People of prominence and renown pre-dates modern pop culture and are often cultural touchstones. Often, though, the idea of celebrities are ignored in game worlds. Given their sociological importance, though, can a game setting feel real without them?
Types of Celebrities
When broaching the topic of celebrities many people think of singers and actors, but the cult of personality has historically extended to atheletes, artists, and poets. Those who have amassed a fortune or have risen to positions of great power could also be consiered as celebrities. While it seems like the rise of stardom for various jobs is new, the idea of fame for those accomplished in their skill is often older than we may think. Celebrity chefs have been a phenomenom since the 1700’s. Some people have simply become famous for being famous; the term “Celebutante” was coined in 1939 to describe a debutant whose debut received a large amount of media attention.
Celebrities In The Background
Given all the various types of celebrity, fame, in various levels, should exist throughout a game’s setting. It should be part of the background conversations and something characters might discuss on their “downtime.” As GMs, we should encourage players to have their characters talk not only about the mission, but their favorite works and celebrities. Allow the players to make up new celebrities to add to the background of the game world and put the player creations in the background of other sessions. This is an easy way to not only make players contributions feel special but also make the setting feel more real; so it’s not always about the player characters.
VIP PCs
…Except when it is. Fame (or infamy) may be aquired by the characters as they accomplish their deeds. PCs may even start the game at certain levels of stardom. A few months ago, I wrote up a specialization for the Envoy class in Starfinder, the Pop Star; this column also included some general ideas for player characters that were famous for music or on their way towards that fame. But even the travelling dungeon-hunting heroes or cyberpunk mercenaries can accrue fame through their actions. Foil enough dragons or perform enough heists and word will travel. Even the “murder hobo” characters will become known.
Paparazzi and Infamy
Fame brings new challenges to both the characters and the GM. Perhaps brands seek the player characters for endorsements; this means giving the player characters “free stuff,” but just because its free doesn’t mean its good. The personal lives of the characters will no longer be their own; even if they’re not specifically endorsing anything, the people (depending on the type of fame this could be the general populace and/or rivals in the same field) will want to know what gear the PCs use, where they eat, etc. Crimes may also lead to a certain level of negative celebrity in the form of wanted posters or bounties. As fame is introduced into a game consider both the positives and negatives as it applies to the characters.
Fame In Fantasy Worlds
Fantasy or historical worlds may seem like odd places for fame to exist, but word still travels. Bards tell stories and messages are sent. While medieval style fantasy worlds may lack global communication, no town is an island. And talk of the PCs may even preceed them. Because verification of stories may be more difficult, it’s possible that the deeds of others could be exaggerated or distorted. This has historical precident: atheletes were famous in Ancient Greece; actors and gladiators received reknown in Ancient Rome; and nobles, explorers, and knights were celebrities in Medieval Europe. The lack of mass printing or other forms of rapid communication does not stop the cult of personality.
Space Stardom
Sci-Fi, especially space, games offer the opposite sort of challenge when it comes to celebrity. With a far-reaching communication network across a larger populous, media will be saturated with fame. It may be harder for characters to make their mark on an interstellar level. In a space game, fame will grow slowly and more regionally. For characters trying to keep a low profile, the anonymity provided by media oversaturation will be in their favor, but word of their deeds should still spread. Interstellar superstars should still be rare especially across multiple races and worlds. They may exist, but consider making background celebrities at system, world, and smaller levels. A universe where the same celebrity is known everywhere is a small universe indeed.
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