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My wife loves boardgames and I know of many women who enjoy RPGs. But there's something about "war"gaming that seems to alienate many women, and relegate it to being a "boy's hobby" only enjoyed by a minority of women.

There are likely many factors, and the "stinking male mosh-pit" that are many gaming stores and clubs may be a part of it, but that doesn't explain those of us men who game at home with "normal" friends but who's spouses who otherwise seem to enjoy our company and doing things together just don't click with wargames. Perhaps its the "direct conflict" nature of the game? Are there many girls who play chess for instance? Maybe that's not a typical "girl" thing? Maybe its the "war" imagery? Dunno.

Most girls think little dollies are stupid.

Its interesting. I can get the wife to play lots of board games and she loves to play Katan with the kidlets. But she wouldn't touch 40K with a ten foot laserpointer.

Ok guys, most attractive girl seen in (or in the vicinity ) of GW? And how long did it take before she ran out the door screaming? ;-)
On a more serious note, of course there are going to be women interested in the hobby, just as there ae women whose fav film is Star wars. But I have to admit they are rare, so how can we encourage more of them to become involved?

As an elightened 21st century guy I have no problem with women in the hobby.

As long as the cleanings done and my dinners on the table she can spend her pin money on what she likes

My GF is making a Necron Army :p

syr8766 wrote:I also met one in college who played chaos (FB and Bloodbowl) and another who played Mordians.

Really? Anyone I knew?

Back in my RTT days, in twentysomething tournaments I only remember facing a female opponent once, and only saw a female attendee I didn't play against on like two other occasions.

In my wargaming group now, most of our significant others will play boardgames like Catan, Power Grid and such (with varying degrees of enthusiasm), but have zero interest in even trying miniature wargaming.

There are girls who play war games but they tend to be more into fantasy games like myself. I prefer Warhammer Fantasy and Lord of the Rings to Warhammer 40k.

My boyfriend in undergraduate got me to play Warhammer fantasy because I was interested in the dragon models as well as Alarielle and the maiden guard. I started with painting and modifying the models but I actually liked the game when I tried it so I been playing since the late 90s. I started wood elves after high elves and I painted some dark elves but I never really played them.

I got into 40k a bit later playing Eldar since I like elves and I play a mostly jet bike army sort of like future knights. Also play Tyranids because I liked Aliens and Starship Troopers.

Got into Lord of the Rings because of the movies. I lost interest after awhile though.

I make competitive lists but I am not really all that into tournaments. I sometimes go because my boyfriend does or because I want to play other people then those at the local game store. As far as tournaments, I have a serious problem that I start getting a huge headache somewhere about the 3rd game a few hours into the tournament. Not sure if its because I think to much, stress or because of the environment. I have that issue for Magic and other games. Tournaments really should have short snack/water breaks and time to walk around a little or just sit down between games. I did like Ardboys because it gave me a chance to play 3500 fantasy games which I do not get to do very often.

I find the Swooping hawks comment funny. They are fun to paint and mod because of the angel wings but they stay in my display case if I am playing competitively.

Grand Preceptor wrote:

syr8766 wrote:I also met one in college who played chaos (FB and Bloodbowl) and another who played Mordians.

Really? Anyone I knew?

Back in my RTT days, in twentysomething tournaments I only remember facing a female opponent once, and only saw a female attendee I didn't play against on like two other occasions.

In my wargaming group now, most of our significant others will play boardgames like Catan, Power Grid and such (with varying degrees of enthusiasm), but have zero interest in even trying miniature wargaming.

Terry's GF played for a while--she's the one who had the bloodbowl and chaos stuff, IIRC. The Mordian player was someone I met at OGRECON '96 I think.

Oh, and we've forgotten orks. Chicks dig orks. Before my wife (who used to paint miniatures WAAAAY better than I did for a long while) quit 40k 3rd ed. (which she only played briefly, admittedly), she had a small (~1000 points) Ork army. We still have it, now as a KOS list (waiting to be updated if/when I get 5th ed).

Oh, and our kid's babysitter is into all things geek, including anime, manga and cosplay, and I'm sure she plays D&D (or at least Big Eyes Small Mouth).

syr8766 wrote:Oh, and our kid's babysitter is into all things geek, including anime, manga and cosplay, and I'm sure she plays D&D (or at least Big Eyes Small Mouth).

So all we need is a big eyed, small mouthed, blue haired army in
miniskirts and wielding giant machine guns and we'd have instant
fangirls?

Someone get me the hamster cannon mini!

