Frustrating relative lack of LGBT NPCs in this game

[MellowMink]

This. Its not political. Some people want to call things political to silence all conversation about it. Another standard troll technique.


For everyone who says this doesn't matter, I would ask why this thread is being brigaded. Its swamped in posts trying to stop any discussion about the topic. If it doesn't matter, why are so many people against it and posting over and over?

Because it clearly does matter to the people who keep dishonestly saying nobody cares, or they wouldn’t keep being so obsessively opposed to increased representation, disingenuously only talking about sexual attraction that clearly wasn’t what was being initially requested over romantic attraction, or being rudely persistent with using problematic language; lots of people clearly do care, hence requests for increased representation.

[MellowMink]

A political position opposed to another political position? That's called politics.

Repeatedly attacking members of the queer community based on unfair stereotypes or their outright existence in any newer media isn’t a political position; that falls under a different name, especially when we’re talking about a natural part of someone’s existence (which genders can be involved for someone’s natural romantic attraction in this case) that’s harmless. Earlier in this thread, it was also concernedly claimed that kids shouldn’t be exposed to even the knowledge or existence of non-straight or transgender people, never mind that queer kids exist while hypocritically having no problems with straight or cisgender representation; how is that not a blatant double standard with problematic undertones? Please consider doing some more introspection here.

[Hurlstone]

Back in my WoW days, just after MoP launched, I tried to do a thread similar to this on another forum. I had noticed rather a few quests in Pandaria which involved husbands and wives, and floated how it would be neat if perhaps we could see some LGBTQ rep in quests like that (At the time I think WoW's only representation on that front was a Dwarf mistaking a Blood Elf for a woman...) The thread was locked in four pages of non-stop, open homopobia and I was told by a mod not to ever start a thread like that again. I got some people agreeing with me, but only via DMs so... despite how fustrating this thread is, I would say in gaming terms things are getting a little better with more open support at least. Still a long way to go, and thats not even mentioning the so-called ‘political’ side of things and how the real world currently is.

[Colt47]

FF14 is a wonderful game. It's beautiful, the gameplay is fluid, the lore rich, and the graphics stunning, especially in the Azim Steppe.

Part of the reason why it's so wonderful is because it is possible to fully immerse yourself in this game. Characters all have a backstory, many NPCs are fleshed out, have their own personality, and you really feel like Eorzea is a place you can live in.

However, the lack of representation of LGBT characters in this game is frustrating for a billion-dollar video gaming company. While I applaud SE for allowing the Eternal Bonding to take place between two people of the same gender, there is not much else in this game that represents LGBT characters, other than a token gay couple in Upper La Noscea.

Some people will also bring up characters like Alphinaud (weird) or Haurchefant, and say they're "WOL-sexual". But you know that they're not actually designed as gay characters. They just happened to be perceived as LGBT because of the fandom.

Many other RPGs are already fully embracing the need to represent minorities in their game, because minority representation is an important issue that affects the psychological development of minority youth.

I hope to see Square Enix do more to represent LGBT characters in their game, because by doing so they'll let LGBT youth feel like they have a place in Eorzea and feel welcomed.

I know some people will think I'm joking, but I'm not. As a LGBT PoC myself, I am deeply invested in this issue.

Why does it matter to you?

[HollowedDoll]

Repeatedly attacking members of the queer community based on unfair stereotypes or their outright existence in any newer media isn’t a political position; that falls under a different name, especially when we’re talking about a natural part of someone’s existence (which genders can be involved for someone’s natural romantic attraction in this case) that’s harmless. Earlier in this thread, it was also concernedly claimed that kids shouldn’t be exposed to even the knowledge or existence of non-straight or transgender people, never mind that queer kids exist while hypocritically having no problems with straight or cisgender representation; how is that not a blatant double standard with problematic undertones? Please consider doing some more introspection here.

The irony of larping about problematic language all the while using queer, congrats you played yourself.

Just because some people are okay with referring to themselves as a slur doesn't mean the rest of us are okay with it. Also the person you're replying to won't change their opinion, so it's not even worth bothering to reply.
Teens will receive sex-ed at an appropriate age, so stop concern trolling, and yeah maybe there's a merit of truth in the fact that some people try to sell off LGBT as something cool, rather than something that just is.. Have a look at tik tok, if you come back not holding your head in disappointment, then something is very wrong there.

[Vahlnir]

Back in my WoW days, just after MoP launched, I tried to do a thread similar to this on another forum. I had noticed rather a few quests in Pandaria which involved husbands and wives, and floated how it would be neat if perhaps we could see some LGBTQ rep in quests like that (At the time I think WoW's only representation on that front was a Dwarf mistaking a Blood Elf for a woman...) The thread was locked in four pages of non-stop, open homopobia and I was told by a mod not to ever start a thread like that again. I got some people agreeing with me, but only via DMs so... despite how fustrating this thread is, I would say in gaming terms things are getting a little better with more open support at least. Still a long way to go, and thats not even mentioning the so-called ‘political’ side of things and how the real world currently is.

Yeah, it's still not all that different now on their forums, to be honest. lol There was a thread yesterday about someone Blizzard featured on their stream, and it was a mixed bag at best. The chat during the stream was, from what I've heard, pretty terrible. Here it's...really not all that different, as this thread plainly shows. Such is the internet. People enjoy the comfort of their anonymity. But I do agree that as far as gaming goes, the industry has definitely come a long way (by comparison to doing nothing, at least) when it comes to overall representation.

[Hurlstone]

Ah, once again we get the lack of empathy and unnecessary vicious comments. Lovely!

The irony of larping about problematic language all the while using queer, congrats you played yourself.

To be fair that word has very much split opinions. Some do still find it a slur, others like myself though do like to see it as a reclaimed word that can be used as an umbrella term for LGBTQ+ folk. I know rather a few who do not want to be ‘catagorized’ by traditional labels like it. Although personally speaking I try and avoid using the word in topics like this because people can right see it as a slur, and who am I to blame them given its history.

[HollowedDoll]

Ah, once again we get the lack of empathy and unnecessary vicious comments. Lovely!



To be fair that word has very much split opinions. Some do still find it a slur, others like myself though do like to see it as a reclaimed word that can be used as an umbrella term for LGBTQ+ folk. I know rather a few who do not want to be ‘catagorized’ by traditional labels like it. Although personally speaking I try and avoid using the word in topic like this becasee people can right see it as a slur, and who am I to blame them given its history.

Call yourself what you want, but don't "reclaim" something for others and call them that.

[Vryn]

Are you part of my community? aka do you benefit my life in any way, would it be inconvenient if you were gone? If the answer is yes then I would respect you. If the answer is no then I wouldn't cry if something happens to you.

[Venjamin]

Are you part of my community? aka do you benefit my life in any way, would it be inconvenient if you were gone? If the answer is yes then I would respect you. If the answer is no then I wouldn't cry if something happens to you.

And again, you can't ever answer that question (the benefit your life in any way, would it be inconvenient if you were gone) without getting to know someone. Paying them the kindness of basic understanding and dignity. No one expects tears for strangers, but we do expect that the people you meet on the street you treat with basic understanding, decency, and dignity.