So crazy, awkward but albeit serious question about a natural cycle and RP.

[Mae]

What the Devs DID decide, and included in the game, is that the Races of Man menstruate.

 

 

I've never seen a single reference in any NPC or quest dialogue to menstruation, subtle or otherwise. I'm curious to learn where and when such a reference occurs if at all.

*sigh* I'll link it again...

 

http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Winter_Pennyroyal

 

Emmenagogues are substances used to promote/induce menstruation.

 

And while emmenagogues can be used as birth control, most birth control is an abortifacient.

[Roda]

Any detail to further develop your character no matter how large or small is always worth discussing.

 

Also, this can change how certain situations are handled by your character on certain days, adding a bit of spontaneous variety.

 

applications for anything I make posts about can be relevant in some way, or else I wouldn't waste my time making them. :cactuar:

I am also in this school of thought~

It's really all for funsies, digging down into the nitty gritty of how your character works.  Honestly, this thread, phrased differently, would be right at home in the "Fun Prompts" section. '3'

"How does the calendar effect your character"

 

(tho, again, due to periods being, well, periodical, there isn't much about them that is spontaneous.

 

Unless we count sneeze rockets.

 

 

)

[Hyakki]

If I tell OP what they want to hear, will this end?

 

Its perfectly plausible for a DRK/WAR on the rag to become an uncontrollable murder machine. My character does it all the time and is wanted as a war criminal in no less than nine city-states for PMS-induced axe murderer rampages. The razing of Doma was no work of the Garleans, it was me, I did it because I had a raging migraine.

[-no longer matters-]

Any detail to further develop your character no matter how large or small is always worth discussing.

 

Also, this can change how certain situations are handled by your character on certain days, adding a bit of spontaneous variety.

 

applications for anything I make posts about can be relevant in some way, or else I wouldn't waste my time making them. :cactuar:

I am also in this school of thought~

It's really all for funsies, digging down into the nitty gritty of how your character works.  Honestly, this thread, phrased differently, would be right at home in the "Fun Prompts" section. '3'

"How does the calendar effect your character"

 

(tho, again, due to periods being, well, periodical, there isn't much about them that is spontaneous.

 

Unless we count sneeze rockets.

 

 

 

)

Yes but no one other than you knows when that is.

[-no longer matters-]

If I tell OP what they want to hear, will this end?

 

Its perfectly plausible for a DRK/WAR on the rag to become an uncontrollable murder machine. My character does it all the time and is wanted as a war criminal in no less than nine city-states for PMS-induced axe murderer rampages. The razing of Doma was no work of the Garleans, it was me, I did it because I had a raging migraine.

I thought this was over like 2 or so pages ago with Mae's post but it seems other people really want to keep talking about it.

[Faye]

... is... is that really something worth discussing? A throwaway line in a roleplay scene?

 

I've pretty much surmised that the OP and anyone else considering how menstruation could affect role-play has never had a period IRL because I can promise you it's the last thing anyone who has would want to RP. I dunno what the point is. An odd fetish? A weird, misguided attempt to RP a female character more believably?

 

Editing to add: If anyone really wants to know how a period may affect a badass warrior chick, I recommend watching Berserk. Anemia, cramping, fatigue, headaches, and low-grade fevers don't make for peak fighting shape.

[Roda]

... is... is that really something worth discussing? A throwaway line in a roleplay scene?

 

I've pretty much surmised that the OP and anyone else considering how menstruation could affect role-play has never had a period IRL because I can promise you it's the last thing anyone who has would want to RP. I dunno what the point is. An odd fetish? A weird, misguided attempt to RP a female character more believably?

 

Editing to add: If anyone really wants to know how a period may affect a badass warrior chick, I recommend watching Berserk. Anemia, cramping, fatigue, headaches, and low-grade fevers don't make for peak fighting shape.

Tho, don't forget exercise can and does help to alleviate menstrual cramping (after that push past "ah god my everything hurts" of course). 

 

And the feeling I get from War Siren is more harmless curiosity mixed with some pretty common preconceived notions.

