There are zero women interested in x wing in my gaming comunity. A few play games like Settlers of Catan, one is a devoted low complexity wargame player( Europe Engulfed, Comand and Colours ) but no x wing female players. "Star Wars?" are you kidding me?. Sniff.

I still think it's all down to how the game is played. I'm a competitive girl, I love miniature starfighters, but there are things about how X-Wing is played that turn me off. I think most other girls would be even more turned off as they lack my predisposition towards model airplanes and spaceships.

2/50+ in my entire x wing experience. Pretty rare.

No predisposition towards spacefighters... I cry. They play wooden ships and iron men, but are no interested in 60 tns Tigers or Y wings... You are correct.

There are usually two issues here;

1) The Game itself: There are definitely some things that designers can do to make a game attractive to women. Greater representation of female models/characters helps female players to better identify with the list they're playing (Provided the designers are careful to focus test designs against a female market). Aesthetics can also help. There are also some game "goals" that can help; (Puzzles and Cooperation tend to draw more women in- Perhaps objective based play might help a bit)?

2) The community: This is a big one, and hard to deal with because a lot of guys get defensive when the subject is brought up. Short version; Don't hit on new female players until you get to know them, Back off if they say they aren't interested, cut the sexist jokes and call the guys who make them out on it*, don't stare, and don't treat them differently because of their gender during the game (Don't go easy on them just because they're female. That doesn't mean you should bring a seal-clubbing phantom+decimator list to a teaching game, because that's a jerk move no matter who you're playing against, but don't "let her win"). There's more to it than this, but as a white male with a tendancy to stick his foot in his mouth, it's time for me to be quiet before I say something really stupid.

*Actually, do this even when women aren't around.

I know this is generalising, but is it possible that as a gender they just aren't as interested in games as we fellas are?

My wife plays X-Wing with me and the buds. She says she enjoys it but wouldn't suggest we play a game. Instead, she'd happily sit on Pinterest and look at nail art and hair design .. 2 topics which I (and I think many fellas) would have zero interest in.

Obviously there are exceptions to my generalisations here. But maybe they are just 'built' that way.I know this seems as a very sexist approach and I wish I could word my thoughts better .. but is there a psychological difference between the genders with regards to this hobby?

Actual psychological differences are... hard to identify. Separating what is natural and what is conditioned through upbringing and media exposure is... tricky, to say the least, not to mention something of a minefield.

It can be quantifiably demonstrated that a large portion of the female population of the U.S. is less interested in things like wargames than a large portion of the male population. Some of that is due to a rather toxic part of the gaming community driving women away, some of that is due to design decisions within the game that don't appeal to a large number of women, and some of it does seem to be that a group of women who do enjoy boardgames/videogames/whatever have somewhat different tastes than the percieved "male majority", so they choose different games (Of course, it's not like wargames like X-wing are universally popular with men, either. Is there a difference in numbers? Probably, but without actual research I can't say anything more than that)

I think part of it may be down to introversion/extroversion too. Boardgamers and wargamers tend to be introverts as a rule, and I feel like women are less likely to be introverts, and when we are, it is less socially acceptable for us to be extremely introverted. I think this may make it more likely for women to become involved in "party" type games than serious hard-core boardgames. I've actually hated boardgames most of my life, unless they have a very strong social component, and I have a lot of friends who feel the same way. Honestly, I have more fun having a conversation with somebody than playing a boardgame with them 99 times out of 100.

X-Wing is different for me because I love tactical simulators of all varieties, and I love starfighters. Girls are not generally raised to love technological objects in and of themselves, so even girls who do have predilections towards them aren't able to pursue them. I will say though, that despite the appeal of ships I like, pilots I like, and tactical simulation, X-Wing has some turn-offs for me. The major one is the current 100 point tournament format. I don't find random 100 point games to be that appealing. If I'm going to take the time to play a game, I want something more than the goal of beating somebody else. I'd like something potentially cooperative, something with more of a goal in mind, something that builds organically over time, something that forces social interaction. I have much more fun playing games which force social interaction than I do playing games which allow you to just stare at your dials, roll your dice, and grunt at your opponent.

In fact, though I've been a very enthusiastic consumer of X-Wing plastic spaceships, I'm kind of leaning towards not playing in tournaments anymore, because the Min-Max 100 point meta just doesn't appeal to me very much at all. I think that's a very "male" way to play with spaceships.

