Pronouns???

[VentVanitas]

Here's my thoughts on this.

I am 100% in agreeance with being able to choose your pronouns. This is a fantasy setting where I'm meant to take on a role, if the role I want to choose in a giving setting is a character who's gnc or trans or even just androgynous or feminine/masculine looking, I do not see an issue with this. Unlike other certain things, these are harmless attributes to give your characters. Just because I personally am content with playing male he/him characters doesn't mean everyone else is.

HOWEVER. My issue is the fact this was put on a forum. Call me a bitter old fart or whatever but I tend to view posts like this with some cynicism on a public forum. While yes, fundamentally a forum is meant to be a place where people can share thoughts and opinions, considering how toxic certain aspects of "gamer culture" is, it's far too easy for me to want to assume a post like this isn't an honest attempt at feedback, but rather a juicy worm on a hook to try to bait some volatile reaction.

I share the same sentiment. This topic is way too touchy to be handled respectfully. Especially in a forum full of gamer dudebros.

I don't think it'll happen because of the work it'd take nor do I think the game needs it, but if it did ever happen I'd welcome it and be happy for the people that would like the addition.

In a world where fantasia potions exist, why would anyone be trans? Why wouldn't you legitimately transform yourself into the gender of your choosing?

Because people can do whatever they want in a video game, balmung catgirl.

[LianaThorne]

My very basic expectation of you was to not actively decry a change that would have zero impact on yourself but could have a potentially positive impact on others. Also you might want to look up a few of those long words which google helped you with. Im far from narcissistic since everything im advocating is for the benefit of others, nor do I have a victim complex as i'm not a victim of this situation due to the fact that I feel I am fairly represented in this game. However don't let me distract you I'm sure you have some placards to finish up to support the notion that your ridiculous orange god had the election stolen. Maybe go storm a government building or something. That's if you ever actually leave your basement of course.

I'm back to say one more thing:

Please do not associate all of the people in the US with Trump. Like, for real. That's a really disgusting assumption and it's something I've noticed a LOT from people outside of the US. Trump is no God to me and he isn't to a vast majority of us. If you want to be progressive as you say, perhaps you can start by dropping that mindset and doing research on ALL of our opinions. Not just what you get on your news. Thanks.

[TeraRamis]

My very basic expectation of you was to not actively decry a change that would have zero impact on yourself but could have a potentially positive impact on others. Also you might want to look up a few of those long words which google helped you with. Im far from narcissistic since everything im advocating is for the benefit of others, nor do I have a victim complex as i'm not a victim of this situation due to the fact that I feel I am fairly represented in this game. However don't let me distract you I'm sure you have some placards to finish up to support the notion that your ridiculous orange god had the election stolen. Maybe go storm a government building or something. That's if you ever actually leave your basement of course.

Ohh, I'm sorry - looks like you're not as perceptive as you fancy yourself, Sherlock. I didn't vote for that gentleman. Ever. But, hey, don't let me slow you down on your ultranationalist tirade regarding the states, buddy. That train has clearly left that station. Keep reloading that 12 gauge - you're bound to hit something eventually.

[Brandedblade]

In a world where fantasia potions exist, why would anyone be trans? Why wouldn't you legitimately transform yourself into the gender of your choosing?

The simple answer is they can still be trans but the fantasia potion was how they transitioned.

As for a more complex answer, from what I've seen, some people want to explore the concept of being trans and going through the process in a setting that isn't as inherently hostile to them for it. Yes the world of FFXIV has hostile elements to it, but I would imagine it would be a relief for some if the conflict in their life wasn't caused by how others perceive them for that. It can be more interesting of a story arc then simply "Chug the fantasy juice and wake up a lady." Some people like to ground some level of reality into their role play without bringing in all the baggage said reality brings.

[Andy_T93]

Ohh, I'm sorry - looks like you're not as perceptive as you fancy yourself, Sherlock. I didn't vote for that gentleman. Ever. But, hey, don't let me slow you down on your ultranationalist tirade regarding the states, buddy. That train has clearly left that station. Keep reloading that 12 gauge - you're bound to hit something eventually.

Well then I can only assume it's because the voting form was too complex for you

[Ranaku]

how would adding an option to choose pronouns separate to your character's sex affect this game's fantasy-ness in any way?

From a lore point bringing gender etc. so much into a game could break immersion. Also i have no opinion in this here i am fine with it either way just explaining it from a rational lore point of view. The world of XIV so Hydaelyn etc. is really really dangerous. Famine. War. Homophobia. Diseases. Crimes. And monsters everywhere.

So if we look at it just really rational, there is not much time for one to think about gender or such stuff. Neither is there much acceptance for people which are different. Just look at the tonberry questline. Gay couple which says they feel with the tonberrys since they know how it feels to be unwanted by society.

So unlike we the good people of Eorzea etc. still have to fight with not being eaten and surviving and doing stuff like making babies. They don't have the safety to literally think about what they are and ask themself existencial questions.

That said it's from the point of a narrative driven story. Now from the players perspective since as i said i don't have a opinion on this and would be fine either way. I think it would not hurt and since it affects just your personal experience and cutscenes basically i don't see any harm done to other players.

So yeah, transgender people would be really really rare lorewise but i don't see any harm done if a player just wants to modify his own experience.

[TeraRamis]

The simple answer is they can still be trans but the fantasia potion was how they transitioned.

As for a more complex answer, from what I've seen, some people want to explore the concept of being trans and going through the process in a setting that isn't as inherently hostile to them for it. Yes the world of FFXIV has hostile elements to it, but I would imagine it would be a relief for some if the conflict in their life wasn't caused by how others perceive them for that. It can be more interesting of a story arc then simply "Chug the fantasy juice and wake up a lady." Some people like to ground some level of reality into their role play without bringing in all the baggage said reality brings.

Perhaps - just perhaps - the world of FFXIV is so dangerous, and the average lifespan of an adventurer so short, that people on Eorzea (not player characters, who can be as insane as they like, dragging real-life self-manufactured political baggage into a setting that inherently negates its existence) lack the luxury to be completely self-obsessed, unlike the denizens of our modern world. It seems pretty safe to assume that when a wrong turn potentially leads to an encounter with everything from ferocious wolves to disease-belching tentacle monsters - much less worrying that you might starve, die of heat exhaustion, drown, or be enslaved - there's probably little time to muse over whether or not, with the right hair color and makeup, a given male Roegadyn could pull off that lovely dress.

[Andy_T93]

dragging real-life self-manufactured political baggage

Wow you are just a special kind of awful aren't you

I can't even imagine how twisted a mind must be to feel this way about a minority who wants nothing more to be accepted for who they are

[TeraRamis]

Well then I can only assume it's because the voting form was too complex for you

I get it, pal - I do. You're a simple creature with an equally simplistic world view. Everyone is a member of one team or the other. And if they don't agree with you, well, by golly, you have just the pen to write them off in broad strokes - they're part of the enemy camp! That's it! Spin those little gears! It's all coming together, now.

[Miracle_Diva]

You guys can be whoever you want in real life. But keep these things away from games. Thank you.