Tabletop roleplaying game—it’s in the name!
It seems to come pretty naturally for some people, and I’ve always assumed it must be easier for trained actors. But what about the rest of us? In normal times I’m coming home straight from a long day at work and the subsequent fight through Los Angeles traffic, running through the door and grabbing a snack, logging into Roll20 just in time for the session start.
How can I turn my work brain off and get into the character’s headspace? Even on weekends, channeling a smooth-talking bard or a quick, snarky rogue is more of a stretch for me than playing as my animal-loving, awkward, speak first/think second druid. Roleplaying adds some irreplaceable depth and richness to the game, so I came up with some strategies.
Notes. I know some people get by without notes, but for me, the game changed entirely since I started taking good notes a few years ago. There is a lot to say on this matter but for today, reviewing my notes before a session is essential for getting into character. Where were we last we met? Were we getting a talking-to by Laeral Silverhand? Were we in a dance off against werebears (this is a thing that happened)? Were we surrounded by the kraken cult, facing likely death in the underwater cathedral? It sets the tone for the day and reminds me of my character’s immediate and long-term goals. Keeping the character’s motivation central guides my entire D&D philosophy.
Playlists. I’ve put a Spotify playlist together for each of my characters. I include songs that remind me of her backstory, experiences before and during the campaign, and some essential trait. This was also a huge breakthrough for me, because it’s pretty easy for me to fit into my day. If I’m coming straight from work, I can just blast it in my car.
Closet cosplay. Every year, I plan to put together a real costume for the renaissance faire, with my character as inspiration. Inevitably the faire sneaks up on me and it still hasn’t happened but theoretically, I would love to do a scaled-down cosplay for every session. For now, I have one of these for every character.
It’s just a small visual reminder, something that sets the evening apart from the rest of life.
Mannerisms. Beyond my DMs bringing NPCs to life (which definitely deserves its own post), some of my friends speak with impeccable accents. I can’t maintain one through an entire session but my characters all have a different way of speaking. My centaur druid Rhaena takes a measured, thoughtful tone, choosing her words carefully, considering how centaurs are often regarded with suspicion in the world of Thylea. My Aasimar bardlock Isolde has the courtier background and has a dry sense of humor and aloof mannerisms, which completely melts when she encounters someone in need of help. Elf druid Fae is just excited to be here and wants to talk to everybody, often with unrestrained enthusiasm. If I can just start a session with those firmly in mind, it’s easier for me to keep those up for a while.
Everyone has different D&D styles. Our barbarian is really combat-focused and is happy to leave the talky bits to us, and that’s okay! (Depending on the group and campaign that is, but more on that later.) But for me, it was only once I put the effort into roleplaying that I saw everything ttrpgs had to offer and fell in love with the game.
Dungeons and Doodles | Tales from the Tabletop 