Being a man-girl

[Eruantien]

Ya I know guys that play female and vice versa, never known animosity towards it, only animosity is towards lalafells because well they are SPO's (small puntable objects)

[Zantetsuken]

The OP is touching on one of the big historical differences between JRPG and WRPG approach to designing main chars.

in JRPGs, the player general takes control of an independent character who has their own personality, history, design, and motivations. This character is carefully crafted to work with the games narrative, and it is never assumed that the player thinks of themself in this role.

In Western RPGs, players are typically given a blank-slate character, usually with lots of customization options, so they can create an avatar of themselves in the game and thus boost their own immersion in the exploration and empowerment aspects.

As an MMO, FFXIV has the WRPG style char creation, but many players come from a JPRG background, so they don't come from the approach of creating "themselves" in the game.

It's not uncommon for those with WRPG backgrounds to find the JRPG 'disconnect between player and character design' approach a bit strange or off-putting. (They may feel as though they are being lied to)


Still, as time goes on, people are beginning to realize the difference, and its becoming less and less of an issue.

[Griss]

There are just as many girl-men as there are man-girls

[Keres]

Do people still actually care about this? Is it 1998?

I know men who play female characters and vice-versa, OP, and it's never an issue (and if someone is trying to get something out of the game to the extent that it would make a difference, perhaps that's where the problem lies; don't look for hookups in MMOs). They're pixels on a computer screen, who cares?

[Carmillia]

In my opinion, people that have problems with it forgot the very essence of those games: ROLE PLAYING game ^^. It should say it all.

[Deli]

/nod as OP said we are pretty friendly ppl, so most of us don't mind to find out you are a big beard guy behind that little girl toon. most of ff14 players are mature enough... in fact, I think people who are not shy to play feminine or ugly race are often more mature and skillful ppl.
I remember I saw a hot lady her char is a hmm Galka too... ahh it's that Roe something race :P

[Nuru]

I actually am treated like a guy all of the time, but I really don't mind. I've always been sorta tom-boyish, and I would have loved if Roegadyn had tails, that way Female Roegadyn would be my choice of character. xD However, I chose to be Miqo'te not to be flirty, but because they just have that appearance I find myself suitable with.

I'm actually starting up an alt to change into a male miqo'te, if that is allowed. (Because I do not know if the gender/race change is only for one character or all of them.)

I just like to play the game and act like myself, and its up to the community to decide whether or not to treat me as a man or a woman.

[lynex]

I find the opposite. I am a girl playing a girl and one guy ( who is playing a girl ) in my ls doesn't believe me lol. I told him I like playing skyrim and that pretty much told him I was a guy. I don't think anything I say will change his mind. I think the attitude of guys are only playing is pretty much the norm. I find there are a lot of girls playing this game.

[LinkDarksteppe]

I actually am treated like a guy all of the time, but I really don't mind. I've always been sorta tom-boyish, and I would have loved if Roegadyn had tails, that way Female Roegadyn would be my choice of character. xD However, I chose to be Miqo'te not to be flirty, but because they just have that appearance I find myself suitable with.

I'm actually starting up an alt to change into a male miqo'te, if that is allowed. (Because I do not know if the gender/race change is only for one character or all of them.)

I just like to play the game and act like myself, and its up to the community to decide whether or not to treat me as a man or a woman.

Love this post

[Breladine]

What do you all think?

MB

I think that you are welcome to do whatever you want free of judgment, but that I am not personally a fan of men playing female characters.. that being said, I hold no animosity toward the practice, I just don't care for it. You'd never know it unless you asked me.

I guess I just prefer to look at a character and know the gender of the person behind the sprite matches what I'm seeing. I've been playing MMORPG's for a decade and I still assume what I see is what I get, even if it almost never pans out to be true :P