Thanks to Townsmith for sponsoring this video! Check out The Townbuilder: www.townsmith.de/tb-info ...and use code "GinnyDi" at checkout to get 30% off!
@@thetownsmith3303 Townbuilder looks really amazing, but I haven’t dived into the world of 3D printing yet. If I wanted to start though, is there a not-too-expensive printer you’d recommend for a novice?
@@SumnerHomeVideos If you want to get into terrain printing, I can recommend Creality and their lineup of printers. For most things the Ender 3 pro served us very well here at Townsmith. If you want to get into Miniatures and Resin printing, I would recommend you wait a couple of months. The market is currently being shaken up by larger form factor machines that make use of a new screen technology. Therefore the prices will probably drop and the print sizes rise within the next couple of months. But if you want to get something now, check out the Elegoo Mars or Anycubic Photon!
As great improv/rp tips as those were, Townsmith really made me go 'oh dang thats cool' when you dropped 'em there, that's some rad use of 3d printing.
"One of the most selfish things you can do in role playing is actually doing nothing, it's totally checking out when the story isn't focused on you". That's pretty great advice period, thanks Edit: Spelling
Yes! Nothing makes me happier than when one player is RPing with an NPC and the entire rest of our group is dead silent and listening to every word (and occasionally reacting to some bomb dropped).
As a dm I would counter that if the player's character isn't in the scene it leads to a more genuine kind of telephone scene when the party returns and information is shared, if the player wasn't actively listening when they weren't present. That is not to encourage not paying attention to the game, but to say you don't need to be completely focused in when you are certain that your character isn't involved.
I don't mind that tbh sometimes I'll check out of scenes I don't want to hear especially if my char isn't present. So my char can encounter the scenes or not as it were. I find this useful for accidental meta gaming and for a more genuine role play experience
As someone who has a hard time finding those "ins" or windows to speak when in a large group, having someone come back to you and say "What were you saying before?" is the GREATEST feeling in the world. It shows that even if you're not a super talkative person, your ideas are still valued and you're a part of the team.
my dm's are extremely awesome with that im extremely bad with social cues because im autistic, so they try to make sure im heard when i actually do have ideas
As a DM, I feel it's my duty to do that, especially now when all my games are via Zoom/Discord/Skype. DMs wear many hats and one of them should be Moderator.
I appreciate this too. I'm soft spoken, instinctively wait my turn to speak, currently still a lil newbie at DnD and is in a group with 2 or 3 people who easily dominate conversations cuz they're natural at it and/or they're just louder (they're good peeps but this can be an issue for me). This is more of an issue for me in regular conversations than RP. But even so, someone doing this is honestly really nice and gives me "yay im still part of this" inner vibe; I'm working on being louder/being more assertive. But ya, i def agree
@@r.r815 me tooooo I just started a campaign with more experienced role players and all I can think about is if I’m playing my character well enough or if I’m steam rolling them bc they know what they are doing and I reeeeally dont
@@randomalex5119 So, after he killed your dad, your mother couldn't handle him? Understandable... or your mom told you a story because she couldn't remember which lizard folk drone it was during the solstice celebration. Just saying.
@@jloren4647 oh lol no. Her father died before she was born and her mother died when her daughter was 17 in an orc raid which my character joined a village to defeat. Really good idea though!
When DMing or roleplaying I find myself getting overexcited and talking over shyer folk. When I catch myself doing so I apologize and ask them what they wanted to say. I can hear them instantly lighting up and sharing their thoughts, I feel they wouldn't share otherwise.
As someone who played a low intelligence character, but is naturally inclined to problem solving, I feel you. What I ended up doing was suggesting solutions that were just wrong, and I knew were wrong. It was a little rough at first, but the rest of my party eventually learned that maybe, just maybe, the 6 INT sorcerer was not an idiot savant and they probably shouldn't be trying the solutions he's suggesting. It made for some amusing roleplay while letting me steer the party towards a workable solution without breaking character.
I played a somewhat stereotypical big dumb goron in one campaign, and it was really hard at times to keep my mouth shut. Even with that, he was still one of the most fun characters I've played.
I always play characters with an int bonus because of this. I gave my trickery cleric a con penalty because I knew he needed the intelligence for his cunning and conniving behavior
I do personal rolls with dice to decide if i'd even have a clue about things. Aka should i hold back real life mes' knowledge on the problem so im unsure what the solution is, should i actually speak up, or should i even hinder it. Because of this sometimes my low int characters do have the right idea, but because ive been wrong so often the others don't think it could be right, but hey broken clock and all that. >< it adds a bit of realistic roleplay since even if someones not to smart they will have their knowledge niche.
As someone who is a low intelligence character, but naturally inclined to problem solving in smashy way... uh... whut? Lol, seriously though, I may not be the smartest person at the table but I always “need” to solve problems, even when playing characters that are less than “clued in”. I just love solving puzzles naturally, so it’s a hard habit to break at times.
Our party got invited to dinner, my PC specifically. She figured it was a trap, so we had the Changeling Bard shapeshift and go in my stead. Listening to him nail my characters mannerisms was some of the best 30 minutes of role play I've had, and I wasn't even participating.
My gnome druid, trying to bond wholesomely with the (very shy player) kobold: "DM, before we leave, can we look for flowers and bugs around the stables? " =u= DM: "No. So, anyways..."
Might be worth having a word with the GM out of game. if they don't realise they just shut you down when you were trying to help another player, they need to know it.
@@BlueTressym I ended up leaving that group. It was Immensely railroady despite 3/4 players genuinely wanting to interact and RP when allowed too. Super disapointed, but, the shy player reached out to me a couple of days after the game fell out and we played a couple of Werewolf The Apocalypse games which were SUPER RP heavy, haha. Scheduling became an issue sadly, but, it was a good experience to have. Once I get back into my preferred 32 hour work week I hope I can throw my hat into the DM ring and see if they're still interested in it ☺️
@@Sheghostly the fact that you pay attention to what's going on the table and care about helping others rp is a pretty good indicator for your future as a GM. I hope you get your chance and that it goes well.
@@Sheghostly Even if it weren't about helping out a shy player, A "No" from a DM is usually a bad sign. I mean there are things that are impossible to do, that a DM is free to just say it's impossible, but wanting to do something in game should not be told "No".
