I'm looking into tips on roleplaying and acting in-character so I can do it better, but not finding much useful. When I try to speak from the perspective of my character, I freeze up and get anxious, and I feel like I sound like me and I'm not "getting in their head." Does anyone have any tips for roleplaying "as" your PC (or NPC)?
It takes time. None of us did it naturally the first time and every one of us made tons and tons of mistakes. Practice and try not to worry about it, you'll get better over time.
But... I have found that the best way to really get into the skin of a character is to be sure that you have a really well thought out backstory. It's hard to become a character when you don't yet know who that character is. The more time and effort you put into thinking up and fleshing out your character's backstory, the more you'll really get to know that character as a fully 3-dimensional person.
Also - maybe this is just me and maybe I'm weird for doing it, but I try to find time to slip into character outside the game time, too. Usually while I'm driving or while I'm just running errands, inside my head I'll thinking about how my character would be reacting and behaving in the situation. Word of warning, however - be careful to keep the running dialogue silent and inside your head. Now, I'm saying that I've gotten strange looks from people because I was talking to myself in my character's voice a few times, because that would be silly... but it happens.
Good luck!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Tayn of Darkwood. Lvl 10 human Life Cleric of Lathander. Retired.
Ikram Sahir ibn Malik al-Sayyid Ra'ad, Second Son of the House of Ra'ad, Defender of the Burning Sands. Lvl 9 Brass Dragonborn Sorcerer + Greater Fire Elemental Devil.
Viktor Gavriil. Lvl 20 White Dragonborn Grave Cleric, of Kurgan the God of Death.
It can also help to mentally 'cast' the role-- I'm still getting back into playing a character and having to rebuild that skill, but it helps when I imagine someone else's voice instead of my own. I pick actors where I've heard them in many roles, so that I'm not associating the voice with a specific character in something else, just that it's a familiar voice that isn't me, that I imagine in my head.
Also - maybe this is just me and maybe I'm weird for doing it, but I try to find time to slip into character outside the game time, too. Usually while I'm driving or while I'm just running errands, inside my head I'll thinking about how my character would be reacting and behaving in the situation. Word of warning, however - be careful to keep the running dialogue silent and inside your head. Now, I'm saying that I've gotten strange looks from people because I was talking to myself in my character's voice a few times, because that would be silly... but it happens.
Good luck!
Being the DM, I don't have a Character, but I was running over the mannerisms and behaviors and likely avenues of conversation with one of my NPCs with whom the Party will be having a big confrontation with, tomorrow, while getting ready for work today - so it's not just you :)
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.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I'm looking into tips on roleplaying and acting in-character so I can do it better, but not finding much useful. When I try to speak from the perspective of my character, I freeze up and get anxious, and I feel like I sound like me and I'm not "getting in their head." Does anyone have any tips for roleplaying "as" your PC (or NPC)?
It takes time. None of us did it naturally the first time and every one of us made tons and tons of mistakes. Practice and try not to worry about it, you'll get better over time.
Professional computer geek
Okay, thanks.
This is one of those subjects where you can probably find better help on YouTube than the forums.
Like Tim said, it does take time.
But... I have found that the best way to really get into the skin of a character is to be sure that you have a really well thought out backstory. It's hard to become a character when you don't yet know who that character is. The more time and effort you put into thinking up and fleshing out your character's backstory, the more you'll really get to know that character as a fully 3-dimensional person.
This means more than just choosing a background from the Player's Handbook. Really delve into your character's life. Ask questions. Ponder the answers. Questions such as: http://dndspeak.com/2019/03/100-warm-up-roleplaying-questions-for-players/
Also - maybe this is just me and maybe I'm weird for doing it, but I try to find time to slip into character outside the game time, too. Usually while I'm driving or while I'm just running errands, inside my head I'll thinking about how my character would be reacting and behaving in the situation. Word of warning, however - be careful to keep the running dialogue silent and inside your head. Now, I'm saying that I've gotten strange looks from people because I was talking to myself in my character's voice a few times, because that would be silly... but it happens.
Good luck!
Tayn of Darkwood. Lvl 10 human Life Cleric of Lathander. Retired.
Ikram Sahir ibn Malik al-Sayyid Ra'ad, Second Son of the House of Ra'ad, Defender of the Burning Sands. Lvl 9 Brass Dragonborn Sorcerer + Greater Fire Elemental Devil.
Viktor Gavriil. Lvl 20 White Dragonborn Grave Cleric, of Kurgan the God of Death.
Anzio Faro. Lvl 5 Prot. Aasimar Light Cleric.
It can also help to mentally 'cast' the role-- I'm still getting back into playing a character and having to rebuild that skill, but it helps when I imagine someone else's voice instead of my own. I pick actors where I've heard them in many roles, so that I'm not associating the voice with a specific character in something else, just that it's a familiar voice that isn't me, that I imagine in my head.
you could also roleplay with "(my character) says 'xxxxxxxx'" and tell people what your character says and does as opposed to actually saying it.
Being the DM, I don't have a Character, but I was running over the mannerisms and behaviors and likely avenues of conversation with one of my NPCs with whom the Party will be having a big confrontation with, tomorrow, while getting ready for work today - so it's not just you :)
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.