Ok, I've been rethinking this issue. If I was given 1 extra stat point to use, I highly doubt that I would use the gender of my character to determine how I would use the point. I would use the extra point to increase an attribute because it benefited some skill of the character class or deficiency of the racial type. So if I wouldn't do it if I had the choice, why make it mandatory? In some ways, making it mandatory limits the amount of stat points available.Scryler wrote:I am a feminist...and have been for a long time. I don't have a problem with gender based points in strength and dexterity. I think I would have a problem, though, if the skills were gender based. Overall, physical characteristics are different between the sexes, generally. If attributes that are not physical characteristics (intelligence, empathy, etc.) and skills are gender based, then this is where, IMO, stereotyping enters in.
The majority of my characters, when I have a choice, are female. I like having the option to make my character(s) female (especially the lead character) because I am female and can identify better and immersion is more complete. It becomes a better game to me. Big female 1/2 orcs, tiny female halflings. They already get penalties or bonuses, so why add to it?
All of this said, if that's what you want to do, I'll still play the game.