Someone who can't have periods asking folk who can how periods would effect them in a fantasy setting is pretty much like asking deaf people how having a tail and emotive ears would affect their sign language. If you don't have any experience in someone's world, it makes sense that you would ask for some info before you try to portray it. /shrug I personally think it's better than pretending 1/4 of your sexually mature experience doesn't exist because you may find it icky. (I'm still weirded out by not being able to find a single outhouse in eorzea)

[Mae]

And the feeling I get from War Siren is more harmless curiosity mixed with some pretty common preconceived notions.

This.

 

Media often makes us sound like we go completely berserk and insane during periods at times. I'd much rather have a guy ask these questions than get into playing a female and blow the impact of periods waaaay out of proportion.

[-no longer matters-]

... is... is that really something worth discussing? A throwaway line in a roleplay scene?

 

I've pretty much surmised that the OP and anyone else considering how menstruation could affect role-play has never had a period IRL because I can promise you it's the last thing anyone who has would want to RP. I dunno what the point is. An odd fetish? A weird, misguided attempt to RP a female character more believably?

 

Editing to add: If anyone really wants to know how a period may affect a badass warrior chick, I recommend watching Berserk. Anemia, cramping, fatigue, headaches, and low-grade fevers don't make for peak fighting shape.

Um Faye.. I've explained all this to death through this thread.

 

also your edit examples do not apply to this scenario. Have you even played the Warrior or Dark Knight stories? Do you know where their power sources/control over them come from??

[Faye]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

 

also your edit examples do not apply to this scenario. Have you even played the Warrior or Dark Knight stories? Do you know where their power sources/control over them come from??

 

Not from their ovaries, I can tell you that much.

[-no longer matters-]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

I'm sorry I'm more detail oriented than you? 

 

Plus Boners and Blue Balls don't affect the emotional states of being, so in a game where Two classes use emotional states of being, as part of the classes structure and lore.. it becomes a bit more important.

 

If you would ever want to know I would A.) Not be insulted, and freely share information. B.) Not even think anything further than oh she's researching her character.

[-no longer matters-]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

 

also your edit examples do not apply to this scenario. Have you even played the Warrior or Dark Knight stories? Do you know where their power sources/control over them come from??

 

Not from their ovaries, I can tell you that much.

No but the hormones affect the emotional states.. really are you really only reading selected lines you feel like it? Because you're being really daft right now.

[Hyakki]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

I'm sorry I'm more detail oriented than you? 

 

Plus Boners and Blue Balls don't affect the emotional states of being, so in a game where Two classes use emotional states of being, as part of the classes structure and lore.. it becomes a bit more important.

 

If you would ever want to know I would A.) Not be insulted, and freely share information. B.) Not even think anything further than oh she's researching her character.

 

I'm pretty sure arousal is or is at least a result of an emotional state of being.

[-no longer matters-]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

I'm sorry I'm more detail oriented than you? 

 

Plus Boners and Blue Balls don't affect the emotional states of being, so in a game where Two classes use emotional states of being, as part of the classes structure and lore.. it becomes a bit more important.

 

If you would ever want to know I would A.) Not be insulted, and freely share information. B.) Not even think anything further than oh she's researching her character.

 

I'm pretty sure arousal is or is at least a result of an emotional state of being.

Nah it can literally go up because of boredom no arousal needed. True story.

[Roda]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

 

also your edit examples do not apply to this scenario. Have you even played the Warrior or Dark Knight stories? Do you know where their power sources/control over them come from??

 

Not from their ovaries, I can tell you that much.

Well since we live in a world where we have much more comfort in discussing the mechanics of the masculine organ than we do of the feminine (the slang term we have for female arousal is "ladyboners" for pete's sake!) I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that it's hard to come up with "how would my character feel for 1/4 of her sexually mature life" if the player has not experienced a red tide of their own.  And in the OP they did clarify that they were also wondering about the masculine equivalent (tho we all know it is overshadowed in the intent of the thread). 

 

Tho I may be biased due to my need to destroy the disproportional discomfort folks have over the mere idea of periods. '3'

 

 

And yeah, I agree with you that it shouldn't be a big deal for a DRK.  At most the magical stamina (or maximum MP) could be raised a bit for 3-4 days and then go back to normal without a single word about the condition of her laundry, or a warrior would opt for big swings with their character rooted more often to minimize discomfort that comes from jerky motions.  But those are the extremes I would really bother to take it.  A tiny bit of flavor to acknowledge that time is passing, and that's all it should really be.

