Greetings!
I have long considered the merits of creating specific attribute caps and modifiers for female characters in the game, especially Human women.
Human Female Attribute Table
Strength: Capped at 14.
Dexterity: +2
Constitution: Capped at 16
Intelligence: --
Wisdom: +1
Charisma: +2
Attribute Caps refer to the female character's ability being capped. No penalties are actually applied to specific attribute dice rolls--they are just resized to the cap if they roll higher, for example. If the female character rolls lower for the particular attribute, the score remains, as there is no actively applied penalty.
Strength: I've read that contrary to current popular culture and brainwashing--even the best, most uber female athletes are only generally as strong as an average fit man. Some studies suggest about a 60% achievement in strength. Even in the highest brackets of competition and achievement--the best and strongest women absolutely pale in comparison to the elite men. There really is no comparison. At best, a strong woman can aspire to be as strong as or moderately stronger than an average, fit adult man.
Constitution: Aside from women's ability to endure childbirth, and resist long-term, lethal illnesses, it seems that they are distinctly and consistently weaker than men throughout life in a plethora of ways, dealing with Constitution. Women have huge rates of chronic injuries compared ro men. Throughout life, women also become plagued by debilitating non-lethal illnesses and diseases at a significantly higher rate than men. Women routinely experience muscle, joint, and bone problems, again, at a significantly higher rate than men.
Dexterity: I think on average, even typical women can often display superior characteristics of coordination and flexibility than men. Higher professional levels, well, women can move their bodies in truly impossible ways compared to men. I've seen Chinese gymnasts bend their bodies in half, and put their ass on top of their head. Jaw-dropping feats of dexterity.
Wisdom: I think while there are many common examples of plentiful stupidity and poor judgment--on balance, women's historical collectivistic tendencies, attraction to herd mentality, deference to authority and being obedient, aversion to risk-taking, lower rates of criminal behavior, combined with hyper-concerns for security, safety, provisions, and resource management, provides women with a general advantage in wisdom compared to men. Then, there is also the hstorical testimony and widespread beliefs in women having different spiritual abilities and enhanced mystical awareness compared to men, across widely different cultures. For thousands of years, everyone seems to agree that women have some kind of special mystical consciousness.
Charisma: Research shows as well as numerous examples of everyday observation, even ordinary women possess significant social advantages compared to men. They talk and express themselves easier, pick up on social cues and non-verbal communication with far greater skill and accuracy than average men. Really beautiful and smooth women can be stellar, and absolutely amazing and mind-bogglingly dangerous as well. Perhaps the funny thing is, so many women can engage in higher socialization while making it look supremely easy, and effortless to do. They engage in such communication and socialization like breathing air.
What do you all think, friends? I have heretofore mostly just gone by the book, and handwaved it all as fantasy. Keeping things simple and straightforward has its attractions, after all. I think though that having some discussion and consideration of such topics has some merit.
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK