Actor Portrayals for your PC's

My players have recently begun using actors, athletes, and other celebs as “portrayals” for their characters. A good example is our aging but humorous and canny Captain, a Bolian, “played by” Robert Duvall. I was wondering, have any of you other narrators had any experience with this? Did it seem to work well, or to detract from the game? Would you suggest continuing this?

On a related note, neither I nor my players have the first clue how to modify a photograph using the computer. The Bolian Captain’s player would love to doctor up an image with a blue Mr. Duvall sporting a bifibricating ridge. I personally thought that imagination should have been enough, but apparently while Shannon Sossamyn as an Alpha Centauran gives no one pause, Vin Diesel as an Andorian locks them up. Go figure. In any event, if one of you computer savvy folks out there could aim me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

If this topic has previously been broached, sorry to tread over old ground.


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Man is to man a god when he recognizes his duty.

Mostly for fun, in the past I've asked players to 'cast' the adventure, and gotten some interesting answers.

If you're looking to photomanipulate, either Adobe Photoshop or Corel (formerly Metacreations) Painter will work admirably, with a selection of tools to make your finished product look pretty good.

If you don't have a graphics tablet and are mouse-based, you'll have to have a light touch and lots of patience, but it can be done.

Bob

We've always done this in our games.

Right now we have: Julia Garvey as an Orion; Victoria Zdrok as an Andorian. We had John Rhys-Davies as a captain. Marina Tsindikidou, a Greek model, as our current PC captain. Montel Williams as our former enginer. Keith Hamilton Cobb as Kargh, a Klingon exchange officer.

Also had cameos by Sam Neill, Rupert Everrett, and more.

I will usually do photomanips when I have the time.

[This message has been edited by qerlin (edited 07-11-2001).]

Thanks for the good advice on software, Bob. Appreciate it.

Qerlin, I've been having problems where we sometimes de-evolve into bouts of six degrees of kevin bacon in the middle of the adventure. There's always room for fun (otherwise what's the point of getting together?) but it can get out of hand. Ever run into this?



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Man is to man a god when he recognizes his duty.

Actually, This is similar to an idea I had once where the Lieutenent that was played by Christian Slater grew up into an Admiral played by Jack Nicolson. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Even in this age of technological wonders, the human mind is still the most powerful weapon in the universe.

I've always wondered why (not to mention how)this is done. I assume if I had a F2F game in my area, it'd work better. Sadly, I don't know anyone who plays in my area. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/frown.gif


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Impossibilities are merely things which we have not yet learned. — Charles W. Chesnutt

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Originally posted by Keeper:
Thanks for the good advice on software, Bob. Appreciate it.

Qerlin, I've been having problems where we sometimes de-evolve into bouts of six degrees of kevin bacon in the middle of the adventure. There's always room for fun (otherwise what's the point of getting together?) but it can get out of hand. Ever run into this?

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Nope. The universe must be trying to tell you something.

Nope, I shrink away from this mostly since some actors "imply" certain behaviour. Use John Wayne and all expect heroics, Carrie Fisher and they look for a holdout blaster. Furthermore dislike of a certain actor can backfire badly (Like someone using Tom Hanks and wondering why he gets so much flak from me http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif )

As a GM I sometimes make use of this by either using the clichee or "twisting" it, describing a overwight, middle aged, toupe-wearing policeman and his petit, blonde female partner and than have those two be the bad beeing. Even there mostly without pictures unless I know the players are fans / at least neutral.

Michael

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Sure he looks like "Uncle Gus, the fat guardsman". But how come he moved that big crate all by himself?

I only did this once:

In my current Star Trek game I at first had a NPC Captain and basically ripped him completely off a character called Oliver Hudosn from the third season of SeaQuest (what can I say, it was on on Saturday nights many years ago and it was that or the Generation Game) down to the point that I called the character Oliver Hudson and described him as looking like Michael Ironside (who played Captain Hudson on the show).

