How Do I Visually Distinguish My Character From the Rest of the Party?

In most tabletop stories, the party is a collection of wildly different personalities but on a webcam, those differences can flatten quickly. Everyone ends up as a face in a grid, lit by similar lamps, framed by similar rooms. Even if your characters clash or complement each other perfectly in the narrative, the visual layer doesn’t always match that diversity.

Standing out doesn’t require special effects or dramatic changes. It just requires using the tools you already have with intention.

Here are the easiest, most natural ways to make your character look distinct in online sessions.

Start With a Signature Shape

Even before color or detail, shape is what people notice first. A slight shift in silhouette communicates more about your character than you might expect.

Try subtle adjustments like:

• Sitting a little taller if your character projects authority

• Leaning forward if they’re curious or intense

• Keeping your shoulders angled if they’re guarded or suspicious

• Sitting slightly off-center if they avoid the spotlight

These choices seem small, but they read clearly in a webcam frame. Shape is the foundation of visual identity.

Pick One Consistent Visual Cue

You don’t need a full costume. Just one repeating element your character is associated with:

• A strip of color visible in frame

• A pendant or charm tied to their backstory

• A prop they occasionally touch or adjust

• A lighting tone that hints at their temperament

Think of it as a visual shorthand - something that reminds the table who you are before you say a word.

But this only gets you so far. Props and lighting can support a character, but they can’t transform your look in a meaningful way.

Use Character-Aligned Visual Overlays

This is where tools like Faes AR make the biggest difference. Instead of trying to manually create a distinct look, you can simply show the character as they actually appear in the story.

Armor, robes, textures, scars, mood lighting - the things that make a character themselves - all become part of your webcam feed. When your sorcerer glows with arcane light or your ranger’s cloak shifts subtly with movement, you naturally stand apart from the party in a way that feels organic to the world.

You’re not competing for attention.You’re representing the character accurately.

If you want to understand the design philosophy behind this approach, the team explains it here:About Faes

Use Color Intentionally

Color is one of the easiest ways to create distinction on camera.Instead of overhauling your whole setup, pick one dominant tone that aligns with your character:

• Warm amber for a healer

• Deep emerald for a druid

• Cool blue for an arcane caster

• Muted greys for a rogue or scout

The goal isn’t to flood your video feed with color - just create a visual hint that matches your role in the story.

When combined with Faes AR overlays, color becomes a secondary layer that reinforces the character rather than fighting with your environment.

Choose a Dedicated “Character Frame”

This is a small but effective technique:Mark where you sit when you’re “in character,” and avoid drifting too far from it.

When you consistently appear the same way in-frame - same angle, same distance, same posture - people start to recognize your character the moment you unmute. It’s a bit like having a stage mark, but simpler.

A predictable frame reinforces identity, especially when the rest of the party is more casual in their positioning.

Let the Visuals Serve the Story

Distinguishing your character isn’t about standing out for the sake of it. It’s about making it easier for the party to read who they’re talking to at any moment. A consistent look helps the group stay immersed, especially during tense scenes or emotional moments.

And when you combine posture, framing, color, and a character-accurate visual representation through Faes AR, the difference becomes immediate. You no longer blend into the grid - you look like someone who actually belongs in the world your group is exploring.

If you’re ready to experiment with that visual layer, you can load your character options through the Faes AR Portal or pick up the app directly:store.faes.ar