Play-bys and AIs: Face Claims and Characters

[The Exodus]

So, if you don't know, we've recently been added to the RPG-D -- one of the internet's coolest RP directories. I've been hanging around their boards, talking to other RPers and other admins, and one of the things that frequently comes up is the effect of face claims (AIs, play-bys, whatever) on writing and characters in RP. A lot of sites don't require them or use cartoons/anime for AIs. Obviously, we require human faces as representations of our characters here at RW. But all this talk has really gotten me thinking.

Which comes to you first: AI or character?

How similar are your characters to characters portrayed by your AIs or your AIs themselves?

Do you think your AIs accurately reflect your character(s)? What is different about the way you envision your characters from the way their AIs actually look?

Feel free to build on this discussion, ask your own questions, etc. I'm curious to see y'alls responses!

[The Exodus]

I'll answer this first, since I started the thread.

Which comes to you first: AI or character?

For me, AI usually comes first. It might sound a little cop-out-ish, but usually I know very little about the actor or actress I've chosen until after I've chosen them. Instead, something about their face speaks to me from the cover of a magazine, the television screen, or whatever. I see them and I know that that's my character. After I've made that choice, then I usually get obsessively into the AI. BUT. That's another story.

How similar are your characters to characters portrayed by your AIs or your AIs themselves?

Sometimes, not very. Example: Gaspard Ulliel is Damien's AI. However, Gaspard Ulliel seems like a very serious young man. Very quiet, very well-spoken. And Damien is anything but serious. Or quiet. Or well-spoken. He has his moments, but mostly he's a bundle of energy and histrionics.

Other times, I end up with characters like Gabriel who are tweaked versions of their AIs. *shrug* How else was I supposed to play him?

Or I get characters like Santiago who are inspired by characters they once portrayed (In Santiago's case, the werewolf leader Gabriel, who has surprisingly little to do with my Gabriel, in "Blood and Chocolate"). However, Santiago spun out of control a looong time ago and became his own person... possibly one of the best characters I've ever created.

It really just depends.

Do you think your AIs accurately reflect your character(s)? What is different about the way you envision your characters from the way their AIs actually look?

I prefer really specific pictures of Olivier Martinez and Johnny Depp for Santiago and Gabriel respectively. I prefer Olivier with a little bit of scruff, but before he went grey, as Santiago. I had initially planned on using only pictures from "Blood and Chocolate" but THAT went out the window almost immediately. I've stopped caring too much, as long as he looks good. Johnny needs to have his long, brown w/ highlights hair to be Gabriel. Also, preferably glasses and/or a hat. Like this.

Lucian looks exactly like Jason Isaacs and I wouldn't change a thing. Not about his appearance, not about his voice. Nada. Damien, I'm less particular about since Gaspard was the last of my Blackwood-Michaud AIs chosen and I was basing that purely on genetics of his parents...

Natalie, I could do with more pictures of, because she's perf. I've tried other AIs on her (Faith Hill, for one, the host of "Face-Off" for another, and Grace Kelly as a third), but Alison is Natalie, hands down.

Maurice I have the fewest pics of... Not because of a lack of Ralph Fiennes pics, but because there are no pics of him dressed as a priest. But Maurice was perfectly chosen anyways.

Madeleine and Monica Bellucci were a match made in RP heaven. I have the most pics of her. And she's my favorite to photoshop/bannermake.

And then there's Tristan. Who initally I was like, "He totally looks like Terrance Zdunich does RIGHT NOW." And then I saw a few pics of TZ floating around from when he was actually Tristan's age. Dayum. I'd rather go with that, thank you very much. Because he's not exactly "sexy" per se, but he's... quirky and charming and I like his eyes. Also, I imagine Tristan's hair to be a little... I don't know... fuller? The voice is the same and the mannerisms, too, though. Hands down. If you've never heard it... You are welcome.

In short, my AIs come first and they seldom change once the character is up and running. But as I learn more about the AI, things change a little bit sometimes. Certain things get enhanced, others thrown aside. As a bannermaker, AIs are really important to me. They influence my characters quite a bit.

[blueeyeddevil]

This is kind of a hard question to answer. So first things first...I'm going to be honest and say that for the most part the AI comes first for me. I have a tendency to get really infatuated with a certain actor and I think they make for an awesome character based on whatever I've seen them in.

I also have a tendency to take little pieces of the characters I've seen them play and use them as part of my own character. Like Nikolai has certain elements of Duke Crocker from Haven played by Eric Balfour. Wes has certain elements of Kendall Schmidt. It tends to be that way mainly for male characters. For female characters I'm more likely to write the character and then find the right AI.

Certainly there are little things about my characters that they might not share with their AI. Usually very minor things like Reese having blue eyes while Rachael Leigh Cook has brown. That's why I think it's important to write your description of the character instead of just giving a picture of the AI. Nothing against those who do that all, it's totally fine if you do! I just think writing the description allows you to make those certain changes clearer so someone you're RPing with doesn't get confused about the eye or hair color when they are trying to describe your character.

