I am new playing in my first campaign. I have been loving it. I find my self however struggling a bit when it comes to the role play aspect. I am normally a very outspoken and witty person, but for some reason when it comes to role playing I struggle with knowing what to say. After the games I have all these ideas about my character and what I should have said or done, but in the moment my mind often draws a blank. Any tips for a new player? I am currently playing in the Waterdeep Dragon Heist adventure and am loving it.
-Close your eyes and speak as if you were the character yourself.
-Avoid (and suggest the party to do the same) using "My character does ___" "He says ___" etc. Instead, speak in first person.
-Keep your backstory/character traits in mind when thinking as them. Try not to play as yourself, but as that character, good choices and bad. You'll find that you may have more fun if you don't try to calculate every best decision, but instead play as your character would. If you're a stubborn dwarf, be it when talking with NPCs and your party.
Thanks for your thoughts Sedge. We are playing with 2 experienced players and an experienced DM, but it is me and my wife's first time playing. I think I need to get into the mindset of doing what the character would. I have been playing board games for years and was really into games like Mansions of Madness that are story driven, but you still always try to make the optimal move. I see the shift in mindset I need to make. Thanks!
I know exactly where you're coming from. Even as a DM, I still struggle with finding the right thing for my character to say in the moment. And of course we think of the best things for our characters to say after the fact - it must be some kind of role-playing curse.
Ultimately, practice is your best bet. Take a method acting approach and immerse yourself in your character. Take some personality quizzes in-character. That's something I've found extremely helpful when writing new characters and to really nail down certain traits for a character I'm playing.
Having a particular voice affectation or accent can help you slide into your character as well, and it doesn't need to be anything wild. Take a look at Critical Role and you'll see this put to great use. And you can always go for the tried and true tropes; a Dwarf with a gruff accent, Elves speaking in an almost sing-song way, etc.
Sedge makes some very good suggestions as well. Speaking in-character instead of in the third person will help you out, and in time you'll be able to think up witty retorts in character on the spot. Keeping your character traits in mind during decision making moments is also very important, and some DMs may reward you with Inspiration for making those hard decisions as your character.
Just to play the devil's advocate here, it's also okay to say "my character does this" or "he/she says that". If it helps you to visualize how your character would act by doing that, then there's nothing wrong with it! Method acting is great, but it's definitely not for everybody. Find what fits for _you_ and makes you comfortable, and do that! After a while, you'll be ready enough to be able to step in and out of different characters' shoes at the drop of a hat. But don't worry if that doesn't happen right away, because role-playing is a skill that you continue to develop for as long as you'll be playing.
And to be frank, I agree with xguild that having a brew or two during the game will help ease yourself into the social situations and be more outgoing in general towards the roleplaying.
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I think it's probably a large part performance anxiety. Even being an outspoken and witty person, when you are that is you just being you. Sitting at the table for D&D is a different animal, and it's not even comparable to public speaking because in many ways it can be more emotional and raw. It's probably a lot like acting, but most of the time actors have scripts and they know what is coming and they have time to prepare. In D&D if something happens your response should be your response, it's your character's response, and it takes time to master their personality and characteristics and know what they would do and say in a certain situation.
My biggest advise is just time. I remember my first few sessions I was practically silent, I barely said anything and when I did it was just to agree with someone else. It took time for me to be able to embrace my character, and it also took me a while to feel comfortable and shake the "this is silly" feeling that I got from being an adult playing make-believe. But after time, once it becomes familiar, it becomes second nature. I am an introvert, very much so, but at the D&D table I relax, my character takes over, and I can be outgoing and outspoken and confident. It just took time to feel comfortable at the table and to embrace it fully.
This is all good advice thanks everyone. It did surprise me a little bit that I was kind of quiet the first session. I am a project manager for work and spend much of my time in front of large groups and have no problem. I think what Synieth said about D&D being a different animal is totally true. And my group consists of my wife, her brother and his wife, and then her cousin. So all family. I think time is probably true. Maybe after I get a few more sessions in it will start to feel more and more natural. I don't drink so I can't take that advice but thanks though I bet it would help!
