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Someone -- not sure who -- had posted how they used actors to "cast" (for visual reference) their PCs and NPCs. I've incorporated this notion into my own series and it works quite well.
What I'd like to know is if anyone else is doing it as well, and if so, who have your casting choices been and how have they worked out?
Thanks in advance.
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"Now then, pendejo, let's see what kind of swordsman you've become." -- Juan Sanchez Villalobos Ramirez
When we started our TNG campaign, many stardates ago, we also wanted a civilian bartender at the Ten-Forward Lounge, so I stated that ours lokked like Michelle Pfeiffer (actually, a slightly felinoid race Michelle Pfeiffer). When I used that hook for an adventure where they find out the bartender is actually the heir to the throne of a planet, we kind of joked that all the npcs from that race looked like famous actors. The capatain from the Haklaxy (that's the race's name) was Sean Connery, his exec Mel Gibson, the villain Charlton Heston, and the bartender's sister Uma Thurman.Quote:
Originally posted by J.Ramirez:
What I'd like to know is if anyone else is doing it as well, and if so, who have your casting choices been and how have they worked out?
It was fun and I found out that it helped get a clear vision of the npc.
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"As long as you can laugh, you are not
defeated."
–- Jack Vance
We've always used the idea of 'casting'; players seem to identify with their and others' characters easier with a visual. Sometimes, a starting visual gives the person an idea for the personality.
In the current campaign running, we're using:
USS Constitution --
Captain William Drake: Rupert Everett (big and brooding)
CDR Mulcahy, the XO: Montel Williams
Science Officer Felia Ersha: Andorian, based on Victoria Zdrok. (Did some nice photo manips)
Dr. Arianna Drake, CO's wife: Rachel Ruben, Indian Actress.
On the USS Akira (Drake's former command):
CPT Marina Tsindikidou: Greek model of the same name.
MAJ Kargh: the Neitchean dude from Andromeda in Klingon makeup.
Recurring extra: Devinari Grissom, Orion SI officer (Julia Garvey...love those photo manips!)
Oh...I forgot the security officer on Constitution, Shaka Ersha: Dolph Lundgren as an Andorian. (I must break you!)
I cast mine, made pictures much like Anomaly.
Here's the overview:
Captain Arla Roxyll, Trill, Commanding Officer = Jamie Luner (Savahnah, Profiler)
Commander James Rolland, Human, Executive Officer = Chris O'Donnell (The Bachelor, Batman & Robin)
Lieutenant Adrianna O'Hara, Human, Chief Operations Officer = Laura Prepon (That 70s Show)
Lieutenant Bressar Kytin, Betelgeusan, Chief Flight Control Officer = Noah Wyle (ER) (Man, did this one take a while to figure out and make!)
Lieutenant Torll Corbin, Centauran, Chief of Security/ Cheif Tactical Officer = Mathhew Perry (Friends)
Lieutenant Commander Richard Boltyl, Human, Chief Science Officer = Ben Affleck (Forces of Nature, i don't know of any other movies, my girlfriend suggested him, and he looked the part)
Lieutenant Rean Harlness, Betazoid, Ship's Counsellor = Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek, Disturbing Behavior)
Lieutenant Commander Iyona Gatal, Ktarian, Chief Medical Officer = Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride)
Lieutenant Commander Parnais, Romulan, Chief Engineering Officer = Keanau Reeves
Cadet Corina Polfesse, Trill, Cadet Squad XO = Beverly Mitchell (7th Heaven)
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I fight fires 'cause the voices tell me to...
Check out my homepage and click on the 'CAST' link. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif
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Anomaly
Anomaly TrekMUX: http://anomaly.mybis.com
For my current game, I have the following 'cast'
Captain Julius Delacour, Human - ... forgot his name an actor on the show pretender.
Lt. Gillian Kale, Trill - Natalie Portman, with spots added in paintshop.
Envoy Ilora Zel, Joined Trill - Lara Flynn Boyle, with spots added.
Lt. Korven Neltra'ani, Centauran - Wesley Snipes.
and so on.
I find that having images of some sort for the PC's and NPC's both center in the GM and players mind's eye, what they look like, but add new dimentions to the character as well, just from the feel the actor/actress/model gives off, much like an actor makes a part their own. I personaly like it so much, that I make it a personal rule to do so for most games I GM. For those intrested in doing so, the best places is the Actor's/Actress' archive, and any fan websites (and there are alot of em) that you can find. Though I recomend, much like Star Trek casts, unless you want to accept the baggage carried by a very famous actor, try to cast with relative unknowns.
