I really like the gameplay of Tera from what I've seen so far, but I'm afraid the sexism is really over-the-top.

I don't actually mind most female characters with highly sexualised appearance - I get that it is a valid art style for an adult game. If that's what some gamers want - ie, ultra skimpy pants-free armour, chest physics, the gyrating animations of castanic/elin girls - that's fine, but why does it have to be so egregiously one-sided? Sexism, just like all other forms of stereotyped hatred and prejudice, is about unequal treatment.

Could we please look into improved physics animation for, say, Castanic male bulges, and give them at least as much impact as the Castanic female chests? Why not give them a bit of a swinging package that is at least close to as intimidating as the independently moving female tops? Of course it shouldn't be anything erect or pornographic - just as the female versions aren't - merely the same kind of soft artistic sensuality that you see in almost all the female races.

Why not allow the option (just an option) for male Castanic armour to be as revealing as female Castanic armour? Bare abs on men (heavens to murgatroyd!) isn't quite the same as thongs and chest-hugging strips of cloth on women. Why not boxer-brief type armours, skimpy tank-tops or metallic embellishments/plates for chests that have no clothing underneath?

Despite the impression you would get from most stock-standard MMO design, modern society is actually moving fairly quickly towards gender equity in a great number of areas.

Giving more options for identifying/enjoying different character models can only broaden the appeal of the game to new segments of players, and I think that's a good thing. Straight male players have already been very adeptly targetted and satisfied, but for a truly successful title it is going to have to have multiple ways of appealing to the other 55% of the population as well.

I can't even imagine a manthong in an MMO, you just made my brain hurt, and..a..I don't know how to react O_o.

Male characters in fantasy games are sexualized in the fact there is NOT jiggle physics. Ever seen a fanasy hero that has a body fat index greater than 1 percent? These 'Conan' types don't have swinging bulges because that stuff falls off after they take enough steroids to get shoulders three times the size of their waists and 30 inch arms. :)

Agreed Darrien. Besides. i'm not sure I'd want to see a male character who's bulge is flailing all over the place, it'd be a...tad creepy to me.

Actually I feel the balance between the races in sexuality is fairly, well, balanced. The male items do seem to offer more in the defense department of course.

I would like to see more options for non-sexual appearances though. For instance the heavy Lancer armors(Human Female) later are... just ridiculous.

Quote: Darrien on 04/24/2012, 05:16 PM - view
Yes, some of the male character models are incredibly fit and strong, however pretty much all of the female character models are just as unrealistic in how fit, slim and incredibly toned they are.

I don't think this idealized figure is somehow unique to male character models and therefore balances the female skimpy armour, greatly enlarged chests, and so on.

Quote: NexusCron on 04/24/2012, 05:19 PM
But no more creepy than the female character animations, if you aren't so inclined. :P Besides, after a while you can train yourself to look elsewhere - there's enough gorgeous scenery and interesting other inhabitants to focus on, that's for sure.

Its a longstanding trope that in fantasy the skimpier the armour the more protection it affords. Red Sonja's chainmail bikini and Conan's Fur kilt are sufficient to protect against swarms of picts.
When the boys and I are playing Pathfinder, and the GM shows us enemy character art, and it is a half-naked female, you just know her armour class is going to be very high.

Quote: Avaera on 04/24/2012, 06:08 PM - view

I agree, that was all I was saying. All the models represent someones unrealistic ideal.
And I can buy that with the non-human races, maybe the metabolism of elves is such that they are incapable of storing fat and eat every hour. Who knows?

Quote: Darrien on 04/24/2012, 06:19 PM - view
Ah, my mistake. I thought you were disagreeing with the original suggestion.

If anything, I would like to have more clothing options for both sexes, Elins especially (since that's my main), but not in the sense that the current armor is immoral or anything, but in the sense of making the characters more diverse. I just can't believe that every Castanic female likes to wear skimpy armor, that every Elin likes showing off her panties (going by the original design), or that almost all the males like showing there bare chest. Maybe I want my Elin to wear elegant robe, a sun dress, or something to go with some thigh-high socks. Or better yet how about taking a page from GW2 (I know, I know), maybe I want a leather one-piece for my Elin sorcerer or a full suit of magic metal armor. I know that would change the dynamic of the game, but in my opinion it would be a fun twist. Of course there would be a penalty (every game that allows it has one), but it would not be game breaking. Maybe something like that could fix your problem, give people more choices, then maybe there wouldn't so much... uh.. 'jiggle' physics or whatever.