At my shop at least the ladies tend to congregate into 3 groups.

1. Visiting with their hubbies who are the WH/X-Wing players.

2. Running businesses to paint models.

3. Playing various RPG board games.

I think it might have something to do with #3. X-Wing doesn't have a great deal of immersion factor to it. While it's great to set up your teams and try to outguess your opponent, there isn't any difference between one Alpha Squadron pilot and another. I've tried many times to get my wife to play. She used to be a prolific D&D player a few years ago. She told me that what interested her was the concept of using her imagination to weave her character into the plot of the DM, not the stats or the odds.

This is totally not to say that there aren't women that find those things fun. The female members of this forum prove that. But I've yet to see any of the ladies in my local shop play WH or 40k either but they HAVE played 40k board games.

I think part of it may be down to introversion/extroversion too. Boardgamers and wargamers tend to be introverts as a rule...

That hasn't really been my experience. Do you have any data to share?

I'd like something potentially cooperative, something with more of a goal in mind, something that builds organically over time, something that forces social interaction.

I know you'd much rather play X-Wing than Imperial Assault, but the campaign is exactly all of those things. You really should give it a try.

I think part of it may be down to introversion/extroversion too. Boardgamers and wargamers tend to be introverts as a rule...

That hasn't really been my experience. Do you have any data to share?

I'd like something potentially cooperative, something with more of a goal in mind, something that builds organically over time, something that forces social interaction.

I know you'd much rather play X-Wing than Imperial Assault, but the campaign is exactly all of those things. You really should give it a try.

I haven't seen the IA campaign played where I am. They just play random skirmishes. I think this may be down to my specific place in the world, WW. Nobody wants to play a campaign of Star Wars anything. It's depressing.

Once the regionals are done (going this weekend!), I'll be hosting an X-Wing roleplaying campaign in my area. 3 players will be controlling a cut off group of Rebels escaping from Hoth while I handle the Imperials and Scum that they will be facing. I already wrote a 22 page instruction manual detailing stuff like:

- Pilot progression (generic pilots can become named pilots) and injury/death.

- Actions between missions (intelligence gathering, supplies, recruiting named pilots)

- How to rescue captured pilots

- Etc

Each "round", the players (each of them being a commander) will be given a list of possible missions with long lasting repercussions whether they win or lose. Each game is played invidually, so that the other 2 players can just play standard games in the meantime for fun.

The really fun mechanic that I'm implementing, however, is that if a player does not do some intelligence gathering then the enemy's forces will have its pilots and upgrades face down on the table, with only me being aware of what they are until used. I expect to lose many games while DMing this, but it will be worth it for the giggles of revealing weird combos that you never see in 100 point matches but just happen to be terrifying in that specific context

Facedown upgrades !!!! Man, you are smart. I have NEVER done it, and this can be a great idea

Once the regionals are done (going this weekend!), I'll be hosting an X-Wing roleplaying campaign in my area. 3 players will be controlling a cut off group of Rebels escaping from Hoth while I handle the Imperials and Scum that they will be facing. I already wrote a 22 page instruction manual detailing stuff like:

- Pilot progression (generic pilots can become named pilots) and injury/death.

- Actions between missions (intelligence gathering, supplies, recruiting named pilots)

- How to rescue captured pilots

- Etc

Each "round", the players (each of them being a commander) will be given a list of possible missions with long lasting repercussions whether they win or lose. Each game is played invidually, so that the other 2 players can just play standard games in the meantime for fun.

The really fun mechanic that I'm implementing, however, is that if a player does not do some intelligence gathering then the enemy's forces will have its pilots and upgrades face down on the table, with only me being aware of what they are until used. I expect to lose many games while DMing this, but it will be worth it for the giggles of revealing weird combos that you never see in 100 point matches but just happen to be terrifying in that specific context

Love this idea. It would see me playing the game much more regularly.

Please post your rules !!! It looks similar to the "operational scenarios" I love to play. Recon force, Fighter sweep, Bombers + scorts. Choose ships, pilots, loads and deployment.

I love the idea of an additional story component. Getting attached to a pilot and trying not to get them killed would change the way we play, certainly.

Oh, and on topic... My girlfriend would never be the one to suggest we play X-Wing, but she enjoys herself when we do play it. She usually plays Imperials.

Please post your rules !!! It looks similar to the "operational scenarios" I love to play. Recon force, Fighter sweep, Bombers + scorts. Choose ships, pilots, loads and deployment.