All my players have done this as well. They have chosen characters they think would best represent who they want their characters to resemble.
Captain Murreal Lindsay - Heather Graham
Dr. Clavin Lansing - Pierce Brosnan
Chief Engineer Sam Mitchell - William Hurt
Cadet Alanha Sagan-Mitchell - Julia Styles
Lt Thomas Lowell - Sean Patrick Flanery
The rest are still choosing and huming and hahing about it http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif
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Aslan Collas
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Visit Earth Alpha Online;
http://members.xoom.com/Aslan_Collas/
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Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition #76: Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.
I can think of only two characters in my current campaign, who had some sort of visual reference.
One of them is the CO of the group: Lt. Commader Vince Chandler (I took that pic from trekrpg.net where you see a drawn, blonde, starfleet officer; I don't think he has been given a name)
The other is Q, who has been portrayed throughout the series by Clint Eastwood. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif
I wonder if any of my players have any similiar ideas about their character.
Some of our bad guys from the campaigns: Orik Scion, Orion Syndicate bad guy --Keifer Sutherland
General Kovas, KDF -- Jack Palance
Centurion V'Kar -- Sigal Shachamon (Israeli model/actress)
DaiMon Mok Zago -- the same guy that plays Neelix (Trek loves to recycle actors)
We've had Gilbet Gottfried as a Ferengi (worked GREAT!); also Mike Kyers as a Ferengi.
Vinnie Jones as Goon #1 working for the Orion Syndicate. Violence on a leash.
Chariman Dhumar of the Cardassian Freedom League -- Michael York (also a younger version plays CDR. Matthrew Jericho of USS Akira)
Jagul Inthat -- Gary Oldman under a ton of Cardie makeup
President Moraz of the UFP -- Chris Walken in Andorian makeup. OOoooooh, scary!
Is there a computer artist here who could do up these actors as the characters? A picture of Walken as an Andorian would be way cool.
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:) <<<<
LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.
The U.S.S. Sabercat Crew
Captain Morgan Quaid (CO.Human)
Michael Ironside (SEAQUEST 2036)
Lt. Michelle Pike (Conn.Human raised on Klingon Homeworld)
Juliette Landau (Druscilla on BUFFY)
Lt. Alex Gordon (CEO.Human)
David Faustino (MARRIED...WITH CHILDREN)
Lt. Anneke Falknner (Ops. Human)
Franke Potannte (Movie RUN LOLA RUN)
Lcmdr. Dev Rammaden (Sci. Betazoid).
Thomas Callabro (MELROSE PLACE)
Lt. DurokNol (Tac. Automokron (I'll explain later))
Dennis Haysbert (NOW AND AGAIN).
These are the NPC's of my campaign and I cast the characters as if I had a budget to contend with.
actually, sarge, done a few manips, but not that one yet. i've got some 'blue' pics of the andorian pc from the series, as well as the orion.
For my campaign we actually try to use ourselves as the models. When we use famous people it is either just for the image or just for the attitude. Never both. Here is how it breaks down.
Star Trek Pathways (TOS era campaign)which started out under FASA rules
Capt. Roberto Gonzalez, CO human male (myself made much older much like Bogart in the Caine Mutiny)
Lt. Cmdr. Ajel Ono, XO centauran female (inspired by Majel Barrett in The Cage but looking more like Angie Harmon from Law&Order)
Lt.jg. Maurice Verand, nav human male (Keanu Reeves, the Matrix with lots of french attitude from our player)
Lt. Xana, comm vulcan female (looks like Ming-Na from ER but very typical vulcan)
Lt. Cmdr. Sudel Me'Jak sci andorian male (looks like Michael Douglas from various movies)
Lt. Cmdr. Baneen Po'el helm zoen pod (personality inspired by John Malkovich from old movie Making Mr. Right; zoen are plant people created in my campaign to be "alien" race like vulcans were on TOS)
Cmdr. Melinda Katarrass doc human female (looks like an older Jodie Foster from Silence of the Lambs)
Ens. Candace Sullivan, young engineering officer human female (looks like Jennie Garth from 90210)
P.O. W.B. "Billy" Colt, yoeman human female (Shannon Doherty from 90210)
Ens. Hiroya Watanabe, nurse human male (Jet Li from many Hong Kong movies when we started playing and since then he's been in Lethal Weapon IV and Black Mask)
I'll send the characters from other campaigns after I check with the players about their inspiration.