 

 

Tho now you have me curious about circumcisions in Eorzean culture

 

[Sig]

Plus Boners and Blue Balls don't affect the emotional states of being, so in a game where Two classes use emotional states of being, as part of the classes structure and lore.. it becomes a bit more important.

 

If you would ever want to know I would A.) Not be insulted, and freely share information. B.) Not even think anything further than oh she's researching her character.

 

....Whaaaat?!  Those two things effect emotional states of being all the time!  Hell, they control most actions for many, many men.  

 

...But really, this thread is starting to drift sligggghtly off the rails.  

 

I think we're stuck in a pattern of, "who cares vs. depends on individual vs. is menstruation even real? vs. this is a... special topic vs. fat cat references vs. why gods?" 

 

Another tonberry for your thoughts: :tonberry:.

[Flickering Ember]

But scientifically the cycle does cause hormonal imbalance which does effect emotions and moods, and as stated effects every one differently. Men's IMS, does almost the exact same thing mentally/emotionally. 

 

I do wonder how many people here have finished the Warrior and or Dark Knight quest lines and grasp how a Hormonal induced mood swing could throw the balance off kilter of these two classes "balance". (again I'm dragging Men's IMS as well.)

 

I really think to flat out tell someone to drop something that is a natural cycle of life, that could actually affect the characters balance depending on how they deal with the influx of Hormonal balance is a tad bit closed minded as both of these natural processes could play a very interesting twist onto the character for a few days a month. 

 

Remember the people who take up these mantles aren't like you or me or even your mages or paladins anymore. They're struggling internally for a balance, and while yes some may not be affected at all by it because it doesn't bother them much some may be teetering to lose control on a daily basis and this cycle would be cause for alarm for them mentally.

 

Not every woman experiences mood changes. Yes, there are hormones changing but it doesn't always result in moodiness. Yes, there are hormonal changes. Yes, mood changes affect a significant portion of women. But it's not something that turns women into angry berserkers. It plays off of what is already there.

 

For example, I tend to experience depression, as already noted. But if I don't have a reason to be depressed, if I'm having a good month then I'm not going to be depressed. These symptoms play on what is already there. If you're already a rational, logical person who is good at controlling the Inner Beast, then a period isn't so drastic that it will suddenly make you lose control. If you're an emotional wreck 90% of the time then why does the period matter? That's not the period making you that way: that's all you.

 

Mood changes are supposed to occur primarily BEFORE your period anyway. That is worth mentioning. Supposedly 1-2 weeks before your period, even. As a woman who does experience emotional changes, this is really only noticeable the last few days before a period. 

 

Menstrual cycles do influence emotions. But they don't do so in such a radical way. You're still you. You still have logic. (If I'm depressed before a period you better believe I have actual logical, REAL factors in my life to be depressed about) You're wanting to know how much a menstrual cycle would influence things such as the Inner Beast. I fully believe the differences would not be hindering or difficult to manage. 

 

At least not anymore so than just having a bad day or not being satisfied with your lot in life--something that everyone experiences at some point. I'm not that interested in how menstrual cycles affect something like the Inner Beast because it's an incredibly mundane part of a woman's life. (unless you're unfortunate to get some really horrifying symptoms)

It's really not that much of a gamechanger, it's just life--but I don't imagine that's something you can know without experiencing first hand.

 

I'm aware that men have a cycle too but it doesn't have the impact that a menstrual cycle does. Men have not been subject to stereotypes or had laws dictating what they can or cannot do during their time of the month. They don't need to see a doctor when things get weird down there (as a result of their cycle) nor do they need to make an emergency run to the market, to invest their own personal money into this biological upkeep. There are similarities but not enough to the point where a man can step into a woman's shoes on this point.

 

So, I think if you want to consider how a person's emotional states factors into the Inner Beast, it would be better to go by life events. What is your character's temperament?  Is your character down on their luck? Have they ever lost a loved one? Have they gone through something traumatic? Do they have emotional illness? Anger problems? These are more likely to cause problems than a menstrual cycle will.

 

The type of hormonal imbalance you are talking about in regards to Inner Beast feels like something someone would go to the doctor for, like a thyroid problem. It shouldn't be so strong that your character is flying off the handle, unless they are already emotionally inclined to be that way to begin with.

