I'm bad at the role playing part, suggest a character or trait to separate the P from the C - eviltoast

Title. Friend group and I play regularly but most of us are bad at the role playing part of it to the point where it’s hard to tell when the player or the character are speaking in some scenes. Conversations are stiff. We can’t use too heavily modified voices because we’re playing remotely. My character is about to die (probably!) so help me pick a character or trait of my new character that someone not comfortable roleplaying can stick to without feeling weird about it!

  • Sandra@idiomdrottning.org
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    1 year ago

    Generosity. Unyielding unflinching generosity. Giving the other NPCs and PCs the attention they need.

    You can also look for ideas in books like Hillfolk (has ideas on how a “dramatic pole” can help, i.e. being torn between two conflicting values like home life vs work) or Play Unsafe (such as playing with status, being a noble or a servant). Play Unsafe also has the wonderful tip to not be afraid to be boring or obvious when improvising, to say the first thing that comes to mind as opposed to trying to force a creative or unique idea, because what you think is gonna be boring may well be super interesting to the other players (and when it’s not, it’s at least something basic and fundamental they can easily build on).

    You can also collaborate with another player for a type of relationship with their character like being their body guard, religious follower, sibling, servant, spouse, teacher, or student. (Only if they’re into it, of course!) Some storytellers over the years have used extremely shallow and two-dimensional characters to great effect over the years simply by having a cast of characters collide with each other—people meeting other people is great story fuel.

    • Case@unilem.org
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      1 year ago

      I would just add not to be worried about dumb choices only earning ire.

      Some, most, of my memories from past campaigns are borne from ideas all the players know were dumb as hell, but the gnome fighter with 3 int (2e) decided to just leroy jenkins a horde of goblins. We were captured which lead to other mishaps.

      If the group doesn’t have at least one break so everyone can get the laughs out and settle so they speak without giggling, I consider it a bit of a failure, personally. Even in a “serious” session.