USS San Diego (Niagara
Captain David Vintral CO (Sean Connery)
Cmdr Jesus Vasques XO (Antonio Banderas)
Cmdr Eric Calkoon Security (Christopher Lambert, Highlander)
LtCmd Jenna Davis Flight Control (Tracy Lords, First Wave)
Cmdr S'hinat Eng, (Geena Davis as Vulcan)
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A Vulcan is quite capable of killing-for a logical reason, Spock "Journey to Babel"
Qerlin, you do plan on sharing those manips with the Visual Records section when they're done, right? http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif
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:) <<<<
LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.
Check out the Actor Portrayls for your PC's discussion here.Quote:
Originally posted by J.Ramirez
Someone -- not sure who -- had posted how they used actors to "cast" (for visual reference) their PCs and NPCs. I've incorporated this notion into my own series and it works quite well.
What I'd like to know is if anyone else is doing it as well, and if so, who have your casting choices been and how have they worked out?
Thanks in advance.
------------------
"Now then, pendejo, let's see what kind of swordsman you've become." -- Juan Sanchez Villalobos Ramirez
In our current series (which we're playing at the moment, but in a scene without my character). We typically use actors (and actresses) to showcase our characters, though the female player tends to like to use women from Playboy (complete with honeycoated breasts and creamy, tan skin! :D)
Currently, our crew roster (as Academy cadets), are as follows:
Cadet Gabriel Archer - Michael Baines (Hicks from Aliens)
Cadet Tom Jackson (my character) - Tom Welling (Clark Kent from Smallville)
Cadet Telar Torosian - Shannon Elizabeth (the foriegn exchange student from American Pie)
Cadet Vor'less (Klingon NPC) - Michael Jai White (from Spawn)
Personally, I've used a variety of actors, ranging from a young Marlon Brando to Dylan McDermont (the infamous Matt Locke, Jag Officer, from a short lived campaign).
We find that it adds a lot of flavor to campaigns, and it makes the visualization of characters a lot easier.
Greg
One of the PBEM's I play in does this, but I find it's not as useful as it could be. People pick actors and actresses they like, and end up with pictures that don't suit the character's age at all... (now, let's not get into the seeming impossibility for a character to be 30 or higher, LOL). Young actors all, even when the character is around 32, you've still got teenish heart-throbs, boy-band singers, and soap-opera stars... :rolleyes:
In my tabletop, I use pictures, but never famous people. I find little pictures of people from last years Sears catalogue for example, and then cut the little square and attach it to the sheet for the NPC, and the players can take a peek at their liesure...
The Doc
We use famous actors to represent PCs and NPCs mainly because its easier for the players to visualise who they're interacting with. Also it saves a lot of describing the NPCs.
The list is partial, but it represents the main PCs and NPCs in the game.
CPT Hitomi Ozawa - Michelle Yeoh
LCDR Stephen Shepard - Robert Shaw
LCDR (Dr) Larena Curron - Honor Blackman (hey a blond Trill)
LCDR Harrison Blackwood - Sidney Poitier
LT Taf'vee - Noah Wylie
LT Rhienhardt Prien - Dolf Lungren (just the look not the acting)
LT t'Riel - Jodie Foster
LTJG Rianna Kardeen - Elizabeth Rosselini
Eeep! Actually, I forgot about this thread fo conversation.Quote:
Originally posted by Sarge
Qerlin, you do plan on sharing those manips with the Visual Records section when they're done, right? http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif
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:) <<<<
LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.
Yeah, if I get around to the Walken pic, I'll post it.
Since the others are of a more 'mature' (well, alright, imature) nature, if you want 'em, email me.
