Nothing against genderbending characters, but I have to ask: why? Without suggesting any of this applies to you, playing a gender other than your own can be perceived in several negative ways and isn't necessarily easy. In-game societal concerns can be relevant, as Halfastbracegirdle indicated, but that's rather exceptional (is your character even part of drow society?) so not often an argument. If you haven't fleshed out any details yet, why are you asking us random internet strangers what gender you should play?
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The first question to ask is whether your table is okay with crossplay. Some tables aren't. If yours is a table that doesn't like/isn't okay with crossplay, there's your answer - whichever gender you are.
The second question to ask is why crossplay, if that's the question you're really asking. I won't ever tell someone they need to justify that decision - if you want to do it, then do it. But I will say that playing a character of a gender you don't conform to and then using it as an excuse to rip on the gender, i.e. playing the character as over-emphasizing negative traits of their gender as a 'take THAT!' to shit you don't like? That's not okay, and is a bad reason to crossplay. If you're going to do it, then commit to it and try to use it as a chance to better understand the other side rather than rip on them.
The third question you need to ask is, as Pang said, why you're asking the Internet to decide, especially with basically zero information on the character or the campaign. This isn't something we have any business figuring out for you. This is something you need to figure out on your own; we can try and offer some advice on how to make the call, but a poll saying "pick my identity" is kinda...well. Super sketch.
I pick 3. "Other". Make a character who doesn't have a gender. Possibly they have something a little unusual somewhere in their ancestry. Demons technically don't have a gender, or maybe there is a little Doppelganger in the family tree. Maybe they are a magical construct like a Warforged and don't have one. Mindflayers are supposed to be doing horrible magical experiments on living creatures and your character might the one of the results. For whatever reason, your character has no gender.
Have your character wear clothing that doesn't really indicate anything. A character wearing armor might not show any signs of which gender they are. A set of bulky Wizard robes could easily leave the issue unclear. Or you can have your character pick out clothing that does seem to indicate a gender. Possibly not the same gender on any given day.
A Drow outside the Underdark is probably going to want to wear disguises anyway.
I picked 'other'... As in if you truly have no clue which to play next, roll the dice!
Personally I come up with a character concept which pretty quickly ends up as a gender I'm picturing them as, and just go with it.
It's weird how much of an issue some tables have with crossplay. Some of our tables favourite characters have been played by someone who is not the same gender as their character.
It's weird how much of an issue some tables have with crossplay. Some of our tables favourite characters have been played by someone who is not the same gender as their character.
The good experiences usually don't stand out as much as the bad ones. One instance leaving a bad taste in your mouth tends to be enough to turn a table off. I have no problem with the concept at all, but I've had a few really bad cases way back when so if a player I'm not convinced is able to handle this without giving offense hands me a charsheet with a crossgender character it does raise a mental red flag.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Up to you! I'm not one to tell you who your character should be. Heck, I don't know your gender in real life so that isn't there to influence me either. there is not correct option. You don't need to play a different gender because you feel the need to, and you shouldn't play your own gender simply because you think that is the only "real" option. PLAY YOUR OWN THING. DON'T USE A STRANGER ON THE INTERNET'S JUDGEMENT OVER YOURS. Play a version of you. Or someone else. Or anything or anyone that makes you feel satisfied.
It's weird how much of an issue some tables have with crossplay. Some of our tables favourite characters have been played by someone who is not the same gender as their character.
The good experiences usually don't stand out as much as the bad ones. One instance leaving a bad taste in your mouth tends to be enough to turn a table off. I have no problem with the concept at all, but I've had a few really bad cases way back when so if a player I'm not convinced is able to handle this without giving offense hands me a charsheet with a crossgender character it does raise a mental red flag.
I guess I'm lucky with the table I'm at. Maybe it's just our age, but no one at the table even blinks when a new crossgender character is rolled up.
For me it's pretty much a dice roll for what I pick. In the current two games I'm playing in I've had/have:
- Male human barbarian, female human druid, male fire genasi cleric, male lizardfolk barbarian, and a female air genasi monk ready as a backup.
