Roolikuvan

Roolikuvan is the genitive form of the Finnish noun roolikuva, a term used in Finnish role-playing and gaming culture to denote the visual representation or portrait of a game character. The base word roolikuva combines rooli (role) and kuva (image), and roolikuvan refers to the character’s image or portrait in Finnish texts. Roolikuvan can describe a literal portrait drawn or painted of a character, as well as any image used to represent a character in a game or online context, such as a digital avatar, a forum profile picture, or a character portrait in a game book or wiki.

In tabletop role-playing games and related media, roolikuvat have traditionally served as a visual reference for players and the game master. With the rise of online communities and digital platforms, roolikuvat increasingly take the form of avatars or profile pictures, and may be created by players, artists, or publishers. They vary in style from realistic to stylized and can accompany textual descriptions, statistics, or background lore.

The function of roolikuvan is to convey appearance, mood, and personality cues that support role-playing and storytelling. While not a substitute for written character information such as statistics or backstory, a clear roolikuvan helps establish a shared visual reference among participants and can enhance immersion in the game world. Related terms include roolipeli (role-playing game), avatar, and character sheet.