Wiki Trends Regarding Profile Age and Gender

[Piroska]

I'm an avid reader. I really am. When presented with a large body of works, my first instinct is to read it. My second impulse (perhaps because I'm a methodical woman with a background in mathematics and engineering) is to start looking for trends in what I'm reading.

Over the last couple of months I've been reading through the site's wiki. At first it was because I wanted to learn more about the server. I'd sigh morosely as I contemplated the awesomeness that was an enforced roleplaying server. Now that I'm actually on the server, I use it because I want to apply that information to my roleplay. Recently, I've been reading through the hundreds of profiles, partially to look for guidance in creating my own and also to see what each roleplayer has found enjoyable to play.

While going through the blood elf profiles and specifically focusing on age (I was mulling through what age to make Piroska), I started picking up a trend. I read through more profiles, scratched my head, and then jumped over to another race. The trend persisted there. So I thought that I'd share my results and see what sort of feedback it might garner.

The references I used for age are our own age guidelines. I did not include the night elves in this census due to their former immortality; I recognize that we have guidelines regarding the ages of those characters, but the whole concept gave me a headache. I may go back and edit them in at a later time. And, in retrospect, I completely forgot to include the Forsaken! They didn't appear on the guidelines page, which I was using to make sure that I had charts for every race. As with the kal'dorei, I may go back and edit them in at a later time

Please note: percentages may not always add up to 100% due to rounding.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Blood Elves[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<110)[/td][td=1,]3 (4%)[/td][td=1,]2.1%[/td][td=1,]8 (11.6%)[/td][td=1,]5.6%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (110-174)[/td][td=1,]53 (70.7%)[/td][td=1,]36.8%[/td][td=1,]57 (82.6%)[/td][td=1,]39.6%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (175-262)[/td][td=1,]16 (21.3%)[/td][td=1,]11.1%[/td][td=1,]3 (4.3%)[/td][td=1,]2.1%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (263-349)[/td][td=1,]3 (4%)[/td][td=1,]2.1%[/td][td=1,]1 (1.5%)[/td][td=1,]0.7%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (350+)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]75[/td][td=1,]52.1%[/td][td=1,]69[/td][td=1,]48.0%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 75; the youngest female age was 99.
   
3. The oldest male age was 343; the oldest female age was 273.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Female/Adult, despite Females being the minority gender.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented was Female/Old Age.
   
6. Females in the Adult range were more likely to be just under the cap. There were at least four characters that were 173 and two others that were 170.
   
7. I did stumble across one profile that listed the age as 2,400. Unfortunately, poor Mikhail is a draenei that has been incorrectly categorized as a blood elf.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Draenei[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<2000)[/td][td=1,]1 (5.6%)[/td][td=1,]2.0%[/td][td=1,]2 (6.3%)[/td][td=1,]4.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (2000-7999)[/td][td=1,]3 (16.7%)[/td][td=1,]6.0%[/td][td=1,]15 (46.9%)[/td][td=1,]30.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (8000-24999)[/td][td=1,]11 (61.1%)[/td][td=1,]22.0%[/td][td=1,]10 (31.3%)[/td][td=1,]20.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (25000-34999)[/td][td=1,]3 (16.7%)[/td][td=1,]6.0%[/td][td=1,]4 (12.5%)[/td][td=1,]8.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (35000+)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]1 (3.1%)[/td][td=1,]2.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]18[/td][td=1,]36.0%[/td][td=1,]32[/td][td=1,]64.0%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 1823; the youngest female age was 600.
   
3. The oldest male age was 27484; the oldest female age was over 35000.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Female/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented (disregarding Child) was Female/Venerable.
   
6. Mikhail has been included in the above calculations despite being incorrectly categorized as a blood elf.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Dwarves[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<40)[/td][td=1,]2 (3.1%)[/td][td=1,]2.9%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (40-124)[/td][td=1,]35 (53.8%)[/td][td=1,]50.0%[/td][td=1,]5 (100.0%)[/td][td=1,]7.1%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (125-187)[/td][td=1,]18 (27.7%)[/td][td=1,]25.7%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (188-249)[/td][td=1,]6 (9.2%)[/td][td=1,]8.6%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (250+)[/td][td=1,]4 (6.2%)[/td][td=1,]5.7%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]65[/td][td=1,]92.9%[/td][td=1,]5[/td][td=1,]7.1%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 36; the youngest female age was 40.
   
