From: en01@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (EUGINA M. NOVAK)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: Sex and RPG's - Why Oh Why ?
Date: 7 Apr 92 13:05:49 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <1992Apr6.171408.16978@ctr.columbia.edu>, vcf1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu
 (Victoria C Fike) writes:
>In article <1992Apr6.174247.1@cc.newcastle.edu.au> c9036971@cc.newcastle.edu.au
 Maxx writes:

>>I'd like to call on the experience of you all to answer me a question.
>>It seems to me that the number of female roleplayers (not characters!)
>>is surprisingly small - in my experience of role playing (about 8
>>years, mainly AD&D) I have seen fewer than ten females who were at
>>all serious about gaming.
>>I was wondering if this is the case with the rest of you. Is the fairer
>>sex poorly suited to gaming, perhaps?

>NOT!!!!!!!
Touche!  I think it takes an addle-pated twit to even suggest that women
are poorly suited to gaming!  This comment must have originated from
male-chauvenist who belittles females...no wonder YOU haven't seen many
females serious about gaming.  Do you ever give them a fighting chance?
What range of characters can you role-paly effectively?  I have a hot-
tempered mu, a level-headed kensai, a kleptomaniac thief, and a sweet-
scamming bard who sidelines as an assassin.  All have different unique
personalities, morals, and actions.

>>Do they just have better things
>>to do than sit around a table roling dice, speaking in jargon (whether
>>fantasy, futuristic or whatever) and wandering in imaginary places? Or
>>is it just me?

It's just you.  I'm a female gamer who experiences withdrawal symptoms if
I'm unable to game for a week or two.  I revel in my imagination and my
ability to project a character effectively.  If it's your experience that
females have better things to do with their time, perhaps you don't make
them feel a part of your group.

>Did you try *asking* some ladies to join your campaign?  Works wonders.

>From what I've seen, however, you're right--there seem to be fewer female
>gamers than male.  I daresay it's more a lack of opportunity than ability,
>though.  So invite a few girls to join.  Chances are, they'll fit in nicely.

I have to agree that, in general, there *do* tend to be more male gamers
than female, but luckily I've not been involved in that boring scenario.
In all of the gaming groups I've been involved with, females comprised
half, if not more, of the gamers.  Never have we had any female characters
who slept around, were simpy, overly compassionate, and hated combat.
In fact, I know a certain female dwarven fighter who would slice a person
in half for even suggesting she dislikes combat--she THRIVES on it!  She
even sports a jacket with the warning..."Mess with the best..Die like the
rest".  And while she would swing with her hammer, her spitfire mage
companion would zap with magic missiles followed by a fireball (depending
on how offensive the derogatory comments had been).

I can't say that the men in our current gaming group don't enjoy role
playing their characters as much as the members "of the fairer sex" do
because they get into it just as much as we do.  I feel sorry for the
single-sex gaming groups made up of solely men who only hack and slay
and talk about women (these types do exist--I've sat in on a few games
like this).  These types of groups miss the point of frp.  Gamers should
give characters more CHARACTER than the above mentioned mentality, It
makes for a much more interesting game.  If you currently belong to a
gaming group lacking in female gamers, by all means ask some (you'd be
surprised how many would love to join you) and see how it adds spunk to
your game.

For the record I too am a woman and an avid gamer and wouldn't have
it any other way.

--Gina
  (aka Mig, Kalima, Kira, & Rory)

en01@lehigh.edu