A good DM knows when to “Yes, and”. A great DM knows when to STFU. Even if there were other plot points he wanted to get to, who’s to say they couldn’t stumble into that rail WHILE looking for bugs and flowers? If you haven’t watched it yet, watch the GMs of Exandria Roundtable with Matt, Aabria, and Brennan. It’s a master class on the power of letting the table breathe and develop. I think Brennan said something along the lines of “having to use rails in your game can suck, but it sucks less if the rails come from the players.”
When I first started roleplaying, I made the mistake of focusing a little bit *too much* on everybody else's characters. I would just get so drawn into watching others roleplay, especially because they were all so much more experienced than I was. I was too used to consuming a story rather than participating in one. I wanted to learn everything I could about the other PCs mysterious backstories and little character quirks. If I was involved in a scene, I would always swing the conversation around to my character simply asking another character questions about themselves, and not because my character was necessarily supposed to be super curious or suspicious, but because I, the player, was. My own character would rarely have strong reactions to things, because I was too busy dangling metaphorical carrots in front of other characters to see how *they* would react. I thought I was being a generous roleplayer, but I eventually realised that I was making things kinda boring. Not only did I quickly start to lose interest in my own character due to my own neglect of them, I realised that my unselfish playing was actually kinda selfish, because I wasn't letting the other players enjoy everything that me and my character had to offer to the story. I wasn't maintaining a balance. Anyway, thank you for this video, Ginny. Every single tip is super useful. And as one of those "quiet people" who is always waiting for the pause before speaking, it's nice to know that there are some lovely chatterboxes out there who see us and have our backs! :D
The cast of Critical Role is really good at most of these, and I feel like that’s their amazing influence on role playing in general. I’ve been playing D&D since I was little and consistently trying to improve all these skills are SO important!
That, in my opinion, is the real core of why their game is great. It’s less about their acting chops or production quality, and mostly about them being generous and supporting with each other in the story.
"The key is to think beyond just 'what would my character do' and also remember to think 'we're playing a game'". It is so good to hear more people saying this. Too often people use the "its what my character would do" defense for doing things that are really crappy. Acknowledging that their character does not, in fact, actually exist, and that they are collaboratively telling a story with others and need to be considerate of that first would improve everyone's experience. Such a useful video, especially for super anxious players like me who are always afraid of being selfish!
In my experience, I have so little cognitive bandwidth for this sort of thing that, in the moment I struggle to even figure out what my character MIGHT do, or say, or think, in any given situation. There's literally nothing left over for "how does this affect the game". Therefore, in practice, something, ANYTHING is greatly preferable to the awkward silence that typically ensues whenever our DM tries to nudge us to RP a bit more. But that's just me and my stunted ways.
When someone says "thats what my character would do" theres a 90% chance its something they know they SHOULDNT do as a player in a collaborative game. Its at that moment when the table should remind them that they are a player, and to not make the experience shit for everyone else.
This exactly. One of the players in my Friday night game and I got into a big fight a while back because I was getting really angry with her character's behavior, and we had to have a long talk afterward where I had to directly remind her that her character's actions don't live in a vacuum, and the reason I was angry was because her character's actions were directly interfering with mine and making the game not fun for me. She's been better about checking with the other players before doing anything weird now, to be sure she's not affecting the party in a negative way.
Well also people aren't 100% consistent automatons. There's no such thing as "what your character would do" because the same person is likely to have more than one possible thing they could do in a given situation.
I've been there. Best tip I have: "Roll some dice, and look up some tables, wait, then do that again." If you're playing online, let the players see the dice-rolls. Players will notice the dice-rolls, and start wondering what you're looking up. What you are looking up? Oh, the loot they missed for not paying attention to the DM.
@@ThePhoenixpaw Usually when I did this I was finishing prep work I didn't get to. If the topic got too far from the game a simple "okay, now roll initiative" would bring things back.
"If there's another character who has experienced loss.." My character started out as an orphan (so far so stock character) tried to help another party member save his parents, and failed (and constantly apologises for it.) The bromance that grew between them as a result of their shared pain however has been a lot of fun.
I definitely have some of the selfish tendencies when I play and some of these I try to mindful of, but as a human I am also forgetful or get swept up in a moment. At one table we have mostly newer players, so I'm sometimes also trying to fill a gap or silence when I could/should be mentoring someone into that gap or silence. I think what I love about these tips is that they're also just pretty good tips for new roleplayers who need general advice. Not to mention great things for just about anyone at any level of roleplay experience to be reminded of from time to time, I think. I'll likely be recommending this video to all of my fellow players ... and maybe ask a couple of them to call me out when I fall short!
I use a lot of these tips in the current Vampire game I play in on Saturdays. My character is the Sheriff, so the actually has authority over the others, and is constantly scheming (he's a Lasombra) so it's very easy for me to end up dominating the role-play. So whenever things end up focusing on me too long I'll ceade the floor to someone else, or seek out their input on what's going on. I also use my position as the coterie leader to delegate tasks so everyone has something to do
This is how me and my sister grew up as well haha... as a DM I make a point to notice quiet players and engage them when i can, specifically when its something i know they are interested in.. as a player i look to these players and get their help with a task. I should talk about that a little bit on my next making a d&d encounter video as well.
I think also another good tip is don't make assumptions of people's characters or literally make decisions for other people's characters. for example: I have a character that I want to be a bit flirty, maybe even not be a good guy with relationships and cheat on their significant other, but my table as dubbed them as a 'Cute and romantic Himbo' as such whenever I go to do something I want with my character i get a ton of 'Noooooo's' and '(my character's name here) isn't like that' and 'You don't need to do that, you're character is happy' and stuff like that. The DM then proceeds like my character didn't do something. At first i thought it was because they weren't huge fan's of cheating characters, but then they let someone joined who describes their character as cheating on their significant others, so it wasn't that. They've written my character's personality in their minds and don't allow me to express my character how I want or let them have an arch because of it. It's super frustrating and takes me out of the experience
@@fariahcriss5696 Agreed, wtf. Are you less experienced than the other players? I wonder why they feel like they can essentially make decisions for you. Very uncool and you have every right to mention it to your DM -- they should be making sure you have the space to make your own choices for your character, and acknowledging them when you do.
you need to put your foot down and turn to them and say, "Nope, he's doing this" and do it. If the dm ignores you, you need to turn them and say, "Ah hey, I was serious, they're doing this" And if they complain that isn't your character you can kindly remind them that they don't let you do the actions he wants to do. But I agree with others, this is something you need to speak to your dm about so they can back you up when it does happen again.
