quote:
Don’t have them create an actor, have them build up a character that is not an actor first.
What? No that doesn't even make sense. It would be a game entirely unrelated to this one to not have characters be actors.
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Let me clarify: in real life, save for a small few, actors are never just actors- and if they’re less famous than Kathy Griffin they are definitely not just actors. Everyone has a day job, or they act seasonally, or they’re also part of the crew, etc. etc. If you tell them to create actors, you’re probably going to get a lot of the “strong looking big guy”, “vapid love interest”, and other stereotypes, which is fine if that’s what you want. However, you mentioned you
don’t want people to end up limited to what they think their character should play, and if you just say you want actors, I suspect that may be what you get a lot of (i.e. characters tailor made for certain situations).
The best way to get characters made who can be actors in multiple roles, I think, is to have players build who the character is when they’re not acting, which gives them a foundation to utilize when the character is an actor.
Example: let’s say you have someone who makes a character who was a lawyer who decided to shift gears. He can play a suit, now what about action hero? He’s met all types in this business, he can probably think up a few people to model off of. Need a family man for your comedy? He can draw on his softer side from his experience working with kids in court. Period piece? Don’t get him started about the time he had to go full barrister robes and wig in law school. He can do period piece. Sci fi? Give him a day with a coach and he’ll have all the jargon down pat, it won’t even be the hardest Latin he’s had to wrap his mouth around.