Hello! I've played dnd for a few years, and I've recently decided to DM. Long story short, I'm absolutely awful at improv, character voices and sometimes even roleplay.
But I'm naive and optimistic that things will go well simply because I'm determined. The party is clear I've not DM'd, I'm open to communication at anytime if I do something wrong, and that I do want to laugh and have fun.
However, I do want to be as prepared as possible so I don't make someone's first dnd experience total crap.
Does anyone have any ideas on ways to practice improv and roleplay outside of the campaign itself? In the car and random times throughout the day, I do try and talk aloud in different voices and say things I know I'll be saying during the game. But it's kinda hard to practice improv if I already know what questions I would be asking myself, if that makes a lick of sense. Any ideas or tips at all, I would be extremely grateful for!
In the car and random times throughout the day, I do try and talk aloud in different voices and say things I know I'll be saying during the game. But it's kinda hard to practice improv if I already know what questions I would be asking myself, if that makes a lick of sense.
In my opinion, sometimes that "terrible character voice" is what makes the character so amazing and memorable! I don't think anybody is expecting you to be a professional voice actor and immerse them entirely, and I know that in some of the games I've played in that some of the best NPCs we've ever encountered have had absolutely dreadful voice acting behind them. I think you're on the right track though, just keep practising! For voices, I like to try and notice any facial features they have. For example, an orc character likely has their bottom teeth overlapping their top lip, so do that and try to speak. Do they have a big chest/thick neck? If so they are likely to have a deeper voice than a high pitch one - see how it goes and you may figure out what they would sound like by accident!
Have you thought about watching some videos of others playing? When they ask their DM a question, pause it and imagine that you were answering for them and then compare it against how the DM of that campaign actually answered it. Just a thought, but sometimes it can help to be put in to the DM seat without having the pressure of the actual players in front of you. That way, if you mess up or need to start again, it's only you who will have seen it. You could also do this with a trusted person, like a sibling or a spouse etc if they are willing to help you. You could even get somebody to ask you something by text on discord (or something) and then you react to it aloud privately to yourself.
Don't worry too much about it for starters. Read books, watch movies, observe people...mainly for the way they talk. Focus on little things such as the kind of words used. A peasant has a different vocabulary and speech pattern compared to a noble. You don't even need to do voices. A little rise or lower tone in your voice is often sufficient when beginning out. As well as talking faster or slower. Also use your body language when portraying a persona. That way you start to automatically behave/talk a certain way as well.
I don't care about what questions players will asks. I focus on what information the persona has. As well as the information I want my players to receive in the entire area. If the players missed out on it I can then use the NPC to relay that information somehow. Then just respond to the players and what they ask/do depending on the NPC's personality/knowledge/resources.
Create a red thread/framework of stuff. The details will be filled in when making stuff up on the spot.
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Hello! I've played dnd for a few years, and I've recently decided to DM. Long story short, I'm absolutely awful at improv, character voices and sometimes even roleplay.
But I'm naive and optimistic that things will go well simply because I'm determined. The party is clear I've not DM'd, I'm open to communication at anytime if I do something wrong, and that I do want to laugh and have fun.
However, I do want to be as prepared as possible so I don't make someone's first dnd experience total crap.
Does anyone have any ideas on ways to practice improv and roleplay outside of the campaign itself? In the car and random times throughout the day, I do try and talk aloud in different voices and say things I know I'll be saying during the game. But it's kinda hard to practice improv if I already know what questions I would be asking myself, if that makes a lick of sense. Any ideas or tips at all, I would be extremely grateful for!
In my opinion, sometimes that "terrible character voice" is what makes the character so amazing and memorable! I don't think anybody is expecting you to be a professional voice actor and immerse them entirely, and I know that in some of the games I've played in that some of the best NPCs we've ever encountered have had absolutely dreadful voice acting behind them. I think you're on the right track though, just keep practising! For voices, I like to try and notice any facial features they have. For example, an orc character likely has their bottom teeth overlapping their top lip, so do that and try to speak. Do they have a big chest/thick neck? If so they are likely to have a deeper voice than a high pitch one - see how it goes and you may figure out what they would sound like by accident!
Have you thought about watching some videos of others playing? When they ask their DM a question, pause it and imagine that you were answering for them and then compare it against how the DM of that campaign actually answered it. Just a thought, but sometimes it can help to be put in to the DM seat without having the pressure of the actual players in front of you. That way, if you mess up or need to start again, it's only you who will have seen it. You could also do this with a trusted person, like a sibling or a spouse etc if they are willing to help you. You could even get somebody to ask you something by text on discord (or something) and then you react to it aloud privately to yourself.
Hope this helps :-)
Don't worry too much about it for starters. Read books, watch movies, observe people...mainly for the way they talk. Focus on little things such as the kind of words used. A peasant has a different vocabulary and speech pattern compared to a noble. You don't even need to do voices. A little rise or lower tone in your voice is often sufficient when beginning out. As well as talking faster or slower. Also use your body language when portraying a persona. That way you start to automatically behave/talk a certain way as well.
I don't care about what questions players will asks. I focus on what information the persona has. As well as the information I want my players to receive in the entire area. If the players missed out on it I can then use the NPC to relay that information somehow. Then just respond to the players and what they ask/do depending on the NPC's personality/knowledge/resources.
Create a red thread/framework of stuff. The details will be filled in when making stuff up on the spot.