Yes, I know it wasn't original but the character was a a grade bad-ass so I figured, what the hell.

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Kid Mama-san, what do they call that thing they shoot the cats out of?
Mama-san I'm not sure, but I think they call it a catapult.
Kid Boy, I'm glad I didn't have to say that line...

Samurai Pizza Cats

While my players haven't used this idea much, I've found it quite helpful as a Narrator. In my campaing I have envioned certain actors portraying certain NPCs.

The station CO is a very by-the-bbok, strict NPC whom I have envisioned being played by Robert Lindsey.

For the Science Officer, an easy-going man, close to retireement, I imagined Peter O'Toole.

Another way to edit images for you campaign is to get Starship Creator II. While designed as a starship design/game, it does allow you to import images to be turned into crew. While the games ins't that hot, you might be able to pick up the CD in the discount bin at your local store for very little.

Well, I HAVE asked my players to give me ideas of people their characters resemble, whether real or cartoon (I had a guy say that his character resembled Havok of X-Factor when drawn by a certain artist), but the only one of us so far to choose a celebrity has been me... my Security officer closely resembles Kenneth Branagh's "Benedic" in "Much Ado about Nothing."

But I have no inages of him as I can neither draw nor manipulate photo images worth a damn.

[This message has been edited by First of Two (edited 07-12-2001).]

Clint Eastwood as Q

http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

Dirty Harry's attitude coupled with Clint's look in Unforgiven

..it was fun.

Michael: Sometimes it just enhances the effect you want to achieve with a certain NPC.

If you want a zany mad scientist as comic relief what better face to slap onto him than that of Jim Carrey?
(I know most people don't like Jim Carrey, but you get my point.)

[This message has been edited by Joe Dizzy (edited 07-15-2001).]

Eastwood as Q? I like it, but...

...for shame Joe Dizzy -- Jim Carrey?

I have nothing against him, but what about Christopher Lloyd? You even get the past TREK reference with him. Double whammy!

Scientist: "Kirk! Give me the Genesis device!"
Kirk: "No."
Scientist: "Well," throws up hands, "Okey, dokey!"

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-- "Since the whiskey belongs to me, and it's on me, lets drink to me!"

Well, for my current main LUGTrek Character I have cast Armand Assante with a beard as Fleet Captain Jaime Wolfe. He has the qualities that I was looking for when I did this.

As for his wife, Captain Jessica Atreides-Wolfe (yes, the player loves Dune & couldn't wait for the LUGTrek version & even payed $5,000 for a copy off of eBay.) But, she is an Amazon (a Home-Brew Human Race we created). So we used a pic of Cladia Black from Farscape.

But, for Lt. Commander Ryder Kaine the player wanted to use his own picture & he does fit the role of a tough Security Chief.

As for the rest of the PCs, when I surf the 'Net I will save pics of people that I like for use as NPCs & PCs, & then when I create the character, I will put the pic of that character into the sheet & print it out. Works really well as it gives the players an idea of what their character looks like & adds to their enjoyment of the game. So if you want to do it, do it.

~LL

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"Resistance is futile...say baby that is a nice tight skirt you have on." --President Clinton of Borg.

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Originally posted by Legate Legion:

As for his wife, Captain Jessica Atreides-Wolfe (yes, the player loves Dune & couldn't wait for the LUGTrek version & even payed $5,000 for a copy off of eBay.) But, she is an Amazon (a Home-Brew Human Race we created). So we used a pic of Cladia Black from Farscape.

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Uhhh, I just want to make sure I read that right the player paid $5,000 (five Thousand) for the LUG Dune on ebay. Jeez and I thought I paid alot for it, $150 Am (thats about 300 Cdn. $5000, wow...I mean WOW!

Yes I could definetly see Armand Assante as a starfleet (Fleet) Captain. Should see if you can find The Odyssey, where he plays another great captain...Odysseus. With a beard of course. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif