Pronouns?

[Daeriion_Aeradiir]

Cool story.

I was asking if it was a thing, or if other people wanted to see something minor like that. I wasn't demanding it be in game. I wasn't suggesting that such a feature should take priority over other content. I also don't think talking about things we think would be cool is an odd thing, given how many resources the developers put into things like making sure hats work for Viera... or adding Mahjong to the game. There are plenty of things devs could put more or less time into, and I'm not demanding anything. I'm literally only saying I think it would be cool.

To answer your actual question, no. The game is strictly built that your character's male/female choice is what dictates the pronouns the game uses, and due to the extensive work it'd take to make it work in this game (reprogramming the way the game handles the pronoun selection, changing how the script functions in languages that have gendered languages like French, etc), along with the fact Japan isn't exactly the zenith of these sorts of issues, it's likely impossible it'll ever be added in. The best you can do is add your pronouns of choice to your search info for other player interactions and just deal with the story using ones you don't prefer.

That being said, while I do agree his comment wasn't all the necessary since you weren't asking for it to be added to the game, only asking if it was possible currently; this is a public forum, and when people bring up things that are huge controversial discussions in the real world into their fantasy game, you should expect some pushback and opinions popping up regardless. It's the simple nature of the internet.

[Lauront]

Cool story.

I was asking if it was a thing, or if other people wanted to see something minor like that.

If you're asking me: No.

[wereotter]

I'd rather see resources allocated elsewhere.

This would hardly be much in terms of resources. If its wanting to use a male character and use female pronouns or vice-versa, all the work has already been done as the dialogue from NPCs already exists. It would simply be allowing the player to change that flag between M or F. Adding in they/them would be more work, sure. But a simple swap should be pretty simple.

[Iscah]

This would hardly be much in terms of resources. If its wanting to use a male character and use female pronouns or vice-versa, all the work has already been done as the dialogue from NPCs already exists. It would simply be allowing the player to change that flag between M or F. Adding in they/them would be more work, sure. But a simple swap should be pretty simple.

There is no flag.

Or rather, there is a flag and it is the same flag that sets your character's physical gender.

And it's not as simple as just adding a separate flag because - aside of the fact that it's like adding stuff to the character creator, which never happens - there would still be complications with dialogue where it wouldn't make sense for someone to address you by a pronoun that doesn't match your physical character. Whether it's someone you've just met or someone who regards you a certain way because of your appearance - Thancred addresses you differently for one, and there are some noticeable differences in some of the scenes with Magnai and Daidukul that absolutely aren't going to change just because you think you're X when you're physically Y.

[tdb]

This would hardly be much in terms of resources. If its wanting to use a male character and use female pronouns or vice-versa, all the work has already been done as the dialogue from NPCs already exists. It would simply be allowing the player to change that flag between M or F. Adding in they/them would be more work, sure. But a simple swap should be pretty simple.

Separating the dialogue flag from the physical gender flag would probably be comparatively simple (but that does not necessarily make it simple in absolute terms, given the spaghetti code we know exists in some other parts of the game). But that flag affects more than just pronouns. If you just toggled that flag, various NPCs would be referring to your male-bodied character as "madam", "mistress", "lass", "girl", "woman" etc. This also applies to NPCs you've never met. How would they know your identified gender when you first talk to them? And like Iscah mentions it goes further than that. In some conversations it's not just single words that get changed but entire lines of dialogue are selected based on gender or other properties.

Also, I wonder how exactly the aetheryte transport system works? I have the impression that your physical body actually ceases to exist for a moment and you traverse the lifestream in aetherial form. Are there some constraints which require the physical body to be reconstituted in the exact same way, or would your physical appearance after such a trip rather match your mental self-image? If it's the latter then it would be pretty strange for the WoL to have gender dissonance and require pronouns not matching their physical body.

[Shibi]

Also, I wonder how exactly the aetheryte transport system works? I have the impression that your physical body actually ceases to exist for a moment and you traverse the lifestream in aetherial form. Are there some constraints which require the physical body to be reconstituted in the exact same way, or would your physical appearance after such a trip rather match your mental self-image?

From everything I have found the devices convert your body to it's aetherial form, then back to it's previous physical form at the other end. As far as I've seen or read, one's perception of the self doesn't seem to have the ability to change the output, although clothes, echo, and "other things" can go missing if the lifestream is pushed to the extreme.

However, the ability for someone to become a "primal", such as with Saint Shiva, suggests there would be other ways - like belief and prayer - with which one could transmute one's form into the form of the mind's eye.

[TheMightyMollusk]

However, the ability for someone to become a "primal", such as with Saint Shiva, suggests there would be other ways - like belief and prayer - with which one could transmute one's form into the form of the mind's eye.

People who turn themselves into primals (Shiva, King Thordan, Tsukuyomi) overload their bodies with aether to transform. When that aether runs out, they change back. Shiva/Ysayle is the only one we see to actually survive post-transformation for more than a few minutes; however, Archbishop Thordan was an elderly man beforehand, and Yotsuyu was repeatedly shot right afterwards, so it's hard to call if it's a side-effect of the transformation, an effect of the primal transformation without the protection of the Echo and/or Blessing of Light, or just because of outside circumstances. Either way, unless they continually feed on aether, the change isn't permanent.

[Gemina]

I would not. Several years ago, or if the game was initially set up this way, then I wouldn't care. Now in 2020 if SE did this I would see it as virtue signaling. IOW, they wouldn't be doing it because they care about the alphabet community, and I simply don't want the integrity of FFXIV compromised in such a way. Even though some would probably argue it already has been.

Your character has an associated and very clear gender, and the sexual dimorphism in the sexes is blatantly clear in all Eorzean races and their respective tribes. The voice acting in the game and dialogue is done in a way that accommodates whichever one you choose. You need to understand how a change that I am sure you find quite simple greatly impacts the game.

In short, this change is not necessary and it should be perfectly ok for someone to use his and her pronouns.

[AerilaHerekol]

I would not. Several years ago, or if the game was initially set up this way, then I wouldn't care. Now in 2020 if SE did this I would see it as virtue signaling. IOW, they wouldn't be doing it because they care about the alphabet community, and I simply don't want the integrity of FFXIV compromised in such a way. Even though some would probably argue it already has been.

Your character has an associated and very clear gender, and the sexual dimorphism in the sexes is blatantly clear in all Eorzean races and their respective tribes. The voice acting in the game and dialogue is done in a way that accommodates whichever one you choose. You need to understand how a change that I am sure you find quite simple greatly impacts the game.

In short, this change is not necessary and it should be perfectly ok for someone to use his and her pronouns.

There are already nonbinary races in Eorzia who use nonbinary pronouns (See Fae).