| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
You know what? Women are people too. They play games just like men.
There is no difference.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
I've run a table that consisted of a mom and a dad, their two preteen daughters and the daughters' friend (also a girl).
Most of them were actually slightly quiet/reserved, except for the very energetic half-emo friend, who was just a liiiiiiittle too happy to fulfil her Chelaxian faction mission.
|
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
One of my best friends used to run a table every summer for a group of young girls, about 8-11 of them, at her gaming store which she co-owned with her then husband. She called them her sandpipers and they encompassed a large spectrum of play styles including but not limited to, "Megan, SMASH!" to "Can I have a unicorn for a pet?" So lets not paint all women with a single brush please.
I've occasionally DMed tables of all girls / women. One that stands out in particular was a game I ran when 4E first came out; the players were my wife, an adult female friend of ours, and three girls between the ages of 9 and 12. The "sweet little girls" were utterly bloodthirsty...it was a riot. :-D
Director of Brand Strategy
|
| 9 people marked this as a favorite. |
As far as I'm concerned, this question is as appropriate as asking if you've ever run a table for all black people. What gender someone is doesn't change anything about how they play the game, just as it doesn't change if they're of a different ethnicity. If we wouldn't tolerate racial trolling on the boards, I don't see the need to tolerate gender trolling as well.
I think the question of running games for women to help overcome the stereotypes about women in gaming (or lack thereof) is a valid topic of discussion, but supporting those same stereotypes (by citing specific members of the community, no less) is what I have issue with here.
Can't tell if trolling...You know what? Women are people too. They play games just like men.
There is no difference.
Funny, I thought the same thing about the OP.
Ya know ... Seth may have worded the question a bit odd ... but on the flip side of the coin it could be a valid question...
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
The first job of a GM is to define reality. (The last job is to say "thank you.")
If the GM sets expectations such that "girly girl" behavior is rewarded, that's what she'll get. If the GM expects the PCs to be professional adventurer / trouble-shooters, that's what the players will give her. In either case, everybody can have fun.
Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
|
We've had all female tables in the store on several occasions (including the GM). We actually had so many at one point that the table almost became two regular tables.
I suspect I could pretty easily put together another group if I were to push for it; there are always 3-6 ladies playing during our game days.
|
|
I really am/was curious about if anyone has/does gm for a table consisting of only female players.
The references to the specific board members were meant in jest, as that is, at times, the front Ive seen those two post themselves. It was not meant to be taken offensively, nor did I mean to lump all female gamers in to a stereotype. My apologies to Thea, Nani, and the female gaming community in general if you found it offensive.
I really am/was curious about if anyone has/does gm for a table consisting of only female players.
The references to the specific board members were meant in jest, as that is, at times, the front Ive seen those two post themselves. It was not meant to be taken offensively, nor did I mean to lump all female gamers in to a stereotype. My apologies to Thea, Nani, and the female gaming community in general if you found it offensive.
Seth,
From my side, no offense taken and no apology necessary. I think I mush of read the question as you intended, because I quite honestly couldn't understand the "upsetedness" of the posts you received.
I've never run an all-female table, but the numerous women I've run games for ranged from powergame-y rules lawyers to bloodthirsty action heroes to story-based roleplayers to one particular method actor who sat on the floor instead of a chair so that, like her gnome character, she'd always be peering just over the tabletop.
As folks have said, there are as many types of female gamers as there are male gamers.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
......to one particular method actor who sat on the floor instead of a chair so that, like her gnome character, she'd always be peering just over the tabletop.
That is an AWESOME idea lol ... but have you seen the floors in some gaming stores/venues????!!!! ew
The "sweet little girls" were utterly bloodthirsty...it was a riot. :-D
My experience has been that women can be just as "blood thirsty" as the men (especially my own sister). Our group is 50% female and they loving kicking tail as much as the guys.
|
|
I'm with Thea, and based on my past viewings of GodsDMit's posts I didn't get the "trolling" vibe from him. More an honest academicly based question. I was mildly curious too. We have 1-2 females in our area that play. So, I was kind of curious about the "rare and elusive" female gamer, and if we're "abnormal" to have 1-2.
I'm with Thea, and based on my past viewings of GodsDMit's posts I didn't get the "trolling" vibe from him. More an honest academicly based question. I was mildly curious too. We have 1-2 females in our area that play. So, I was kind of curious about the "rare and elusive" female gamer, and if we're "abnormal" to have 1-2.