Um...I am at work Qerlin...can you mail them to me at
aslan_collas@yahoo.com :)
Thanks buddy :)
I love this thread...:)
USS Intrepid (Intrepid-class)
NCC-74500
CO: Captain Christopher Gareth (Samuel L. Jackson)
CMO/Acting XO: Lt Sito Rana (PC - basically a slightly older Shannon Fill)
Chief of Ops: Lt Merott (Bolian - Tom Hanks)
Chief Engineer: Lt William "Spider" Angstrom (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
Chief Conn Officer: Lt David Lam (Jet Li)
Chief of the Boat: Senior CPO Enrico Enzo (Miguel Sandoval)
Ship's Counsellor: Lt Meriss Yolana (Uma Thurman)
Assistant CMO: Dr (Lt (jg)) Veritas Raniti (Brad Dourif - not playing a serial killer! :D)
Chief Nursing Officer: Lt Mohommed Allam (Tony Shaloub - but younger! :))
Chief Science Officer: Lt Joan Aksah (from the Core book - Rachel Weiss)
Chief Security/Tactical Officer: Lt Monica Summers (Tia Carrera)
That's all I can think of off-hand...
New Series Cast
I've posted on this thread in the past, and have a few more names to add now as I started a new series.
Captain Suvek, Vulcan C0 (Andreas Katsulus, G'kar from Bab 5 as a Vulcan instead of a Romulan)
Commander Lucas Casey, Human XO (Edward Norton)
Lt. Cmdr Marcus London, Human Chief Engineer (Peter Wingfeild)
Lt. M'Ri McLaren, Half-Vulcan counselor, (Rachel Weiss, basicly same personality as in the first Mummy)
Doctor Mike Lee, Human Medical Officer (Russel Wong)
Oh, yes, I've "cast" all the campaigns I've run, Star Wars, Star Trek, D&D, etc.
Some of the highlights:
Kevin Kline as Captain Robert Delacourt
Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Elizabeth Delacourt (yeah, so I was inspired by the movie Dave) :)
Alan Rickman as Lt. Ryan Zelnack (human sciences chief) (this was many years before Galaxy Quest ;) )
Paul Hogan as Dr. John MacDonald (Australian CMO)
I had a Bajoran captain that I played in two different aborted campaigns...once I envisioned him played by Liam Neeson, and once by David Duchovny. I think either would make a fine Bajoran. :)
Other actors who have appeared are Susan Gibney, Michael Rooker, Courtney Cox, and others I'm sure I've forgotten.
For a nominal fee of 15 dollars per pic your characters can be taken and put into corisponding Starfleet uniforms. Two for twenty five.
Starfleet63@aol.com
Check out my stuff in the Visual reference section.
one dollar of all orders will go to the paramount is going to sue me fund and the Trekrpgnet will sue me fund!
This is something I do with Trek, but it's been a while since I ran the game and I can't remember any examples :(
However, I did play in a TOS game last year, set on the ship that went round picking up the pieces after Kirk's adventures. We assumed it was filmed as a TOS spin-off, and since we know he was trawling around Hollywood at the time, my character (security) was played by Bruce Lee, still trying to get into television. Any battle scenes tended to include a few OTT martial arts moves, and a lot of yodelling...
We actually don't imply the personality of the players, but more just for visual...except for the Admiral played by Sean Connery ;)
Only Trek character of mine that I've done this for is from an online-free form game. Security Chief of the USS New Horizon, Lt. Kerry Avalon, played by Paul Darrow (Ker Avon from "Blake's 7") The character is based somewhat on Avon's personality. Very cold & sarcastic. The frightening thing is that Avalon is now a Lt. Crd, and XO of the New Horizon. http://www.smilies.nl/eek5.gif I don't think our CO has watched much Blake's...
I've got several characters that I've modeled after people in real life or actors / characters from TV shows.
Tolvar, a Vulcan philosopher, modeled after Voltaire.
Most of the cast from M*A*S*H*
Enib Pirec, a Tiburonian Medic, ala Hawkeye Pierce
Grelk, a Ferengi Administrative specialist (yeoman) ala Klinger
Latrew Rel, an Andorian AA who hears things almost before they happen
Elzom Laze - Tellarite Supply specialist (Zelmo Zale)
Ozzir - Ferengi Op Specialist (shuttles) - Rizzo
Majok, Vulcan JAG Officer - Perry Mason type
Pelori Maczar, Elaysian Computer sciences officer - ME! (born with spina bifida, computer science degree)
Sereta Pazar - Bajoran planetary defense officer (Yancy Butler, aka Sara Pezzini from Witchblade)
Selia Mazar - Bajoran planetary defense (Elisa Maza from Gargoyles)
Evolo Kendoval - Elaysian assembly specialist and daredevil in his spare time (Evil Kinevil)
and several modeled after online friends in Yahoo clubs, especially disability chatrooms