First, let me include links to each wizard's full-size portrait: Second, let me acknowledge that the portraits of the female wizards are fantastic. I love the pictures of Artica and Nimue. Arachna is wonderfully spidery and dark. We can definitely see the difference in quality between these and portraits of Mab and Serena (computer generated). The hand-drawn portraits are beautiful. I'll also say that I'm sure very few females actually read these boards, and I know that the female market is a very small part of the overall market for computer games in general, and probably strategy games in particular (anecdotal evidence from my acquaintances seems to support women enjoying puzzle and role-playing games most). But I did feel a little concern when I saw the portrait of Karissa, who looks like the cover of a bad heavy metal album, and is wearing almost nothing, and that of Mab, who is obviously making heavy use of adhesives to hold up her umm, armor. Now that we have seen all the female wizards, I wonder why, out of all six, none are wearing any reasonable armor (yes, I know they are wizards, and may be hiding in their towers, but it is not uncommon in literature and movies for female wizards to wear some semblance of armor... see Xena and Julia for the molded breastplate thing), every one has sizable, and plunging, cleavage, and none (that I can see) cared to cover up her belly or legs. It doesn't disturb me that every one of them is beautiful, as after all one expects them to be charismatic, and I can't say I liked the old goblin female hero portrait (used for Sister Tersia), or the paucity of female portraits in general among the heroes and leaders of AoW. However, I'm just not crazy about the way they are dressed. For a male viewpoint, I did an informal poll (of two people), and it came out pretty much the way I expected. The teenaged boy said he loved Karissa, and having portraits like that of Karissa, and the nymph from the original, enhanced his enjoyment of the game. The guy closer to my age said the portraits didn't offend him, but he would be just as satisfied with the game if Karissa was completely dressed. I know this has been brought up before... Quoted from Tekk Zero: And I was heartened to see someone else bring it up, but I thought the topic might deserve its own thread. This is not an actual complaint, but more of a concern. I am curious to hear whether other players are specifically for or against having scantily clad female wizards. Do you think these things enhance your enjoyment of the game? Or would you be just as happy to see some modestly dressed women as leaders? I'd also be curious to know whether the developers did this primarily to appeal to the teenaged boy market, or whether they just think these portraits look nice.
I hope in the remaining wizards we see a female that is more "normal" and not specifically arousing to the male audience (not every female in fantasy has to be promiscous... we could use positive role models for girls to be what they want to be and not forced on the "be just pretty" stereotype). BTW I am a guy and I am happily hetero, so don't think I am mentally messed up concerning girls. I like pretty girls, but I just think they should be what they want and not what the opposite sex thinks. However, I am not saying that I hate the present female wizards I would just like to see something different in the next one (very hopeful).