Being a man-girl

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Originally Posted by darkm0d

Though, if Viera come out in ARR... It's going to be tough not to roll a female one of those.

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I'm saving few slots for this.. if it happens... .

From time to time, there are people who will use the anonymity of the internet to pretend they are someone else. I've witnessed this happen a few times through the years of playing FFXI and FFXIV. It's always creepy and I don't really understand the purpose of it. For this reason I "always assume dude" unless I hear the person's voice. There is voice augmentation software out there, too, so you can't even always trust that. Red flags are usually things like not wanting to get on voice chat, or getting on voice chat "only to listen" and being a loot-hog.

What I do find somewhat unfortunate is how well defined the sexes are in 14. I managed to keep my sex completely unknown in XI for years.

Only way people ever caught on was if I invited someone to a party or certain emotes. It was hilarious sending an emote that revealed sex to someone who had known me for years and never noticed.

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Originally Posted by darkm0d

What I do find somewhat unfortunate is how well defined the sexes are in 14. I managed to keep my sex completely unknown in XI for years.

Only way people ever caught on was if I invited someone to a party or certain emotes. It was hilarious sending an emote that revealed sex to someone who had known me for years and never noticed.

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It always makes me laugh when somebody new hops on my mumble server and is surprised to find out I'm a man. I would have thought all the people referring to me as "he" in LS chat would be enough to give it away.

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Originally Posted by Tahldon

I've never been one to make a big deal out of what gender people's characters are and what-have-you. If I'm playing an RPG that allows me to customize my character, it's always the same design that I created when I was in my teens and drawing comics as a hobby: Male Elf, Dark skin, Gray eyes, Navy blue hair, Mage. Every, single time.

There are, however, a few things that make me grin about if someone is playing a character opposite of their own gender. One being, the excuse about looking at the character's rear all day. I can't really buy that one because when I'm playing, I rarely look at my character as opposed to my skill bar, mini-map, the party's HP (because I'm healing most of the time), the enmity indicators, my health, where people are positioned, the chat/battle log, and the enemy. Most of the time I'm looking around my character, rather than at him. I find myself chuckling a little when people say that they're staring at their character's butts for hours at a time. Doesn't seem very feasible to me, given all that's going on. But hey, whatevs.

Also, I am quite sure that I couldn't bear being called a girl's name. Just seems a little weird to respond if someone calls "Gina". Lol. Though some people give their characters names that aren't really any sex's names, but are rather the names of inanimate things or wild animals. So that works, too.

But, hell, it's not like any of it matters to me. I'm married, not here to look for a significant other. Lol I just call everyone "he", "him", or their character name and keep it rolling.

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I feel you 100% on this. I am married as well.

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Originally Posted by Akusushi

One of the things I'm hoping for is being able to play a male Viera; my best friend (girl) wants to go for a Maleqo'te. We will probably hit on each other

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I've never heard of this 'male Viera'

I find female characters more likeable than males in most MMOs. Male chars get boring fast. Kitties are pretty, adorable and more versatile in terms of fooling around with emotes (which i do whenever i have to wait on people or timers because it amuses me).

I never pretended to be a girl behind my kitty. The way i talk (chat) usually gives it away quick. I have people use my name "Max" because its shorter and easier to remember than my character name. It creates a split between me and my kitty in the eyes of my ls mates. They talk to me as a "he", but will refer to my character as a "she". Its always funny to see a kitty posing and playing with yarn, but with a serious and manly voice on vent :P

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Originally Posted by LinkDarksteppe

OK, so I joined these forums just yesterday and noticed there's a bit of contention around male people playing as female characters. I see the same thing happening in-game too. I find it all a bit bizarre, so I thought I'd start a thread about it (tentatively, and after buying a flame-proof suit!).

I myself am a bloke, but I play a a female character in this particular game. Not because I want to flirt, or be a slut, or lead people on - but purely because I feel like a female avatar fits the way I want to play this game better. To me, Final Fantasy XIV is quite a smiley-happy place. Eorzea is full of "cuteness" so I wanted to create a character that could react to, fit in with and embody the spirit of the world. So - I chose a Miqo'te.

In other games, like Mass Effect 3, I'm a complete and utter asshole to everyone, so I chose to play as a bloke. In Skyrim, I'm a hardarse who has a problem with authority (read: kills authority at any opportunity), so again I'm a male. In EVE Online, I'm a fair but firey industrialist - and I chose a female character for that.

