InDungeons & Dragons, a big appeal about the game is howyou can play anyoneyou want. Adventuring is just being a freelancer with decent benefits and an actually good pay so you’re likely already roleplaying something different to life. Some games just demand that gravitas and drama that comes with roleplay whether it’s great comedic timing as a Bard or one of the best monologues to inspire your party before a big battle.
Regardless, if you want to improve at your roleplay when it comes to your games, then here are some tips that can definitely help you become the type to drive the other players to tears (in a good way).
8Relax
This Is Just A Game After All
First of all, take a deep breath and relax. Dungeons & Dragons is about having fun and nobody is going to be having any fun at the table if they sense you’re straining yourself, worrying about whether your roleplay is good and if you should even be playing. The game is first and foremost just that, a game. It’s not an acting competition, roleplay is just a way to make the game that much more entertaining and enjoyable for everyone and that should include yourself.
So before every game, remind yourself of this and try not to stress. Besides, putting pressure on yourself won’t help you when it comes to your roleplay.
7Study Your Character
Make Sure To Know Your Role
What do actors do before they shoot their scenes? They study their scripts. In this case, there is no script but your character sheet. Study your character. You should know them better than anybody else so think of their quirks, headcanons, traits and behavours. You’ll need to understand what drives your character and what they care about if you ever want to actually step into their shoes.
Another thing is you can further develop your character too, thinking about the way they act will make it easier when it comes to roleplaying them since you’re already inside their head.
6Do What Comes Naturally
Give Into Instincts
The best actors are also good at improv and what is Dungeons & Dragons about if not improv? There aren’t scripted scenes for you to follow, you’ll be mostly reacting to things as they happen in the moment whether that’s a surprise ambush on your party or anice mellow scene with an NPC.
So you should be training your instincts, allowing yourself to relax and do what comes naturally. you’re able to try and take some improv classes if you’d like that can help you with coming up with things on the fly.
5Give Them Body Language
Body Language Is Everything
Even if you’re not playing in real life, you should try and give your character some body language. As you’re speaking, try to move like how they would. Would they lean in when they ask a question, feigning curiosity? Perhaps they’d look around when they’re telling the party about the forest they’re looking through?
It’s an easy way to immerse yourself in the character and can help you get into their head which can evoke a better performance. This is also a good way to consciously remind yourself how they’re speaking, if your character would be out of breath or perhaps a little quiet as they’re half distracted looking through something.
4Practice Makes Perfect
Try Some Acting Exercises
Though it sounds silly, you’re able to practice at home. How? Just speak as your character for a while as you go throughout your day. Try to do some acting exercises at home or read through scripts and monologues and think about how your character would say them.
You can even just spend five minutes just pretending to talk to your party members or buying something from a merchant. This is even better for new characters that you haven’t gotten the chance to play yet.
3Develop A Voice
Try And Do Some Voice Acting
An important aspect of your characteris their voice. Though you definitely don’t need to have a voice for your D&D character, it can always be helpful to figure out the way they speak, as it can demonstrate a lot about their character. Also, the voice doesn’t have to be elaborate, like a completely foreign accent.
Think about how your character speaks rather than the way they do. Do they speak in a calm and mellow tone? Are they quick and sharp? Is their voice deeper or higher than yours? These are just some questions to consider, and figuring this out will help you in the long term.
2Share The Spotlight
Bounce Off The Other Players
Roleplay is meant to be a back and forth so be sure to share the spotlight with your fellow players. This isn’t just your chance to try and act out some complex character for an entire session. Be sure to let other players get a chance to show off their character. It won’t only help you but it’s just nice etiquette for your table.
As well as this, it may be the chance to help encourage other players into roleplay by letting them have the chance to shine too. Overall, just be aware if you’re hogging too much time and leave some space for others to play their characters too.
1Answer Questions As Your Character
A Great Excercise For Your Roleplay Skills
A great way to improve at acting as well as getting to know your character is to answer questions as them. You can find all sorts of lists online that will be filled with questions to ask of your characters. Although this is usually for writing, you can respond as your character either in your head, on paper or even better, out loud.
This will be able to practice playing your character whilst also coming up with answers about them and their personality, which can give you a better understanding of them and how they could be played at the table.
