So, I am very much a beginner (in my first campaign) and my keep having an issue slipping down into RP properly. My party members keep calling me on meta-gaming (which is fair - I kept doing it w/o realizing the first three sessions). Any tips to help kind of hone RP skills or keep yourself in your character's head?
The best thing to do is to not think about it as a game, but as more of a play. You're playing a character in this play and you only know what the character knows. Meta-gaming is a hard cookie to sell and I feel like people say it without realizing what it is. If you are doing something in accords with something a player did in a scene you weren't a part of, then yeah, meta-gaming. But if you are acting on behalf of your character's interests...well, not meta-gaming. Remember that D&D 5th Edition helps new players with RPing, follow your traits and background. Act on them, act on your flaws...add quirks to your character. Follow your alignment. But the best thing to do is to take it slow. I know the game is exciting and you want to try and get all you can out of your game sessions that you're playing in, but slow it down. You're still new to the game and it's going to take some time to get your feet under you. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Slowly build your character in gameplay and you'll be fine. I hope this helps. :)
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"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
I think first of all what are some examples of your metagaming? There are of course different theories on this. If we take a vampire generally speaking it is considered metagaming to know how to defeat the vampire. But this begs the question, at what point does the myths about vampires come into play? Is a stake through the heart really outside of your PCs knowledge? Maybe not knowing the specifics, but knowing it is suppose to harm vampires.
This is even more so with creatures the PCs have probably ran into many times before. Goblins, orcs, hobgoblins and the like. Of course sometimes knowing a monster can do X damage is metagaming. But sometimes you can go, he has a short sword, I have a short sword, it makes sense he does X damage.
Oddly enough no one ever really complains about the reverse. Where you the player doesn't know something and yet your PC should.
The best thing to ask is whether or not your character would know a specific piece of information. Often times it can help to ask the DM and make a roll to see.
For staying in your characters head, its always good to think about what they would and wouldn't know. If they didn't overhear a particular conversation or wasn't part of it, assume they don't know. Its always fun later when you do something stupid and go, "yeah but I didn't know that" and the party is all like why did you do that! Its at those points they don't complain about metagaming any more lol.
Try to think of how your Player is going to handle a situation or how they might before the situation occurs and then try your best to act on the knowledge your character actually possess.
It will give laughs and will help you connect with the character more than anything else you can do. I've been a DM for over a decade, and a player for 20 years, and i have found flaws more powerful for me than strengths. If you are a god at everything...it gets to be boring. But when you fail, learn, and ultimately rise!, this character will become more emotionally attached to you and you will be more true! The inner (enter character's name) will come out and it will be like a second skin.
Bless you on your travels adventurer
and "Tell me how it ends..."
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"Tell me how it ends...." - Southern DM's victory phrase!
Remember that this is just a game, and you can mess up and try out new things as much as you want. as for meta-gaming, try rephrasing it into something that would fit the character. Instead of listing exact AC or HP numbers, talk about it in a 'i think it's pretty easy to hit' or 'i looks pretty damaged already' terms. If it's about you reacting to something that your character isn't around for, remember that everyone does that, including tons of people who are streaming DnD. The players on critical role or maze arcana or the adventure zone or acquisitions incorporated do that, too. Everyone does, because you're sat around the same table even if your characters aren't physically there in-game. Try to remember to not do that, but that's part of being human.
So, I am very much a beginner (in my first campaign) and my keep having an issue slipping down into RP properly. My party members keep calling me on meta-gaming (which is fair - I kept doing it w/o realizing the first three sessions). Any tips to help kind of hone RP skills or keep yourself in your character's head?
I have a similar question. I am playing a barbarian in a 3.5 campaign where most of the role-playing happens in libraries. I have decided to "buy" my way out of illiteracy, so that I can be envolved in more of the game than the fights. Any tips on working around the "can't read, can read" issue?
So, I am very much a beginner (in my first campaign) and my keep having an issue slipping down into RP properly. My party members keep calling me on meta-gaming (which is fair - I kept doing it w/o realizing the first three sessions). Any tips to help kind of hone RP skills or keep yourself in your character's head?
I have a similar question. I am playing a barbarian in a 3.5 campaign where most of the role-playing happens in libraries. I have decided to "buy" my way out of illiteracy, so that I can be envolved in more of the game than the fights. Any tips on working around the "can't read, can read" issue?
Magic, comprehend languages to be exact. Now, the trick is getting that spell in the first place. Though in 3.5 it might be easier.
