Do you play the opposite gender?

[Ssmiley_Bjakkzz]

Helluuuuuuu

[Brynne]

I play my own gender, but that's mainly because I like the options for female customization and glamour better (and I just also like the idea of a badass catgirl as the WoL). I also have alts who are both male and female, and each one has a character I've loosely defined for them.

[AmemeAmeklin]

I RP as an NPC who is male and it has been absolutely hilarious because for a little bit I operated as a 'male shield' for a few female friends. Boy, you can cut that sudden tension from guys who see you as competition with a knife.

In other games I do typically look for male models to use. Something something 'if I have to look at someone's butt all day it may as well be a good-looking guy' something. Although honestly it's because I don't really relate to the overly sexy female adventurer thing most games have going on.

[CainCrimson]

I operated as a 'male shield' for a few female friends. Boy, you can cut that sudden tension from guys who see you as competition with a knife.

I do this for female friends in IRL, and you are not wrong.

[DracotheDragon]

i play as a female in this game due to them looking cute to me, i like there looks and i like dressing them up, when i fantasia into a au ra i find them nice to look at no matter what they are in and when i fantasia into a lalafell i look so damn adorable it makes me laugh when i tank

[Linx0r]

I’m a straight male irl and I have always played a male avatar. I like the feeling of immersing myself into this gaming world and honestly to me, it’s fun! There are so many interesting people on here and I’d like for other players to get to know ME, not a ‘character’. I tend to use long hair and more fine looking gear as the look of a pretty boy can only be achieved in so many ways lol cool thread

[sarehptar]

Female IRL playing a male character. When I started out the game, I just wanted to be a cat and didn't really like the squeaky/high-pitched voice options for females, so I went with male. However, over time I have really gotten attached to this character. Not normally an RPer, but I did end up giving him a story, personality, and such. It's fun when I join a new FC or group and everyone assumes I'm male, then get on Discord and confuse the heck out people! Although I occasionally fantasia if a really, really nice female glamour comes out, it's always right back to cat boy. I like my fuzzy son.

(Also: playing a male character, I assumed I wouldn't have to worry about anyone commenting on my character's looks or being flirtatious, but it's been hilariously the opposite. There are a lot of thirsty girls playing FFXIV I guess! ...Or maybe I should say "girls"?)

[BroodingFicus]

I've nothing against either and would probably even have some of both but two things keep me from playing female characters:

A. Lack of variety. Of all the races in FFXIV, only the female Roe have ever really appealed to me and I was actually really disappointed when, rather than giving us a tall, wiry female version to match Au Ra males, square gave us female miqote in a lizard costume instead. If you prefer playing petite or at least stereo typically built females, you can do that easily. If not you're left with Roe and Lala and only one of those two options semi protects you from reason two.

B. Other players. Have people walked up to me and said they like my outfit on my male characters? Yeah, sure. I've been whispered about my clothing, asked about weapons I have and how to get them, and even occasionally just politely complimented but no one has ever tried to randomly offer me gil for ERP without solicitation, made sexual comments about my characters appendages, or asked if I was single while playing a giant lizard man. All of those things happened within two weeks of me trying to level one of my characters as a female Roe. I quickly changed her back to a Miqote male and continued on my way. Even having a male character who has a seemingly female name has led to people sending me sexual messages before realizing they're barking up the wrong digital tree. It's just an unfortunate case of people feeling untouchable in internet land so they'll say and do things they could never get away with around a 'real female' without ending up with a face full of pepper spray or in jail.

[Avatre]

For me, it's essentially this, except playing as the opposite gender.

I play my own gender, but that's mainly because I like the options for female customization and glamour better (and I just also like the idea of a badass catgirl as the WoL). I also have alts who are both male and female, and each one has a character I've loosely defined for them.

[Maeka]

I'm a guy, and I look at it this way: If I'm going to be staring at someone's butt for 90% of my playtime, I'd rather stare at a girl's butt than a guy's.

That, and I like to see a pretty face in cutscenes, etc.

RE:BroodingFicus: People solicited you for ERP? *blinks* I play a female miqote as you can see.... and that's not happened to me, not once. I think the worst I ever got was a /whistle. I shrugged and moved on.

But then other than my occasional Shisui Paladin, I don't wear provocative clothing. *shrug*

But then I suppose I didn't pick one of those "ultra good looking" faces and went with something a bit more balanced, instead. Pretty but not "drop dead beautiful" type thing I see in a few other girl cats.