Since we didn't have a listener e-mail this week, DCR took it upon itself to revisit one of our favorite podcasts and give it some fresh perspective. We put forth our thoughts on the subject of playing characters of different genders. So when it comes to putting the shoe (or heel, or sandal, or whatever) on the other foot, DCR says:
1. Pay attention! Other players can't do this for you, so it is up to YOU to remember your character's gender. Failure to do so can lead to some pretty wild and, quite realistically, uncomfortable assumptions being made about the character you play. To avoid perhaps one of the most divisive subjects from ruining your game, just always bear the appearance and gender of your character as you play. Our own gender will tend to creep through just as a matter of course. Males tend to behave like males. Females tend to behave like females. Neither is bad by any means. Which brings us to... 2. Purely cosmetic. When it comes to the mechanics of a role-playing game system, gender doesn't really alter the statistics. BUT, it has a strong (and often hilarious) tendency to alter how each player moves forward. This is good. The personality and mannerisms of your character are where distinctions are truly made. There isn't (nor should be) a game mechanic that rewards or penalizes characters for being one gender or the other, or both, or neither. At this point, there is no reason to not try playing as a different gender if you think it would be fun. But... 3. Research. Ask other players if they are uncomfortable with certain subjects of the opposite gender. Don't derail your game by offending another player over something you should have just asked about beforehand. "My new character is female. Are there things about females that are not okay to talk about? Are there things that are acceptable? When is it okay to joke about this?" These are all good questions to ask. However, this is just a game. No need to take it further than this. If another player is getting creeped out or offended, do everyone a favor and just drop it. If another player is visibly upset at what you said, apologize, acknowledge your mistake, then move gracefully forward. Bonus XP: Playing as a different gender for the first time can be a nerve-racking experience. It doesn't have to be. To take some of the edge off, some good films dealing with this include: Mrs. Doubtfire, Victor/Victoria, and Tootsie. Also, investigate the Eclipse Phase line of RPG products. The setting and mechanics make gender almost completely irrelevant.
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Gamer Forge Listener Email:
Name: Calvin Smith Comments: Guys let me start out by saying I just love the show and I love the direction you've been taking the show. I am a fellow gamer and until recently I have always listened to the gamer forge but never really had any reason to email until now. I have been playing now for 5 or 6 years. My friends got me into D&D and I have really enjoyed playing. Now by no means do I ever want to attempt the feat of Dungeon mastering. You have to have a genius level intellect to do that I swear! To be able to keep everything straight and make the story fun has to be tough! Especially when your players get side tracked. However let me get back to the reason I am writing. So I drive from Salt Lake up to Ogden to play with my gaming group and the drive can be a pain at times but its worth it. Two weeks ago I end up being late to the game due to traffic and the week before I did not attend the game because I was out of town for a business trip. This last week I got a flat tire and was 10 minutes late. Now because of this my DM has knocked me down one level, has made me give up 50% of my possessions, and has put me on notice that if I am late or miss one more game I will be exiled from the gaming group. Now I realize that a player being late can be a problem but I think this is going a little overboard. Your opinions? Am I just being over critical or sensitive here? Gamer Forge Response: DCR says: bag that old-school punishment crap! 1. If someone is having trouble making it to the sessions on time on a consistent basis, try a rotating schedule, where each member takes turns hosting the game. This way, everyone understands the hassle of making it to different places, and creates an environment of accountability between each person. Your friends would help you change your tire so you can make it on time. 2. Your game, any game, is not an iron-clad commitment, nor should it be considered a chore. If it is becoming so much trouble just to make it to where you play, it may be time to consider another option for getting your game on. This is a social event, not a business meeting. When your "friends" resort to such draconic methods for "teaching a lesson", it may be time to move on to a different group. Even better: make it a point to introduce some new people into the game. 3. DM's are not the coolest beings in existence, and should not be treated as infallible. If you are having a hard time dealing with the punishments handed out, it is totally within reason to question the authority of your Dungeon Master. If everyone else is okay kneeling before the DM, the more power to them, but you have free will. Exercise the crap out of it! A Dungeon Master who commands fealty or unquestioning loyalty should absolutely have their authority questioned. That's not friendship, that's subservience. *Bonus XP: To meet a new group, try one of the hosted events at your local gaming store (preferably Epic Puzzles and Games, located in West Valley City and Lehi, Utah). These are perfect ways to learn a new game and meet lots of new people in a friendly, moderated environment. This would be a great time to try your hand at DM'ing, and earn some free swag. Gamer Forge Listener Email:
