MMORPG

RPG Armors

The Curious Case of Fantasy Armor: When Less Becomes... Even Less

In the fantastical realm of RPGs, where mighty warriors clash and magic crackles in the air, one element defies logic and common sense: armor design, particularly when it comes to our female heroes.

Let's consider the plight of Borgnar the Stout, a fearsome barbarian. His journey begins with a sturdy leather tunic, perhaps a chainmail shirt if he's lucky. As he smites foes and levels up, he's rewarded with gleaming plate mail - chest, shoulders, greaves – the works! Borgnar becomes a walking fortress, a testament to his might.

But what of our nimble rogue, Anya the Shadow? She begins with supple leathers, then perhaps a bit of studded armor. Yet, her progression hits an odd snag. With each level gained, she seems to shed more armor, not gain it. A midriff mysteriously appears, then a strategic thigh gap. Soon, Anya faces dragons clad in little more than a shiny bra, a pair of high-heeled greaves, and a remarkably skimpy loincloth held up by sheer willpower.

How is this possible, you ask? Well, behold the power of the Impenetrable Bikini Force Field! It seems by exposing vast areas of skin, a female character gains an invisible shield far more durable than any mortal metal. Arrows? Pshaw! Those bounce off bare shoulders like pebbles. Fireballs? A bit singed perhaps, but it builds character.

This trend raises several questions:

1. Are blacksmiths sexist? Do they simply refuse to forge a decent breastplate for a woman?
2. Is there a mystical correlation between skin exposure and defensive power? Do wounds simply slide off oiled abs?
3. How do these warriors FUNCTION? I imagine trying to perform a stealthy backstab while worrying about your loincloth riding up is a touch... distracting.

While I applaud the developers' commitment to, uh, creative armor solutions, perhaps it's time to rethink this. Borgnar shouldn't be the only one leaving the battlefield with just a few scratches, and I say this as someone who appreciates a good fantasy aesthetic.

Let's give our heroines armor that both protects and inspires, not armor that inspires more questions than fear in their enemies.

MMORPG (Many Men Online Role-Playing as Girls)

The nonsensical and revealing armor designs in many RPGs have absolutely fueled the phenomenon known as MMORPG (Many Men Online Role-Playing as Girls). Here's how:

• The Wish-Fulfillment Fantasy: Let's face it, part of the allure of games is stepping into a world where you can be someone different, someone more powerful. When the female characters are consistently portrayed as scantily-clad powerhouses, it creates a strong incentive for some male players who would rather inhabit that idealized, hyper-feminized form.
• The Peacock Effect: In a world where level 81 bikini-berserkers roam, a male player behind that character has an instant advantage. The very absurdity of the character design becomes an attention grabber. They can adopt a faux-naïve persona – "Oops, am I not geared right?" – all while knowing they possess surprising strength or absurdly high magical resistance thanks to their summer swimsuit "armor".
• The Mystique: There's a degree of intrigue that comes with playing a female character online. It adds a layer of mystery, and players may be treated differently because of the perceived gender of their character. This can open up unexpected dynamics and create a very different gameplay experience.
• Simple Exploit: Sometimes it comes down to pragmatism. In games where female characters might be given an inherent advantage through design imbalances, male players happily exploit this to get ahead. Who cares about realism when a mage in a metal thong deflects attacks better than a fully armored knight?

It's important to note:

• Not every guy playing a female character is doing it out of deception. Some simply prefer the aesthetics or want to experience the game from a different perspective.
• Plenty of women (and people of other genders) play female characters too! It's not a strictly male phenomenon.

Whether we're talking about genuine wish-fulfillment or a desire for in-game advantage, this bizarre armor trend certainly adds another complex layer to the already fascinating social landscape of MMORPGs.