3. The oldest male age was 379; the oldest female age was 123.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Male/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented (disregarding Child) was Male/Venerable.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Forsaken[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<18/110)[/td][td=1,]1 (1.7%)[/td][td=1,]1.3%[/td][td=1,]2 (10.5%)[/td][td=1,]2.5%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (18-34/110-174)[/td][td=1,]27 (45.0%)[/td][td=1,]34.2%[/td][td=1,]15 (78.9%)[/td][td=1,]19.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (35-52/175-262)[/td][td=1,]24 (40.0%)[/td][td=1,]30.4%[/td][td=1,]2 (10.5%)[/td][td=1,]2.5%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (53-69/263-349)[/td][td=1,]7 (11.7%)[/td][td=1,]8.9%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (70+/350+)[/td][td=1,]1 (1.7%)[/td][td=1,]1.3[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]60[/td][td=1,]75.9%[/td][td=1,]19[/td][td=1,]24.1%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. Forsaken were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
3. Ages for each category are based on either Human or Blood/High Elf, as there was at least one of each.
   
4. The youngest male age was 17; the youngest female age was 16.
   
5. The oldest male age was 70; the oldest female age was 43.
   
6. The largest gender/age combination represented was Male/Adult.
   
7. The smallest gender/age combination represented was Male/Venerable.
   
8. Three Forsaken lacked any age or clues from which to guess their ages. They have been disregarded for the purposes of this assessment.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Gnomes[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<40)[/td][td=1,]1 (2.1%)[/td][td=1,]1.4%[/td][td=1,]1 (4.2%)[/td][td=1,]1.4%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (40-99)[/td][td=1,]29 (61.7%)[/td][td=1,]40.9%[/td][td=1,]18 (75.0%)[/td][td=1,]25.4%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (100-149)[/td][td=1,]12 (25.5%)[/td][td=1,]16.9%[/td][td=1,]5 (20.8%)[/td][td=1,]7.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (150-199)[/td][td=1,]5 (10.6%)[/td][td=1,]7.0%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (200+)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]47[/td][td=1,]82.6%[/td][td=1,]24[/td][td=1,]17.3%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 38; the youngest female age was 35.
   
3. The oldest male age was 174; the oldest female age was 137.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Male/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented (disregarding Child) was Male/Old Age and Female/Middle Age.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Humans[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<1[/td][td=1,]1 (0.5%)[/td][td=1,]0.4%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (18-34)[/td][td=1,]120 (64.9%)[/td][td=1,]42.1%[/td][td=1,]88 (88.0%)[/td][td=1,]30.9%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (35-52)[/td][td=1,]46 (24.9%)[/td][td=1,]16.1%[/td][td=1,]12 (12.0%)[/td][td=1,]4.2%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (53-69)[/td][td=1,]15 (8.1%)[/td][td=1,]5.3%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (70+)[/td][td=1,]3 (1.6%)[/td][td=1,]1.1%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]185[/td][td=1,]65.0%[/td][td=1,]100[/td][td=1,]35.1%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 17; the youngest female age was 18.
   
3. The oldest male age was 78; the oldest female age was 47. (note: as soon as I saw the first female to be added to the Middle Age category I wrote down her age. I didn't expect any to be much older. I was sadly correct.)
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Male/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented (disregarding Child) was Male/Venerable.
   
6. Males in the Adult range were more likely to be just under the cap. There were so many in their early 30s that I did not bother counting them.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Night Elves[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<300)[/td][td=1,]1 (2.0%)[/td][td=1,]0.9%[/td][td=1,]2 (3.5%)[/td][td=1,]1.9%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (300-499)[/td][td=1,]21 (41.2%)[/td][td=1,]19.4%[/td][td=1,]27 (47.4%)[/td][td=1,]25.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (500-649)[/td][td=1,]4 (7.8%)[/td][td=1,]3.7%[/td][td=1,]8 (14.0%)[/td][td=1,]7.4%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (650-699)[/td][td=1,]0 (0%)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]1 (1.8%)[/td][td=1,]0.9%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (700+)[/td][td=1,]25 (49.0%)[/td][td=1,]23.1%[/td][td=1,]19 (33.3%)[/td][td=1,]17.6%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]51[/td][td=1,]47.2%[/td][td=1,]57[/td][td=1,]52.8%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 271; the youngest female age was 275.
   
