Child-like characters?

[SugarPuff]

Honest question. Why is this even a request? Why would you want to play as a child?

The first time I encountered Padjal I wanted to play as one. I still would if it were an option but there's no reason, any more than there's a reason why I choose Elezen, Lalafell, and Miquote over the other races.

My husband was surprised when I mentioned it (about the Padjal) and said something about how they're kids but I was surprised in turn because I don't understand why that makes any difference. For the sake of clarity I do get some of the arguments people pose against playable children of the existing races (and don't believe it's a worthwhile endeavor) but that's another subject altogether.

When I started writing this I had it in my mind that I'd provide some sort of enlightenment. The more I think back on that conversation with my husband the more I'm reminded the one thing I took away from it is that you're either bothered by the idea or baffled as to why anyone sees it as strange.

Well, so much for my plan of adding anything substantial....at any rate, I like small, cute characters regardless whatever lore they come up with to explain their existence. I'm mostly indifferent to that, as it pertains to player characters anyway.

[Lium]

The first time I encountered Padjal I wanted to play as one. I still would if it were an option but there's no reason, any more than there's a reason why I choose Elezen, Lalafell, and Miquote over the other races.

My husband was surprised when I mentioned it (about the Padjal) and said something about how they're kids but I was surprised in turn because I don't understand why that makes any difference. For the sake of clarity I do get some of the arguments people pose against playable children of the existing races (and don't believe it's a worthwhile endeavor) but that's another subject altogether.

When I started writing this I had it in my mind that I'd provide some sort of enlightenment. The more I think back on that conversation with my husband the more I'm reminded the one thing I took away from it is that you're either bothered by the idea or baffled as to why anyone sees it as strange.

Well, so much for my plan of adding anything substantial....at any rate, I like small, cute characters regardless whatever lore they come up with to explain their existence. I'm mostly indifferent to that, as it pertains to player characters anyway.

I understand where you are coming from, but I guess the reason why it bothers me is because I know how the internet is. Take one walk through Limsa Lominsa and look at all the ERP going down (at least in NA, not sure how it is in EU or JP).

Playing as a child is different than playing as a different race or gender because I feel like they will be used in sexual situations and often dressed provocatively. And the RP will just be really weird.

I have no doubt that this will be a very small minority as most people that want to play as children probably just want to for aesthetic reasons and nothing more. But all it takes is one or two doing something tawdry, someone posts it on social media, and just like that SE has a PR nightmare on their hands.

I will say that in all my years playing MMOs I have never seen this request until I started playing FFXIV. So, admittedly, this is very weird to me.

[SugarPuff]

I understand where you are coming from, but I guess the reason why it bothers me is because I know how the internet is. Take one walk through Limsa Lominsa and look at all the ERP going down (at least in NA, not sure how it is in EU or JP).

Playing as a child is different than playing as a different race or gender because I feel like they will be used in sexual situations and often dressed provocatively. And the RP will just be really weird.

I have no doubt that this will be a very small minority as most people that want to play as children probably just want to for aesthetic reasons and nothing more. But all it takes is one or two doing something tawdry, someone posts it on social media, and just like that SE has a PR nightmare on their hands.

I will say that in all my years playing MMOs I have never seen this request until I started playing FFXIV. So, admittedly, this is very weird to me.

I don't put much thought into what other people are up to...like the erp you mentioned in Limsa...I'm aware people are doing something there but as long as it's not being broadcast in chat (which it normally isn't when I'm there) I don't really notice.

Many of the female player characters I see in the game look about sixteen, if I think about it, but I guess I'm supposed to assume they're older. That's what strikes me as strangest about the whole thing, there's already an abundance of very young girls of unknown age everywhere in the game. My mom plays and her Au Ra girl looks about the same age as my daughter! Of course I know her character is an adult because I was teasing her about the apparent age difference between her and my dad's characters. Lol

Anyway, aside from how it sounds "on paper" to people who will never actually play, I don't get the big deal over having "official" underage characters when anyone could be playing a fifteen or sixteen year old. That's why I keep reading these threads, knowing full well people will never agree!

[SturmChurro]

Anyway, aside from how it sounds "on paper" to people who will never actually play, I don't get the big deal over having "official" underage characters when anyone could be playing a fifteen or sixteen year old. That's why I keep reading these threads, knowing full well people will never agree!

No. Some people want to play as actual children, not something that might look young. A child. As in, literally. A human-like child. So not the lalafell weird produce toddler aesthetic, but human.

[SugarPuff]

No. Some people want to play as actual children, not something that might look young. A child. As in, literally. A human-like child. So not the lalafell weird produce toddler aesthetic, but human.

I meant I don't get the big deal the other way around. I guess you could also argue that it's not necessary since we can already make underage characters but my intended point was the opposite, that I don't see why making it official is upsetting. I guess it kind of works both ways, that would restrict it to just teenagers though which seems silly.

[SturmChurro]

I meant I don't get the big deal the other way around. I guess you could also argue that it's not necessary since we can already make underage characters but my intended point was the opposite, that I don't see why making it official is upsetting. I guess it kind of works both ways, that would restrict it to just teenagers though which seems silly.

The issue is the people who are going to inevitably put a succubus glam on their child.

[Lersayil]

The issue is the people who are going to inevitably put a succubus glam on their child.

While a hassle, they could do alternative armor models for the child like race. As for players? Not sure why anyone should care. Creepy? Yes. But it impacts no one in particular negatively.

Damned if I ever understand people having issues with (age rating appropriate) suggestive content in video games.

Anyways, yeah, I can still see why SE would want to steer clear of this can of worms.

[SugarPuff]

The issue is the people who are going to inevitably put a succubus glam on their child.

Yeah, that's what I hear. It's just odd to me that someone might get worked up over that but not care about all the player characters that already exist and appear to be teenagers. I would probably still be neutral even if we all looked old enough to legally drink, but the issue would make more sense. As it is, I already see provocative glams on what appear to be kids so the main difference would be making it official and possibly a very slight change to the model. I'm not in favor of that, because it does seem too small to be worthwhile, but due to how most of us would look more appropriate sitting at a high school desk than a bar stool, I wouldn't argue against it either.