As an actor DM who plays in games run by less experienced dungeon masters, I worry about if I'm hogging the spotlight constantly. This is the most directly useful D&D video I've seen in years. Thanks!
Every time you swing the conversation back to the quiet person who was interrupted, you make the world a little bit better! Seriously, it helps so much!
“It’s what my character would do” should serve as an invitation and not a justification. It should clue the rest of the party into “something else is going on, maybe we can help.”
Omg, I really needed this. I tend to talk over people a lot with out even realizing, so this is definitely something I need to work on. I liked the tip about finding something my character has in common with the others, I think it's gonna help me to engage with them more in the future. Thank you!
Dude I just was doing a thing with my Changling character where she came to the group in her real form and legit NONE of them, other then my bf who has long time experience with rping, reacted to it. It completely shut down a moment of growth for her. And it's not like I was trying to make it all about me, I had her alone without her other form and she ended up chasing after something. I had made it clear that this was nerve racking for her and the butler character convinced her to show her true form to the group. It's my first campaign and I left because none of the people in the group vibed with the story😅
I think thats probably a problem with managing expectations, if you want things to go the way you've planned and your character to have meaningful growth writing might be more fun, dnd doesn't usually go like that, especially with inexperienced players. You can't really force people to be good roleplayers, it's just about finding a group that matches the style of game you want to play
@@butasimpleidiotwizard D&D can absolutely go in the direction of meaningful growth with inexperienced players! My own group is an example of that; most of us had never played before. It's a little gatekeepy to say to someone who was invested in a game "you're not going to get what you want, maybe you should just take up writing instead." Yes, we do have to be willing to collaborate and not be attached to plot expectations. But I totally understand this person's disappointment -- and it sounds like it was the right choice to leave, unfortunately. OP, you'll find another group that's more RP-focused, and while not every interaction will go how you hoped, it can definitely be more fulfilling
@UC44EPNBjs1H19c-3OPrSEvw True! That would be a perfect moment for the DM to fill them in by saying something like "none of you have ever seen such a thing before" or "a stranger appears in your group and starts talking as if they know you." This player mentioned that they had made it clear that the situation was nerve-wracking for the character, so ideally the DM should pick up on such things. And it's okay to decide to leave because people aren't in tune with each other -- I do think they'll find something that fits them better!
@@annafantasia thank you seriously it sucks tho. I always carry super low expectations but like the dm didn't even try to pull the players together. Like we all did our best to pull ourselves together but he never showed he truely cared about the story unless it was about his self insert
@@annafantasia can you maybe not call me a gatekeeper because I suggested that she might enjoy writing since it doesn't rely on other people having their shit together and she'd get to explore her characters in more depth, that doesn't mean she can't play dnd as well just that when you're invested in your character's development it helps if dnd isn't your only story telling outlet because you are just going to be disappointed, dnd isn't critical role, most groups can't play like that and many struggle to roleplay at all, let alone seriously.
I grew up always being told to quiet down/shut up, and so my D&D career has been years of not getting any kind of spotlight or even any room for roleplay. I've been told to "just speak up", but no matter what, I always got interrupted or talked over. I've left groups because of it. I really hope that eventually I'll get to actually roleplay... but first I need a group to play with u_u
I know the feeling. I've been there, and currently is there, too. For me it became an interesting situation when I was GM'ing. Seeing some of the people who were used to taking up space finding the game grinding to a halt when the GM/DM just waited for silence. Had a player leave the group because they couldn't stand the silence.
I feel the exact same way >.< I always end up having side role plays with people sitting next to me because there's always someone who steam rolls me when I'm trying to finally say something in the main story. I feel like I end up never talking to the DM, with the npcs, even the time I played a bard, trying to branch out and say more. The players around me still would just talk over me, and since I'm so passive, I just let it happen >.
The way I combat being spoken over is directly taking it up with both the DM and the player(s) who might be giving me a hard time interacting in the story/gameplay, of course in a private setting and out of sessions. I know it's easier said than done, but I can 100% recommend taking it up and talking about it, since it's too draining to wait for a chance for others to let you speak, especially if they don't know you need to be given a space to speak out! In my current DnD group, we are only 3 players, but we have one player who can get very very loud and she takes a lot of spotlight at times, especially during NPC conversations. I took this up with her, met her in person, and we talked it over about how anxious I at times got when she interrupted me/my character or downright ceased my character doing an action I ended up taking really personal. Now, she doing so much better, letting other players speak and even actively seeking out our responses on whatever is happening in the gameplay. (Mind you, I am terribly anxious and I hate socializing with people I don't know very well, but if I never got the problem fixed, I knew I would just have left the DnD group all together, so I'd say it's worth to at least try and repair the problems before completely giving up on the group completely)
I understand completely and have had that situation with online groups. I know it may not be, but if possible find an irl group to join. It becomes much more obvious to those around you that you are waiting your turn and if you can get into the roleplaying they may go out of the way to encourage you to speak up because they enjoy it. Even if the players get too into roleplaying and don't give an opening just have a conversation with your dm and explain what you are after. Every other dm I have met loves when the players go out of their way to explain how they feel and their thoughts about the game. That way the dm can know to try to plug in spaces asking what your character would do or thinks. When I dm I want to provide a good experience for everyone involved, and when players pull me aside to talk about the game it both gives me clarity on the situation, but also it helps me learn what clues and details I need to look for and pay attention to, and the better I know the situation the better a dm I can be. I hope you find the group for you, and good luck!
Also, remember some players don't want to roleplay, and are chill just watching you do it. If you invite them to, and they don't, its not a failing on your part, just them not desiring to join.
I will also add on to the point that some times people will play the character that is either focused on something so they don't care to much or they are just playing someone that wants to be alone which is also a hard thing to rp as.
Something I really appreciate in a DM is the ability to use NPCs to engage with the quieter characters. I bet you can still apply these tips as you're running a game to help the shy players be more involved (even something as simple as having a chatty shopkeeper turn to the silent fighter and ask, "you've been awfully quiet. Isn't there anything you might be wanting to purchase today?" etc. And if nothing else, you can share this video with your group and see if that helps.