3. The oldest male age was 11300; the oldest female age was 11343.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Female/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented (disregarding Child) was Female/Old Age.
   
6. Night elves were immortal until recent events, but the age categories were applied regardless.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Orcs[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<15)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (15-39)[/td][td=1,]37 (59.7%)[/td][td=1,]49.3%[/td][td=1,]10 (76.9%)[/td][td=1,]13.3%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (40-64)[/td][td=1,]22 (35.5%)[/td][td=1,]29.3%[/td][td=1,]3 (23.1%)[/td][td=1,]4.0%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (65-79)[/td][td=1,]3 (4.8%)[/td][td=1,]4.0%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (60+)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]62[/td][td=1,]66.2%[/td][td=1,]13[/td][td=1,]33.8%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 16; the youngest female age was 15.
   
3. The oldest male age was 78; the oldest female age was 57.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Male/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented was Male/Old Age and Female/Middle Age.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Tauren[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<50)[/td][td=1,]8 (18.6%)[/td][td=1,]17.8%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (50-74)[/td][td=1,]24 (55.8%)[/td][td=1,]53.3%[/td][td=1,]2 (100.0%)[/td][td=1,]4.4%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (75-94)[/td][td=1,]9 (20.9%)[/td][td=1,]20.0%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (95-109)[/td][td=1,]2 (4.7%)[/td][td=1,]4.4%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (110+)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]43[/td][td=1,]95.5%[/td][td=1,]2[/td][td=1,]4.4%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 37; the youngest female age was 51.
   
3. The oldest male age was 98; the oldest female age was 52.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Male/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented (disregarding Child) was Male/Old Age and Female/Adult.

[corners=forumbg forumbg-table][table=tablebg table1][thead][tr=][th=5]Trolls[/th][/tr][/thead]
[tbody][tr=bg1][td=1,]Age[/td][td=1,]Male[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][td=1,]Female[/td][td=1,]% of Race's Total Population[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg2][td=1,]Child (<17)[/td][td=1,]1 (2.1%)[/td][td=1,]1.6%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg3][td=1,]Adult (17-29)[/td][td=1,]30 (62.5%)[/td][td=1,]47.6%[/td][td=1,]13 (86.7%)[/td][td=1,]20.6%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Middle Age (30-46)[/td][td=1,]15 (31.3%)[/td][td=1,]23.8%[/td][td=1,]2 (13.3%)[/td][td=1,]3.2%[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg4][td=1,]Old Age (47-6[/td][td=1,]2 (4.2%)[/td][td=1,]3.2%[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg5][td=1,]Venerable (69+)[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][td=1,]0[/td][/tr]
[tr=bg6][td=1,]Totals[/td][td=1,]48[/td][td=1,]76.2%[/td][td=1,]15[/td][td=1,]23.8%[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/corners]

Notes:

1. Death knights were tallied based on the age at which they died since it was assumed that this was the age that their players wanted to play.
   
2. The youngest male age was 16; the youngest female age was 17.
   
3. The oldest male age was 68; the oldest female age was 46.
   
4. The largest gender/age combination represented was Male/Adult.
   
5. The smallest gender/age combination represented (disregarding Child) was Male/Old Age and Female/Middle Age.

Results

1. The members of Conquest of the Horde overwhelmingly play male characters as opposed to female characters. There were 535 Male characters (67.3%) and 260 Female characters (32.7%).
   • The only exception listed is draenei, of which 64.0% of that population is female.
     
   • The greatest gender disparity exists for the tauren; 95.5% of that population is male while 4.4% is female.
     
   • The smallest gender dispairty exists for the blood elves; 52.1% of that population is male while 48.0% is female.
   
   
2. The greatest Age group is Adult with 539 members (67.8%).
   • There were 331 Male/Adult combinations (61.4%).
     
   • There were 208 Female/Adult combinations (38.6%).
   
   
3. The smallest Age group is Venerable with 8 members (1.0%).
   • There were 7 Male/Venerable combinations (87.5%).
     
   • There was 1 Female/Venerable combinations (12.5%).
   
