Increasing the Distaff Share

[alex_greene]

Like all roleplaying games, Legend really needs to do more to draw in women to play this game.

Whether as mixed troupes, or as solo all-female troupes; whether or not the GM is a woman; as a fresh game with only a few supplements to its credit and no more version of the OTU hanging around its neck like a Glorantha *cough* millstone, Legend can branch out into areas not considered before.

And some of those branches could possibly be more appealing to a female readership.

Anyone here got any ideas on how Legend could reach out to the half of the human race which the game does not seem to have noticed much so far?

 

[auyl]

I think some of the issue is that Legend simply doesn't have the exposure that games like D&D and Pathfinder have. Granted even in those markets, female gamers are smaller than male gamers but there is more familiarity with the system.

I think if Legend were to attract more gamers of the fairer sex, some licensing could have a benefit. If Legend were to get a popular name behind their line from a t.v. show, movie or novel line that is familiar in the U.K., Europe and North America, they could possibly pick up more female gamers.

More gamers period would be good as eventually if there were even more male gamers promoting the product then all gamers from both sexes would become more familiar with the sytem.

 

[Bifford]

I have several female gamers in my Legend: Ancient Stones game over on RPGGeek.

In my opinion I think you are worrying needlessly. You can't force people to play a game, be they female, gay, Neanderthal, or a politician.

It's almost as crazy as Englands "We don't have enough black people in the police force. you *must* have 25% black people in your force." So, er, what? Now we're going to give police candidates a "pass" mark just because they are black even if they are not up to scratch, meanwhile turning down non-black people who passed just because the white majority is over-subscribed?? That's just every kind of crazy!

At the end of the day, all you can do is to make sure you personally do not ignore females when preaching about Legend. I will happily game with anyone who shows an interest and doesn't rub me the wrong way, I don't care what does or does not dangle between their legs.

As for in-game things to "attract females" I don't think it makes much difference really. I know girls/women who love their sci-fi and I know blokes who like supposed "chick-flicks". Again, at the end of the day all you can and ever should do is tailor your game to the people playing.

I wouldn't throw in a female goddess just because I have a woman playing, but if a character WANTS a female god for their deity I will gladly help them work out the details. One of my male players, with a male character, worships The Earth Goddess. he's all about Her. Brilliant! We came up with some nice things about Her cult. But I wouldn't have forced that on him, he chose it. And women are perfectly capable of doing the same.


So by all means talk to women about Legend, bring them into the game/hobby, but you can't force them to join something just because they are of the "fairer sex".

 

[alex_greene]

Who says anything about using force?

We really need to work on our sales pitch to make Legend seem cooler than bottled liquid suaveness served on a bed of ice to women gamers looking for the Next Big Thing to play.

 

[alex_greene]

Who says anything about using force?

We really need to work on our sales pitch to make Legend seem cooler than bottled liquid suaveness served on a bed of ice to women gamers looking for the Next Big Thing to play.

 

[soltakss]

Our gaming group has one woman and she seems to be happy playing in our RQ/Gloranthan campaign (yeah, yeah, not Legend, but essentially the same).

She likes games that spark the imagination, that are fun and easy to play. Now, whether that is because she is a woman or not, I cannot say. However, I like games that spark the imagination, are fun and easy to play.

I have no idea whether games appeal to any sex/minority, or whether some setting appeal more than others.

In fact, I have had no sense of wanting to evangelise roleplaying, or of needing to attract new gamers of any sex/background. I run a game, people play it, there is a game, I play in it. That's about it for me. Some people read my website, but I don't try to attract gamers, appeal to gamers or anything like that. I just provide gaming information for people to use.

 

[auyl]

In fact, I have had no sense of wanting to evangelise roleplaying, or of needing to attract new gamers of any sex/background. I run a game, people play it, there is a game, I play in it. That's about it for me. Some people read my website, but I don't try to attract gamers, appeal to gamers or anything like that. I just provide gaming information for people to use.

Yes, but rpg companies still need to market themselves and most usually don't have the immediate ability to do so. This means that players need to step up and get the games known. There are tons of gamers here in North America that go to gaming conventions specifically to try out new games. Companies of any kind need to jump on these opportunities and they need to get volunteer game masters on board to help. There is a market out there is just being monopolized by big names and many other gamers male or female aren't all that familiar with smaller games such as Legend, at least not on this side of the pond.