When playing a character I always try to keep the following questions in mind when I make a decision for them (as that's ultimately what RP is)
What does my character know? : This could be information he has been present for, information he infers from the current situation, or information that he would know because of his vocations/background/training. To stop the meta game train, if other player are elsewhere and gain information, when they rejoin the party ask them as players if they relay the information. If they say no, then that'll stick out a lot more in your head going forward as to what knowledge not to use.
What is my characters major motivations? : These could be the four boxes of personality you put on the sheet, traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws, but it could also be scene related. Ex. My character is in a situation that they are uncomfortable in (possibly a blue collar character at an upper class party), normally they might not be too keen to noticing people's body language, but in uncomfortable situations your senses are typically heightened. I might then ask the DM if I can make an Insight roll to determine whether I notice anything. This could lead to me getting relevant information, or maybe just a paranoid bit of sensory input (Is that guy staring at me?) either way it gives my character motivation going forward.
What is my character/parties plans? : If my character has a plan, or a predetermined course of action based on a party discussion, I take this into account as well.
These are just a few of the things I could think of off the top of my head.
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So, I am very much a beginner (in my first campaign) and my keep having an issue slipping down into RP properly. My party members keep calling me on meta-gaming (which is fair - I kept doing it w/o realizing the first three sessions). Any tips to help kind of hone RP skills or keep yourself in your character's head?
The best thing to do is to not think about it as a game, but as more of a play. You're playing a character in this play and you only know what the character knows. Meta-gaming is a hard cookie to sell and I feel like people say it without realizing what it is. If you are doing something in accords with something a player did in a scene you weren't a part of, then yeah, meta-gaming. But if you are acting on behalf of your character's interests...well, not meta-gaming. Remember that D&D 5th Edition helps new players with RPing, follow your traits and background. Act on them, act on your flaws...add quirks to your character. Follow your alignment. But the best thing to do is to take it slow. I know the game is exciting and you want to try and get all you can out of your game sessions that you're playing in, but slow it down. You're still new to the game and it's going to take some time to get your feet under you. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Slowly build your character in gameplay and you'll be fine. I hope this helps. :)
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
I think first of all what are some examples of your metagaming? There are of course different theories on this. If we take a vampire generally speaking it is considered metagaming to know how to defeat the vampire. But this begs the question, at what point does the myths about vampires come into play? Is a stake through the heart really outside of your PCs knowledge? Maybe not knowing the specifics, but knowing it is suppose to harm vampires.
This is even more so with creatures the PCs have probably ran into many times before. Goblins, orcs, hobgoblins and the like. Of course sometimes knowing a monster can do X damage is metagaming. But sometimes you can go, he has a short sword, I have a short sword, it makes sense he does X damage.
Oddly enough no one ever really complains about the reverse. Where you the player doesn't know something and yet your PC should.
The best thing to ask is whether or not your character would know a specific piece of information. Often times it can help to ask the DM and make a roll to see.
For staying in your characters head, its always good to think about what they would and wouldn't know. If they didn't overhear a particular conversation or wasn't part of it, assume they don't know. Its always fun later when you do something stupid and go, "yeah but I didn't know that" and the party is all like why did you do that! Its at those points they don't complain about metagaming any more lol.
Try to think of how your Player is going to handle a situation or how they might before the situation occurs and then try your best to act on the knowledge your character actually possess.
The best thing i can say for role playing....
MAKE MISTAKES!!!
It will give laughs and will help you connect with the character more than anything else you can do. I've been a DM for over a decade, and a player for 20 years, and i have found flaws more powerful for me than strengths. If you are a god at everything...it gets to be boring. But when you fail, learn, and ultimately rise!, this character will become more emotionally attached to you and you will be more true! The inner (enter character's name) will come out and it will be like a second skin.
Bless you on your travels adventurer
and "Tell me how it ends..."
"Tell me how it ends...." - Southern DM's victory phrase!
Current Campaing- "ASUNDER"
Up next- "Demons and False Gods"
Remember that this is just a game, and you can mess up and try out new things as much as you want. as for meta-gaming, try rephrasing it into something that would fit the character. Instead of listing exact AC or HP numbers, talk about it in a 'i think it's pretty easy to hit' or 'i looks pretty damaged already' terms. If it's about you reacting to something that your character isn't around for, remember that everyone does that, including tons of people who are streaming DnD. The players on critical role or maze arcana or the adventure zone or acquisitions incorporated do that, too. Everyone does, because you're sat around the same table even if your characters aren't physically there in-game. Try to remember to not do that, but that's part of being human.
When playing a character I always try to keep the following questions in mind when I make a decision for them (as that's ultimately what RP is)
These are just a few of the things I could think of off the top of my head.