I know from past Breakfast Topics that many players don't consider their characters to be themselves on the screen, but I also know that many do. I'm one of the latter group, if I create a character, it's a representation of myself on the screen. I mentally place myself inside that character's uncomfortable-looking metal shoes, and trudge around smacking murlocs in the face with an axe.

As a result, I really struggle to play male characters. I've started a few male characters, but I've always deleted them, simply because they're just not me. I wish I had the imagination to put myself in the shoes of a male character, but I'm afraid I don't. I'm sure it's a result of some deep-seated insecurity about my femininity or something, but hey, you can't win them all! As a result of this, games where you're forced to play a character that doesn't resemble you, or doesn't resemble some mental representation of yourself are struggles for me. It's funny, really, I can play an undead character just fine, but not a blood elf -- they're not "me" enough! I finally have a druid alt that I'm leveling, but as she's a worgen, I have a hard time really identifying her, really putting myself in her shoes, and as a result she's suffering from a distinct lack of activity. Being a druid doesn't exactly help either, with all the shapeshifting.

So, how about you? How much of your own identity is in the characters you create, and how important is their appearance on the screen within that? Do you feel detached from characters of the opposite gender? How do you reconcile your online identity with your character's, if at all?

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