Viewpoint Do you ever play the opposite gender? Do you prefer it?

[Backpacker]

I have played the opposite gender, and I wouldn't say I prefer it. It sort of depends on the plot and the type of character I'm playing. I mean it's fun to play either gender in my opinion and it's interesting to play a character of the opposite gender as I find those characters tend to handle things very differently than myself.

 

[Gundam Watcher 27]

Yes and kinda.

 

[Reach]

For me it's more so down to the character? I'm not that fussed about specifically playing xy or z characters. If I have an idea for a male character I do that, female then I do that? I'm not that fussed

 

[nerdy tangents]

For me it's more so down to the character? I'm not that fussed about specifically playing xy or z characters. If I have an idea for a male character I do that, female then I do that? I'm not that fussed

Yeah it’s never like I’m hitting a quota or something. If you want a specific gender and can justify it via story than whatever it’s all good.

But left to my own devices I just pick someone at random that seems fun to write.

 

[Jannah]

For me it's more so down to the character? I'm not that fussed about specifically playing xy or z characters. If I have an idea for a male character I do that, female then I do that? I'm not that fussed

That's often how it works for me too tbh. I get a specific character idea and then I usually end up picturing them as a specific gender in my head.

 

[AnnJam]

Yes I'll play any gender. No I don't think I prefer the opposite gender over any other gender. The way characters play on each other is more important than their gender.

 

[ManiCrackers]

I've always questioned my gender just a bit, and I've leaned lately more towards non-binary than male, but I've always preferred writing women not explicitly because of my gender, but because I see people writing women SO POORLY in a lot of aspects, and I simply do it as a means to be the change I want to see in the world, y'know? That being said, I've been expanding into a lot of male characters recently, and trying my hand to give them a lot of fair exploration as well.

 

[raindrop.]

escapism is a big part of roleplaying, for me. so, i have a habit of making Strong Women.
it's not so much that "i want to make up for my flaws and validate myself via fantasy power play!!!!11!1" or "this is my fetish so i will cater to it in every roleplay", but rather that its just kind of the opposite of who i am? i'm totally comfortable being a twink guy, but when i roleplay, being this total polar opposite of who i am helps me separate my own mindset from theirs.

now, i still roleplay other kinds of characters, girls and guys alike. part of escapism is exploring all of these different mindsets and personalities. but...if i ever make Strong Woman, don't be surprised;;

 

[unscientific]

I'm proudly trans, and while I don't have any preference, I do have the habit of making trans characters or characters that don't fit the gender binary.

 

[PinkChiffon]

On this site, my characters pretty much always align with my gender, but in ttrpgs I play with friends, I always play opposite. I'm not really sure why or when I got into the habit, but I can't remember a time in recent years I wrote for a male character or played a female character in tabletop.

 

[CrystalDisc]

I often play the opposite gender, as well as characters whose age are completely out of my range. I wouldn't say that I prefer it, but I don't not prefer it, either. Gender doesn't make as much of a difference to me as much as their personality, history, and skillset does.

 

[RavenSong]

I like playing both.. idk I have phases though sometimes I like playing lady characters or guy characters depending on my mood..
really into the brother and sister dynamic these days though.. you know? Like a witch hunter duo ?

i like playing ladies that start off insecure and find their courage as the rp progresses..

I also like playing guys that start off confident but become broken lol I’m all over the place xD

 

[CheshireMitsu]

i am a rule breaker because i am a girl that always rp's boys, im also really nice online but i only rp mean characters lol

 

[cirrostratus]

For some reason literally all of the characters that I make or gravitate to are boys, and I'm a girl myself. And by all of the characters, I mean all of them. XD I have no idea why, but I'm far more comfortable playing males than females.

same! I love playing males. I feel weird because most people I encounter love feminine or "soft" people it seems. Help what's wrong with us.

 

[saniachan]

As for myself, the only gender I haven't ever played yet is non-binary. My characters in various RPs (both in here and elsewhere) are males and females, depending on the RP they're in.

 

[Jannah]

As for myself, the only gender I haven't ever played yet is non-binary. My characters in various RPs (both in here and elsewhere) are males and females, depending on the RP they're in.

I've done trans(only like once, though) but I'm yet to do non-binary. I don't think I ever will either since I had trouble with the trans character. I felt like I wasn't doing the trans struggle with dysphoria and such justice.

 

[Sele]

I mostly play females, but occasionally play males. I am open to writing with people who play anything, m, f, nb, etc. I just have more experience writing females (same gender as me )

 

[Snowfeather]

I usually role-play males or non-binary people, partly because I think it suits my role-playing style, but also because it helps me distance myself from my character and allows me to put them in situations I've either never been in, never will be, or never would want to be. For example I would never want to see myself as a stalker, but in a role-play where my character is stalking the other person I still have to play that part. So, in combination with some ground rules with my partner as to what I won't have my character do, using third-person when writing, and by making the character a guy, I feel distant from my character while still being able to "put myself in his shoes" without getting uncomfortable!

 

[Cross]

I roleplay dudes a lot. In 1x1s, a lot of people yell dibs on being the girl, but that's not 100% the reason. I suppose I enjoy playing certain troupes that are more associated with men like the jerk with the heart of gold.

 

[Crow]

Yes, but I don't really prefer one gender over the other. I just do as I please.

 

[nerdy tangents]

I roleplay dudes a lot. In 1x1s, a lot of people yell dibs on being the girl, but that's not 100% the reason. I suppose I enjoy playing certain troupes that are more associated with men like the jerk with the heart of gold.

In fairness women absolutely have the jerk with the heart of gold trope too. It’s usually called something like ice queen with the heart of gold.

It’s super popular in romance novels. the uptight nasty woman who is secretly a softy but has to act like a B—- to keep up with the boys or to be taken seriously.

Virtually every romantic character trope is gender neutral. There are male and female versions of every character type. Usually deliberately so to provide drama (or in more introspective stories to provide a contrast on how the exact same behavior is viewed depending on a characters gender).

That said I am more familiar with romantic literature than romantic role plays. So it could be that romance roleplayers tend to favor more traditional gender roles.

 

[Emeraude]

I tend to play the opposite gender (males). I imagine this stems from how I always chose male characters to play in games, as I wasn't a fan of how the females were portrayed. I also have a background in sociology and enjoy making my male characters more expressive, willing to share weakness emotionally, etc. I like conveying that these sorts of emotions are okay as often the media portrays that they are not.

However, I occasionally play females with no problem. There are many things to tackle there, too.

 

[nerdy tangents]

Emeraude I do this a lot with characters too. I love playing nuturing paternal men. I also love competent women who genuinely don’t need a man. I mean characters who are true introverts who are comfortable in their own skin and living their best life.

 

[Coakhedd]

I don't really prefer one over the other. Gender's one of the last things I think about unless it has some involvement in the plot, so I typically just tag it on afterwards.

 

[Funnier President]

I can play females, but I usually play tomboys if I do play them-