Do You Play Games As Your Opposite Sex?

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Groovy Natalya,

My old friends from college: Brock, John, and some others are planning their yearly trip to GenCon gaming convention next year. I told Brock that if it looks like I will have enough money next summer to go, I would be legally female (and very feminine looking) so I should think no one will question why I play female characters anymore. His email reply included an LOL. It is good that I still have friends that I have known for over three decades. Lack of money is really hurting my style though. Some of the new computer games look great, but my very old laptop can't run any games newer than Fallout 2 methinks. Ancient history surrounds me, even my car (which I hope doesn't get repo-ed since I haven't kept up with payments or insurance) is ten years old. Still I am very lucky to even be alive, so I can at least think about fun games sometime in the future.

hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest Edu]

Nice necroing Natalya! This gives me the chance to share something I realized a few months ago.

Earlier this year (can't remember the exact date), I was chatting with an old friend on FB and updated her about my gender identity and transition plans (due to long distances, we don't keep in touch too much, so she didn't know yet). The conversation quickly led to reminiscing the good old days of playing D&D (3rd edition, of course!) almost every weekend for more than a year. As we talked, everything began to make so much sense.

Back in those days (roughly from early summer 2001 to late 2002), all my gender issues were buried deep down, so I wouldn't notice these details the way I do now. I used to play female characters (almost exclusively female elf rogue), and back then it just seemed like a reasonable choice to complement the other characters in the group. Even the dungeon master was surprised, to some degree, at how well I managed to interpret and "get into the skin" of my character, developing a complex, yet consistent, personality that pretty much brought her to life. It was obvious that I was just working quite hard to earn the coveted XP bonuses for good interpretation. Or that's what everybody thought, even myself. What I couldn't explain was why it felt so good to play that character, yet other characters I had played briefly were just "meh": sure, the game mechanics were interesting, and some of the tactical aspects were enjoyable, but I couldn't really get into the character no matter how hard I tried. Both DM and players agreed: the mechanics were well-played, interpretation was reasonably good, yet still something was missing during the playing session, although we couldn't tell what.

It's so blatantly obvious by now: I was 15-16 years old at the time, and there was something special whenever I got to play as a "teenager" girl in a world full of adventure and opportunities (the elven race, the rogue class, and the neutral/chaotic good alignment all add up to make teenager-like behaviour a perfect match for the character). I wasn't just playing some character. I was being me. For pretty much the first time ever, I was letting out everything I had repressed, with no fears nor inhibitions, because I knew in-game events could have no impact outside the game. The character felt "alive" because I was the character, and those playing sessions were when I most felt alive. Of course it felt good! Only over a decade after I've found out that I can be as much alive in the real world as I was in that imaginary world. And all it takes is the same it took there: just be me

[Guest Kayla Grace]

Edu,

You've basically just described me. I've played D&D only once for a friend, who was creating his own game. But that's what I love about "Skyrim". When I played that game (it gets ... boring and repedative after a while), I could slip into Natalya's shoes (literally, they were "Shrouded shoes") and just explore a vast world. Role playing games are amazing, and I love that they've made them gender diverse. Even the new pokemon games let you choose your gender.

Stephie,

I'm hoping to go to an online game convention known as "Runefest" for Runescapers in a few years' time. The only problem is it's in England, and Canada is far overseas to the west. Still, it's something fun to look forward to. Dressing up is permitted (and even encouraged), so I find I'll fit right in!

God Bless,

Natalya <3

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Edu, and Natalya,

Yep, I had a a second edition (I think) D & D character named Nalissa that really was me. Nalissa was human, and switched classes twice, and thus became a fighter/thief/magic user. A very useful, if compromise kinda character for adventuring. She was extroverted, wore skimpy clothing, and lots of magic jewelry. I eventually had a negative ten armour class while wearing nothing but a bikini, and jewelry! I played her to the hilt during the long running Drow campaign with my buddy Brock as the DM. Such times made it easier for me.

hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest SaleneAlexis]

I always played female character when given a choice, It just felt more natural. Not that i played really any better, I just felt more like Myself.

[Guest EveStarr]

I love games!!! I played a bit of AD&D 2nd edition... No surprise always rolling up female human bards!!! Can anyone say pop star? all the way back to streets of rage playing as blaze, to soul caliburs talim, to more recent games like the new fallouts and pokemon omega ruby, I always picked the female!!!... I never really thought about it until a male friend asked me why I did it, my answer: "well, think about it. If you need to sit and look at the character for hours, wouldn't you rather it be female?" Although my reason for this was because I wanted to be one...

[Guest piinyouri]

I make both.

I tend to design my characters less as avatars and more as actual characters living in their respective games universe.

[Guest Sasseya_Isobel]

Hi all,

I have always played as female, even back playing tony hawks pro skater 1 as elisa steamer, the only female in the game, it just felt more me, before I even realised what I was doing, lol.

Nowadays whether it is rainbow 6 Vegas 2 or destiny, all my avatars are females,

Just feels more real online,

Any others who play playstation online, message me and I can add you as psn friends

Love and prayers

Sass

[Guest alexaz]

Hi all.

