Title: Dragon Age Franchise Co-Creator Weighs in on Fan Reaction to Baldur’s Gate 3 Character
Subtitle: David Gaider claims male characters are treated more forgivingly than female characters in RPG fandom
By Wesley Yin-Poole, UK News Editor for IGN
In the wake of the explosive launch of Baldur’s Gate 3, the co-creator of the Dragon Age franchise, David Gaider, has entered the discussion surrounding the reaction to one of the game’s main female characters. Gaider has commented that fans have historically treated male characters with more forgiveness compared to their female counterparts.
The character in question is Lae’zel, a female Githyanki Fighter who can be a companion throughout Baldur’s Gate 3. Since the game’s release, Lae’zel’s personality has sparked a lot of discussion among players. Some have praised her no-nonsense attitude, while others have criticized her for being “hostile,” “rude,” and “unfriendly.”
One popular tweet by user PleasantKenobi compared Lae’zel to a TV show that supposedly improves after a lackluster fourth season, expressing reluctance to put up with her behavior for an extended period. This tweet garnered 1.6 million views and elicited a response from another Twitter user, BlackSalander, who claimed that if Lae’zel were a male character, players would view her as an edgy, bad boy.
David Gaider, verified by his lead writer and co-creator status of BioWare’s Dragon Age franchise, supported BlackSalander’s claim. Gaider confirmed that throughout the Dragon Age series, male characters have consistently received more latitude and forgiveness from the fandom than their female counterparts.
In subsequent tweets, Gaider reiterated his statement, emphasizing that this discrepancy was evident in Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition as well. According to Gaider, the fandom has always treated male characters more forgivingly, plain and simple.
One Twitter user, Joseph Clark, suggested that players’ opinions of Lae’zel may have been influenced by their first frenetic encounter with her aboard the Nautiloid ship. Clark contrasted this encounter with the introduction of Morrigan, a beloved character from the Dragon Age series, who gradually exposes her darker side after initially coming across as likeable. Gaider dismissed this suggestion, stating that even if the encounter had been different, the fandom would still be more forgiving if Lae’zel were male.
While Lae’zel’s character has sparked controversy among players, it is not the only topic generating heated discussions within the Baldur’s Gate 3 community. The ongoing debate about save scumming and a group of players attempting to “fix” another character, Shadowheart, also remain hot topics.
For a comprehensive understanding of IGN’s perspective on Baldur’s Gate 3, readers can refer to the recently updated review in-progress. Additionally, players should exercise caution when Long Resting in the game.
For more information, IGN provides a guide on character building and details about the races and subraces available in Baldur’s Gate 3.
About the Author:
Wesley Yin-Poole is the UK News Editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter at @wyp100. For any inquiries, Wesley can be reached at [email protected] or privately at [email protected].