that are traditionally (or stereotypically) more male oriented than things that are female oriented. This makes my husband happy because we share the one of our major hobbies together and I don't spend lots of money on shoes!

I am very comfortable with who I am.

I've played a few MMOs were I had choice in the gender of my characters and I've played a lot of FPS and single player games where I've played didn't have a choice.

It never bothered me either way in any way.

I have 7 male characters and 8 female. I will make 2 more female when the slots become available. 7 of my characters are khajiit and one is argonian. The rest are altmer, bosmer, nord, Breton and imperial.

ESO is a game, something I do to escape from the drudgery of real life for a few hours. I am not a role player, but I do lose myself in my characters when I play them as I would lose myself in the characters of a good novel.

I choose my characters gender based on the vision I have for them. Some of them have a rudimentary back story in my mind. I make story choices in the game with what I have in mind for their personality.

ESO is story time/play time where I can be whatever I want in the ESO universe, whether it is the hero Khajiit that fights in the 3 banners war for his fellow countrymen, or the thief and rogue that lives in a cave in Craglorn with a conclave of other thieves or the ex slave Argonian turned healer, or the nord warrior, etc etc.

From the list of toys you must belong to the generation just younger than me. I was like that too.... still am! Horses, dogs, cars, trucks (it's MY truck.... heh) - well, cats too though I'm currently catless - hunting, target shooting, hiking, building a house.... The women around here diss me because I talk to the men about stuff, because I am NOT interested in grandbabies, sewing, or church stuff.... all they ever talk about....

Your guesstimate would be about correct.

Yep I have a hard time relating to most other women and vice versa because I'm into fishing, boats, fish tanks, dogs, video games not babies, shoes, clothes, movie stars, cooking, sewing or whatever it is they do.

I own and drive my own pickup truck too. I've always preferred trucks to cars.
We have his and hers trucks in the driveway lol

SteveCampsOut · February 2019

I live life outside the box! Don't try to pin me down to one! Kahjit only gits in box if it fitz I sitz!

thedude33 · February 2019

I'm in Cyrodil 90% of the time. It involves at lot of travel by horse. I play in 3rd person.

Tiedän · February 2019

I've been trying to make both a male and female character for every race. My main character is a male, but when Morrowind came out I made a female Bosmer 'Stamden' and she's slowly become my second favorite character to play as. I coincidentally also ended up getting a lot of good Bosmer themed stuff out of crown crates so she ended up coming out awesome!

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Tabbycat · February 2019

I prefer to play female characters. I get to dress them up in pretty outfits and decorate their houses. Then they get to run around in their pretty outfits stealing things and stabbing innocents with the blade of woe. What could be better than that?

Odnoc · February 2019

I wasn't aware I did play a female character??

Lylith · February 2019

Why do you play a female character?

because i can.

ProfessorKittyhawk · February 2019

General_Zeranth wrote: »

I'm female irl and I prefer to play male characters. 12 out of my 15 are male so far. xD

This here Sorc fella has been with me the longest out of my male characters:

I just prefer the male models tbh. The female models feel unreal to me. Especially the way the female plate armor fits. I'm pretty sure its not supposed to be skin tight like that. >->

That's an awesome looking character. What style armor is that?

I know a lot of females who okay male characters to help keep from getting harassed by make players. I remember a female character I had rolled got hit on by a male player. When I told them I was a guy irl they apologized and went on their way. I've heard stories about female players being treated differently by other players simply because they're female, and when they reject any advances made toward them theyre suddenly treated badly.

Conversely, I've heard of male players rolling female characters to get free stuff from male players. I've heard of both these things happening in other games, but not sure how common it is here in ESO.

But I have a friend who won't player a female character if its one that you make yourself because he's a guy. And yet, clearly there are plenty of guys who make mostly female characters for the reason others here have mentioned: they like having something pretty to look at. I suppose the same can be said for females who make male characters.

Personally, I have mostly male characters because I am attracted to guys and usually make my characters as attractive as possible. Though I do have a few khajiit just because I think they're cute and funny. But I also have several female characters, 2 of which are based on my favorite singers as tributes. But sometimes I just like playing as a pretty, badass lady who looks fabulous while doing it.

starlizard70ub17_ESO · February 2019

I have 10 or 11 characters and only 1 of them is female.
I wanted to play a vampire, and Shaltear Bloodfallen from the Overlord anime was the only one I could think of who's name wasn't taken already. (She was 3rd on my list.) So I created a female Briton magic warden because that class's abilities come closest to what Lady Bloodfallen could do in the manga and anime.

Lindsey · February 2019

Female and play with 9 female characters

Lindsey · February 2019

General_Zeranth wrote: »

I'm female irl and I prefer to play male characters. 12 out of my 15 are male so far. xD

This here Sorc fella has been with me the longest out of my male characters:

I just prefer the male models tbh. The female models feel unreal to me. Especially the way the female plate armor fits. I'm pretty sure its not supposed to be skin tight like that. >->

What costume is your character wearing?