Just found this thread and had to respond.

I don't play many games. They seem to be to stressful for me except for things like Bejeweled and solitaire. (Lame me huh. giggle )

There is a game if you can call it a game though, Its more of a social networking site where you have a avatar of your choosing and do things like creating a home, buying clothes, going to events (parties and dances ) and just hanging out talking to others around the world.

The graphics on it are very good and 3D and its kinda lifelike. I like this site very much.

Yes there is some drama there because your dealing with lots of other people and as we all know not all of us can act our age.

One of the rules of this site is you need to be at least 18 for some sexual content but its not all about sex. ( I wouldn't go there if it was )

Anyhow, I am a woman on this site and Everyone I know there knows me as a woman. There is NO question that I am a woman there by anyone including me.

I have been on this site for over a year every day. and have never been questioned about my sex.

Going on this site gave me more than I could ever expect. It has affirmed that I truly am a woman.

I know, act , talk, feel, think and look like a true woman and this feels wonderful.

I could go on and on about this but wont.

If anyone is interested in more info about it please message me and I can tell you more.

The site if I can say it here is EROS ISLAND but a warning. It might be addicting to some. heehee it was to me.

Alexaz

[Guest amberismycolor]

I play as my real self, my avatars are always female, because that is what I am inside. Games give me a chance to come out AND be accepted.

[Guest Andir]

I always play as a female character. Especialy when its a rpg most of the clothes look prettier on females than on male characters. And it's like I'm playing myself than instead of someone else. 1 year ago I ten to play mmorpgs always as a female character. And everyone believed me that I was one .

Even on Mount and blade: Warband I play as a female character. But I still use my regular voice on Teamspeak #Commandingofficer.

If you play mount and blade dont hesitate to add me just pm me and i give my steam name

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Now that Alex has me on Facebook, I have been re-connecting with all my geeky RPG playing friends from the University of Maryland. They seem to all accept me as FB friends despite my transition, and drastic appearance change. I think memories of my female characters kinda gave them a few reasons to suspect that my macho facade was just that.

hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest]

If no one in my friend/family base except me and my wife would know, then yes, I select the female.

[LavaPrincess]

When I play fallout I do play as the opposite sex I enjoy playing as a female character

[WriterJessica]

The deciding factor for me is usually romance options. If a game has well developed romance options, I will choose the guy because almost all games have only straight romance options. If I can both play and date women, I'll do that.

If the game doesn't have any romance options, I'll play the female version of the main character.

If it's tabletop like D&D or something, it depends on the character concept, but unless my idea is specifically male, I'll go with female.

[Beeks]

I don't play many games that give me the option to choose, but I have recently been playing more female characters in World of Warcraft. I'm apart of a raiding guild, and I'm considering swapping to a female character as my main for the next expansion.

[starlitJenny]

born a male. Pretty sure I'm not a male psychology. Play all the games that have a gender option as a female.

[SecretlyJessica]

In almost every case YES!

Guilty pleasure, Second Life. I get to live out my femme persona with no body knowing any more than a few pixels and what I choose to share. /sigh, RL needs an upgrade lol.

Plus, in Second Life I have a massive shoe collection, and that makes it very useful when the budget and desire are not in sync.

[Mayo]

I almost always play as a female (I'll often select a female character in boardgames too, if there is one). In fact, starting a female PC on Neverwinter Nights a decade ago on a whim turned out to be an important step for me in bringing many of the more female/feminine aspects of my personality to the fore and led, ultimately, to questioning my own gender identity.

[Guest]

I always play as a girl, it's the only way I can win! Giggle. Jody

Gee, now that I'm post op maybe I could create a boy character??? Would that be considered cyber crossdressing? LOL

[Faeria23]

I always play as a girl if I'm able, I often find the ability to play as a girl a selling point on a game, I know it sounds shallow but it makes my dysphoria more bearable. Also I feel an overwhelming sense of joy when someone online assumes I'm a girl.

[SecretlyJessica]

On ‎10‎/‎19‎/‎2016 at 9:59 PM, Faeria23 said:

I always play as a girl if I'm able, I often find the ability to play as a girl a selling point on a game, I know it sounds shallow but it makes my dysphoria more bearable. Also I feel an overwhelming sense of joy when someone online assumes I'm a girl.

Oh yes!  First place I felt I was accepted as female was Everquest   No worrying about passing etc, just accepted at face value.  /sigh, I wish the Real World was even half as easy

[Peebs]

Only in games that I haven't already had an established character on, if that makes sense. Like, in Splatoon, I've always played as a girl, but in Mario games, I still play as Luigi, even after I realized I was trans.

[Peebs]

On a sidenote, while it's not the same thing, I've run games of Mario Party to help me make the big decisions in my life (i.e. making a new email with my new (well, "new") name, coming out to my parents, etc.). I mean, the latter was stopped upon realizing that the worst that could happen was a continuation of the status quo, but I thought it was interesting.