Is the protagonist a trans person?

[Blackdragon]

- Genderless name
- Male haircut
- Male clothing
- Androgynous face
- Androgynous voice
- No breasts visible in revealing clothing (e.g. Tremere outfit as recently shown)

Any of these factors taken individually wouldn't mean much, but together they create an impression that the protagonist is either a trans man or a trans woman.

Having nothing against trans people in general, it would probably be appropriate to know whether the protagonist actually is a trans person, for the purposes of representation and awareness.

P.S. Also, the Development Team constantly refers to "masc" and "fem" Phyre, instead of male and female. Even when everybody else in the discussion is talking about male/female, and it's completely incongruous. Examples:

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/bloodlines-2-frequently-asked-questions-faq.1598980/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/developer-diary/developer-diary-19-hunting-and-feeding.1708659/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/532790/discussions/0/4335355487239045700/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/532790/discussions/0/4634860720019826676/

etc.

In the current parlance, "masc" or masculine refers to someone who expresses themselves in ways associated with masculinity, while "fem" or feminine refers to the feminine expression of oneself. Meaning that the person in question is not necessarily male or female, but "expresses themselves in ways associated" with these genders. Which brings us back to the question above.

[Yojimbo]

There's enough wrong with this game to point out without resorting to weirdo anti-woke jester farming.

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by Yojimbo:

There's enough wrong with this game to point out without resorting to weirdo anti-woke jester farming.

I've been following this game since its inception, and I've been a fan of the original Bloodlines since it came out back in 2004. I've played the first game of the series - VTM: Redemption - when it came out in 2000. I've played Troika Games' first game ever - Arcanum - when it came out in 2001, and Interplay's Fallout and Fallout 2 in 1997 and 1998.

I've been waiting for a sequel to VTMB for 20 damn years. Now the sequel is coming, and guess what, it raises a lot of questions from this particular long-time fan, including the one in the OP. But lo, here comes some rando on a Steam forum to tell me I'm "farming for jesters".

And regarding your "weird anti-woke" remark - that's you inventing and putting a label on a completely legitimate question. Yes, I want to know if the protagonist is a trans person, and I've listed my reasons. You having difficulty accepting that people might be curious about this aspect of the game (and reacting almost instantly to my post on a half-dead board) is what's "weird" here.

[CapJackRackham]

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

I've been following this game since its inception,

If you have been following the game since it's inception then you wouldn't need to ask the questions you've asked.

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

I've been waiting for a sequel to VTMB for 20 damn years. Now the sequel is coming

It's not a true sequel to Bloodlines and it's not following the core masquerade rules so no it's not a sequel beyond name only.

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

Yes, I want to know if the protagonist is a trans person, and I've listed my reasons. You having difficulty accepting that people might be curious about this aspect of the game (and reacting almost instantly to my post on a half-dead board) is what's "weird" here.

Weird that, given you've said you were following since it's inception, you would ask if the game is "Genderless " despite there being male and female versions of Phyre.

Weird that you would ask those questions after 22 Dev diaries and the community manager of Paradox on Steam have confirmed all of this already.

So yes, I can see why someone would think it's weird you asking those questions.

[Kornelius]

I think I said this before but my take on Phyre's male and female aesthetic is supposed to look almost equally alluring (or intimating) to both genders for some game/story mechanics to make sense.

Also the androgynous concept seems to be in line with other forms of vampire media as well, going back decades.

That being said, there's still room for character customization if TCR fleshed that out at any point.

[Leckaine]

Originally posted by Kory:

I think I said this before but my take on Phyre's male and female aesthetic is supposed to look almost equally alluring (or intimating) to both genders for some game/story mechanics to make sense.

Also the androgynous concept seems to be in line with other forms of vampire media as well, going back decades.

That being said, there's still room for character customization if TCR fleshed that out at any point.

Less alluring or intimidating and more so actively revolting. The appearance of a internet age teenager trying to larp or a school shooter look in the cases of Brujah and Banu Haqim appearance.

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by CapJackRackham:

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

I've been following this game since its inception,

If you have been following the game since it's inception then you wouldn't need to ask the questions you've asked.

Do you mean that the answer to my question is obvious? Doesn't seem so to me, or rather there seems to be a plethora of evidence pointing towards an answer that you, for example, likely wouldn't agree with.

Originally posted by CapJackRackham:

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

I've been waiting for a sequel to VTMB for 20 damn years. Now the sequel is coming

It's not a true sequel to Bloodlines and it's not following the core masquerade rules so no it's not a sequel beyond name only.

It is a sequel, because it is created and marketed as a sequel. It may be "a sequel in name only", which would be a pity, and would probably cause the game to fail. But don't tell me it's not associated with Bloodlines: it is, and very directly so. Which is why a lot of us are here in the first place.

Originally posted by CapJackRackham:

Originally posted by Blackdragon:

Yes, I want to know if the protagonist is a trans person, and I've listed my reasons. You having difficulty accepting that people might be curious about this aspect of the game (and reacting almost instantly to my post on a half-dead board) is what's "weird" here.

Weird that, given you've said you were following since it's inception, you would ask if the game is "Genderless " despite there being male and female versions of Phyre.

Weird that you would ask those questions after 22 Dev diaries and the community manager of Paradox on Steam have confirmed all of this already.

See, that's the thing: the developers keep talking about "masc" and "fem" versions of Phyre, not male and female. Add this to the list of other factors I gave in the OP, and you will see why the question is perfectly legitimate.

Originally posted by CapJackRackham:

So yes, I can see why someone would think it's weird you asking those questions.

No, it is a completely sound question, because the developers themselves have created such ambiguity around Phyre's actual gender(s) that it is basically begging to be asked.

This ambiguity is what's "weird" about the issue. Also, that there are suddenly people on this board who quickly reply to my post with what amounts to "Do NOT ask this question".

[Blackdragon]

Originally posted by Kory:

I think I said this before but my take on Phyre's male and female aesthetic is supposed to look almost equally alluring (or intimating) to both genders for some game/story mechanics to make sense.

I haven't seen enough of the "male" (or "masc" as the developers put it) Phyre, but what I've seen of the "fem" Phyre is neither alluring not intimidating, at least not on the "awakened Elder" level. (S)he(?) basically comes off as an edgy teenager/young adult who's read too many tacky vampire novels and now has "main character syndrome".

Originally posted by Kory:

Also the androgynous concept seems to be in line with other forms of vampire media as well, going back decades.

I don't know about that. The vampire literature I've read (mostly classics, such as Dracula, Melmoth, etc.) and vampire games I've played (including VTM:R, VTM:B, Legacy of Kain), had clearly non-androgynous protagonists, with well-defined genders. Redemption and Bloodlines particularly, as in the first you played a male protagonist in love with a female character, and the second allowed to choose between male and female protagonists.

Originally posted by Kory:

That being said, there's still room for character customization if TCR fleshed that out at any point.

I don't expect there to be any customisation except haircuts and clothing. We haven't seen any other faces for Phyre except the default in any media, even concept art. Which at this stage, and given the game's overall limited character, likely means there will be no face customisation.

[ButterDawg]

Early TCR marketing and communications used "male" and "female." I believe the transition is likely based on TCR culture seeking more inclusivity--don't think it means the character is trans necessarily