@@caramelwen137 yeah im not a dm but this is our first dnd campainge amd we're kind of dysfunctional or at least me and another player. i just sent it and told them it was just helpful
THIS. WAS. SO. HELPFUL!! Thank you so much for the tips! I tend to get pretty socially anxious around roleplay and hugging the spotlight, especially as an extrovert, so thank you for handing me the tools to slowly work to fix those issues!
I have been waiting for a video like this for so long. You did great on recapping everything positive around how to be a selfless and inviting person at the table!
I definitely need to work on some of these. As a stage actor, I love the RP side of games. I do tend to back down if someone else also speaks up at the same time, but I know I do also tend to dominate because the others are slightly quieter. One thing my DM does that I really like, is that if more than one person speaks up at once, she'll go through us one by one and ask if we have anything to say or do. Not as organic, but it does give everyone the chance to say or do something they wouldn't have otherwise.
I recently got into D&D and my anxiety makes me think that I’m overtaking the RP a lot... I don’t know if I’m being selfish at all; I tend to go silent when others are role-playing with each other. I do speak when I’m told to and I join in when possible. I’m just... Not very confident in what I’m doing. I know I make mistakes on occasion and I know I’m not perfect, but this video helped me feel a bit more confident. Thank you.
Also, use that to your advantage. If it feels like your character is hogging the spotlight, maybe think about why they tend to do that and add it to your backstory. Then it might give you something to work with story wise.
There was a moment last session, where we had to trick a gargoyle into saying the word trickery, it looke like 30 minutes of me and the dm going back and forwards, with others chipping in. After i got jt, i made my chracter pass out, so everyone else had a chance to speak and do rp. The quiest person at out table made an off hand comment that they attended a fae wedding, so im soooo taking to them next session. My point is, when i started playing i was very loud, and steam rolled people all the time, but im activity trying to get better, and thats all that matters!!! If ur watching this, then u probably allready want to be mlre fun, so well done! Keep going! Ull do amazingly!!
My friends: Why don’t you speak more? You need to come out of your shell Me: Goes to speak and is either ignored or interrupted and talked over. My face when: T_T
I'm like this too. Speaking to my DM has helped us come up with ways to get me some more rp opportunities, since the other people I play with are pretty loud and always talk over eachother and me. I know it feels insulting to have to do this but our solution was sending messages to him so I could do what I want when everyone else is talking over me. Also, it's definitely okay to tell people they're talking over you! Some players won't notice until you do. Have a chat with your DM and see what might work for you ^_^
This is all really good advice! I haven't actually played any tabletop RPGS in a long time, but lately, I've been worried that I might try to be the center of attention without realizing it. I'm going to be playing in a campaign soon where I'm the only experienced player, besides the DM, and I don't want to unintentionally take to fun away by being a selfish roleplayer, especially since it might have have a negative effect on how the first-time players view D&D.
These are all great! We switched to playing on Zoom with the pandemic in March and that distance can also make it difficult to not talk over others, and easier to forget about the quieter players at the table. When we’re not all at the same table, I found everyone needs to work a little harder to push the forward TOGETHER rather than individually, and keeping these in mind is definitely going to help. Something we started doing recently that’s helped a lot is rather than asking “who is taking next watch” is “who do you wake up for next watch” and spurring a little interaction every time. It’s created some great mini moments between characters that don’t typically share scenes
Our group in DND has this problem. I recorded the first game we had in a new game and I was shocked how bad we were talking over eachother. There was two of us that barely talked at all. Thank you so much for the advise, I'm going to try and talk to our DM about it.
Alternative title of this vid: How not to be an Orion Acaba. Lol, in all seriousness though all of these vids are amazing Ginny. Especially for someone like me who is as introverted as they get, drama was NOT a good subject for me in highschool. I hope it's ok but i just made a playlist of most of your RP focused vids. They definitely are helping me to try & flesh out how I'll play my first character (whenever I get to play him, lol).
@@sagesaria Tell me about it. Don't get me wrong, I 100% get that he was going through some health issues (cancer, hiv, etc) at the time but still, the guy did not handle them well/ was a complete douche & it forced Matt & co's hand & he's gone. This isn't even going in to the screwing over of people on Kickstarter or GoFundMe or whichever one it was. Or the mental abuse of his exes.
All great advice. It makes for a more enjoyable game, when players can work together to role play & encourage shy folk to speak up. The bit about constant references is so true! It derails the in-game convo so quick. Occasional bits are fun, but we had to drop a player who would not stop themselves (it was CONSTANT and he outright refused to stop). It's so hard to translate online though! No one in my group can use their cameras bc our internet is too slow to handle it (yay rural mountain community). I can't wait to see my friends irl again
I know I tend to be a "spotlight hog" just by nature of trying to engage the world and characters the DM puts around me. I specifically struggle because, being aware of this, I tend to pause periodically and ask for input from the party but it's like PULLING TEETH. There's one who also is very high-engagement, but the rest we can sit there and try and engage and be met with like 20 seconds of silence. It's so frustrating e_e
Same. I have the same struggle. I actually want to explore the world the DM made and so I talk more and the other players like do the minimum amount of interaction needed just to get to the end of the plot 🤦🏼♀️ and I've been laughed at for it, like sorry I want to be immersed
For interruptions, not breaking your attention from the interrupted speaker is also helpful. When reasonable, don’t give the interruption/interrupter attention. Paired with reorienting attention on the interrupted speaker and coaching for people that have a habit of interrupting, this can be powerful for both parties.
Understanding. Family talks over each other AND expect you to wait your turn. At the gaming table with newer or even green players, I have my character ask their character for what course of action to take; I encourage them to take the wheel on decisions that influence how the story progresses. I also ask other characters to weigh in case they had alternatives to offer. Collaborate and listen so everyone not only are included, but to ensure everyone is heard.
7:21 Be an observer. Story time: One of our most hyped moments in our campaign was the capture of an NPC named Fredrick from our rogue’s past by the group working under the big bad. None of the players were actually there, but the rogue’s familiar was in Fredrick’s pocket because she was just trying to bust him out of prison. This was an actual battle encounter where my husband, the DM, had every turn, but we were so invested in Frederick’s escape that we didn’t care. My husband apologized later, saying he felt like he was just playing “with his own toys” instead of the group, but I think it was one of our most memorable moments in game. After all, the DM is a player, too.