The answer is whichever you are going to have "good fun" with. I'll direct you to this thread to explain the rare cases where your fun could ever be wrong. In this circumstance, practically the only way be having fun wrong while playing a specific gender is if you are crossplaying the gender offensively.
I personally am a cis-gender male, but I have played male characters, a female character, and a non-binary changeling character as a player character (not counting all of the NPCs that I've roleplayed as the DM).
I guess I'm lucky with the table I'm at. Maybe it's just our age, but no one at the table even blinks when a new crossgender character is rolled up.
Things have certainly improved over the years. Society in general has become more sensitive, so the same goes for D&D groups. I hope I didn't imply such behaviour is commonplace, that's absolutely not true. The exceptions just tend to make an even worse impression because if that.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I guess I'm lucky with the table I'm at. Maybe it's just our age, but no one at the table even blinks when a new crossgender character is rolled up.
Things have certainly improved over the years. Society in general has become more sensitive, so the same goes for D&D groups. I hope I didn't imply such behaviour is commonplace, that's absolutely not true. The exceptions just tend to make an even worse impression because if that.
As said by the whatever from high atop the thing, "No D&D is better than Bad D&D", and "one bad apple spoils the barrel".
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Some of these replies are super cringe in regards to crossplay.
Play whatever you want to play! Who tf has any right to criticize what or how your character behaves? As long as you're not being destructive or inappropriate, any personality trait or flaw should fly.
If people are reading too deep into why a person is acting in some manner, then roleplaying and acting is NOT FOR THEM. They're in the wrong genre of gaming. And more often than not, they're the toxic ones.
The logic behind people's concerns over crossplay is super faulty. It's like, if you're not a ranger or fighter or cleric etc irl, then you have zero justification playing one. Cringeeeeee
The first question to ask is whether your table is okay with crossplay. Some tables aren't. If yours is a table that doesn't like/isn't okay with crossplay, there's your answer - whichever gender you are.
Really?!? I have never not once shown up with a female PC and ever had anyone even bat an eye at it. If someone’s group is that restrictive I would personal go “other,: a new table.”
Title is pretty self-explanatory.
erm. hello there, 'tis i. not that you know me.
um, whatever suits the character? Give us some idea of what the character is like; class, personality, etc., and you'll get informed response.
Currently, this is "pick a number from 1 to 3". so...
2
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Thoruk's roll isn't working, so 1.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
I don't really have the character fleshed out yet, but here are the basics. Race: Drow. Class: Wizard. Background: Charlatan
erm. hello there, 'tis i. not that you know me.
FR drow society is matriarchal and females are usually clerics, so I would say male.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
Cool, thanks for giving a suggestion!
erm. hello there, 'tis i. not that you know me.
Nothing against genderbending characters, but I have to ask: why? Without suggesting any of this applies to you, playing a gender other than your own can be perceived in several negative ways and isn't necessarily easy. In-game societal concerns can be relevant, as Halfastbracegirdle indicated, but that's rather exceptional (is your character even part of drow society?) so not often an argument. If you haven't fleshed out any details yet, why are you asking us random internet strangers what gender you should play?
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
The first question to ask is whether your table is okay with crossplay. Some tables aren't. If yours is a table that doesn't like/isn't okay with crossplay, there's your answer - whichever gender you are.
The second question to ask is why crossplay, if that's the question you're really asking. I won't ever tell someone they need to justify that decision - if you want to do it, then do it. But I will say that playing a character of a gender you don't conform to and then using it as an excuse to rip on the gender, i.e. playing the character as over-emphasizing negative traits of their gender as a 'take THAT!' to shit you don't like? That's not okay, and is a bad reason to crossplay. If you're going to do it, then commit to it and try to use it as a chance to better understand the other side rather than rip on them.
The third question you need to ask is, as Pang said, why you're asking the Internet to decide, especially with basically zero information on the character or the campaign. This isn't something we have any business figuring out for you. This is something you need to figure out on your own; we can try and offer some advice on how to make the call, but a poll saying "pick my identity" is kinda...well. Super sketch.
