[MUD-Dev] Re: Issues from the digests and Wout's list

[Jeff Kesselman]

At 08:13 AM 4/23/97 PST8PDT, you wrote:

>character gender:  possible repercussions of making it a factor in the
game (with
>attempts to balance the results if you chose one gender over another).

Two thoughts:
(1) Beware putting characters into roles based on character sex.  Gender-roles
    are fast becoming a moribund concept in our society and you would
    definately offend soem people (me, for instance ;) )
    The only excpetion is where your game is set in an earlier era or world
    with stronger roles but EVEN THEN players shoudl be allowed to be
    "exceptional" men or women who break the stereotypes-- such have always
    existed historicly.  The reaction of then world shoudl not penalize
    them significantly for this, though it should ideally be visible in the
    "fluff" (NPC comments and so forth.)

(2) The oen palce it DOES make a difference is in interperonal relationships
    sicne human beings are sxual animals and there is soem form of sexual
    component to any human-interraction.  If your going to take this into
    account though ild suggest you ALSO take into account sexual orientation.
    Remember the 10% rule. 

>As for players being oriental, I don't think it would be a cause for
concern unless
>there are major disadvantages between being oriental and being whatever the
>alternatives are.  There has to be some sort of balancing.

Biggest problem I see ehre si that most westerners won't kwno the first
thing about how to RP an oriental... so you better have ALOT of direction
and advice for them if you expect them to.

JK