@@annafantasia Fredrick ended up being captured, and we recently found him in a pocket plain the big bad was using as a home base called Aegisylm. We rescued him and escaped, but our monk/sorcerer now has her brain in a jar. She died in the process of fighting the boss’s right-hand, and we resurrected her using a brain in a jar the rogue found very early on in the campaign. 😂
@@annafantasia Luckily she’s Way of the Pacifist and good at things like crotchet: she’s making a sort of sturdy satchel to keep her brain in until we figure out a better plan. 😂
My favorite way to interact with the "memers" is to, in character, ask them what they mean by a "glizzy", or why they think the best way to fight off the enemy horde is to apparently... show them the sights of the town? Is that it? We're fighting a war, Varrin- I don't think the zombies are interested in being "brought around town" or whatever that was. ...It brings back immersion and also, if they aren't just a jackass, immediately kicks off a hilarious scene where they have to justify why their dnd character knows about Wojack.
Just on the Intro but wanted to say, I was raised in a "Never Interupt Others" household and I have found my own solution to being quiet in RPGs. I 'ninja' note the GM (now much easier with texting) my moves and actions while all the other players are all trying to yell over each other and taking hours of real time to plan things. And when, several hours later, they stop and realize that my character is no longer in the room, the boss is dead, and/or the loot chest is empty I just grin at them and shrug. ;)
Interesting idea! Sometimes I agree this makes perfect sense in-character. I think if I was playing with someone who did this a lot, though, I'd get upset about the frequent thunder-stealing. If they don't understand why you're doing it, and if y'all don't talk it out OOC at some point, this could easily backfire on you. Some people prefer a game where everything is talked out. Maybe y'all can come to a compromise or agreement so that you get a word in edgewise!
@@annafantasia Yeah, that could/would get annoying if done a lot, I agree. I only pull out that behavior in situations like, "Hey guys, I know the solution to the riddle you've been thinking about for the past hour RL." and I get "Quiet Marcus, we are trying to solve this riddle" THEN I slowly go off and just do it. ;)
I started doing solo sessions with my dm to do long conversations with npcs i wanted to enjoy so that my team wouldnt have to deal with long conversations. This helped me allow space saying I wasnt on a scene so my team could center stage without me here and there. Then i could enjoy the discourse from a backseat too XD
As someone who is regularly interrupted or ignored in conversations, I genuinely feel like its my duty to speak up for others when they're being interrupted or ignored, especially as a GM
I once saw a video on what good roleplaying attitudes players can learn from Travis Willingham. That video taught me a lot and it's been great noticing that the stuff I learned there really does help make the other players shine. These tips remind me of that video, some overlap, but also some entirely new tips that I'm excited to try out! I'm currently playing in a group of 3 players, where I am the most experienced. It's been wonderful seeing the other players grow out of their shell and the story has gotten to a point where I know their backstories will come up soon. So this is the ideal time to practice ways to make their characters shine!! Thank you, Ginny! You continue to make content that makes this community better
I’m joining a table tomorrow and know I’m a loud and overwhelming person often (who takes over in panic when there is awkwardness/silence) so these tips have been super helpful! Thank you 🙏🏼
Our poor DM is having to come up with epic level rules now, because we have become so comfortable at letting each other have their moments and knowing what those moments are for each character over the last 2 years that we don't want to start a new campaign.
Oh my god! My mother has always said I “commandeer the conversation” and I always feel like my sister in law isn’t as active or included in our roleplay, so I’m here for tips on how to make it more fun for her!!
Thank you for this! So much really helpful advice, and really tactfully phrased as always. This is definitely something I'm going to rewatch a few times so that I can start to internalize these concepts and act on them.
3:50 I really love this idea of interruptions being welcome, but not at the cost of the person who was originally speaking. It seems like a healthy way to make space for shyer and quieter players, without making the louder and more interjection-prone players feel punished or suppressed. side comment, love your videos keep up the good work c:
I don't know if I would call it be less selfish, but you have some very good advice about being more engaged. The biggest problem I can see is for long standing games. If you already fill the role of being the character who is a bit Narcissistic or has been demanding the spotlight, it could break the game if all of a sudden your character has such a dynamic shift in personality. So depending on the situation,it might come down to doing what is expected. When starting a new game or campaign - this is where you can implement the share the spotlight ideas, especially among players you've been with for years. Joining a campaign or starting a new game with players you haven't played with - I usually leave it up to or blame the DM for having selfish or shy characters. The only reason I say that is because when starting a new game or gathering the party, the DM should be using the character motivations - not the games motivations to gather the party together. If the character are all just meeting in a pub and getting hired to kill goblins - most players wont be invested or motivated to help the others players because they aren't really invested in stopping the threat or want to split the reward if they are doing it just for the money. I am guilty of this especially being a player that the DM has played with before and I do my best OOC to help struggling players see why they either want to help (or hinder) the party. I also think to much and have had to play characters that don't just to force myself to not make a plan and allow the other characters to be what they are. Great video and thanks for the tips.
In the campaign I'm in, I play a bard whose best friend is the group's druid and he's also planned to date the party's paladin later on. All three of these PCs are flirty characters and it gets chaotic whenever we're allowed to branch off from the rest of the group during filler sessions- Our characters are called the Th0t Squad- We also have the ability to get the most attention out of the rest of the group if we're not careful, but I always make sure not to get too crazy, the druid is also tasked with keeping my bard and the paladin in check and the paladin can't do a lot of chaotic flirty stuff without needing to go pray so we're only able to be borderline chaotic which is great.
You have said everything that has been on my mind because of some very frustrating experiences at my table recently... These are such great recommendations that are so well expressed. Engagement is so important--"Be a fan of the other characters."
