Putting yourself in someone elses shoes the essence of roleplaying. Going from being a shy, wimpy guy to a hulking, macho barbarian is just one cliche. How is that different to playing a character of another gender? You can challenge yourself to play in a way that you find difficult or interesting, rethinking decisions that you would normally answer instinctively in one way.
For example, playing a lawful character you might "have to" comply with orders that you the player disagree with. I personally find playing selfish or mercenary characters quite hard. I'm a bit of a pushover in real life and will generally help people out if they ask, so refusing or demanding payment for something I'd normally help with seems wrong. I get a bit of a kick out of playing devious, suspicious, wisecracking Machiavellian rogues because they are so different to who I am, and I am forced to think differently.
@blackchimes Surely roleplaying should be a little obsessive, you're trying to think and act like a completely different person! I don't claim to be an expert on the female psyche, so trying to make decisions like a woman without resorting to simple tropes, stereotypes and cliches would be challenging. I do rarely make female characters in BG though, as the idea of Anomen hitting on me is pretty gross, and I don't think that's gender specific.
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For example, playing a lawful character you might "have to" comply with orders that you the player disagree with. I personally find playing selfish or mercenary characters quite hard. I'm a bit of a pushover in real life and will generally help people out if they ask, so refusing or demanding payment for something I'd normally help with seems wrong. I get a bit of a kick out of playing devious, suspicious, wisecracking Machiavellian rogues because they are so different to who I am, and I am forced to think differently.
@blackchimes Surely roleplaying should be a little obsessive, you're trying to think and act like a completely different person! I don't claim to be an expert on the female psyche, so trying to make decisions like a woman without resorting to simple tropes, stereotypes and cliches would be challenging. I do rarely make female characters in BG though, as the idea of Anomen hitting on me is pretty gross, and I don't think that's gender specific.