I play poker and 40k with my buddies. When females join us it changes the tone somewhat. It's a little disruptive, but fun every once in a while.

I certainly don't have a problem if a woman is interested in 40K, and I'll do my best not to treat her differently. I reserve judgement on skills and commitment till I've seen a person play. If someone shows me a real interest, I'm happy to make a new friend. So many people however, male or female, go wherever the wind blows socially speaking. Most of the women I've met at game stores or conventions are girlfiends or wives, tagging along.

I can well believe that most women would rather play MMO's, roleplaying games, or just about anything else than miniature wargaming. Not all women, but most. I am a fairly artistic person, and I spend a lot of time in hobby and craft stores, art stores, even fabric stores. I look for stuff that would enhance my hobbies. My reception there is probably as interesting as what girls get in game shops. Mild interest, followed by a sort of "what are you doing here?" stare. Same thing when I tried church services by myself.

I'm not ugly, and I know how to dress appropriately, and I feel like I'm well spoken and polite. But if you are new and the wrong gender, or color, or age, or whatever, it's tough to break into a new environment. Most folks learn to stop trying, and get more judgemental in the process. It's a pity really.

avariel: I know what you mean abou tthe headaches. When I went to my first few tournaments, I would be just completely wiped out afterword. I was useless. Tried food, massize (over) doses of caffiene, nothing worked. I eventually got past it, simply b/c I think I have stopped stressing over it so much. But yeah, it seemed to be directly tied to how much of a problem I was giving myself.
syr8766: what the heck is "cosplay"? Oh, and you are SO correct about the orcs. My wife would play an orc army if it had all the goofy stuff it used to. I would have thought Eldar or some such b/c she digs the fantasy whilst I am sci-fi (we are so stereotypical, pigeonholed like that!), but no the clowny-orcs are where she's at.

from my experience the only time a female plays is when her husband or long term BF plays. Chicks just are not into this stuff.

grizgrin wrote:syr8766: what the heck is "cosplay"?

Whatever you do, do NOT do a Google image search on that term.

It's where people dress up as anime characters, and it's mostly people that have no concept of "body appropriate clothing".

Iorek wrote:

grizgrin wrote:syr8766: what the heck is "cosplay"?

Whatever you do, do NOT do a Google image search on that term at work

Fixed your typo.

smart_alex wrote:from my experience the only time a female plays is when her husband or long term BF plays. Chicks just are not into this stuff.

Good god.
PLEASE, tell me this was in jest and I just missed the humor.

TommyStriker wrote: Wow.

This thread got a very different reaction than I though it would
~TS

that's what you get for not being bothered to use the damn search function.. that'll learn you.

I think that's...um, "inexperience" talking, MM.

My wife's responses after looking over my shoulder at the search I did in DIRECT violation of Iorek's admonition:

"Do they have one with pigtails? I could do that."

Thanks Iorek. Thanks a lot. A monster you have made.

Interesting Q. Citing the thread about dealing with an annoying gamer:

Is this ever a hobby turn off issue for the femoverlords? I mostly see the kids standing around in shock when a female comes in, but was wondering if this ever became a situation?

I don't think so jfrazell, but I for one certainly welcome our new femoverlords.

malfred wrote:

syr8766 wrote:Oh, and our kid's babysitter is into all things geek, including anime, manga and cosplay, and I'm sure she plays D&D (or at least Big Eyes Small Mouth).

So all we need is a big eyed, small mouthed, blue haired army in
miniskirts and wielding giant machine guns and we'd have instant
fangirls?

Someone get me the hamster cannon mini!

Ugh, no. Has dakka already forgotten the hilariously bad desu brigade?

Warhams should be for MEN ONLY. Girls can make THEIR OWN TREEHOUSE to play with dollies. Girls are everywhere already and the only time I get to have some fun times alone with sweaty bros talking about all our awesome accomplishments and tell some homoerotic humor is in the locker room and hobby stores. Please don't take those away.

It's where people dress up as anime characters, and it's mostly people that have no concept of "body appropriate clothing".

Haha. I still don't get why people try to dress like something way out of their league. A few of my nerd-group friends want me to go cosplaying with them, just for humor's sake, at the annual baltimore convention. However, if I did this I'll wait 'til I actually get an appropriate sixpack and beefier muscles in order to try that which means another 2-3 bulk/cut cycles. Cosplay is just a nice, nerdy side-effect . Funny enough, it's all those fat kids who dress up as Goku. Go figure. I know I'm gonna regret using google to search for "spartan 300 cosplay".

That desu army is awesome. Thank you for the link.