Please do not contact or message me.
I pick 3. "Other". Make a character who doesn't have a gender. Possibly they have something a little unusual somewhere in their ancestry. Demons technically don't have a gender, or maybe there is a little Doppelganger in the family tree. Maybe they are a magical construct like a Warforged and don't have one. Mindflayers are supposed to be doing horrible magical experiments on living creatures and your character might the one of the results. For whatever reason, your character has no gender.
Have your character wear clothing that doesn't really indicate anything. A character wearing armor might not show any signs of which gender they are. A set of bulky Wizard robes could easily leave the issue unclear. Or you can have your character pick out clothing that does seem to indicate a gender. Possibly not the same gender on any given day.
A Drow outside the Underdark is probably going to want to wear disguises anyway.
<Insert clever signature here>
Warforge have no real gender but sometimes align to one or another...
I usally go with "they/them" for warforge.
Cool, thanks!
erm. hello there, 'tis i. not that you know me.
I picked 'other'... As in if you truly have no clue which to play next, roll the dice!
Personally I come up with a character concept which pretty quickly ends up as a gender I'm picturing them as, and just go with it.
It's weird how much of an issue some tables have with crossplay. Some of our tables favourite characters have been played by someone who is not the same gender as their character.
The good experiences usually don't stand out as much as the bad ones. One instance leaving a bad taste in your mouth tends to be enough to turn a table off. I have no problem with the concept at all, but I've had a few really bad cases way back when so if a player I'm not convinced is able to handle this without giving offense hands me a charsheet with a crossgender character it does raise a mental red flag.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Up to you! I'm not one to tell you who your character should be. Heck, I don't know your gender in real life so that isn't there to influence me either. there is not correct option. You don't need to play a different gender because you feel the need to, and you shouldn't play your own gender simply because you think that is the only "real" option. PLAY YOUR OWN THING. DON'T USE A STRANGER ON THE INTERNET'S JUDGEMENT OVER YOURS. Play a version of you. Or someone else. Or anything or anyone that makes you feel satisfied.
My only good homebrews: Races, Subclasses.
An aspiring DM and Homebrewer. Ask me if you need anything.
I guess I'm lucky with the table I'm at. Maybe it's just our age, but no one at the table even blinks when a new crossgender character is rolled up.
For me it's pretty much a dice roll for what I pick. In the current two games I'm playing in I've had/have:
- Male human barbarian, female human druid, male fire genasi cleric, male lizardfolk barbarian, and a female air genasi monk ready as a backup.
The answer is whichever you are going to have "good fun" with. I'll direct you to this thread to explain the rare cases where your fun could ever be wrong. In this circumstance, practically the only way be having fun wrong while playing a specific gender is if you are crossplaying the gender offensively.
I personally am a cis-gender male, but I have played male characters, a female character, and a non-binary changeling character as a player character (not counting all of the NPCs that I've roleplayed as the DM).
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Things have certainly improved over the years. Society in general has become more sensitive, so the same goes for D&D groups. I hope I didn't imply such behaviour is commonplace, that's absolutely not true. The exceptions just tend to make an even worse impression because if that.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
As said by the whatever from high atop the thing, "No D&D is better than Bad D&D", and "one bad apple spoils the barrel".
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Some of these replies are super cringe in regards to crossplay.
Play whatever you want to play! Who tf has any right to criticize what or how your character behaves? As long as you're not being destructive or inappropriate, any personality trait or flaw should fly.
If people are reading too deep into why a person is acting in some manner, then roleplaying and acting is NOT FOR THEM. They're in the wrong genre of gaming. And more often than not, they're the toxic ones.
The logic behind people's concerns over crossplay is super faulty. It's like, if you're not a ranger or fighter or cleric etc irl, then you have zero justification playing one. Cringeeeeee
Really?!? I have never not once shown up with a female PC and ever had anyone even bat an eye at it. If someone’s group is that restrictive I would personal go “other,: a new table.”
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