[Kiur]

snip

 

I think we're stuck in a pattern of, "who cares vs. depends on individual vs. is menstruation even real? vs. this is a... special topic vs. fat cat references vs. why gods?" 

 

I'm noticing that too. 

Seems people have in fact, gotten uncomfortable over the subject.

Too bad.

[Flashhelix]

I'm sorry I'm more detail oriented than you? 

 

Congratulations, you're obsessed with useless details.

 

Because you're being really daft right now.

 

The passive-aggression is real.

 

I honestly am miffed with many of the attempts to derail the thread. We haven't even scratched the surface of what we can achieve in this line of discussion.

 

In Eorzea, do skeletons have dreams?

[-no longer matters-]

But scientifically the cycle does cause hormonal imbalance which does effect emotions and moods, and as stated effects every one differently. Men's IMS, does almost the exact same thing mentally/emotionally. 

 

I do wonder how many people here have finished the Warrior and or Dark Knight quest lines and grasp how a Hormonal induced mood swing could throw the balance off kilter of these two classes "balance". (again I'm dragging Men's IMS as well.)

 

I really think to flat out tell someone to drop something that is a natural cycle of life, that could actually affect the characters balance depending on how they deal with the influx of Hormonal balance is a tad bit closed minded as both of these natural processes could play a very interesting twist onto the character for a few days a month. 

 

Remember the people who take up these mantles aren't like you or me or even your mages or paladins anymore. They're struggling internally for a balance, and while yes some may not be affected at all by it because it doesn't bother them much some may be teetering to lose control on a daily basis and this cycle would be cause for alarm for them mentally.

 

Not every woman experiences mood changes. Yes, there are hormones changing but it doesn't always result in moodiness. Yes, there are hormonal changes. Yes, mood changes affect a significant portion of women. But it's not something that turns women into angry berserkers. It plays off of what is already there.

 

For example, I tend to experience depression, as already noted. But if I don't have a reason to be depressed, if I'm having a good month then I'm not going to be depressed. These symptoms play on what is already there. If you're already a rational, logical person who is good at controlling the Inner Beast, then a period isn't so drastic that it will suddenly make you lose control. If you're an emotional wreck 90% of the time then why does the period matter? That's not the period making you that way: that's all you.

 

Mood changes are supposed to occur primarily BEFORE your period anyway. That is worth mentioning. Supposedly 1-2 weeks before your period, even. As a woman who does experience emotional changes, this is really only noticeable the last few days before a period. 

 

Menstrual cycles do influence emotions. But they don't do so in such a radical way. You're still you. You still have logic. (If I'm depressed before a period you better believe I have actual logical, REAL factors in my life to be depressed about) You're wanting to know how much a menstrual cycle would influence things such as the Inner Beast. I fully believe the differences would not be hindering or difficult to manage. 

 

At least not anymore so than just having a bad day or not being satisfied with your lot in life--something that everyone experiences at some point. I'm not that interested in how menstrual cycles affect something like the Inner Beast because it's an incredibly mundane part of a woman's life. (unless you're unfortunate to get some really horrifying symptoms)

It's really not that much of a gamechanger, it's just life--but I don't imagine that's something you can know without experiencing first hand.

 

I'm aware that men have a cycle too but it doesn't have the impact that a menstrual cycle does. Men have not been subject to stereotypes or had laws dictating what they can or cannot do during their time of the month. They don't need to see a doctor when things get weird down there (as a result of their cycle) nor do they need to make an emergency run to the market, to invest their own personal money into this biological upkeep. There are similarities but not enough to the point where a man can step into a woman's shoes on this point.

 

So, I think if you want to consider how a person's emotional states factors into the Inner Beast, it would be better to go by life events. What is your character's temperament?  Is your character down on their luck? Have they ever lost a loved one? Have they gone through something traumatic? Do they have emotional illness? Anger problems? These are more likely to cause problems than a menstrual cycle will.

 

The type of hormonal imbalance you are talking about in regards to Inner Beast feels like something someone would go to the doctor for, like a thyroid problem. It shouldn't be so strong that your character is flying off the handle, unless they are already emotionally inclined to be that way to begin with.

The problem may lie in my perception of how much will is exerted to hold these forces back and others. Personally I figure it would be a tremendous amount of will power not something you just willy nilly deal with day by day. I just imagine if it was that easy everyone would be one of these two classes in Eorzea. But yeah I see what you and people like Roda and Mae are saying.

