I have a roommate/player who is painfully shy and is worried about "being able to think of what to do" during games. She wants to play, but rarely interacts with anyone or anything unless I specifically focus on her. I've tried giving her a few hints about what she can do in a particular scene, but she seems to get flustered and defaults to doing whatever is the least effective in the scene.
Is there something I can do as a DM to help her get more comfortable playing, or is D&D not necessarily a game she should play?
Don't worry so much about effectiveness. If she's choosing ineffective options that you are offering to her then that problem is on you. I'd say give her room to breathe, offer her a couple of good options, and let her learn the way to feel out a situation.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
I have a roommate/player who is painfully shy and is worried about "being able to think of what to do" during games. She wants to play, but rarely interacts with anyone or anything unless I specifically focus on her. I've tried giving her a few hints about what she can do in a particular scene, but she seems to get flustered and defaults to doing whatever is the least effective in the scene.
Is there something I can do as a DM to help her get more comfortable playing, or is D&D not necessarily a game she should play?
Don't worry so much about effectiveness. If she's choosing ineffective options that you are offering to her then that problem is on you. I'd say give her room to breathe, offer her a couple of good options, and let her learn the way to feel out a situation.
Why was she interested in playing? What aspect of the game was she most curious about? Combat? Social stuff?
Find out what she likes, and give her a chance to embrace it.