Should more RPGs have female leads?

Sim Kid · 01-20-2009, 01:43 PM

There have been a few RPGs in which the primary protagonist has been female, or in which you're given the option to play as a woman. Do you think there should be some more females in an RPG?

Personally, I say yes. I mostly say this to help break down trends, and because it would be interesting to put the player in control of a woman, especially if she's an interesting character and isn't a Colette Brunel. Heck just having an androgenous(sp) heroine would fit if you have to have someone looking girlier/manlier than the other (wo)men characters.

I am nobody · 01-20-2009, 02:05 PM

I prefer non-linear games that let you have at least some control over the main character (KotoR, Fable, etc), so I'm against having a forced lead of either gender.

Still, I agree that the constant male leads are getting bland.

ZeldaGirl · 01-20-2009, 02:54 PM

Heck yes!

Robotazy · 01-20-2009, 03:10 PM

I want more RPG leads to actually be a Pile of Ooze. It'll be something morbidly obese people can connect to.

heh · 01-20-2009, 03:16 PM

i want more rpgs to have interesting leads first

**X-3** · 01-20-2009, 03:28 PM

I would like to see a character that is a monkey with a gun for a tail.

Female leads are good too.

The Willful Wanderer · 01-20-2009, 03:37 PM

I would say yes, with a qualifier-

More female leads who aren't just eye candy.

In fact, I'd like to see more leads who don't fit the standard character patterns- you know, someone with a halberd or maybe a lead female mage, or even a lead who's (gasp) not in their teens! (OHMIGOD)

Yeah. I'm a rebel.

ZeldaGirl · 01-20-2009, 03:42 PM

^That's a good point.

Panfan · 01-20-2009, 03:47 PM

Well, most JRPG leads could pass for either one.

Sim Kid · 01-20-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I am nobody

I prefer non-linear games that let you have at least some control over the main character (KotoR, Fable, etc), so I'm against having a forced lead of either gender.

Still, I agree that the constant male leads are getting bland.

well anything. *Shrugs* KOTOR actually has canonical genders but who pays attention outside of star wars nerds?

Chaos Deviot · 01-20-2009, 05:27 PM

As long as the characters is freakin' interesting, I don't care about gender. Although being a golem leader, or heck, a mimic would be fun.

Some Dragon Quest related games has you start out with a slime, which could count for a pile of ooze. Another one has you as a literal slime.

Sim Kid · 01-20-2009, 05:40 PM

AT least interesting if not a sockpuppet like in non-linear games or some games like Persona.

**Valigarmander** · 01-20-2009, 06:53 PM

But, yeah, RPGs could always use more diverse leads than the typical big burly guy with a bazillion weapons or the effeminate man-boy with his belts and zippers.

**Crazyswordsman** · 01-20-2009, 07:47 PM

Wait....don't most of the recent Final Fantasies HAVE female leads?

[serious]I definitely think there should be more female leads, although they should be less damesl-in-distressy or slutty and more, you know, tough. -CSM

***Ace Mercury*** · 01-21-2009, 07:13 AM

You know how the female party members are always weaker and better at spellcasting than the guys? I was thinking of designing an RPG where there is at least a strong female party member and one guy who's the healer, to see how that would go over. I never got around to it, though. =/

**Loot** · 01-21-2009, 07:34 AM

Tales of Destiny 2 (JP) was the greatest violation of gender roles.

All three female characters in the party are mainly spell casters (Except Nanaly, I guess). Reala was soooooo stereotypical. The weak girl that could only cast spells and used wands and staffs. BORING. Nanaly was an archer, meh. Harold, freaking Sage. Again, spells.

And guess what the male characters are? Kyle's the stereotypical swordsman leader, Judas is the mysterious better swordsman, and Loni's just the axe wielding maniac.

Which sucks massivly because Tales of Destiny at least had some interesting characters (Mary's a freaking beast, and there's a freaking Bard.).

ZeldaGirl · 01-21-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace Mercury

You know how the female party members are always weaker and better at spellcasting than the guys? I was thinking of designing an RPG where there is at least a strong female party member and one guy who's the healer, to see how that would go over. I never got around to it, though. =/

That would be very interesting; something I was thinking about myself (not in terms of me actually creating it, but wondering "could that ever happen...would people do it?"). I think it'd be totally cool, though.

One of the reasons I liked FFXII and Tactics so much was that not only were they flexible in terms of jobs and classes between genders, but there are a lot of kick ass females in there (Ashe and Fran, Agrias and Meliadoul).

Robotazy · 01-21-2009, 11:33 AM

Ok, I'll put my actual two cents.

I'm not gonna lie and say I hate the eye candy. No, I loves the eye candy. There is just so much eye candy, that the archetype becomes tiresome.

I remember a game called "Magna Carta where all the Women were like Mai Shirunai, and it was ridiculous. You can probably look it up if you don't believe me.

I would love to see a Female Monk teaming up with a Male Mage and they go decieve other villigers like they're con artists. It would be different. I kind of like different.

Ninja Edit:

From Magna Carta. Just so you don't really have to go look for it.

Auron · 01-21-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaGirl

One of the reasons I liked FFXII and Tactics so much was that not only were they flexible in terms of jobs and classes between genders, but there are a lot of kick ass females in there (Ashe and Fran, Agrias and Meliadoul).

