While we all play and love our female characters in LOTRO, many of us also like to play as males. This week, some of the Warriors talk about what it’s like playing as the opposite gender.
ALICE
Currently I have two male characters. The first one I created is Dunthor, he is a Dwarf Rune-keeper around level 14. I love the match race-class, and I desperately played with him during the Treasure Hunt because I wanted to win a Goat, since Dwarves look ridiculously uncomfortable riding ponies, but I wasn’t lucky enough. Dunthor is a little bit difficult to dress up, the Dwarves have a peculiar phisical structure, so I usually choose Robes for him.
My other male character is Dalareth, an Elf Rune-keeper (yeah, I love that class). Unfortunately I just got him out of the intro quest, so I don’t know very well how it’s playing with him. But one thing is certain: male characters are easier to dress up. I tend to treat my main character, a female Hobbit, like a Barbie, always looking for the best outfits, matching colors, accessories and so on. Playing with a male character is totally different, it’s kinda refreshing, because I don’t think too much about his outfits and I can focus myself on his armour.
BRITTA
I have three male characters on Landroval – Bregolad (my main), Bodivar, and Brondolfur – and I just rolled a male Elf – Bregthil – on Nimrodel. I find they are much easier to create and customise than female characters; there are better hair and facial styles for males, and most of the cosmetic items, like robes and hauberks, look better on them.
When I first rolled a male character, I wondered if I would be treated differently than when I play my female characters. So far, I haven’t noticed much of a difference, but that could just be because I focus more on questing than on socialising. Occasionally someone will /wink or /flirt with Bregolad (my female characters usually get no attention, although someone once tried to /rob my warden), but most of the attention I receive is in the form of tells inquiring about my warsteeds or asking for help with a quest.
While Bregolad receives little attention on Landroval, both of my Dwarves have been randomly /slapped and /mocked throughout their adventures in Middle-earth
MARIA
Soon after I began to play LOTRO, I decided to create male characters. My initial purpose was to try as many character types and classes as possible to get a feeling for the right class/gender/race for me. There are two male characters I’ve played so far: Berford, my human guardian and Bornur my dwarf champion. Although I do have a male Elf guardian, he is still in the intro so I can’t give you my thoughts on him.
Similar to Myla, I also made the observation that male characters move different to female ones. Other than that, I wasn’t able to detect any significant difference yet in terms of movement and so on. I have to admit, I’m as obsessed with the appearance of my male characters as much as I’m with my female ones.
One thing that I’ve noticed immediately is that other assumed male players tend to start casual conversations about the game (stats, traits etc) more frequently when I’m playing my male ones. Whenever I play with my females, barely anyone talks to me at all. Not even to flirt.
MYLA
I have three male characters on Landroval: Elthiriond (Elf Champion), Hahlen (Hobbit Burglar), and Miliori (Dwarf Rune-keeper). I haven’t gotten a chance to really “know them” in game yet since they’re all below level 20. But since I have had them planned out for months, I already feel attached to them.
It’s interesting to see how males in LOTRO move; they have a sturdier and more compact way of running and jumping. Also, I need to talk about the way they sit. They don’t sit in an extremely uncomfortable position like female toons are forced to sit in. Also having male toons means I can finally use all of the robes, hauberks, tunics, and pants I have been hoarding. (They look good on females as well!) It’s a nice change to dress up toons with different body shapes.
I can’t really say if I get treated differently in game when I’m playing as a male since they haven’t been in game much. But as females, I have had players try to engage in rp conversations, calling me “m’lady” which usually makes me roll my eyes, haha.
Do you play as the opposite gender? We’d love to hear about your experiences. Leave us a comment below!
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