   
4. Female characters were in the Adult category to the exclusion of almost every other category.
   • Child: 11 (4.2%)
     
   • Adult: 208 (80.0%)
     
   • Middle Age: 35 (13.5%)
     
   • Old Age: 5 (1.9%)
     
   • Venerable Age: 1 (0.4%)
   
   
5. Male characters were primarily in the Adult category as well, but with a broader spread.
   • Child: 9 (1.7%)
     
   • Adult: 331 (61.9%)
     
   • Middle Age: 149 (27.9%)
     
   • Old Age: 39 (7.3%)
     
   • Venerable Age: 7 (1.3%)
   
   
6. Male characters were more likely than female characters to be older than Adult; 36.4% Male to 15.8% Female.

Thoughts

So, based on the above data, a number of thoughts popped to mind.

I think that I can understand why there are so many Male characters as opposed to Female characters. I read on a post somewhere on this site that the majority of our members are male. Gender reversal is difficult (and sometimes downright scary) for a lot of people. I tend to primarily play Female characters myself, but I'd like to think that part of that decision is based on the underrepresentation that the gender has (a belief that that was correct in this medium, at least!).

Along those lines, I am not too surprised that most people choose to create characters in the Adult category (with many of them being at the lower end of the age group rather than at the cusp of Middle Age). I'm willing to bet that the community consists mostly of young adults or people who haven't quite reached middle age themselves. As with the gender, people are probably going to choose to roleplay things that they understand best -- especially neophyte roleplayers.

However, I am confused by the disparity between the age groups selected by Male and Female characters. If we were to go strictly by the results that I found, there are very few (and almost none) older women in this world. Do they all die in childbirth or something? In many cases, the oldest age of a Male character of a specific race would be double that of the oldest Female character (Dwarves: 379 to 123; Humans: 78 to 47; Tauren: 98 to 52; and so on). I have a sneaky suspicion that had I included the kal'dorei in this assessment, they would have closely mimicked the results that I found with the draenei. Which produces its own set of questions? Why were draenei more likely to be Female than Male? And why were draenei women the only subset that had older characters (28.6% of Middle Age, 80.0% of Old Age, and 100.0% of Venerable Female characters)?

So, the whole purpose of this data is to get people thinking about the types of characters that they play and see what kind of conclusions that they draw themselves. I do know one thing, however; I'm rolling both a Female tauren and Female dwarf!

[Brutalskars]

Because of the draenei female population, this is the answer.
Draenei women in many people's eyes for one reason or another are exotic or "sexy"

SooooOooooOOOooo
People generally want to play them more than the Arnolds that are the males of the species.

[Tallaa]

*rolling around and laughing* I love you Piroska I really do! I don't know why I'm always shocked at your love of numbers. Great info.

[Piroska]

Because of the draenei female population, this is the answer.
Draenei women in many people's eyes for one reason or another are exotic or "sexy"

SooooOooooOOOooo
People generally want to play them more than the Arnolds that are the males of the species.

I thought something similar at first, 'skars, but then I looked at the blood elf numbers and scratched my head. They're the Horde's pretty race; I actually expected more of them to be female than male.

Your comment brings up another handful of questions. Are the people that are playing female draenei primarily female or are they male? And if they are male, what about the draenei make them more likely to be played? Is it the whole "exotic" thing or are they just easier for gender reversal? Is the physical appearance enough to encourage people to play them more even though gender reversal seems to scare off everyone from the other races? And why are they the only real Female group to have older characters? Is there a perception that, being a long-lived race, they remain "prettier" for much longer?

As I noted above, I wouldn't be surprised if the night elves mimic the results I found with the draenei. However, I expected the blood elves to be like that, too!

*rolling around and laughing* I love you Piroska I really do! I don't know why I'm always shocked at your love of numbers. Great info.

I hate you, Tallaa. So much.

[ManDudely]

First of all... wow, you must have been bored. Secondly, I love that you did this regardless.

Gender reversal is difficult (and sometimes downright scary) for a lot of people.

Not to mention there is a stigma of weirdness to it, percieved by many people. I'm a guy, and I play both male and female characters. I've no desire or intention of cross dressing, but I find it interesting at least to explore the psyche of a female from the inside. They have certain assets that just lend themselves to certain tasks far more easier than a male. Of course, being male, I am far too logical and emotionally stable to play one like a woman would truly :P

Along those lines, I am not too surprised that most people choose to create characters in the Adult category (with many of them being at the lower end of the age group rather than at the cusp of Middle Age). I'm willing to bet that the community consists mostly of young adults or people who haven't quite reached middle age themselves. As with the gender, people are probably going to choose to roleplay things that they understand best -- especially neophyte roleplayers.