Dan,
*You* are abnormal ;)
You're goup is not
|
|
I'm with Thea, and based on my past viewings of GodsDMit's posts I didn't get the "trolling" vibe from him. More an honest academicly based question. I was mildly curious too. We have 1-2 females in our area that play. So, I was kind of curious about the "rare and elusive" female gamer, and if we're "abnormal" to have 1-2.
Thanks Thea, Dan.
I was wondering about the numbers as well. We've got 3 local women who play PFS (one being my wife), though I have three other female friends who roleplay/have roleplayed in the past, just not with PFS...yet. ;)
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
The problem is that the answer to your question is obvious to anyone who has gamed with women; women, like men, have a broad range of character and painting everyone with a single brush is an especially big way to bring the grar out of the many women who work for paizo, which, by the way, is a woman owned company. Also the suggestion that all women who play the game are all fluffy bunnies and rainbows is as silly as to suggest that all men who play the game are fat, white, and unpleasant. It's stereotype that many of us have actively had to overcome to even be allowed to play.
One of my best friends told me that long ago, she was told she couldn't play because it was for boys only and I told that was so not the case and brought her to my game, where my GM and the boys automatically expected her to take care of the crying children and not actually be involved in the game at all. Sometimes, things like this cut deep and while you were probably trying to be harmless and funny, to some of us, it's not always been easy to find a place at a table because of the very stereotype that the original post suggested.
|
|
The problem is that the answer to your question is obvious to anyone who has gamed with women; women, like men, have a broad range of character and painting everyone with a single brush is an especially big way to bring the grar out of the many women who work for paizo, which, by the way, is a woman owned company. Also the suggestion that all women who play the game are all fluffy bunnies and rainbows is as silly as to suggest that all men who play the game are fat, white, and unpleasant. It's stereotype that many of us have actively had to overcome to even be allowed to play.
One of my best friends told me that long ago, she was told she couldn't play because it was for boys only and I told that was so not the case and brought her to my game, where my GM and the boys automatically expected her to take care of the crying children and not actually be involved in the game at all. Sometimes, things like this cut deep and while you were probably trying to be harmless and funny, to some of us, it's not always been easy to find a place at a table because of the very stereotype that the original post suggested.
This explains the reaction. Perhaps if able, GodDMit should change his post to reflect the more academic question he had.
The problem is that the answer to your question is obvious to anyone who has gamed with women; women, like men, have a broad range of character and painting everyone with a single brush is an especially big way to bring the grar out of the many women who work for paizo, which, by the way, is a woman owned company. Also the suggestion that all women who play the game are all fluffy bunnies and rainbows is as silly as to suggest that all men who play the game are fat, white, and unpleasant. It's stereotype that many of us have actively had to overcome to even be allowed to play.
One of my best friends told me that long ago, she was told she couldn't play because it was for boys only and I told that was so not the case and brought her to my game, where my GM and the boys automatically expected her to take care of the crying children and not actually be involved in the game at all. Sometimes, things like this cut deep and while you were probably trying to be harmless and funny, to some of us, it's not always been easy to find a place at a table because of the very stereotype that the original post suggested.
Lissa, While I respect your position and your view and on one level even share similar viewpoints. I don't think that Seth was attempting to paint all females with the same brush.
To be honest I think he hasn't gotten a fair review on this thread. Everyone immediately jumped to the worse possible conclusion of what he asked and has been repeatedly been telling him what a horrible human he is. There are worse things in the world than this thread.
Is it possible to have the thread locked? Seth is a good friend of mine and I don't like seeing him repeatedly bashed for mis-wording a question to the collective.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As far as I'm concerned, this question is as appropriate as asking if you've ever run a table for all black people. What gender someone is doesn't change anything about how they play the game, just as it doesn't change if they're of a different ethnicity. If we wouldn't tolerate racial trolling on the boards, I don't see the need to tolerate gender trolling as well.
Interesting Mark,
I think running a table for all of one group *can* be a factor. If I was running a scenario for a table that happened to be all black, I'd be somewhat twitchy (assuming they weren't all people I knew). Likewise if I was running an all female table and the scenario was 'help the helpless damsel' I'd expect some derision. If I'm running a table for 12-15 year olds, I'm going to tone down some elements to keep the game PG.
(Or for that matter, if the scenario was hunting lefties and I had an all sinister table.)
