Hey there! I've been playing DnD for about 3 years now and recently my group has allowed me to try my hand at DMing since our current campaign is wrapping up so we're slowly transitioning into my campaign. Two sessions of the current campaign, one session of mine. This is allowing me to get comfortable with the role yet still be able to play a PC which I really enjoy.
I've decided to start out with the 5e sunless citadel and then it will continue on to my own homebrew. So far I'm really enjoying my role as DM though I'm self conscious about my NPCs and I'm wondering how crucial other party's find their DMs ability to really get into so many different characters.
My current DM is amazing with voices and interactions, he's a really out going and vocal guy to begin with. Which is giving me a bit of anxiety when running my sessions. We're only 4 sessions in and I'll be running the 5th this evening. My issue seems to be referring to the NPCs in third person. For example if the PCs ask a question, I tend to answer with a "he/she says.." or "he/she tells you.." rather than answering AS the NPC. The only NPCs I've been able to get into character with is Meepo but that's because I'm playing him as a little simple himself. Now that I think of it he refers to himself in third person as well haha. "Meepo will help!" "The clan is mad at Meepo" "Meepo hates flithy Goblins!!!!"
Anyway, just wondering if I can get some advice with this issue. Or if you've played in a group with a DM that's the same, what were your thoughts? Did you still enjoying yourselves? I just can't do the voices. I'm going to keep practicing, I know I've just started and things might get better. Anyway, thoughts and opinions would be appreciated!
The first thing you have to do is stop comparing your ability and style to anyone else. You do not have to recreate the experience of any other Dungeon Master. As a new DM you are already operating at the edges of your comfort zone, feeling obligated to add in things that you are not comfortable with will reduce your enjoyment of the experience and will lead to the game being ended prematurely. Voices are becoming more and more of a problem in both the circles I run in, forums, YouTube vlogs, and Streams. In short, not everyone that uses voices *should* be doing it, and no one should be *forced* or feel compelled to do a voice. I am decidedly against widespread vocal characterization in my games. One of my players tries too hard and I honestly LOATHE it. I flat out told him at the last session to not do his voice thingy because it was bothersome. Another player seems to only play Mike Myers's versions of characters and I think it falls flat. I use a combination of word choice/vocabulary and mannerism to differentiate the NPC without resorting to my best Mel Blanc impersonations.
What I do to get into character is to attach a stereotype phase or word to that character, I then say that phrase or word silently to myself before starting to speak as that character. It helps me maintain the accent, speaking pattern, and personality of that character.
You don't have to do voices or speak as the NPCs at all.
If you want to and feel comfortable, go ahead and do it, if you are not that kind of a person to enjoy or be good at impersonating someone else, don't.
You don't have to do voices, or get in-character. Some DMs do, others don't.
The key, IMO, is this: figure out what the NPC wants. Make sure their actions and their interactions with the PCs are clearly driven by some goals they have, and not merely there to be roadblocks for the PCs.
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Hey there! I've been playing DnD for about 3 years now and recently my group has allowed me to try my hand at DMing since our current campaign is wrapping up so we're slowly transitioning into my campaign. Two sessions of the current campaign, one session of mine. This is allowing me to get comfortable with the role yet still be able to play a PC which I really enjoy.
I've decided to start out with the 5e sunless citadel and then it will continue on to my own homebrew. So far I'm really enjoying my role as DM though I'm self conscious about my NPCs and I'm wondering how crucial other party's find their DMs ability to really get into so many different characters.
My current DM is amazing with voices and interactions, he's a really out going and vocal guy to begin with. Which is giving me a bit of anxiety when running my sessions. We're only 4 sessions in and I'll be running the 5th this evening. My issue seems to be referring to the NPCs in third person. For example if the PCs ask a question, I tend to answer with a "he/she says.." or "he/she tells you.." rather than answering AS the NPC. The only NPCs I've been able to get into character with is Meepo but that's because I'm playing him as a little simple himself. Now that I think of it he refers to himself in third person as well haha. "Meepo will help!" "The clan is mad at Meepo" "Meepo hates flithy Goblins!!!!"
Anyway, just wondering if I can get some advice with this issue. Or if you've played in a group with a DM that's the same, what were your thoughts? Did you still enjoying yourselves? I just can't do the voices. I'm going to keep practicing, I know I've just started and things might get better. Anyway, thoughts and opinions would be appreciated!
Thanks!!
The first thing you have to do is stop comparing your ability and style to anyone else. You do not have to recreate the experience of any other Dungeon Master. As a new DM you are already operating at the edges of your comfort zone, feeling obligated to add in things that you are not comfortable with will reduce your enjoyment of the experience and will lead to the game being ended prematurely. Voices are becoming more and more of a problem in both the circles I run in, forums, YouTube vlogs, and Streams. In short, not everyone that uses voices *should* be doing it, and no one should be *forced* or feel compelled to do a voice. I am decidedly against widespread vocal characterization in my games. One of my players tries too hard and I honestly LOATHE it. I flat out told him at the last session to not do his voice thingy because it was bothersome. Another player seems to only play Mike Myers's versions of characters and I think it falls flat. I use a combination of word choice/vocabulary and mannerism to differentiate the NPC without resorting to my best Mel Blanc impersonations.
What I do to get into character is to attach a stereotype phase or word to that character, I then say that phrase or word silently to myself before starting to speak as that character. It helps me maintain the accent, speaking pattern, and personality of that character.
You don't have to do voices or speak as the NPCs at all.
If you want to and feel comfortable, go ahead and do it, if you are not that kind of a person to enjoy or be good at impersonating someone else, don't.
There are other ways to make NPCs memorable.
I liked this video from Zipperon Disney:
More Interesting Lock Picking Rules
You don't have to do voices, or get in-character. Some DMs do, others don't.
The key, IMO, is this: figure out what the NPC wants. Make sure their actions and their interactions with the PCs are clearly driven by some goals they have, and not merely there to be roadblocks for the PCs.