Name: TJ Comments: Hey guys I am just wanting to write in an ask for your help. I don't want to get into what system is best, 2nd edition, 3rd, 4th, or this system or that. What I want to know is whatever system I am running with my group how do I make it more fun for me as the GM and how do I make it more fun for my players. I will say that we are running a fantasy based system but we do have some elements of a post apocalyptic story going on where the players do stumble across ancient artifacts of a civilization that at one time had mechanical weapons. I'd be interested to hear what you have to say. Gamer Forge Response: When it comes to turning your game up to "11", DCR says: 1. Sell your game. When you are passionate about your game, setting, action, relationships, etc., getting your players on board should be no sweat. Come up with a one-sentence pitch for your game. Something simple like, "vigilante justice" or "zombie apocalypse" will do just fine. Then show how much you love the material. Find a game system that works with your passion. It's a lot of work, but it's like the Peace Corp: the toughest job you'll ever love. Create the excitement by showing yours. 2. Pimp-slap every scene. Set mood lighting or some music to fit your scene. If your game is humorous, give it humor. If it's somber, make it somber at the right times. Players win when they're not just engaged with what's going on now, but when they're excited about what happens next. It's okay to fake excitement, so long as you're not sarcastic. Most times, you only have to fake it for a short time. If and when you find yourself not wanting to pimp-slap your scenery, it's time to move on to something else. 3. Shared experience. You may not make everybody happy all the time, but you can at least make it worthwhile for all involved. Your game should absolutely answer the question, "Why is my character here?" Whatever the answer is, you will create an experience that players will participate in actively, or at the very least, consent to. Creating an experience is the DM's/referee/storyteller/whatever's paramount responsibility. *To bring your game to "12", DCR recommends finding your favorite book (comic or otherwise), movie, or video game and list out on paper five things you love about it. Why do you love it so much? Be specific.These are things you should strive to achieve in your game. Example: "I love the witty banter of the crew of the Serenity. It makes them more like family." Gamer Forge Listener Email:
Name: Calvin Smith Comments: Guys let me start out by saying I just love the show and I love the direction you've been taking the show. I am a fellow gamer and until recently I have always listened to the gamer forge but never really had any reason to email until now. I have been playing now for 5 or 6 years. My friends got me into D&D and I have really enjoyed playing. Now by no means do I ever want to attempt the feat of Dungeon mastering. You have to have a genius level intellect to do that I swear! To be able to keep everything straight and make the story fun has to be tough! Especially when your players get side tracked. However let me get back to the reason I am writing. So I drive from Salt Lake up to Ogden to play with my gaming group and the drive can be a pain at times but its worth it. Two weeks ago I end up being late to the game due to traffic and the week before I did not attend the game because I was out of town for a business trip. This last week I got a flat tire and was 10 minutes late. Now because of this my DM has knocked me down one level, has made me give up 50% of my possessions, and has put me on notice that if I am late or miss one more game I will be exiled from the gaming group. Now I realize that a player being late can be a problem but I think this is going a little overboard. Your opinions? Am I just being over critical or sensitive here? Gamer Forge Response: DCR says: bag that old-school punishment crap! 1. If someone is having trouble making it to the sessions on time on a consistent basis, try a rotating schedule, where each member takes turns hosting the game. This way, everyone understands the hassle of making it to different places, and creates an environment of accountability between each person. Your friends would help you change your tire so you can make it on time. 2. Your game, any game, is not an iron-clad commitment, nor should it be considered a chore. If it is becoming so much trouble just to make it to where you play, it may be time to consider another option for getting your game on. This is a social event, not a business meeting. When your "friends" resort to such draconic methods for "teaching a lesson", it may be time to move on to a different group. Even better: make it a point to introduce some new people into the game. 3. DM's are not the coolest beings in existence, and should not be treated as infallible. If you are having a hard time dealing with the punishments handed out, it is totally within reason to question the authority of your Dungeon Master. If everyone else is okay kneeling before the DM, the more power to them, but you have free will. Exercise the crap out of it! A Dungeon Master who commands fealty or unquestioning loyalty should absolutely have their authority questioned. That's not friendship, that's subservience. *Bonus XP: To meet a new group, try one of the hosted events at your local gaming store (preferably Epic Puzzles and Games, located in West Valley City and Lehi, Utah). These are perfect ways to learn a new game and meet lots of new people in a friendly, moderated environment. This would be a great time to try your hand at DM'ing, and earn some free swag. |
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