I recently just started playing dnd and it’s a bunch of fun. But I do have anxiety and things like this worry me sometimes since I feel like I do tend to talk a lot, sometimes more so than the experienced dnd players in my party. story telling is also one of my fav things to do so My character has a very intense and kinda detailed backstory, which I’ve been told isn’t good for beginners. The DM has kinda been giving a lot of spotlight to my character because of it I’m sure, he recently made my character have a dream that related to his backstory and gave him a npc that talked to him about it. so we’ve been focusing on him for a while now. Which kinda makes me happy but also very nervous, Bc since it’s my first time, I stumble a bit at role playing and I worry I’m not staying in character well, but this video helped me be aware that this story isn’t only about my character and it honestly kinda takes some of the pressure off. I focus so much on my character backstory and worry that I’m performing well (thanks anxiety) that I forgot that maybe it’s okay to just have a character moment, and let them contemplate it in silence while the other party gets the spotlight. My character is a more quiet person anyway, I just unfortunately am not. But like in your video, it’s my opportunity to let the other more talkative characters have a turn. I know our party is about to travel through our cleric’s hometown, maybe I should keep that in mind and try to ask him how it feels to be going home. I tend to have like, ideas of scenes I want to happen in the next session but I honestly think I should go with the flow more, I’ll have to try that this session Bc it’s a game after all and supposed to be fun! Sorry for the long comment, but thanks for the video, it made me think on a few things and gave me tips to not feel so alone in my nervousness to be perfect when playing, because it’s not all about me lol.
I'll add my own experience to the mix: I'm the guy who unintentionally hogs the spotlight from time to time. We play online, so without being physically present - it can be difficult to 'read' who wants to speak. I became self-concious about it a time when I had spent, what I felt was, too much time doing a minor side-thing alone (Rogue meeting with his Juliet) So after the session, I dm'ed one of the other players and asked about it - to my surprise he very much enjoyed it, and love when I surprise the party with a plan B, C and D - and notes on how to murder everyone in the party, in case someone turns evil/is possessed (Yes, Batman) I brought it up when we prepared for next session and everyone else agreed with him - not that everyone wanted me to hog the spotlight, but that they didn't mind I sometimes did my own thing for a bit, as they actually loved the Noir/Batman-style in contrast with our regular, more light-hearted comedic tone: It was a welcome change of pace every once in a while. Tl;dr - Communicate! Your party might love your selfish roleplay - or they might be frustrated. Taking the initiative to have the discussion will, at the very least, be appreciated in the party and you will be respected for it.
I'm in a group right now that are all lovely people to play with on the whole, but even then there are a few of these that happen in our group too. First is somewhat a mix of "Create balance/Embrace Weakness". This is especially something for Bards and Rogues to keep in mind with expertise, because it feels bad as a player when you have invested a lot into a certain skill (either through character story, game mechanic benefits, or both), and then someone else comes along and just does that better without trying. Expertise is notorious for this, especially in the late game. It sucks when the +2 Charisma Rogue is better at persuading than your +5 Charisma Sorcerer just because they've taken expertise. The other one is "Add, don't subtract", or in our case something I'll call "Shouting down the hallway". We all love RPing scenes with each other, but it's always important to be conscious of when your character is physically present in a scene and who else is there. If you have 2 characters in a scene together while you're elsewhere, try not to just hop in on the conversation while you're still 100ft away from them. For a personal experience thing, I've had it in a campaign where I was exploring with another character, something dramatic happened to them, and before I could even react myself I had two other players jump in and start saying what they're doing. I ended up not actually doing anything in that scene when I should've been the first who could react to it, and as a player that sucked because it felt like I was just pushed to the side. (This last one could also come under "spotlighting" too, and just making sure that you share the spotlight with other players where you can).
This is really great and so incredibly helpful because you provided real, actionable suggestions for how to get around things that I know I do. I'm definitely going to start doing this. Hopefully it will get some of our more reserved players to jump into the action more too! It's always more fun with more people RPing in a scene.
As someone on the opposite side of this (very shy and awkward about role playing), I really appreciate you making a video like this. My group is very nice, but I’d love it if they verbally brought me into the role playing portion a bit more.
I really needed this video. I gotta put more faith in my DM when he switches to other characters point of views and trust that he will come back to me when apropriate.
Just found your channel. I like your content. You relating your struggles with playing a dumb character (while being naturally a problem solver) reminds me of what I did with one of my dumb characters. I would think of a "smart" response and a "dumb" response to situations that my character was in. Then roll Int. Often to hilarious results.
This is an awesome video! I sent it to my players that I DM for, and I'm rewatching it from the mind of a player now to remind myself how to play nice in my other group.
About 11 min: I had a character in 4 who was a halfling warlock. She was curious but easily frightened and would always teleport places she shouldn’t. I’m a paranoid person and it was sooooo hard to not transfer that to my character! Like I knew she shouldn’t port away from the group and hide behind that door but that’s what she would do! It stressed me out so bad! I loved it!
This is well worded, great advice for beginners and veterans. Positive, doesn't talk down to people, and gives great examples. Also a lot of people don't know how to start conversations around this subject with their tabletop rpg group. :D Also a healthy dose of self reflection on my own rp styles with my D&D group. Thank you for this video!
So your making of this video is in itself unselfish. Very thoughtful and nice of you to admit your short comings and work on improving them. Ginny Di levels up with character development. ;)
Just joined a game were me and one other player are very assertive, and the other 4 are newer and shyer. Reviewing this video again to not crush them all game long.
One of the things i would add has to do not with the other players but with the DM. I had a couple of different DMs and i realise that some of them never allow a "rest moment". I dont know how to explain it exactly, but its like they always try to keep the story moving fast. I think in Dnd we should have different levels of pacing. The moments of high stakes, combat, investigation, where the tension is peaked, but we also need moments of quiet, of meditation, of healing, of having fun. This variation is super important. I feel some DMs are so eager to jump straight into plot that we dont have the chance to poleplay those kind of moments and it feels like we arent exploring our characters and relationships between the party enough, or in different scenarios. Sometimes its even hard to poleplay a conversation that would happen in your night watch with other character because the DM just jumps straight to morning without asking or giving time for any conversation to start. So i would say, give the players more time and ask them if they are ready to move on from a scene.
My DM recently pointed out that my character takes up a lot of space during roleplay, which I never initially wanted of course. My enthusiasm takes over during a session which can sometimes lead to me steamrolling over more quite players. Or by creating plothooks which is only interesting for me and one other player, but the rest has to backseat. I want to change that, so these tips are very useful!
