I recently got a message from someone telling me sex changes were now an option in Everquest. Well, they didn't provide a link, so I went looking for official word on the matter. No such info to be had... well except for an April Fools joke. But the idea struck me and I figured I could use it to spark some conversation. Besides it gave me the opportunity to draw Taks' character with a mustache. Shhh don't tell her.

So, if given the chance to change the gender of your character in Everquest, hell in any game, would you take it?

UPDATE:
I asked SOE for confirmation and a representative linked me to the following article:
"Coming Soon to the EverQuest Marketplace" Source: EQ Players [ more info ]

I probably wouldn't, simply because I generally make sure my character is perfect before I exit the character creation screen and start the game. Most games have costumes, so if I do get tired of my character's look I can just change his/her clothes and viola! new looks! About the only time I can see myself ever using a gender changing service in a game is if I couldn't choose the gender I wanted from the beginning (some classes/races in certain games are gender-specific).

For example, If I wanted to make a male mage, but mages were a female-only class, I might use the gender-changing service later if it would allow me to change my female mage into a male mage.

I also try and make my toons as perfect as possible before I enter the game. Also the names are usally gender specific and a male toon running around with Celest or Mordona would be kinda...wierd.

Altough the option to change hair styles and clothes here and there is nice. Who doesn't get changed and their hair cutt and dyed?

I'm not sure about EQLive, but they added sex (and soon race) change "potions" to EQ2 so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to believe it was in EQ1.

Usually my characters have a story (in my head). Would take a lot of convincing to change their gender since that'd kill their entire story. Unless there was some sisterhood that Punkrawk had to get into to complete his life's journey, I don't think I'd go for this.

If you purchase the "Super Science" booster pack in City of Heroes you're able to change your character's gender at the tailor. The Gender selection is a Per Costume setting and since you can have multiple costumes you can have Male, Female and Huge versions of the same character.

The only question I have about this is: Why?

I too make my characters the correct gender before starting a game. I've never gone through the character generation, gained about 60 levels, then went 'Crap! I meant to be a chick!'

I could see race changes, since normally different races get different stats/abilities and so on, even class would be nice. There have been times a class get nerfed or changed or just plain boring and I might like to try another, but just don't want to grind out another 60-80 levels (depending on the game). I'd even shell out some cash to do it, if it were reasonably priced. I am sure an option like that would be a nightmare from a database standpoint, at least in the beginning.

Is changing genders important enough to even bother with? (And I am aware that it can be done in WoW, I am speaking only for EQ )

I suspect this is going to be a popular option with the people who are tired of the coments in Vent and elsewhere about there original Gender/name choice.

EQ2 has gender-changing and name-changing potions that can be accessed through the Station Cash browser window in game. I believe that you automatically are given credits toward these options, but it's mostly real money that's used to buy these items.

My main back in the EQ days was made for me to just have fun with....4 years later I still loved the enchanter class and still played this character. There was always some joking about the guy playing the Female Dark Elf, it was always fun to have some person I had just met flirting with the toon. Ok, it did get me some special treatment sometimes, but that was part of the character.

I wouldn't bother to change it, that character was made as a female and I couldn't see her any other way.

Of course I also haven't made any long term female characters in any games since then.