Nothing beats a picture.
Whether you are running a roleplaying game or writing a book, sometimes you need portraits for inspiration. Rather than a name on paper, looking at a photo can make it much easier to imagine their motives and personality. An assortment of portraits can help you create new characters, or enhance existing ones by pairing them with the picture that fits them best.
''Put Faces to Names'' is not a game, it is a tool to enhance other games. Each deck contains 56 highly detailed portraits to be used alongside roleplaying, story, or other types of games. Purchased digital decks can be viewed on your computer or mobile device, and printed decks are the size of a standard poker deck.
When running a roleplaying game, players must normally depend on your spoken physical descriptions of NPCs they encounter. It can be very difficult to remember every description, and that memory will fade over time unless you are regularly repeating it. Even if you manage to remember, it's less likely your players will.
With a ''put Faces to Names'' deck, you can set out a portrait for each NPC the party interacts with. Before a description is even spoken, your players will have a lasting memory of the person and a much stronger connection than hearing a random name and it's description.
The portraits range from child to elder, are split evenly between male and female, and feature a multitude of ethnic backgrounds. Clothing choices were kept neutral and the ears of many portraits were obscured, to better allow the same face to fit a beggar, a noble, a human, or an elf.
For our more entertainment-centered users, you are more than welcome to display/feature the artwork of this product in your own adventurers. It would be an honor to have these cards show up on someone's web series, show, or stream... especially if it became associated with a well known NPC or player!
Each card is individually numbered on the back allowing you to record it into your notes. When your players encounter this NPC again in the future, you will know exactly which portrait you previously used. Digital versions of each deck use the same numbering system, allowing them to be looked up very quickly. Some people will prefer digital decks because they can easily share screen shots of portraits with their players. For people considering printed cards, know that it is an entirely different experience having the portraits laid out on the table. Both methods work, and both have their own unique feel.
The box for each deck was designed to look like fantasy books from the front or edges, so as your collection grows, it assembles into a small book shelf.
Printed decks are handled by a separate company (
thegamecrafter
). They produce a quality product and handle both the sale and shipping.
Digital purchases are handled through this site. Once purchased, the appropriate deck of cards are unlocked for the email address you used to purchase them. You can view purchased digital decks using the link at the top of this page.
Everyone who visits this site has access to the complimentary Owl deck for free. Simply sign in using the name ''guest'' to view the owl deck. When viewing your purchased digital decks, the complimentary Owl deck will be available as well.
Take your game to the next level.
There is nothing wrong with paper maps or bottle caps representing players, but at the same time we can always see the next step that would enhance the experience. Not all players are fortunate enough to have elaborately painted battle maps and personalized 3D printed miniatures, but I bet they wish they did. Think of ''Put Faces to Names'' as one such step. NPC descriptions are just like paper maps and bottle caps, they work, but they require a lot more imagination to feel immersive. Give your players the same sort of eye candy painted sets and plastic figures bring to the game, with faces they can connect with.
Frequently asked questions:
The portraits and other artwork were uniquely created specifically for this product, any similarities to existing works are purely coincidental. In our big world nearly every portrait is going to resemble someone, and you may come across a portrait that looks exactly like your neighbor. No portraits were intentionally modeled after any person, living or dead, and no harm was intended when such coincidences may occur.
All artwork from ''put Faces to Names'' decks may be displayed in your own projects without the need to give credit. This is not permission to profit from the sale of any of these designs, such as putting one of these faces on a shirt and selling it, for example. The goal here is to let content creators use these cards without any worry about take-down notices or remembering to give credit.