I can't say I'm bothered by it: I actually think it's a pretty interesting design. What does bother me is when people talk about women gamers and what offends us rather than with us. Not saying that's the case here, but I have seen it happen and have felt almost chastised for speaking up when there's a man to speak on my behalf.
I very much agree with your point here. I've seen on various occasions men "standing up for women" by sort of just going on and on about something while multiple women are trying to discus something else entirely. A lot of the discussion of Bayonetta 2 was plagued by this. Not that I think Beyonetta is perfect but that's a whole other discussion.
And while I acknowledge that my first post did speak for several women I know I do not wish to claim that women are all in agreement on the subject or that I speak for anyone other then those that I do know and even then I intend to try my best to not use them as a prop for my own arguments.
Like, does the elf appearance perpetuate some great social ill? I'm pretty certain that, in this specific case, the answer is no. But that doesn't invalidate any discomfort it may cause someone.
I would argue that it does. It's hardly Monster Monpiece but this sort of thing very much drives people away from the game and into media where they feel either less objectified or less infantilized by the frankly childish (in my view at the very least) way the elves are portrayed here. And while it might not be a "Great" social ill I feel it very much plays into one
Now onto some more general points:
"Something something The Witcher 3!"
I don't really have any major issues with The Witcher 3 from what I've seen and played of it. I would even say it's an example of what Vometia was talking about. It certainly does better then the first one with it's collectable sex cards. I will note that I know a few people who refused to buy The Witcher 3 because of how gross they found that aspect of The Witcher.
"If it wasn't the first thing you see in the game this would be fine!"
This one is as much a criticism of my own post as anything so sorry if it sounds like I'm being snarky at the expense of others. But really the issue here is that it is the only option. And here's the thing, there's really no way that this makes sense in the first place because no culture is going to evolve such a way that they will refuse to wear armor. Not after the first time they watch someone get sliced in half while trying their best to look like a Rob Liefeld painting. " I refuse to wear armor to honor the tree-oh I'm dead. The trees kinda failed me here" So the only thing trying to justify this does is undermine the serious side of the fiction by calling out how absurd it all is. And again, as an option I would have less of an issue with this sort of thing. I'm not thrilled with the way the enchanters are dressed for the humans and dwarfs. But it's one option out of many so I'm okay-ish with it being there even if it's more then a bit extreme. But the elves here are being reduced to nothing but how sexulised they are and that is a big issue.
Softcore porn is known for having terrible plotlines. Just like Bioware RPGs.
Good point. Who doesn't relate to that? Softcore porn always has such terrible plotlines. When I'm in the mood for a good story, I like to sit down in front of some hardcore porn. They really understand the importance of good storytelling.
I don't have anything to add to this I just thought it was funny.