I feel the need to point out the Fire Emblem series and Valkyria Chronicles as two other games that have the right idea. In fact, in Path of Radiance, your main healer is a guy and one of your best knights is a woman. And anyone who doesn't think Lyn isn't a kickass character is out of their mind.

ZeldaGirl · 01-21-2009, 02:48 PM

^I've never played FE, so I didn't know/couldn't comment.

But, from what I've heard ~~from SML~~ Lyn is, indeed, kickass.

01-20-2009, 01:43 PM	#1
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 8,884 Thanks: 80 Thanked 198 Times in 122 Posts	Should more RPGs have female leads? There have been a few RPGs in which the primary protagonist has been female, or in which you're given the option to play as a woman. Do you think there should be some more females in an RPG? Personally, I say yes. I mostly say this to help break down trends, and because it would be interesting to put the player in control of a woman, especially if she's an interesting character and isn't a Colette Brunel. Heck just having an androgenous(sp) heroine would fit if you have to have someone looking girlier/manlier than the other (wo)men characters.

01-20-2009, 03:37 PM	#7
The Willful Wanderer Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Aisle 12, between the kumquats and the radicchio. Gender: Posts: 2,325 Thanks: 168 Thanked 137 Times in 90 Posts	QUALIFICATION. I would say yes, with a qualifier- More female leads who aren't just eye candy. In fact, I'd like to see more leads who don't fit the standard character patterns- you know, someone with a halberd or maybe a lead female mage, or even a lead who's (gasp) not in their teens! (OHMIGOD) Yeah. I'm a rebel.

01-20-2009, 07:47 PM	#14
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	In before Jay. Wait....don't most of the recent Final Fantasies HAVE female leads? [serious]I definitely think there should be more female leads, although they should be less damesl-in-distressy or slutty and more, you know, tough. -CSM

01-20-2009, 02:05 PM	#2
I am nobody Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Over there. Gender: Posts: 5,515 Thanks: 309 Thanked 365 Times in 242 Posts Blog Entries: 7	I prefer non-linear games that let you have at least some control over the main character (KotoR, Fable, etc), so I'm against having a forced lead of either gender. Still, I agree that the constant male leads are getting bland.

01-20-2009, 02:54 PM	#3
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	Heck yes!

01-20-2009, 03:10 PM	#4
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	I want more RPG leads to actually be a Pile of Ooze. It'll be something morbidly obese people can connect to.

01-20-2009, 03:16 PM	#5
heh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: lo-ca-tion; Noun- 1. a place or situation occupied: That house is in a fine location Gender: Posts: 9,849 Thanks: 710 Thanked 955 Times in 628 Posts	i want more rpgs to have interesting leads first

01-20-2009, 03:28 PM	#6
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,944 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	I would like to see a character that is a monkey with a gun for a tail. Female leads are good too.

01-20-2009, 03:42 PM	#8
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	^That's a good point.

01-20-2009, 03:47 PM	#9
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,250 Times in 1,338 Posts Blog Entries: 15	Well, most JRPG leads could pass for either one.

01-20-2009, 05:27 PM	#11
Chaos Deviot The Betrayer Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt. Moon Gender: Posts: 1,812 Thanks: 171 Thanked 52 Times in 49 Posts Blog Entries: 1	As long as the characters is freakin' interesting, I don't care about gender. Although being a golem leader, or heck, a mimic would be fun. Some Dragon Quest related games has you start out with a slime, which could count for a pile of ooze. Another one has you as a literal slime.

01-20-2009, 05:40 PM	#12
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 8,884 Thanks: 80 Thanked 198 Times in 122 Posts	AT least interesting if not a sockpuppet like in non-linear games or some games like Persona.

01-20-2009, 06:53 PM	#13
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	But, yeah, RPGs could always use more diverse leads than the typical big burly guy with a bazillion weapons or the effeminate man-boy with his belts and zippers.

01-21-2009, 07:13 AM	#15
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	You know how the female party members are always weaker and better at spellcasting than the guys? I was thinking of designing an RPG where there is at least a strong female party member and one guy who's the healer, to see how that would go over. I never got around to it, though. =/

01-21-2009, 07:34 AM	#16
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	Tales of Destiny 2 (JP) was the greatest violation of gender roles. All three female characters in the party are mainly spell casters (Except Nanaly, I guess). Reala was soooooo stereotypical. The weak girl that could only cast spells and used wands and staffs. BORING. Nanaly was an archer, meh. Harold, freaking Sage. Again, spells. And guess what the male characters are? Kyle's the stereotypical swordsman leader, Judas is the mysterious better swordsman, and Loni's just the axe wielding maniac. Which sucks massivly because Tales of Destiny at least had some interesting characters (Mary's a freaking beast, and there's a freaking Bard.).

01-21-2009, 11:33 AM	#18
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Ok, I'll put my actual two cents. I'm not gonna lie and say I hate the eye candy. No, I loves the eye candy. There is just so much eye candy, that the archetype becomes tiresome. I remember a game called "Magna Carta where all the Women were like Mai Shirunai, and it was ridiculous. You can probably look it up if you don't believe me. I would love to see a Female Monk teaming up with a Male Mage and they go decieve other villigers like they're con artists. It would be different. I kind of like different. Ninja Edit: From Magna Carta. Just so you don't really have to go look for it.

01-21-2009, 02:48 PM	#20
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	^I've never played FE, so I didn't know/couldn't comment. But, from what I've heard ~~from SML~~ Lyn is, indeed, kickass.