Building a better Alphinaud

[Theodric]

Unfortunately my face did not get the option for a stubble.

I'd love to be able to have the beard I have and a check stubble and real eyebrows.

Hopefully it'll be expanded to the other Hyur faces. I think the other playable races would look decent with it as an option too. Especially the 'Nunh' face for Miqo'te.

The option to be able to adjust it at the aesthetician would be nice as well, though I guess that'd eat into fantasia sales...

[Eldtagg]

Why do you care, though? Because going by your posts in other threads, you're steadfastly against adding LGBT and minority characters strictly for the purposes of representation.

Once again, you're bringing up a perceived "double standard" which you're only against when it stops you from getting what YOU want.

I'm genuinely asking here; how would a LGBT character added to the cast work like?

Not trolling, just a 'boring' straight male interested to hear ideas.

[MilkieTea]

I'm genuinely asking here; how would a LGBT character added to the cast work like?

Not trolling, just a 'boring' straight male interested to hear ideas.

So, you know how Thancred in ARR and post ARR is pictured surrounded by women, as a womanizer, with multiple female partners vying for his attention as he struggles to get his story straight in regards to wooing more than one at a time?

And how multiple characters at multiple points in the story consistently point out Thancreds womanizing ways?

That's how adding an LGBT character to the cast could work.

Oh, but they don't have to be such an overt womanizer/maninizer (xD) like Thancred!
Maybe they have a childhood friend who is also a romantic partner.

Or a perceived QPP (Queerplatonic Partnership) with a side character.

Or a crush on someone.

Or they don't say anything at all but someone notes that they used to have a partner. And [gendered pronoun]'s name was [insert name].

[CrownySuccubus]

I'm genuinely asking here; how would a LGBT character added to the cast work like?

Not trolling, just a 'boring' straight male interested to hear ideas.

Just a shot in the dark here:

"Zann is a Viera that was assigned the male gender at birth, but identifies as female. This caused a kerfuffle in the matriarchal Viera society, with some opposed to granting someone with an outwardly male physique the traditional roles of a female, but others willing to give her a chance. Zann is eager to prove that she is up to the task, however, and is eager to learn and grow as an adventurer."

Just off the top of my head. That could be an interesting dynamic for a character.

[Sarkany]

I'm genuinely asking here; how would a LGBT character added to the cast work like?

Not trolling, just a 'boring' straight male interested to hear ideas.

As a minor character? Have a random NPC talk about how his husband loves [local food item] or her wife is a monster hunter. The couple involved in unlocking Wanderer's Palace Hard is a good example - it's not egregious, but they do make it clear that they're in a relationship. (One of them mentions being thrown out of their village for being in an interracial relationship, so it is canon that they're a couple.)

If they wanted to really push it? Have Thancred mention hooking up with guys as well as girls during that phase where he was picking up tons of people in bars. Have Y'shtola say something about being a Tia when she was sent to Matoya, and transitioning using magic while she was there.

[Eldtagg]

Just a shot in the dark here:

"Zann is a Viera that was assigned the male gender at birth, but identifies as female. This caused a kerfuffle in the matriarchal Viera society, with some opposed to granting someone with an outwardly male physique the traditional roles of a female, but others willing to give her a chance. Zann is eager to prove that she is up to the task, however, and is eager to learn and grow as an adventurer."

Just off the top of my head. That could be an interesting dynamic for a character.

Can there be an issue with this type of character where their sexuality is too much 'in your face'.

I for instance is married to my wife IRL and we both agree that we share everything evenly.
Me being straight does not define me as a person. It's not what makes me, well.. me.

Wife would agree on that note.

I do not introduce me with name and make a note of 'btw I am straight'.

We recently watched the Lightyear movie and we both felt that it was incredibly 'token' that Buzz's commander was in a relationship with a woman because if she was straight, the movie would probably not even make a note of it.

I absolutely think that same gender relationship should be in videogames and treated the same as any sexuality, but when it becomes the thing that defines a character... haven't we failed at writing a compelling character then?

For me that feels kinda like the early 2000s when every video game character was the 'light-skinned angry buzz cut male' character.

No offence meant from me. I think it's very important that we can add mlre representation as long as its made tasteful and realistic.

[CrownySuccubus]

Can there be an issue with this type of character where their sexuality is too much 'in your face'.

I for instance is married to my wife IRL and we both agree that we share everything evenly.
Me being straight does not define me as a person. It's not what makes me, well.. me.

Question: do you think Urianger's implied romance with Moenbryda is "in our face"?

Or Cirilla's crush on Hien?

Or Lamitt's crush on Ardbert?

Or Runar's crush on Y'shtola?

Or, hell, Magnai's constant attempts to find his Naama?

If the answer to any or all of these is "No", then you can do the same thing with a character that isn't straight.

[Misplaced_Marbles]

Runar's crush on Y'shtola?

Most definitely yes. This one was incredibly egregious.

The rest? Not really. In fact, i'd venture to say they're all in your head(canon). Which is to say, since it's up for interpretation, the writer did a much better job with them (except Magnai being a joke).

[Raven2014]

Most definitely yes. This one was incredibly egregious.

It's probably because it came across REALLY WEIRD in the English version. The Japanese version has none of the silly (fail) romance undertone like the English localization is. In the Japanese VO, Runar treat Y'shtola more like an elder sister, and if we gonna meme, his reaction is more like a desperate underclassman with a "notice me senpai!" thing.

It's well know that the English localization takes a lot of liberty at translation, but sometime it goes far enough to actually change the impression about a character. And Y'shtola is usually the prime example for this (for some reason). I can't speak for other language, but the English Y'shtola is about 300% more sassy comparing to the Japanese version. In the Japanse dialogue she talk more like a sage would (which in the lore her supposed class/role), she talks more like a mage in English.

[Eldtagg]

Question: do you think Urianger's implied romance with Moenbryda is "in our face"?*


Or Cirilla's crush on Hien?*


Or Lamitt's crush on Ardbert?


Or Runar's crush on Y'shtola?


Or, hell, Magnai's constant attempts to find his Naama?*


If the answer to any or all of these is "No", then you can do the same thing with a character that isn't straight.

Runar and Little Sun Magnai?*

Absolutely, very obvious.

My favorite two major characters in GW2 is Marjory and Kasmeer.*

Marjory is the 'brooding gunslinger strong type' and Kasmeer start as the 'blonde cheerleader with a big heart and expressiv emotions', but during our travels they both grow past those traits and we learn who they truly are behind their masks.

Tragedy struck and Marjorys anger/sorrow over her sister Belinda makes her wall off her emotions toward Kasmeer and push her away.*

In they end they both have managed to beat their own demons which culminating *spoilers* into them finally have their wedding which is a huge character development for both of them. They both had grown as individuals.

I really loved everything with those two because their relationship wasn't forced or woke. They weren't the straight males fantasy either, ok maybe outfit-wise, but it was presented very natural and you didn't even had a thought about that they both were women.

Their story showed hardship, to not have the ability to open up to your partner about your anger/sorrow. To not want to be 'pitied' and emotionally close.*

Very human interaction.

ArenaNet did not make Marjory and Kasmeer's sexyality/gender the centerpiece. They made the characters and what happened to them the focus.