It might be wrong/bad/unfun to assume the worst about a group of people (stereotyping), but at the same time there's nothing wrong/bad/unfun about bracing for the issues that might come up. Assuming all the people at your hypothetical table are going to 'bust a cap' in you if their PCs die is wrong. Assuming some topics might be best glossed over is no different than assuming not bringing pork chops to a muslim neighbor's welcoming party is a good idea.*
If anyone honestly believes that an all female game is "Pathfinder: My Little Pony edition" then prove him wrong.**
*
**
Edit: Changed a sentence since Thea's made it clear that this wasn't the OP's intention.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
If anyone honestly believes that an all female game is "Pathfinder: My Little Pony edition" then prove him wrong.What are you saying about MLP? I happen to like that show.
MLP references make everything about 20% cooler.
If anyone honestly believes that an all female game is "Pathfinder: My Little Pony edition" then prove him wrong.What are you saying about MLP? I happen to like that show.
I'm sporting my Sweet Apple Acres t-shirt today, along with an orange flannel. And I did some gardening this morning.
...I guess we know who my favorite pony is. >.>
|
|
I'd appreciate it if the thread was not locked. If TPTB decide to, though, I'll understand. This thing has gotten a bit heated.
The problem is that the answer to your question is obvious to anyone who has gamed with women; women, like men, have a broad range of character and painting everyone with a single brush is an especially big way to bring the grar out of the many women who work for paizo, which, by the way, is a woman owned company. Also the suggestion that all women who play the game are all fluffy bunnies and rainbows is as silly as to suggest that all men who play the game are fat, white, and unpleasant. It's stereotype that many of us have actively had to overcome to even be allowed to play.
One of my best friends told me that long ago, she was told she couldn't play because it was for boys only and I told that was so not the case and brought her to my game, where my GM and the boys automatically expected her to take care of the crying children and not actually be involved in the game at all. Sometimes, things like this cut deep and while you were probably trying to be harmless and funny, to some of us, it's not always been easy to find a place at a table because of the very stereotype that the original post suggested.
Lissa, I have edited the original post. Again, I apologize. I was not attempting to lump all female gamers into any kind of group (except being 'female' and 'gamers')
I am interested in hearing from you and the other females on the boards about percentages, experiences, etc.
While it wasnt my table that your friend was shunned from, either of you would be welcome at mine any time.
|
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
If anyone honestly believes that an all female game is "Pathfinder: My Little Pony edition" then prove him wrong.What are you saying about MLP? I happen to like that show.I'm sporting my Sweet Apple Acres t-shirt today, along with an orange flannel. And I did some gardening this morning.
...I guess we know who my favorite pony is. >.>
BOOO! PINKIE PIE IS BEST PONY!
OR POSSIBLY TWILIGHT SPARKLE!
So we're joking again? kewl ... cause there was a joking post earlier that had to be deleted ...
The system you are playing also makes a difference in the ratio of male to female gamers, as well as how "old school" the male gamers may be. For instance, I have been gaming since the beginning of the 80's and I rarely saw a female gamer til White Wolf's Storytelling games came out. That system drew out a lot of female gamers because it was so much less male-focused, and being set in the modern day and not medieval times, equal rights and equal opportunities were much more expected.
Now, a side question to this topic would be of the female gamers you know, when you are playing in a fantasy or non-modern setting, who often do these female gamers play male characters and why? Do they feel they can only participate fully by playing a male character? Does the system, or setting, make it harder to be treated fairly when playing a female character?
And for the record, the only time I ever played in an all-male gaming group was in my high school years, when even at the sci-fi and gaming conventions, the guys seemed to outnumber the girls about 20 to 1. Once I got into my early 20's and met a more diverse crowd, I have never been in a gaming group that did not have at least one female member, and often the group was more 50-50, with the Storytelling games always over 50% female.
|
|
Lissa, While I respect your position and your view and on one level even share similar viewpoints. I don't think that Seth was attempting to paint all females with the same brush.
To be honest I think he hasn't gotten a fair review on this thread. Everyone immediately jumped to the worse possible conclusion of what he asked and has been repeatedly been telling him what a horrible human he is. There are worse things in the world than this thread.
Is it possible to have the thread locked? Seth is a good friend of mine and I don't like seeing him repeatedly bashed for mis-wording a question to the collective.