I love that these tips are so helpful without being cruel to naturally chatty people! Interruptions and speaking over people can so easily happen by accident, especially when you’re neurodivergent, so it’s great to get actionable tips that don’t make you feel bad about how you work in the process
Oh I RELATE to the bit about Italians talking over each other (and it doesn’t help that I was the only one invested in my first ever game and had to drive the story by myself, so now in a game with people who actually care it’s a hard habit to break)
As someone who has never played a character (the Forever DM) before. I sent this to my entire party after our last session's game where I had 1 character who wants to get on with the story so that he can finish his backstory (this meant he got annoyed at anyone having an RP moment), 1 guy who over RP everything and 1 who tried to steal the spotlight as he wanted to get into every bit of lore as possible.
our group is mostly pretty new apart from the DM and one other player. We've seen that most of the RP is centred around that player mainly because they helm the RP. I've been contributing as much as is suitable but this guide has given me a few ideas to bring in some of the other that are pretty quiet and not so involved. Love the advice keep doing what you do!!
But you know what's so hard? Playing with my mom. She loves watching me create stories, so she helps with fights and lets me go wild. I'm just not sure how to bring her into the story too.
@@olliedayze Make her a "fairy godmother " Someone who pops up from no where and gives the group a "hand" either with useful or useless info or items. Or because you like to go wild in fights, If your players seem like they are about to go down have her appear and save them by teleporting them out. I don't know if she wants to play or if she just wants to help with the creation process. I'm just tossing ideas out there for you. Do what you will with them. ^_^
Every time I watch these vids, my brain keeps going back to Dimension20 and how i love all the cast but seriously, Siobhan Thompson is so good at these. And Emily Axford. Oh my god, that entire cast, just. yes. goals.
God I need this video. I feel like I'm too loud because everyone else at the table is pretty quiet at the table. I need to nudge some of them into taking the spotlight.
This is honestly such a good video with so many good tips! I fear that some people won't click it because "oviously they aren't selfish" but this is all solid advice and a mindset everyone should aquire when roleplaying! It does take practice and it does require reflecting one's own behaviour even if you think of yourself as "not selfish"
Ahh, I grew up in LA, and when I moved to the South to be with my wife, I had a big learning curve to get through adjusting my conversation habits! I had no idea I interrupted all the time because everyone around me did and that was just how conversations went, which ended up shutting her down a lot until we figured out how to address it. Very good tips!
At the risk of seeming toxic, I'd suggest a "Talking Stick" rule... A Talking Stick is just that, a stick or similar object and the person holding the stick "has the turn to speak"... He or she then uses it to say their peace, and then passes it to the next to speak... It's very useful in large groups to be sure everyone gets a roughly equivalent turn to speak their minds... It's traditional to use in clan meetings with Native Americans and other indigenous folks, where the meetings might get heated or the discussions need review from everyone present. AND with Gaming Groups, it's a good excuse to find a tool handle, cut a length from a broom or mop, or just about anything stick-like and decorate it... Pass it around the group, too... each adding their own decorations so that they don't cover up anybody else's BUT they get to add flare, too... When a new member joins, you can even pass the stick to them for decorative additions... sort of a ritual of passage... This gives a VISUAL side to the rotations of speech... AND it makes it that much easier to notice who seems to hold onto the stick longer and who happens to have it more and more often... Besides the GM, who should speak consistently a LOT, just running the game, there might be a Player who seems to hog the spotlight... NOW... this might all work okay in your Game... Some people are lynch-pin personalities, and some group dynamics make up for that... It's alright where it's a healthy part of the group... BUT if it seems a little unfair, then maybe the group needs a discussion about that. ;o)
Thank you, I'm an extrovert with ADD and steam-rolling my fellow players is my worst habit, because I always want to blurt out the thought or idea that just came to me. It's something I'm still working on, and one thing I've been trying is, when the group needs to make a decision, I count to 10 before I speak up to give my fellow players a chance to get their ideas in.
Thanks to Townsmith for sponsoring this video! Check out The Townbuilder: www.townsmith.de/tb-info ...and use code "GinnyDi" at checkout to get 30% off!
Happy to be working with you! We are thrilled to see the Tavern arriving safely at your place :D
@@thetownsmith3303 Townbuilder looks really amazing, but I haven’t dived into the world of 3D printing yet. If I wanted to start though, is there a not-too-expensive printer you’d recommend for a novice?
@@SumnerHomeVideos If you want to get into terrain printing, I can recommend Creality and their lineup of printers. For most things the Ender 3 pro served us very well here at Townsmith.
If you want to get into Miniatures and Resin printing, I would recommend you wait a couple of months. The market is currently being shaken up by larger form factor machines that make use of a new screen technology. Therefore the prices will probably drop and the print sizes rise within the next couple of months.
But if you want to get something now, check out the Elegoo Mars or Anycubic Photon!
As great improv/rp tips as those were, Townsmith really made me go 'oh dang thats cool' when you dropped 'em there, that's some rad use of 3d printing.
Hey Ginny, your link broke, but I still explored Townbuilder! What an insanely cool thing!
"One of the most selfish things you can do in role playing is actually doing nothing, it's totally checking out when the story isn't focused on you".
That's pretty great advice period, thanks
Edit: Spelling
Yes! Nothing makes me happier than when one player is RPing with an NPC and the entire rest of our group is dead silent and listening to every word (and occasionally reacting to some bomb dropped).
As a dm I would counter that if the player's character isn't in the scene it leads to a more genuine kind of telephone scene when the party returns and information is shared, if the player wasn't actively listening when they weren't present. That is not to encourage not paying attention to the game, but to say you don't need to be completely focused in when you are certain that your character isn't involved.
@@NightSwift271 True! I think it depends on the tone of the scene. Information gathering would be different than some very emotional RPing. :)
@@annafantasia I agree with that
I don't mind that tbh sometimes I'll check out of scenes I don't want to hear especially if my char isn't present. So my char can encounter the scenes or not as it were. I find this useful for accidental meta gaming and for a more genuine role play experience
The “How to be Travis Willingham” guide
YOU'RE RIGHT AND YOU SHOULD SAY IT!!
Its true... only missing the gym time I'm guessing he puts in with Joe Manganiello...
True!! I admire how he makes the other players shine while also having good moments for himself
Right!?!
Exp to level 3 has a video that is exactly what you describe.
