The Night Elf’s have an all female army. And there are various assorted factions that either have an all female force or a force of mixed gender troops. I have noticed this is a modern gaming phenomenon. Since the old video games 90s were more gender locked. Wow follows the RPG Trinity of having a tank, healer, 3 dps. Which was kinda established by the DnD RPG conventions. So here the ideal was a small party composed of 4 to 6 characters who were going on an adventure/quest etc. And the party consisted of both genders. Which in story telling is the norm.
But somewhere during the maturity of games like World of Warcraft. This changed. The composition of entire military forces became co-ed/gender inclusive. I have also seen games like Total War, Warhammer, etc have not only the option to create a male or female character. But many if not all of the races/factions now have entire armies composed of female troops.
My question is: When did this change in gaming take place and why. Since it doesn’t reflect human history. I understand that I’m posing a question regarding the high fantasy genre which has artistic license. But the focus of my question is the Why?
Why do people want to have all female armies in games these days?
realistic military needs are not the same as ideals about equality. the physical requirements necessary to win war are why we sent young men into battle for thousands of years, but that really isn’t needed anymore when we train for lethality and force multiplication with firearms. modern militaries also don’t need to rely on the physical differences between genders anymore, you don’t need to be a jacked knight in armor to press a red button from a drone container north of las vegas and have your strike reach anyone anywhere in the world.
Idk realistically in a lot of societies women take care of children and other business while the male is away. Doesn’t mean women can’t be effective in combat at all though. It’s just various roles have often been relegated the less developed the society the more the caretaker role is a woman’s role. The men also can’t get pregnant and typically have more upper body strength and natural aggression.
However in cultural anthropology you do learn that roles can and often have reversed in various cultural societies or groups I suppose. It isn’t far fetched to think that those roles in Night Elven society could have been switched up more and thus taken hold.
The simpler explanation is also perhaps just cause in video games you can do this. Small characters can be vastly more powerful then they normally would ever be, and for various reasons some might think it’s cool to see a bunch of hardcore female night glaive wielding soldiers. And there’s also some that want to boost female morale by showing other girls they can do these things too.
A lot of fiction with female dominant cultures are often based off Amazons or a more tribal/primative culture. As well as female dominant species found in nature.
I always got Amazonian vibes from female Night Elves.
Well we also never threw fireballs from our hands or call down lightning, and don’t forget the sentinel army (which again are elves not humans) have been a thing since war 3 (released 2002). The Adepta Sororitas (Sisters of Battle) of warhammer 40k is more about the religious cult/zeal then having boobs which of course worth mentioning by lore females can not be a space marine.
Ultimately you are forgetting this is a fantasy setting where literally all things are possible through the settings magic
My understanding is that the Sisters of Battle are female Warrior-Nuns. They are a religious sect in the W40K universe. They are female space marines in nature and abilities/armor/weapons. If not in actual designation.
One of my favorite games is still 40k soulstorm favorite troops Sisters of Battle.
My question is more focused on the psychological part of why a large part of the modern gaming community practically insists on games having all female military units.
I mean Team Lioness was the first FET (female engagement team) created in 2003/04 during the Iraq war and there’s been an increasing number of FETs in the military since then so I’m not sure how it “doesn’t reflect human history”
That doesn’t make them Astartes and while there forming was directly connected to the emperors body guards: the Adeptus Custodus actions, they are not his personal army (any more then any other group, after all he is the Emperor). They are one of the many wings of the churches military.
Ok. A very fun unit to play. One thing I wish for was the addition of the GeneStealers to
Soulstorm. But it was never implemented. I have been looking for another more modern 40k game. have seen some. I was wondering if you had a recommendation?