The group I DM for is all my family & it's only recently they've started to get more comfortable with it. The first session, my daughter (normally very outspoken) could only manage an 'aye' here or there when responding to the NPCs. My Sons were even worse, but since then, they've taken the lead from my wife and gotten much better. This last session my two boys characters ended up in an arm wrestling match with each other, after which there was a clap on the back of the looser and chuckles over the differences in the characters. I think it just takes time, I've been RP'ing for many years & even I need a session or two to get into the swing of things.
Take your time, and think about what your character is about to say before you say it at first, after a while you'll surprise yourself at how quickly you can respond in character. ymmv, but that's what I do usually.
We had our second session tonight. Felt much more comfortable. Tried to follow the advice given here. I am digging this Waterdeep Dragon Heist adventure so far!
Generally when you are still more or less figuring the game out, it's hard to loose yourself since you're constantly preoccupied with the rules and figuring out who things work. Once the rules are second nature you will more easily "melt" into the game.
It definitely can be hard to think in the moment, especially with RP because you don't know what will come from the other players or DM. I'm similar to you, I'm used to being in front of large groups talking and teaching but those tend to be more prepared or prewritten so it's not easy to make the switch to off the cuff acting.
Sometimes asking your DM before your character says something, "would my character know about this" or "has my character seen that before" can help you think about how to play it (and gives you those few extra seconds to run through some mental RPing!). :) Probably works better if it's something like a new piece of information about a place or person but can come in handy in other situations.
Sometimes choosing an aspect of your character that is easier to bring up quickly - are they a drinker? Do they like shiny things? Do they like to drop bad jokes every two seconds? - can help come up with some ideas. One of my characters is a High Elf who loves shiny things so that definitely gives her and the other characters something to work off of if they come across something interesting. :D
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I am new playing in my first campaign. I have been loving it. I find my self however struggling a bit when it comes to the role play aspect. I am normally a very outspoken and witty person, but for some reason when it comes to role playing I struggle with knowing what to say. After the games I have all these ideas about my character and what I should have said or done, but in the moment my mind often draws a blank. Any tips for a new player? I am currently playing in the Waterdeep Dragon Heist adventure and am loving it.
-Close your eyes and speak as if you were the character yourself.
-Avoid (and suggest the party to do the same) using "My character does ___" "He says ___" etc. Instead, speak in first person.
-Keep your backstory/character traits in mind when thinking as them. Try not to play as yourself, but as that character, good choices and bad. You'll find that you may have more fun if you don't try to calculate every best decision, but instead play as your character would. If you're a stubborn dwarf, be it when talking with NPCs and your party.
Thanks for your thoughts Sedge. We are playing with 2 experienced players and an experienced DM, but it is me and my wife's first time playing. I think I need to get into the mindset of doing what the character would. I have been playing board games for years and was really into games like Mansions of Madness that are story driven, but you still always try to make the optimal move. I see the shift in mindset I need to make. Thanks!
I know exactly where you're coming from. Even as a DM, I still struggle with finding the right thing for my character to say in the moment. And of course we think of the best things for our characters to say after the fact - it must be some kind of role-playing curse.
Ultimately, practice is your best bet. Take a method acting approach and immerse yourself in your character. Take some personality quizzes in-character. That's something I've found extremely helpful when writing new characters and to really nail down certain traits for a character I'm playing.
Having a particular voice affectation or accent can help you slide into your character as well, and it doesn't need to be anything wild. Take a look at Critical Role and you'll see this put to great use. And you can always go for the tried and true tropes; a Dwarf with a gruff accent, Elves speaking in an almost sing-song way, etc.
Sedge makes some very good suggestions as well. Speaking in-character instead of in the third person will help you out, and in time you'll be able to think up witty retorts in character on the spot. Keeping your character traits in mind during decision making moments is also very important, and some DMs may reward you with Inspiration for making those hard decisions as your character.