[KitKat]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

 

also your edit examples do not apply to this scenario. Have you even played the Warrior or Dark Knight stories? Do you know where their power sources/control over them come from??

 

Not from their ovaries, I can tell you that much.

No but the hormones affect the emotional states.. really are you really only reading selected lines you feel like it? Because you're being really daft right now.

 

I think what's got people up in arms is that this entire thread has read like you were fishing for plausibility because you've already RP'd your character this way. Whenever someone would say that periods are not really likely to have much effect on these things, you chime in and say "yeah, but what if...."

 

If you accepted their criticism and advice on the topic, it wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as it has.

[Roda]

The problem may lie in my perception of how much will is exerted to hold these forces back and others. Personally I figure it would be a tremendous amount of will power not something you just willy nilly deal with day by day. I just imagine if it was that easy everyone would be one of these two classes in Eorzea. But yeah I see what you and people like Roda and Mae are saying.

"These forces"

You talking dark knight powers or hormones?

Dark knight powers: idk up to your headcanons.

hormones: I wouldn't even call them a force. Walking with a pebble in your shoe harder than dealing with pms.

 

I think what's got people up in arms is that this entire thread has read like you were fishing for plausibility because you've already RP'd your character this way. Whenever someone would say that periods are not really likely to have much effect on these things, you chime in and say "yeah, but what if...."

 

If you accepted their criticism and advice on the topic, it wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as it has.

^ Spot on.

I keep posting because I can't reiterate it enough, having these symptoms is NOWHERE NEAR as intense as to majorly/directly affect darkside.

[-no longer matters-]

I dunno. I have a male character. I feel like it would be pretty weird and borderline offensive if I asked men how boners or "blue balls" effect their everyday lives so I can know how to RP men more "realistically," or if I wanted an in-depth discussion about circumcision in Eorzea because I really wanted to know if my character should be circumcised. I can't say I've ever found myself wondering these things when playing a male character.

 

also your edit examples do not apply to this scenario. Have you even played the Warrior or Dark Knight stories? Do you know where their power sources/control over them come from??

 

Not from their ovaries, I can tell you that much.

No but the hormones affect the emotional states.. really are you really only reading selected lines you feel like it? Because you're being really daft right now.

 

I think what's got people up in arms is that this entire thread has read like you were fishing for plausibility because you've already RP'd your character this way. Whenever someone would say that periods are not really likely to have much effect on these things, you chime in and say "yeah, but what if...."

 

If you accepted their criticism and advice on the topic, it wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as it has.

Not one of those people besides Mae actually broached the topic I actually brought up, they keep approaching it as normal people or even martial powered people...

[-no longer matters-]

The problem may lie in my perception of how much will is exerted to hold these forces back and others. Personally I figure it would be a tremendous amount of will power not something you just willy nilly deal with day by day. I just imagine if it was that easy everyone would be one of these two classes in Eorzea. But yeah I see what you and people like Roda and Mae are saying.

"These forces"

You talking dark knight powers or hormones?

Dark knight powers: idk up to your headcanons.

hormones: I wouldn't even call them a force. Walking with a pebble in your shoe harder than dealing with pms.

Dark Knight powers, and Inner Beast. The quest lines don't portray them as willy nilly, eh you got this type stuff, yet people keep treating them like they are.. that's where I think the communication barriers keep coming from. It's not my head cannon I go by how the game portrays it.. it's everyone else's Head Cannon assuming they're characters got this.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Let's think about this logically for just a moment.

 

I'm also only going to address WAR, as I have no unlocked/played/leveled DRK.

 

In the WAR quests, we see our mentor lose himself to the Inner Beast. He struggles with it in ways the WoL never will. He was set up to lose himself to those feelings.

 

I can't speak on experience of what having a period is like. (Look up my picture in the IRL thread for proof). But it seems to be very apparent that the possible things a woman might go through during that time of the month isn't going to be the tipping point of losing herself to the Inner Beast or whatever DRKs have.

 

If she was -already unstable-, it was bound to happen eventually.

 

This isn't Claymore. Sexual arousal or that time of the month probably isn't the tipping point or we'd have had tons of out of control WARs and DRKs by now that have lost themselves to carnage.