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Nerdarchy > Nerd Culture  > Sugar and Spice and Rolling Fun-Shaped Dice

Sugar and Spice and Rolling Fun-Shaped Dice

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Who Wants to Live Forever?

Some of you may have been following the progress of the Scarlet Sisterhood of Steel and Sorcery game we’ve been playing on YouTube. In that case, you’re probably already aware that it’s become this controversial hot button topic a lot of people seem to be weighing in on, both in the comments and through other media.

The line in the sand seems to be drawn over whether or not an all-girl game is conceptually divisive, or if the term “girl gamer” is offensive. That said, this conversation has been conducted by and large by men, with a few exceptions, in the comments. So much respect, by the way, for those of you ladies who have commented and spoken up. All of you. It takes courage to speak up in the lawless wasteland that is our Internet.

But it’s very difficult to have a proper conversation about women and how women feel and what we want without the input of some actual women. In light of that, some of the aforementioned lady folk are going to weigh in on this. So ready or not, here we come.

First of all, we want to make it clear that we don’t think DawnforgedCast said anything all that radical in their video (below) on the subject. He was perfectly calm and respectful, as well as absolutely entitled to his opinion on the matter. Not all girls are going to want attention called to the fact that they are girls. Not all girls are going to be interested in playing in, or watching, an all-female game. And that is okay.

Just like it is okay for us to be a female squadron, entirely content with the semantics of it. Nerdarchy has been kind enough to carve out a space for us where it might have been difficult to get in otherwise in a very male-dominated genre. Not only that, but it’s a highly visible space, one we can use to show that this game is not just a boy’s club, and we’re not just models with scripts or significant others who get roped in. We are the same kinds of dorks. The title may sound like click bait to some people, but the content is all just us being us.

Dave is an amazing DM and we are having so much fun rolling dice and making stupid jokes. We’ve made friends we might never have met otherwise through this game. For better or worse, this is an unforgettable experience and we have no regrets.

No, this is not going to convince every girl to play. There is no one size fits all for something like this. Everyone has their own way to go about things. But if even one person sees it and decides it’s worth a shot, then that is enough. Representation matters.

We are gamers. We are also girls. That’s not a dirty word. We’re not trying to hide it and we’re not ashamed of it. We’re not being exploited for an agenda. We’re coming together to play a game we all love. And it doesn’t matter how well we know the game, how long we’ve been playing, how we got into it or if we’re playing with other girls or guys.

It’s not that radical to say most male gamers have the opportunity to play in an all-male game. That is how our community is made up: of mostly men. Unfortunately, for us girls, to have an all-girl campaign is more often than not from coincidence rather than expectation. We have to set it up on purpose. We are grateful for the opportunity to have what so many men take for granted.

So for those who have been playing for years, for those who just started, for those who are just thinking about starting and haven’t committed yet, for those about to tabletop: we salute you. And sincerely hope that this kerfuffle won’t drive you off, however you feel about it.

Love what you love. Unironically. Unabashedly. Be who you are. Don’t let them scare you because, trust us, you haven’t lived until you’ve run with the Wild Hunt and seen Waterdeep from a ship off the coast in the morning fog. Be brave. Slay dragons. Above all else, stay nerdy.

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Megan R. Miller and Vex Light

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