The rules are in a .doc file complete with pictures, examples, tables, etc. If you PM me your email then I can send it to you by mail (which would be much easier than trying to copy / paste it here).

I love the idea of an additional story component. Getting attached to a pilot and trying not to get them killed would change the way we play, certainly.

Oh, and on topic... My girlfriend would never be the one to suggest we play X-Wing, but she enjoys herself when we do play it. She usually plays Imperials.

The mates and I used Strange Eons to change the names of unique pilots to our own. It gives you an invested interest in keeping them alive.

I know 4 that play the game, 1 locally, 5 that want to play it, 2 that have played and want to play again once I can set up a time (yay almost done with school). Yes the player base is skewed but they are out there. Its more the problem of interest and environment. Some just just aren't into gaming. Some hate being around gawking unhygienic males (then again so do I) and thankfully my areas player base isn't that. So I don't think the game needs to change to get more in, you just have to find the right people.

I haven't seen the IA campaign played where I am. They just play random skirmishes. I think this may be down to my specific place in the world, WW. Nobody wants to play a campaign of Star Wars anything. It's depressing.

We're trying to put a group together at the local shop, you're welcome to join us.

There are usually two issues here;

1) The Game itself: There are definitely some things that designers can do to make a game attractive to women. Greater representation of female models/characters helps female players to better identify with the list they're playing (Provided the designers are careful to focus test designs against a female market). Aesthetics can also help. There are also some game "goals" that can help; (Puzzles and Cooperation tend to draw more women in- Perhaps objective based play might help a bit)?

We have alot of women characters in this game now. One wave almost felt like it had nothing but women in it.

2) The community: This is a big one, and hard to deal with because a lot of guys get defensive when the subject is brought up. Short version Dont hit on new female players until you get to know them, Back off if they say they arent interested, cut the sexist jokes and call the guys who make them out on it, don't stare, and dont treat them differently because of their gender during the game Dont go easy on them just because theyre female. That doesnt mean you should bring a sealclubbing phantom + decimator list to a teaching game, because that's a erk move no matter who youre playing against, but dont "let her win". There's more to it than this, but as a white male with a tendancy to stick his foot in his mouth, it's time for me to be quiet before I say something really stupid.

I have to disagree with some stuff in this post. The big one being "calling people out on "sexist jokes." Unless they are getting violent verbally and or about to be violent physically or the issue is not being resolved, it should only be taken care of by the person being offended, or if they have to, people they call over too resolve the issue. By interfering in a situation like that you are non-verbal telling that person being attacked that "they are weak and need their hand held."

The other two instances I mentioned, "verbal and physical violence," I feel are ok too interfere in because of the organization I am apart of. I don't stand for verbal violence, abuse, slander. Once I see that the person doing it is doomed and it doesn't mater what they are committing these vile acts towards. Plenty of people of committed suicide because of major group harassment, some are ultra foul, one example being a little girl that was humiliated and harassed by her classmates, she moved too another school, the people from her old school followed her and got a good portion of the new people she met to also attack her. She tried to kill herself and failed. People from both schools, I believe, mocked her for failing to kill her self and to try it again. The 2nd time she unfortunately succeeded.

Once I see someone encourage other people too really attack other people and cause mental harm, slander, and or physical harm, it is all over for that person/s doing the attacking.

I have no problems with finding women who want to play X-wing. A female friend of mine who I introduced to the game has now told me she is going to buy some rebel ships to destroy me with! A second female friend of mine wants to try it out once the school holidays start (she is a teacher and doesn't have time until then), and I have just discovered that my new girlfriend loves boardgames and Star Wars! So when I told her about X-wing and Armada she replied that she would love me to show her how to play them! She also warned me that she is very competitive when playing games.

We have one woman in our 15ish-person store league. She owns Imperial Assault and shows up about twice as often as her boyfriend, who also plays. She's an engineer, so I assume she's used to the mostly-male environment.

In fact, though I've been a very enthusiastic consumer of X-Wing plastic spaceships, I'm kind of leaning towards not playing in tournaments anymore, because the Min-Max 100 point meta just doesn't appeal to me very much at all. I think that's a very "male" way to play with spaceships.

Hey... heeeeey...

...no, on second thought, you're probably right...

Personally taught and played X-Wing with several females, all but one enjoyed the game and would play again. It kinda makes it easier to introduce when the reason we all hang out every week is to play board games.