Quote:
Originally posted by Pyrates:
P.S.: Now that I read my post, I'm not sure if I am to write "sex" or "gender", so please read the one that suits, even if I used the wrong one (be gentle, I'm german [img]smile.gif[/img] )
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Phillip (Pyrates): In English, sex refers to biology (as in XX or XY), gender to the cultural expectations based on sex. Both biology and cultural expectations/experience can affect physical and mental development. A biological female (sex) can have a male (gender) upbringing and vice versa (this is quite rare or course).
Regarding this thread more specifically, I noticed that so far, everyone has seemed to assume that the expectations we have of male and female humans should apply to the fantasy races as well. I guess there is no reason to assume that female fairies wouldn't be genetically and socially predisposed toward more physical prowess than their male counterparts, that female lizardmen would be less intelligent but faster than male lizardmen, etc. I agree with Pyrates that forcing a male/female difference in starting characteristics actually subtracts from the flexibility of the game (it would make me feel more compelled to pick the 'more appropriate' sex; I suppose that one could argue that personality could affect starting characteristics as well - then I again lose in the flexibility as I wouldn't want to be the intellectual Lizardwoman fighter and suffer a double hit against strength and vitality; I'm not saying I would pick an intellectual lizardwoman, it's just an example... [img]smile.gif[/img] . The great thing about being able to put characteristic points where you want them is that you can customize your characters to fit what you want in a character. The different races already provide a lot of options for base characteristics - and if you want your female characters to be weaker, just don't put as many points into strength, etc.