ft_directory | Recurring FH Events: Sex Swap

Formerly known as Gender-Swap, before it hit us that gender is not and never has been what changes in this event.

The specifics on who does what, and when, vary from year to year, so be sure to read the announcement post for each event for that information.

In general, though, here's the way this works:

On the scheduled date(s), any FH character of the designated sex(es), no matter whether they're on or off the island, will, if their player so chooses, unexpectedly wake up as one of the other biological sexes that are available for their species. How long this lasts tends to vary from two days up to a week, depending on the game's calendar at the time.

What's with this "designated sex(es)" stuff?

Often, but not always, we do separate "boy-to-girl" and "girl-to-boy" events (that's shorthand; we know it's more complicated than that) for maximum roleplay of people teasing each other about their reactions to ingrained cultural bullshit, then later having to walk a mile in the other party's size-twelve Skechers. So the announcement post for each event will tell you what type of characters are affected.

Okay, but it IS more complicated than that!

It absolutely is. We don't want to leave anyone (player or character) out, or lose sight of the fact that male and female aren't the only genders or the only sexual configurations. (In the real world, let alone in a fictional world that includes a pcornucopia of intelligent non-humans.)

So if your character is affected, here are your choices for physical changes to your character, regardless of their gender-identity:

If your character is	then they would wake up as	and they would be affected during this type of sex-swap event
Physically male or something that corresponds to it	Physically female or something that corresponds to it	"Boys to girls" or "everyone at once"
Physically female or something that corresponds to it	Physically male or something that corresponds to it	"Girls to boys" or "everyone at once"
A non-human physical sex that doesn't correspond to male or female	Any other physical sex that's found in their species, player's choice. If their species only has one physical sex, then the player can choose between having them wake up as something that corresponds to male or female, whichever seems the most fun to play with.	Any and all sex-swap events
Intersex/having multiple physical sexes	Any single physical sex that's found in their species, player's choice.	Any and all sex-swap events
Physically sexless	Any single physical sex that's found in their species, player's choice. If their whole species is physically sexless, then the player can choose between having them wake up as something that corresponds to male or female, whichever seems the most fun to play with.	Any and all sex-swap events
Able to change physical sex (whether it's at will or only under specific conditions)	Any single physical sex that's found in their species as long as it's not the one they were wearing when they went to sleep.	Any and all sex-swap events

Will my character's gender-identity change to match their physical body?

No. This is purely a physical change. Your character's gender -- the sexual (or nonsexual, or fluid, or multi-sexual, etc.) identity that they feel inside -- will stay as it always was.

(This is likely also an oversimplification, but for the sake of roleplay, the premise is that the spell deliberately limits its changes to physical ones, so the character's true self gets to experience their changed body, rather than someone whose mind or emotions are also being manipulated.)

What about who they're attracted to? (Or whether they're attracted to anyone at all.)

That one's your call. Sexual attraction has a bazillion possible sources, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, unknown. Choose what seems most appropriate for your character.

Will my character think they always had this body?

Nope. This magic has no mental or memory effects whatsoever. Waking up physically different will be an unexpected happening that they're very much aware of. (For varying levels of "unexpected" if the character is already familiar with Fandom's whims.)

Which character types can be affected?

All types. Townies, teachers, students, expats and alumni!

Where can characters be affected?

Everywhere! On-island or off. This is a tricksy, pushy Fandom spell.

Can we establish NPCs as being affected too?

Yes, if:

You own them or you own the business they're attached to. (Give the players of your employees a heads-up if it's a business NPC, so they know not to accidentally post something that conflicts with your choice.)

AND

They're on-island or used to live on-island. (Your off-island character's NPC grandma in Toledo: no. Your off-island character's NPC butler who lived with them in Fandom: yes.)

AND

They're sapient. (Regular pets: no. Talking pets: yes.)

Otherwise:

If you share ownership of an NPC with other players: check with them first. (Example: Kitty Pryde's player and Clint Barton's player share ownership of their NPC baby.)

If the NPC belongs to a business your character works at but doesn't own: check with the player of the owner/manager before establishing the local NPC as affected by the event. (Example: Kitty owns Caritas; check with her player before giving Tino boobs in your shift post.)

If the NPC belongs to a business your character is just visiting, and it hasn't already been established (in the current post or a previous post): check with the player who made the current post. (Who should check with the business owner if they haven't already, yaddayadda.)

General island NPCs that you're modding into existence right now: don't establish all of them as being affected, but any specific one you want to make up is fair game. (Example: teal deer, gremlins, radio squirrels, that cashier at one of the NPC businesses.)

Individual island NPCs like Fosse the troll and Sunshine the Squid: if it happens, an admin character will establish it.

Do I have to do any of this?

Nope! You're welcome to have your character be completely unaffected, aside from any reaction they might have to their neighbors' sudden transformations.

If I participate, is my character stuck that way until the end of the event?

Yep. Counterspells won't work, characters who can change sex at will suddenly can't, and shapechangers can change their shape all they want, but they'll still be a boy/girl/ooloi/etc. of whatever they change into. The frustration is part of the fun! (Unless they're having fun. Then the fun is part of the fun.)

Anything else I should know?

When choosing a face-model/PB for your physically-changed character, if you pick one that's already used for the regular day-to-day PB of an on-island character, please check in with that player and let them know. It's both a courtesy and an opportunity to plan shenanigans!

If there's a conflict, though, go with ye olde Don't Be A Jerk/Do Be A Grown-Up rule, and try to work it out like adults. Nobody owns that face except the actors we're illicitly borrowing them from, and at the end of the day, it's a time-limited event in a game. Sharing the same appearance for a few days isn't going to change your life or that of your character unless you want it to.