My players are all actors, but they’re first time D&D players who are familiar with basic rules. How do I get them to consider what the character would do, and view the world as whole and fluid?
Ask them questions about their characters: their backgrounds, and their in-character reaction.
Regarding backgrounds, don't make them write a 20-page manuscript about a detailed personal background, just ask them a few salient details that relate to the current situation, "so you're off to meet with the local Duke regarding the trade mission .... Samantha, isn't Waeleda's family aristocracy? Where was that, and what kind of aristocracy was that ... how did that affect Waeleda's outlook, and how do you feel about the situation now?"
That last question is also important - ask how their character's are reacting to the situation at hand.
This gets them out of their own reactions, to their character reactions.
While it's more likely that they speak/act in character seeing as they're actors - remember that it's not a requirement for role-playing. All they have to do is make choices based on their character personalities, not their own. Speaking in character is just a more immersive step that some - not all - people will try.
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As actors, I would expect them to know how to role play since it is mostly part of their job description. However, I would point out that they shouldn't have to make voices, act out or in any way behave differently when playing their characters if they don't want to.
Roleplaying in D&D is fundamentally trying to look at the game world and the input given to the players from the character perspective. How would the character react or respond to in game events. What decisions would the character make given their background and past experiences. What would the character say in a conversation with a specific NPC. They don't actually have to ACT or use voices if they don't want to ... the game is not work ... but it should be almost second nature for these folks to be able to look at game events from a character perspective since I think that is pretty fundamental to the entire concept of character acting.
One of the better ways to encourage role playing is usually to get the players to fill in the background of their characters. There is a whole chapter in the players handbook on exactly that. Figuring out where the character came from, what motivates them, how they see the world, what lines they would cross and ones that they wouldn't, any particularly important events in their past that shaped how they view the world today. Going through the character building process can change the character from a bunch of stats and skills on a piece of paper into a concept that is larger than the numbers which will then give a basis for how the character would actually interact with things. Unfortunately, the numbers, stats, classes, skills give the mechanics of the character ... they don't give the personality, morals, beliefs and worldview that are needed to actually role play the character.
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My players are all actors, but they’re first time D&D players who are familiar with basic rules. How do I get them to consider what the character would do, and view the world as whole and fluid?
Since they are all actors ( lucky you, btw! ):
Ask them questions about their characters: their backgrounds, and their in-character reaction.
Regarding backgrounds, don't make them write a 20-page manuscript about a detailed personal background, just ask them a few salient details that relate to the current situation, "so you're off to meet with the local Duke regarding the trade mission .... Samantha, isn't Waeleda's family aristocracy? Where was that, and what kind of aristocracy was that ... how did that affect Waeleda's outlook, and how do you feel about the situation now?"
That last question is also important - ask how their character's are reacting to the situation at hand.
This gets them out of their own reactions, to their character reactions.
While it's more likely that they speak/act in character seeing as they're actors - remember that it's not a requirement for role-playing. All they have to do is make choices based on their character personalities, not their own. Speaking in character is just a more immersive step that some - not all - people will try.
Good luck :)
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Interesting question.
As actors, I would expect them to know how to role play since it is mostly part of their job description. However, I would point out that they shouldn't have to make voices, act out or in any way behave differently when playing their characters if they don't want to.
Roleplaying in D&D is fundamentally trying to look at the game world and the input given to the players from the character perspective. How would the character react or respond to in game events. What decisions would the character make given their background and past experiences. What would the character say in a conversation with a specific NPC. They don't actually have to ACT or use voices if they don't want to ... the game is not work ... but it should be almost second nature for these folks to be able to look at game events from a character perspective since I think that is pretty fundamental to the entire concept of character acting.
One of the better ways to encourage role playing is usually to get the players to fill in the background of their characters. There is a whole chapter in the players handbook on exactly that. Figuring out where the character came from, what motivates them, how they see the world, what lines they would cross and ones that they wouldn't, any particularly important events in their past that shaped how they view the world today. Going through the character building process can change the character from a bunch of stats and skills on a piece of paper into a concept that is larger than the numbers which will then give a basis for how the character would actually interact with things. Unfortunately, the numbers, stats, classes, skills give the mechanics of the character ... they don't give the personality, morals, beliefs and worldview that are needed to actually role play the character.