Merlin13KAGL · February 2019

I've never understood why this was consequential?

It's an RPG. Its intent is to let you be all those things you cannot ever truly be.

I cannot slay things with elegant swordplay. I cannot make spikes come out of my back, turn myself to lightning, nor render myself invisible. I've never healed a roomful of people with a wave of my hand, nor have I produced fireballs from a walking stick.

IRL, I am not a vampire, a cat-person, an upright lizard. I cannot cast spells, nor gain abilities based on the clothing I don. I cannot run for miles without being winded. I cannot jump from a third story window without so much as a scratch.

I cannot teleport. I cannot raise the fallen. I cannot produce siege from my pocket, nor a horse from thin air with so much as whistle.

You can do all these other things, and it's perfectly normal. Why, then, would it seem out of the norm to play one, the other, or both genders?

zyk · February 2019

Merlin13KAGL wrote: »

I've never understood why this was consequential?

Because it is, for many, a highly social game. Social dynamics are always complex and changing genders in a game can be impactful in countless ways that range from irrelevant to significant. We're animals and respond differently based on the appearance of the person we are interacting with, virtually or in rl. Everyone likes to act like they're immune to it, but almost no one is.

Personally, I don't want to be objectified sexually as a female -- which is going to happen -- in a social environment, so I'm going to stick to male characters.

Path · February 2019

I primary play female character. I am female IRL. I have one male toon.
My experience, females in MMORPG's are downright scary. While playing a good looking male (as a female I created a male I found appealing the ladies were all over me. I don't know how the guys deal with it. I couldn't.
Sticking with my friendly but not too friendly females. Less OMG that way.

Akino · February 2019

I'm male and my main is male, in a sense named after me, so one might say it's a version of me in this world. The others are female, and in a sense named after loved ones.

JPS · February 2019

For one, I only play humans. For two, and I guess this comes from my WoW period, I just have this thing where I think that a caster should be female, and a male should not be wearing a dress (and again, this comes from WoW from when you could not morph your gear).

bearbelly · February 2019

Katahdin wrote: »

Sylvermynx wrote: »

Katahdin wrote: »

I am female in real life, I identify as female and I am attracted to the opposite sex. My entire life, I have always been a bit of a tom boy. I played more with matchbox cars, toy trains, plastic cowboys and Indians and Lincoln logs than I did with barbie dolls.

Even today, my interests and hobbies are things that are traditionally (or stereotypically) more male oriented than things that are female oriented. This makes my husband happy because we share the one of our major hobbies together and I don't spend lots of money on shoes!

I am very comfortable with who I am.

I've played a few MMOs were I had choice in the gender of my characters and I've played a lot of FPS and single player games where I've played didn't have a choice.

It never bothered me either way in any way.

I have 7 male characters and 8 female. I will make 2 more female when the slots become available. 7 of my characters are khajiit and one is argonian. The rest are altmer, bosmer, nord, Breton and imperial.

ESO is a game, something I do to escape from the drudgery of real life for a few hours. I am not a role player, but I do lose myself in my characters when I play them as I would lose myself in the characters of a good novel.

I choose my characters gender based on the vision I have for them. Some of them have a rudimentary back story in my mind. I make story choices in the game with what I have in mind for their personality.

ESO is story time/play time where I can be whatever I want in the ESO universe, whether it is the hero Khajiit that fights in the 3 banners war for his fellow countrymen, or the thief and rogue that lives in a cave in Craglorn with a conclave of other thieves or the ex slave Argonian turned healer, or the nord warrior, etc etc.

From the list of toys you must belong to the generation just younger than me. I was like that too.... still am! Horses, dogs, cars, trucks (it's MY truck.... heh) - well, cats too though I'm currently catless - hunting, target shooting, hiking, building a house.... The women around here diss me because I talk to the men about stuff, because I am NOT interested in grandbabies, sewing, or church stuff.... all they ever talk about....

Your guesstimate would be about correct.

Yep I have a hard time relating to most other women and vice versa because I'm into fishing, boats, fish tanks, dogs, video games not babies, shoes, clothes, movie stars, cooking, sewing or whatever it is they do.

I own and drive my own pickup truck too. I've always preferred trucks to cars.
We have his and hers trucks in the driveway lol

You gals sound just like my sister. She's deep into fishing, owns and drives a pick-up truck, she can drive a fork-lift, and she used to play tackle football with us guys when we were kids; total tom-boy. Had to do everything her big brother did.

{We are GenX; born late 60s, early 70s.)

Knootewoot · February 2019

I play male. I don't have much fantasy in that regard and the character i play with has to look a bit like me.

I don't have issues playing a female character though. I played a female in games like:
- Drakan, order of the flame
- Beyond Good and Evil
- Alien Isolation

and some others. Which all were top games in my opinion. And it didn't bother me.

But in mmo's i have a choice. And my characters all looks the same. Bald, normal posture, sometimes unshaved chin.