I get that now, but it was not evident from the original post, as humor, especially derogatory humor, is not always evident in a text only medium. As long as this can stay on topic and not go down the road of derogatory, I think we'll all be ok from this point on. But, to be safe, I'm going to just ask people to be a little careful about dealing with this kind of topic. A lot of people are sensitive about the little boxes they identify as being in and perceived attacks on those boxes, even when meant in jest, can lead to serious grar down the line. =) Be kind and please, talk about your experiences with women gamers.
For now, I don't want to lock it down. Things, have stayed pretty civil, more or less, and I think something constructive can probably be salvaged.
Lissa, While I respect your position and your view and on one level even share similar viewpoints. I don't think that Seth was attempting to paint all females with the same brush.
To be honest I think he hasn't gotten a fair review on this thread. Everyone immediately jumped to the worse possible conclusion of what he asked and has been repeatedly been telling him what a horrible human he is. There are worse things in the world than this thread.
Is it possible to have the thread locked? Seth is a good friend of mine and I don't like seeing him repeatedly bashed for mis-wording a question to the collective.
I get that now, but it was not evident from the original post, as humor, especially derogatory humor, is not always evident in a text only medium. As long as this can stay on topic and not go down the road of derogatory, I think we'll all be ok from this point on. But, to be safe, I'm going to just ask people to be a little careful about dealing with this kind of topic. A lot of people are sensitive about the little boxes they identify as being in and perceived attacks on those boxes, even when meant in jest, can lead to serious grar down the line. =) Be kind and please, talk about your experiences with women gamers.
For now, I don't want to lock it down. Things, have stayed pretty civil, more or less, and I think something constructive can probably be salvaged.
Personally, I think seth is owed an apology for the way he was treated over the way people perceived what he said. But I'll just stay out of the thread for now.
|
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
Now, a side question to this topic would be of the female gamers you know, when you are playing in a fantasy or non-modern setting, who often do these female gamers play male characters and why? Do they feel they can only participate fully by playing a male character? Does the system, or setting, make it harder to be treated fairly when playing a female character?
I don't think I've ever seen a female play a male character (conversely, I've seen a few males play female characters). Just this past Sunday a girl was (in-character) lowering the neck of her shirt and hiking up her skirt to get past a bouncer so we could talk to a crime witness.
On the other hand, I have seen most females play archers, casters, or otherwise non-STR-based characters. I've always sort of wondered whether that was the result of natural preference, social pressure to not be "butch" or whatever, or anything else. I certainly hope that it's by choice.
|
In the group I mentioned, when we ran the-system-that-shall-not-be-named, my wife played a male dwarf fighter (who now has a sister in PFS, not sure how that happened, since its different worlds, but whatever) while one of the others played an elf that kept switching genders. It got to be weird, yet fun most of the time. Generally though, the girls in my group play female characters.
|
|
We have our first all-ladies game table in the Atlanta region tonight. We've found that many couples would like to play together, but the ladies prefer not to play at the FLGS in the area or at conventions just because it is not their scene (space, cleanliness, atmosphere, etc). We've done a fantastic job of running tables during the week at a local tavern in Atlanta, which caters to more of an older, working crowd. Tonight, we have 5 tables running just in 1 slot, which is absolutely amazing!
A lot of the ladies sitting down tonight have never gamed before. Nani is one of the best GMs in Atlanta (nay, PFS) because she's just as good at coaching new players through as she is at running the higher tier scenarios of death and destruction (so scared with what she's going to do to my poor Nikolai in Tomb of the Iron Medusa). And since it will be a girl's only table, the boys aren't there to get all control freaky trying to 'help' out with everything (because believe you me, I've seen that happen more often than not at the 90 games I've run of PFS).
It's definitely exciting because the ratio of males to females gaming in the Atlanta area is skewed, much as I imagine in to be in most other areas. But I think cultivating PFS events at arenas other than FLGS or conventions is a great way to bring more females into the mix. And it never hurts to have a good meal and plenty of libations on the menu while playing - no matter what gender is sitting at the table. Although I must say if your FLGS is anything like Enchanted Grounds, then I think it is just as good as a tavern (not better because I don't think I saw any beer on the menu when I walked in there, but maybe I didn't look hard enough).