Don't forget that these characters are supposed to be, on the large, adventurers. It's unlikely that a character too young would survive out on their own in the world, and past a certain age it just becomes unfeasible to travel great distances and slay evil monsters. You might fall and put your hip out.

I do know one thing, however; I'm rolling both a Female tauren and Female dwarf!

Hah. You didn't need to do all that work to find out there is a shortage of Tauren and Dwarf females. It must be the body hair.

[Paradox]

I thought something similar at first, 'skars, but then I looked at the blood elf numbers and scratched my head. They're the Horde's pretty race; I actually expected more of them to be female than male.

Blood Elf males and females are both pretty, however. Draenei Males are these huge roided up beings with tendrils coming from their chins. They're pretty different from the females.

[Clovis]

What I've gathered so far from this:

We need more womenfolk.


( Srsly though. Awesome topic. )

[Moose]

I am impressed.

[Piroska]

First of all... wow, you must have been bored. Secondly, I love that you did this regardless.

Bored wasn't quite the word. I'm one of those people who think equally well with both sides of my brain (left: logical, rational, analytical; right: creative, flexible, fanciful); however, if I don't get to use both sides I get very easily overwhelmed. I've been doing more creative things lately (roleplaying, writing, even designing aesthetically pleasing websites), which resulted in that unhappy imbalance. I needed an outlet that was grounded in numbers, but could be applied creatively.

This sprung up! I get to analyze trends while encouraging people to examine what they are doing as roleplayers. I am pleased.

Not to mention there is a stigma of weirdness to it, percieved by many people.

I've never understood the stigma associated with gender reversal, especially in regards to men playing female characters. Who cares? It's all make-believe anyway. I think too much of it gets related to sexual preference -- at least, watching my boyfriend's reaction to guys who roleplay as girls, that's the conclusion that I draw. Despite the fact that he plays primarily female characters as well. He just doesn't pretend to be one.

I just roll my eyes.

I'm a manly sort of woman (former military, sailed for a number of years, played sports typically associated with men, worked as an engineer), so playing female characters allows me the opportunity to explore more female-type behavior. Not that that ever really happens; I always seem to revert to more masculine female archetypes as time progresses.

Don't forget that these characters are supposed to be, on the large, adventurers. It's unlikely that a character too young would survive out on their own in the world, and past a certain age it just becomes unfeasible to travel great distances and slay evil monsters. You might fall and put your hip out.

Except characters are overwhelmingly at the younger end of the spectrum (the equivalent of our 15-23, I'd say). You can be adventurous and successful without being barely out of your teens. And playing an older character who may have infirmities due to age brings about its own source of roleplay inspiration. Rather than use the brawn or agility associated with younger people, older characters might have to find other recourses -- or, more importantly, may have the wisdom and experience to pursue an entirely different tactic. Or even the wisdom to have circumvented the conflict from the beginning.

There's also the idea of being in an entirely different mindset. You're not the bumbling teenager any more who's trying to learn more about his body as it changes and his place in the world; instead, you're an adult who is hopefully secure in his own being and perhaps has a more outwardly view of the world. I'd almost describe it as becoming less egotistical, but I'm worried of the connotations that might be associated with the word.

What I've gathered so far from this:

We need more womenfolk.

Hear, hear!

[Edgar]

Good read!

[Jetniss]

Because of the draenei female population, this is the answer.
Draenei women in many people's eyes for one reason or another are exotic or "sexy"

SooooOooooOOOooo
People generally want to play them more than the Arnolds that are the males of the species.

This.

But nice work there.

[LostStranger]

I both know that this is not only amazing, but is something I'd neither have the organization or the patience to accomplish.

I am awed and intimidated and have difficulty finding the correct words to describe the gratitude I have for you compiling this information.

It's not honestly even the number-crunching. There's something about your written voice that makes it clear and polite to me, that makes me want to like it.



...While the words I've just awkwardly spat out don't fully make sense to even myself... Ahm... Good job, yeah?

[Kretol]

Pir, you are great!

[dastmo]

Pir, you are great!

The Kretol have spoken his words of a god! :mrgreen:
Now, seriously! Good job, this is quite useful as information. But I didn't actually think that there are 795 characters wandering (many of them probably dead/abandoned) out there... nice work, I would never have the patience to do this.

[Rosewind]

Great job! You should check the night elves and Forsaken too, though.