In my opinion, your choice of avatar isn't a reflection of your real world self, or an opportunity to mislead others. It's a entirely new you - someone you've created to interact with and be a part of the world you're in. And it's really, really upsetting to be judged instantly when you tell people in-game that you're a bloke playing a girl.

That said, I know there are players who do make this choice to mislead and deceive people. But what I'm saying with this thread is; don't shoot people down just because their avatar isn't an accurate reflection of their real world self - we're all characters in-game, so make judgements based on how that character acts rather than second guessing the person behind the avatar :)

What do you all think?

MB

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Hey welcome to the forums and don't trip on people who flame you. I will do my best not to.

I share your perspective in many ways because I am a female whom almost exclusively plays male characters barring some rare exceptions related to seasonal events and retainers. I am entirely bored with playing female characters and refuse to do so 99.9% of the time.

I play out my role as a gay male character and I feel it makes the game more realistic to be my character in-game. It is often hilarious when men in real life playing male characters find out that my gay male character is being played by a female. They might be put off at first by the character being gay but the moment they find out I am female in real life, they feel less intimidated. In any case, no matter what my role is, when some one is offended, I do my best to leave them alone and respect their choices.

My personality in real life is almost identical to my character and thus is carried out in my male characters but I tell people who I interact with that I am female in real life, whenever the subject leans to people referring to me as male in real life.

In other words, I role play to an extent and act my male character out as male but when people start referring to real life personalities I immediately reveal that I am female out of honesty.

-This is like in a linkshell when I'm with some people who refer to me as a male in real life by using male nicknames like 'Hey bloke, hows it goin' or 'Dude' or "What's up man?" as to refer to me in real life, I don't get offended by it but I think it is fair to let them know that I am female in real life.

Generally the LS will start correcting this person or making silly references to tease me by letting them know that I am a female, if not I will do it myself and say so. I think it is perfectly fine to play a gender not your own, after-all, none of us are Elezen, Roegayden or Lalafell but we play those characters and it is fine. It is a -role playing game- so I expect people to play roles.

What I do think is unfair is when people start real life relationships and trick people to the point of actual deception where real bonds are anticipated and assumed, where real friendships are created and carried out into real life. For instance a woman who is engaged to a guy online and plans to meet him only to get stood up because it came down to finding out that the person was not a guy.

This person can be emotionally harmed in real life. Some people can say that it is their fault for forming an online relationship without knowing or by trusting without knowing for sure but I believe relationships are a partnership of dual responsibility and both are equally responsible for their own actions.

I have had women actually fall for me in real life through my male character, knowing that I am a woman, still felt the same and strong friendships remain but I kept it honest. They sometimes just prefer role playing with me being male in character because that bond gives them joy in real life. Experience and bonds can be real and some times bonds transcend gender, I just believe honesty is essential.

Many people just like the idea of playing a different gender in real life and in character for the fantasy aspects of it but not out of intent to deceive, it is just that to be authentic, they have to retain their fake identity.

Like in the above situation, I don't see harm in playing a gender not your own if it is strictly in character and the other person does not anticipate ANY real life connection whatsoever.

Still, even then, the person you play with might be insulted or offended to find out that they played with a different real life person than they thought. If you think a real life connection is being formed based on the idea that you are not the gender that you are, it can be difficult to carry on. I personally cannot do this as long as I know that the other person anticipates a real life relationship or friendship is taking place with the gender that I am not.

When it comes down to it, if you are concerned then ask. If their real life gender matters to you then ask. Give the person an opportunity to tell you the truth.

Enjoy the forum and if you meet me in game, it really doesn't matter to me what you are in real life. If the situation arises for some reason, where it does matter, I always say so..openly..clearly.

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Originally Posted by Resheph

From time to time, there are people who will use the anonymity of the internet to pretend they are someone else. I've witnessed this happen a few times through the years of playing FFXI and FFXIV. It's always creepy and I don't really understand the purpose of it. For this reason I "always assume dude" unless I hear the person's voice. There is voice augmentation software out there, too, so you can't even always trust that. Red flags are usually things like not wanting to get on voice chat, or getting on voice chat "only to listen" and being a loot-hog.

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What does being a loot-hog have to do with it :p

Kinda reminds me of those eps in Welcome to the NHK when the main char starts playing an MMO suspiciously like FF11, then 'falls in love' with a 'mithra' only to find out later that she is [spoiler] actually his male neighbor... [/spoiler]

http://i48.tinypic.com/1zxtvmt.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/spewie.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/2cxia0z.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/nn426o.jpg

In a fantasy game, why be something you are in real life? Why not be something/someone new?

I primarily play female characters.