For the most part I do think my AI's match up pretty well! Eric Balfour looks like he could be a very dangerous guy. Kendall Schmidt looks like he could be in a boy band (prolly cause he is, haha!). Ben Barnes looks like a charming billionaire investor. Rachael Leigh Cook looks like a cute, sweet girl who might could be a ballerina.

I do think that the look of the AI is very important because they do sort of set the tone for you character. I mean,I could have said Nikolai is this dangerous former gangster guy all I want but if his AI is was some babyfaced, adorkable, nerdy looking guy, it probably isn't going to fly. Someone like Eric Balfour with more angular features and a more muscled physique is going to sell it a lot better. You have a lot to keep when you choose an AI because they come to represent your character.

[The Exodus]

I always wondered how you settled on Reese's AI, Lori! I'm glad you put a physical description of her in your profile, though, to let people know that Rachael Leigh Cook is an approximation, and not an exact of how Reese looks. I need to find the time to do the same kind of thing for each one of my characters. God knows I need to.

Does anyone else play AI bingo in real life? Like, I give myself points for finding RW AIs in video stores or when channel surfing. Like all the best games, everything is made up and the points don't matter in AI Bingo. It's just a way to deal with the gut reaction of "HOLY COW MAKSIM IS IN THIS MOVIE" or "I didn't know Olive and Tristan made a musical together...?!" *shrug*

Another question, for those of you who RP with important NPCS: Do they have AIs for you? If so, who? Do you ever worry that your NPC's AI will get taken?

[Lets_Eat_Paste]

AI bingo is one of my favourite games. Calling out "Two points" for every Hugh Dancy film or "Four points" for every Pirates of the Carribbean film. Its fun. Everybody should do it! The rules are that every AI currently on the list is worth two points (so if there's more than one, just multiply!) And npcs are worth one point. Which brings me to my second answer.

As many of you know, I have an established npc for Gwen's long term boyfriend, Torben. His AI is Tim Burton because honestly, who else could a character whose AI is Helena Bonham Carter be with? In this particular case, I am not concerned because from the other RP sites I've seen, Tim Burton is not a popular face claim choice. So I feel pretty safe there. As far as other npcs, i don't really worry. Established or not, everyone has a right to whatever AIs they want without an issue about another writer's headcanon.

Question: if your character has a kid (established or in the making or what have you), do you pick Ais for them? If so, how do you personally make that decision?

[The Exodus]

Ooh... That's a good question, Riss!

Sometimes, I do pick AIs for my character's children. Take Damien, for example. He began as an NPC; nothing more than Lucian's kid who he talked about sometimes. But Damien wormed his way into my brain and into my heart and I had to make him into his own character, give him an AI... The works.

But then, like, Alexander has two kids. They don't have AIs. Gabriel's daughter Sophie doesn't really have an AI (I'll use pics of Johnny Depp and his rl daughter if I need to). I don't really think any of my other characters have kids...? But, like, if... say... Madeleine had a kid, she would have a daughter and I would use pics of Monica Bellucci with her actual, real life daughter(s) to make my point. Genetically, it makes sense, I guess. It's also easier than dealing with headcanons.

This is why I mostly don't deal with characters who have children in the first place. Well, one reason, anyways. Children AIs are harder to find and most of the time I can't be bothered to put that much effort into an NPC.

Although, weirdly, Madeleine's mother has an AI : Fanny Ardant. Look her up, sometime. I did a good job with RP genetics there.

[blueeyeddevil]

None of my characters have kids, but I think that is kind of beside the point. I really only tend to give an AI to people from my character's past that I think are important and that will probably come up a lot. For example I gave an AI to Wes' brother Ian. I chose a sort of younger blonde Heath Ledger. I do worry a bit because I don't want someone to come on the board with an idea for a character using Heath Ledger only for them to think they can't because he's Ian who technically is not only non-playable but dead.

I suppose that's my question then. Would it bother you if another player came to you and asked if they could use the AI of one of you NPCs for their playable character? Honestly, if someone asked (or even just went ahead and used him) for Heath then I don't think I'd really mind too much.

Second, sort of related, question. If someone did take an AI for your NPC, would you use that to your advantage while writing with them? Like, have your character say something like "You look just like my brother!"

[The Exodus]

I could have sworn that Xavier had kids, Lori...? *shrug*

Would it bother you if another player came to you and asked if they could use the AI of one of you NPCs for their playable character?

If they asked? No. If they did it without asking... I'd be a little miffed, but not angry. There's a difference between RPer Deanna and admin Deanna. RPer Deanna would probably whine a little; admin Deanna says, "Who the hell cares? NPCs are NPCs, not your actual characters. Get a grip and make friends."

Because, seriously? RP is so much more than AIs or PBs. It's about making friends. And there's no good reason an AI choice should prevent me from being friendly.

Although, admittedly, before Lori turned Solange into a character, I had this fear that someone would come along and make an Eva Green character since a) Eva Green is stunning and b) It was a headcanon thing I didn't post anywhere because if I NPC'd every person in my characters' lives -- their coworkers, their families, whatever -- we'd eventually run out of AIs. XD

Second, sort of related, question. If someone did take an AI for your NPC, would you use that to your advantage while writing with them?

Oh God, yes! That's brilliant!! Someone, take one of my NPC AIs so I can do this please?