After tonight, I totally expect that we we have couples tables and more all-female tables at this location. Pretty soon we might need to reserve way more space than we have at this location, especially if it continues to grow as much as it has in the past 6 months.
|
|
On topic, we're going to be having an all woman game of skull and shackles soonish for a lot of paizo people. Well, Chris Self, will be invited and he has an awesome concept that will fit in nicely and provide some fun entertainment. =) My main game group for the past three years has been more women than men and often out of 7 potential people, only two of them are male and one of them has a hard time making the schedule 'cause he works a lot. So ends up being the local VC and several women from paizo and the wife of another paizo worker. We have a blast and really haven't seen a lot of differences altogether.
That said, one of my best friends Rose, whom I miss dearly after she moved, ran a game for awhile that was much more fantastical than any game I've played to date. She was an english major and gaming was her outlet for quite awhile. It felt, more literary than other games I had been a part of. The rules were never a hindrance for her and she was perfectly happy saying this is just how things work here. In the about a year of playing in that campaign, we went from waterdeep undead plague as young adults learning to be adventurers to sailing the open seas with very fabulous merman who loved shoes to an demiplane created to protect a true love to the island of birds(a small island where the souls of paladins who fall in their duties as a sort of limbo until the deity finds a way to give them a second chance before they are doomed. It was a unique experience and one I miss very very much. I remember one game session was devoted entirely to, and this speaks to the stereotype, shopping, but it wasn't just the girls participating. She wanted to make sure all of us got some fine things that we wanted that weren't necessarily magical but were... defining and that gave us character. She also ran very interesting characters but was not always terribly cooperative with other players who were more business than roleplaying.
Crystal Frasier does an excellent job as GM in her own worlds and has some really fantastic fun and out there ideas and she never does a boring game though I think she works best within the constraints of her own setting, more so than with standard modules, which she's been working with for the longest time. She is also an excellent roleplayer and probably one of the best I've known.
I tend to like rules and have a hard time thinking outside the confines of my character whom I have a tendency to invest a lot of emotion and thought into. I also like rules, and being awesome in the context of the game. Part of the fantasy elements that appeal to me are getting lots of treasure to buy things(something I don't get a ton of in my life) and being to exert my influence and being awesome(something I don't always feel that I get in my life).
Overall, full or predominantly female tables have not been much different from those of other tables I've played in. On average, roleplaying seems to be a bit of a bigger element and emphasis on the individual character seems to be a tiny bit higher, but that could just be a factor relating to the women I play games with. =)
Also, children are the best for this. It's neat, I have a friend, the local VC actually, who has the best children ever, a boy and a girl, and they LOVE gaming and their dad has fostered this awesome element of roleplay within them and they both approach the game in very similar ways but from slightly different perspectives.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I only knew of one all-girl campaign. It was in college and I stopped by to say hi to one of the girls and stayed to watch a bit. They were easily the most hack-happy, bloodthirsty bunch of players I've ever seen.
One of my monthly games is all female, save for me(dm) . About 6 players. I have had an incarnation of my all girl game running in one form or another for almost a decade.
I GMed an all-female groups a few times. It happens rarely, however. Not because of lack of female players - it's just not often that group forms with only females. Only once I gathered such party intentionally - because I wanted to provide three characters in ongoing campaign with various informations and show them a few things concerning them.
|
While I have never run an all girl group in any RPG system, I have GMed for many female gamers. I have found that girl gamers bring a different feel to the table, often concerning themselves more with the role-playing aspect of the game than the mechanical side... and I find this refreshing!
Example: At one table, I described the basement of an abandoned building as full of dust, as thick as a quarter-inch in places... to give the players a sense of how long the place had bee deserted. I asked the players what they were doing. They went through various skill checks, and actions. When I got to the female player, she said "I sneeze." A completely realistic response, and one the male players didn't think of... because they "knew" that if would (mechanically) offer any bad guys a change to notice them.
Example 2: My daughter (9) has just started playing Pathfinder along with her younger brother (8). While he has absorbed the game mechanics fairly well with his Fighter, she has still to learn when to use her skills, leading to some amazing pure role-play! When I ran the B Box Delves, the party were confronted by a group of city guards. They tell the party that there is nothing happening that they can't handle. Now, the older players (my brother and my best friend) have let the kids make most of the decisions, and haven't tried to influence their game play. My son immediately rolls his Sense Motive check, figuring out that the guards might not be telling the truth. So I turn to my daughter and ask her if she would like to make the same skill check. "No," she says straight faced, "They're the police... I believe them."
I will always welcome a girl gamer to play and do my best to not discourage them from playing a RPG, as I would any new player regardless of age, skin color or religious belief... and I would expect my other players to treat them with the same respect.