What would you like to see done (if anything) about Mizhena
cdx
Member Posts: 94
A lot has been said on the topic in many threads but maybe we could try to quantify the feedback a little bit? Also, I imagine detailed suggestions / elaboration would be useful.
If you are unhappy about Mizhena, what would you like to see done and how to go about it? Even if you aren't very interested in the topic, what do you think would be the best course of action?
If you are unhappy about Mizhena, what would you like to see done and how to go about it? Even if you aren't very interested in the topic, what do you think would be the best course of action?
- What would you like to see done (if anything) about Mizhena298 votes
- Nothing, it's all fine as it is.34.23%
- Just improve the writing of the one conversation/add lines (how do you think it can be done?)16.44%
- Point two above, and give her a quest so the content is better integrated (what would you like to see?)10.74%
- Make her a joinable NPC for best integration (which should include 2 and 3 above, also comments on this?)10.40%
- Removing her and her line is the only option (what are the reasons for this?)12.75%
- Other (something completely different?)3.02%
- I am not at all interested in this discussion.12.42%
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Comments
I think it was perhaps a bit hamfisted in its attempt to be inclusive, but it is as the writer envisioned it. I do like some of the suggestions on how it could have been better, but, as a free expression enthusiast, the idea of an artist bowing to social pressures doesn't sit well with me. People have a right to put any message they see fit in their own work.
I know some people might argue that changing a legendary game that has been around for almost two decades and has a huge fanbase isn't appropriate. That would be a decent point if there was a change to an existing character or other original content, but Mizhena is a new character.
A writer should be free to express any viewpoint they feel the urge to, (social, political or otherwise) as long as they have the blessings of whoever owns the IP. If the only crime is that three lines of dialogue were poorly written, then there is hardly a compelling reason to change it on account of an online uproar.
Beamdog needed to go big or go home on this issue. They should have made a join-able Transgender character, one that was written with care and attention, making you earn the admission of their Transgender status (to the point that a lot of PCs might never find out), and allow the PC to react as they wish, be it supportive, not caring or insulting that character (causing them to immediately leave the group). Use the existing lore and equipment to make a quest that allows the transgender character to truly become the gender they want to be.
The way it stands, Mizhena is pure Virtue Signalling, and that doesn't do anyone any good, especially not trans people who are now getting caught in the middle of this culture war.
RepublicanDemocratic Candidate for the Grand Ducal Palace.but then that might be perceived as damage control. You can't win.
I think I'd generally go for "Nothing, it's fine" but since it's causing so much grief I think it's a great opportunity to add quality/content to the game by further developing the character.
I don't see this as a question of "Is this wrong?" but as "Can this be better?"
I'd go for adding a quest to improve the game. I've seen suggestions about the Girdle of Masculinity/Femininity, combined with some kind of permanent spell casting. That sounds cool. Also, being able to be approving/indifferent/mocking towards her seems fair, to add the ability to roleplay.
I repeat, for me this doesn't mean "fixing" the game, it means improving/adding content and polish to the game.
Also, a kind reminder to please be polite. No need to be offensive in giving an opinion on something.
Even if I don't like the specific design decisions, I do not think that Beamdog should change the content because of the backlash. They have the creative authority over this game, not any random mob on the internet. And the creative autonomy is more important than caving to special interests.
Having said that, it was unwise to make what obviously were very divisive decisions. I am just saddened how much this has tarnished the release. I hope it won't hurt the sales too much, but that seems unlikely..
I'm not a transgender person but I know people who are and they don't wander about announcing it to the world. Quite the contrary. If there is going to be a trans character it should have been written with the UTMOST care and delicacy.
This happened with Pillars of Eternity too and it was every bit as ridiculous there. Grow up, people.
But they really should change it IMHO, despite what reaction might happen.
They could make some really interesting content, some people have mentioned a specific quest for it, including the belt item etc. Lots of stuff. Right now it exists solely to "tick a box", and it's done in a pretty lazy manner which is a shame. It's a bit of a wasted opportunity as it stands.
But again, it's a tiny part of the time and it really shouldn't have sparked so much attention/criticism.
but, she was intended as a merchant npc. So it'd probably be easier to just round out the options you can reply to her with. I've heard though that generally this dlc lacks in the dialogue options department. So maybe just make it less shoehorney? I don't really care too much either way. I'm still waiting to begin a proper playthrough of BG1 but from what I've heard transexuals don't really fit into the lore so well because there are belts that change your gender magically so... I don't know. That's a tough one.
Also, all the normal options you have when interacting with other characters. If I want to be a jerk, ill be a jerk, if I want to be nice, Ill be nice.
What should be done? Nothing. I dont care if you are trans or not, sjw or gamergater, right handed or left, earthling or martian. This brief speck of content is completely and utterly innocuous. Leave it as it, let people judge and if they are mature enough regardless of whether they like or dislike the character they move on to more important things.
Next they will want the sex change belt from BG to be removed.
Trans characters deserve no special attention whatsoever, and neither does any other group be they a minority or a majority. As long as they are written with good intentions rather than malicious intentions then someones personal opinions are just that: their own personal opinions.
I didnt like how Cernd was presented in bg2. I didnt like how Anomen was presented. I didnt like a lot things and that ultimately dont mean squat to anyone else but me.
In the context of the game minor NPCs tend to be treated in one of three ways, a) they have exactly one line of dialog, b) they give you a quest, and/or c) they tell you their "life story in 5 mins." Mizhena falls into the third category and is given the same exact treatment as hundreds of other NPCs that fall into that category: she tells you a bit of her life story in 4-5 lines of text. It is not out of place for BG NPCs to be strangely up front about their past.