Ok. I have to admit that I am quite angered at the response gained to this question
Quite frankly it is my belief that this question was mistreated.
I shall go into the question in depth - recalling as accurately as possible the original format of the question.
- This is not because I hold great hope of justice.
- My hope is that the original question might get the response it deserved.
So... the post-mortem begins:
Too broad?
The title was already a good indication. "What design features for a role playing game would appeal to female players?"
Apparently asking for design features that may appeal to female players was too broad a question.
Opinion based?
It was a question about design features that would attract females. While perhaps the later aspect might verily be "opinion based", this question is no more opinion based than other questions that this SE site has successfully fielded. It was this question that got singled out. Why? Perhaps somebody could tell me.
Off topic?
Or perhaps it was off topic.
I.e. Caring about what design features of role playing games would appeal for female players is off-topic.
Duplicate?
Apparently this question is a duplicate of the question that I posted (in any of its three incarnations).
Never mind that the touted question regards how to positively treat female players at the table (whether as GM or as a fellow player). (table etiquette)
Never mind that my question was with regards design features of role playing games that would appeal to female players. (game design)
Less harmful were the other comparisons:
- What adventures focus on courtly intrigue and social conflict instead of combat?
- How do I, as a DM, help a girl integrate into a group of all male role-players?
and best of all...
...I 'do' see the relevance of the first link towards replying to one of my voiced concerns in thread - but the others...
Perhaps adding background to my question was my error?
Was stating that in all my time as a table-top gamer, mainly roleplay, I'd not ever had a group where one player was female... out of line? Or was it perhaps the statement that I'd only ever witnessed one girl playing D&D in just as long?
Perhaps it was drawing and sharing my conclusions about why females are hard to come by at the gaming table
The following are apparently "unsupportable assumptions":
- That females have a tendency to shy away from a style of gaming that is combat/ violence heavy
- That females may prefer to shy away from number-heavy game systems (while noting that this would not explain the absence from lighter systems)
- And lastly that females may feel uncomfortable in a gaming environment where most players are males
Note that the use of the words 'may' and 'tendency' above indicate something other than an absolute. I am not saying that the above three points apply to all women.
Now that I have dissected the original question (and I invite the mods of this site to pick through any archives of the original question to find any tid bits that I might have forgotten - I am certain that there are no deal breakers amongst them)...
...Why? Would I have gotten the same response were I a woman? (perhaps I would have been looking for perspectives beyond my own - I do not pretend to know what most men want in gaming - that does not appear to be an issue)
And by what means can the spirit of this question be fielded without being... mistreated?
What now?