LadyRohesia's page

Oops, I meant to add that I like the kickstarter and some of the incentives but I feel Im too new to RPGing and with dragoncon this weekend Im pinching pennies... or I would jump for the $30 or $60 pledge...

I have made a conscious decision to get more people interested in NeoExodus and specifically getting more women who play Pathfinder RPG playing in the NeoExodus setting. For me this isn’t just lip service or some silly promotion to draw interest, this about NeoExodus being open to all and getting past the typical fantasy tropes that have existed since the beginning of time. I may have been, subconsciously, doing this since the creation of the setting of having four of the five major empires run by women and the BBEG from the Khaynites, Widowmaker Scarlet, being a woman but this is something I think will be good for us a company. Amber Scott was nice to work with us on the creation of the Annihilation Sphere and tying it into the background of our terrorist organization, the Folding Circle. I think fantasy RPG games and industry in general can be a bit of an old boy’s network often forgetting that not every woman playing the game doesn’t want to be the “healer” of the group, while the “boys” do all the action.

With this, LPJ Design is going to focus on not just recruiting new women as writers, editors and artists but to promote them to other 3PP and help make their dreams of working in the gaming industry come true. The more different representations you can have in an industry only helps expends the industry.

So first, I would like to hear a few comments from the female fan base and learn specifically what have RPG companies done very right and very wrong to help get you interested in what they were doing.

I like what you are honestly trying to do and there is a lot of good advice already on this forum. Biggest things I'd second is variety and realistic female armor. I don't mind the Seoni & Alahazra's because Ive got the Kyra & Seelah's.

I know I can value realistic armor because well I have a hobby that is full-contact medieval combat. Boob armor can't exist; it's not practical and most of all it's not safe to wear... (unless you are talking Batman because well he's batman and very secure in his masculinity and super-hero status.)::Runs and ducks:: But take for example Seelah's armor.. it is borderline practical but I think in her case it works and works well with the overall armor ensemble. It doesn't over accentuate "the girls" and make it the showcase of the armor and also looks like it could work for her body type/build/bra size.

You can also take real life examples of women doing it right with armor. My most recent "fave" is Victoria Hankins, a real life jouster and "modern-day lady knight" who not only has to wear appropriate armor but looks absolutely smashing. (Ha, pun intended!) http://virginiahankins.com/

More examples from fiction and non-fiction (I provided links for the harder to google ones):
*Alessandra Martines as Princess Fantaghirò (Italian fairytale heroine)
*Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc
*Nicole Leigh Verdin in the film "Shroud"
*Joan of Arc by Artist: Michael Komarck. Anachronism series. http://komarckart.com/ccg_ana16.html
*"Calm Before the Storm" by Wraithdt (DeviantArt)http://fav.me/d2aewhe
*Eowyn of Rohan from the LOTR in her armor
* Briene, The Maid of Tarth, "A Song of Ice and Fire" / "Game of Thrones"
*Leelee Sobiesky as Joan of Arc
*Joan of Arc as played by Milla Jovovich
*Sorsha (Warrior daughter of Bavmorda) from Willow

And let me mention the wonderfully delicious Asian armor kits you can see such as Empress Cheon or Cheon-Chu from the Korean KBS's show of the same title... those Koreans sure do know how to do historical dramas... even if some of the armor is fantasized they know how to pull it off and make it look gooddddd!

LMPjr007 wrote:

Dark_Mistress wrote:

Just have variety in art, concepts, characters, personalities etc for both genders giving equal attention to every area.

What visual fantasy troupe do you feel is over used in character design and imagery?

I know you're asking Dark_Mistress (as well you should) but I feel like participating: look at the iconic witch in Pathfinder (Feiya). Pretty much that. Really skinny, unusual hair or eyes, lots of complexity in a costume that also makes it look impossible to move in including an almost Liefeldian number of straps and belts and pouches, clothing looks more like lingerie than gear, lots of focus on form over function (you can have both) .

In short: looks like a hot chick in a Halloween costume, not a competent adventurer.

Please let me note: I have no problems with hot chicks in Halloween costumes. I would like to promote their existence and proliferation.

But not as representatives of capable adventuring heroines. That's my personal taste. When I look at Feiya, I think, "Hey, cool Loligoth Halloween costume!" But I do not think, "Hey, I want to be like her when I'm pretending to save the world!"

Going back to what I and a lot of other people were saying earlier -- just go for variety. It's okay if you repeat past tropes even--tropes become tropes for a reason, because at some point, they've worked. Just don't use the same tropes over and over.

I can agree with concept.. a lot. Ive been pondering which costume/cosplay to create out of the Pathfinder iconics and one look at Feiya and I was like, yeah not happening...

::Note- I'd like to say Im not slamming an individual artist but merely giving a critical analysis of what *I* see and that may or may not be the same others::
It's not so much the complexity of the costume, which I actually adore.. but it was the boobs almost popping out of her chemise and the sexually hype'd body posture and allure. Sorry, just because a female character is wearing a corset doesn't automatically mean "boobs must pop out." If you read her story I begin to wonder how her artwork matches her description. I feel I can relate her story personally but cannot relate to interpretation of her in the artwork because to me it does not say the same story. I feel she is more a seductress of dark arts than an often misunderstood and awkward but good natured witch trying to find her family after such a horrific childhood.

And for the record I've had the most fun playing this class in pathfinder... so I can look beyond the artwork and enjoy the class. :)

Pathfinder is my first table top RPG to play and I began about 3 years ago. My home group plays Pathfinder and occasionally there are PFS sessions at my local game store when I can get out to it.

My visit to GenCon was very last minute but it was awesomely fun to get to be at it (Thanks to my job for sending me to Indy for two weeks). I bought a goblin plushie, of course, and was excited to grab some Runelords starter boxes. They are just as great if not better than the Heroes beginners box. Oh and I *LOVE* the comic book and can't wait to get more in the series. I tried getting in a Steps part 1 (for General event ticket holders) on Saturday but there was not enough GMs so our table played the Beginner's Box since that had an available GM. Then I took the PFS GM 101 Parts 1 and 2 on Sunday... I highly recommend it for any con-goer interested or currently a GM that can get to it... even if you think you are experienced GM there is always something to learn. I did however think the tracks shouldn't be listed as "No experience required". That was a bit misleading and luckily I've GM enough to not have found myself completely lost in the sauce. By "enough" I mean only two sessions GMing of Pathfinder with no other GM experience but 3 years exp as player in Pathfinder.

All in all, it will be very hard for me to stop playing Pathfinder!

I found out Sunday this was going on and will be there... GOBLIN PLUSHIES!!! (In my defense I am here for work so I couldn't plan ahead properly like DragonCon)