Hope this advice helps, and happy adventuring.
Just to play the devil's advocate here, it's also okay to say "my character does this" or "he/she says that". If it helps you to visualize how your character would act by doing that, then there's nothing wrong with it! Method acting is great, but it's definitely not for everybody. Find what fits for _you_ and makes you comfortable, and do that! After a while, you'll be ready enough to be able to step in and out of different characters' shoes at the drop of a hat. But don't worry if that doesn't happen right away, because role-playing is a skill that you continue to develop for as long as you'll be playing.
And to be frank, I agree with xguild that having a brew or two during the game will help ease yourself into the social situations and be more outgoing in general towards the roleplaying.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I think it's probably a large part performance anxiety. Even being an outspoken and witty person, when you are that is you just being you. Sitting at the table for D&D is a different animal, and it's not even comparable to public speaking because in many ways it can be more emotional and raw. It's probably a lot like acting, but most of the time actors have scripts and they know what is coming and they have time to prepare. In D&D if something happens your response should be your response, it's your character's response, and it takes time to master their personality and characteristics and know what they would do and say in a certain situation.
My biggest advise is just time. I remember my first few sessions I was practically silent, I barely said anything and when I did it was just to agree with someone else. It took time for me to be able to embrace my character, and it also took me a while to feel comfortable and shake the "this is silly" feeling that I got from being an adult playing make-believe. But after time, once it becomes familiar, it becomes second nature. I am an introvert, very much so, but at the D&D table I relax, my character takes over, and I can be outgoing and outspoken and confident. It just took time to feel comfortable at the table and to embrace it fully.
This is all good advice thanks everyone. It did surprise me a little bit that I was kind of quiet the first session. I am a project manager for work and spend much of my time in front of large groups and have no problem. I think what Synieth said about D&D being a different animal is totally true. And my group consists of my wife, her brother and his wife, and then her cousin. So all family. I think time is probably true. Maybe after I get a few more sessions in it will start to feel more and more natural. I don't drink so I can't take that advice but thanks though I bet it would help!
The group I DM for is all my family & it's only recently they've started to get more comfortable with it. The first session, my daughter (normally very outspoken) could only manage an 'aye' here or there when responding to the NPCs. My Sons were even worse, but since then, they've taken the lead from my wife and gotten much better. This last session my two boys characters ended up in an arm wrestling match with each other, after which there was a clap on the back of the looser and chuckles over the differences in the characters. I think it just takes time, I've been RP'ing for many years & even I need a session or two to get into the swing of things.
Take your time, and think about what your character is about to say before you say it at first, after a while you'll surprise yourself at how quickly you can respond in character. ymmv, but that's what I do usually.
We had our second session tonight. Felt much more comfortable. Tried to follow the advice given here. I am digging this Waterdeep Dragon Heist adventure so far!
Honestly just keep play more.
Generally when you are still more or less figuring the game out, it's hard to loose yourself since you're constantly preoccupied with the rules and figuring out who things work. Once the rules are second nature you will more easily "melt" into the game.
It definitely can be hard to think in the moment, especially with RP because you don't know what will come from the other players or DM. I'm similar to you, I'm used to being in front of large groups talking and teaching but those tend to be more prepared or prewritten so it's not easy to make the switch to off the cuff acting.
Sometimes asking your DM before your character says something, "would my character know about this" or "has my character seen that before" can help you think about how to play it (and gives you those few extra seconds to run through some mental RPing!). :) Probably works better if it's something like a new piece of information about a place or person but can come in handy in other situations.
Sometimes choosing an aspect of your character that is easier to bring up quickly - are they a drinker? Do they like shiny things? Do they like to drop bad jokes every two seconds? - can help come up with some ideas. One of my characters is a High Elf who loves shiny things so that definitely gives her and the other characters something to work off of if they come across something interesting. :D