As someone who has a hard time finding those "ins" or windows to speak when in a large group, having someone come back to you and say "What were you saying before?" is the GREATEST feeling in the world. It shows that even if you're not a super talkative person, your ideas are still valued and you're a part of the team.
my dm's are extremely awesome with that
im extremely bad with social cues because im autistic, so they try to make sure im heard when i actually do have ideas
As a DM, I feel it's my duty to do that, especially now when all my games are via Zoom/Discord/Skype. DMs wear many hats and one of them should be Moderator.
@@RPG_Angie i actually started dming just on saturday, and since i have problems with social cues, my players are almost running the sessions :,)
I appreciate this too. I'm soft spoken, instinctively wait my turn to speak, currently still a lil newbie at DnD and is in a group with 2 or 3 people who easily dominate conversations cuz they're natural at it and/or they're just louder (they're good peeps but this can be an issue for me). This is more of an issue for me in regular conversations than RP. But even so, someone doing this is honestly really nice and gives me "yay im still part of this" inner vibe; I'm working on being louder/being more assertive. But ya, i def agree
@@ancientbasilisk In a helpful way, or are they bulldozing over you?
I'm probably not that selfish, but my anxiety tells me otherwise
I relate to that completely, buddy.
Big mooooooooood
Oh I'm not the only one? This is literally all I think about when playing lmao
@@r.r815 me tooooo I just started a campaign with more experienced role players and all I can think about is if I’m playing my character well enough or if I’m steam rolling them bc they know what they are doing and I reeeeally dont
I would like your comment but it’s currently at 69 and I don’t wanna ruin it
"Or, let's say your character lost their parents."
Boom, every D&D character has something in common right there. xD
Never had that... Ok, one lol.
I play a character who calls his ma frequently with sending just to check up on her. It's great
Mine is a half dragon who's dad (silver dragon) was slayed and mother died when she was 17.
@@randomalex5119 So, after he killed your dad, your mother couldn't handle him? Understandable... or your mom told you a story because she couldn't remember which lizard folk drone it was during the solstice celebration. Just saying.
@@jloren4647 oh lol no. Her father died before she was born and her mother died when her daughter was 17 in an orc raid which my character joined a village to defeat. Really good idea though!
The fact that I feel kinda personally called out by all of these points is proof of just how much I needed to see it - this video is super helpful!
When DMing or roleplaying I find myself getting overexcited and talking over shyer folk. When I catch myself doing so I apologize and ask them what they wanted to say. I can hear them instantly lighting up and sharing their thoughts, I feel they wouldn't share otherwise.
I mean, you recognise the issue and apologise, I do it as well
As someone who played a low intelligence character, but is naturally inclined to problem solving, I feel you. What I ended up doing was suggesting solutions that were just wrong, and I knew were wrong. It was a little rough at first, but the rest of my party eventually learned that maybe, just maybe, the 6 INT sorcerer was not an idiot savant and they probably shouldn't be trying the solutions he's suggesting. It made for some amusing roleplay while letting me steer the party towards a workable solution without breaking character.
I played a somewhat stereotypical big dumb goron in one campaign, and it was really hard at times to keep my mouth shut. Even with that, he was still one of the most fun characters I've played.
I always play characters with an int bonus because of this. I gave my trickery cleric a con penalty because I knew he needed the intelligence for his cunning and conniving behavior
This made me laugh out loud. Brilliant. You're actually helping them rule things out!
I do personal rolls with dice to decide if i'd even have a clue about things. Aka should i hold back real life mes' knowledge on the problem so im unsure what the solution is, should i actually speak up, or should i even hinder it. Because of this sometimes my low int characters do have the right idea, but because ive been wrong so often the others don't think it could be right, but hey broken clock and all that. >< it adds a bit of realistic roleplay since even if someones not to smart they will have their knowledge niche.
As someone who is a low intelligence character, but naturally inclined to problem solving in smashy way... uh... whut?
Lol, seriously though, I may not be the smartest person at the table but I always “need” to solve problems, even when playing characters that are less than “clued in”. I just love solving puzzles naturally, so it’s a hard habit to break at times.
Our party got invited to dinner, my PC specifically. She figured it was a trap, so we had the Changeling Bard shapeshift and go in my stead. Listening to him nail my characters mannerisms was some of the best 30 minutes of role play I've had, and I wasn't even participating.
My gnome druid, trying to bond wholesomely with the (very shy player) kobold: "DM, before we leave, can we look for flowers and bugs around the stables? " =u=
DM: "No. So, anyways..."
Might be worth having a word with the GM out of game. if they don't realise they just shut you down when you were trying to help another player, they need to know it.
@@BlueTressym I ended up leaving that group. It was Immensely railroady despite 3/4 players genuinely wanting to interact and RP when allowed too. Super disapointed, but, the shy player reached out to me a couple of days after the game fell out and we played a couple of Werewolf The Apocalypse games which were SUPER RP heavy, haha. Scheduling became an issue sadly, but, it was a good experience to have.
Once I get back into my preferred 32 hour work week I hope I can throw my hat into the DM ring and see if they're still interested in it ☺️
@@Sheghostly the fact that you pay attention to what's going on the table and care about helping others rp is a pretty good indicator for your future as a GM. I hope you get your chance and that it goes well.
@@Sheghostly Even if it weren't about helping out a shy player, A "No" from a DM is usually a bad sign. I mean there are things that are impossible to do, that a DM is free to just say it's impossible, but wanting to do something in game should not be told "No".
A good DM knows when to “Yes, and”. A great DM knows when to STFU. Even if there were other plot points he wanted to get to, who’s to say they couldn’t stumble into that rail WHILE looking for bugs and flowers?
If you haven’t watched it yet, watch the GMs of Exandria Roundtable with Matt, Aabria, and Brennan. It’s a master class on the power of letting the table breathe and develop. I think Brennan said something along the lines of “having to use rails in your game can suck, but it sucks less if the rails come from the players.”
When I first started roleplaying, I made the mistake of focusing a little bit *too much* on everybody else's characters. I would just get so drawn into watching others roleplay, especially because they were all so much more experienced than I was. I was too used to consuming a story rather than participating in one. I wanted to learn everything I could about the other PCs mysterious backstories and little character quirks. If I was involved in a scene, I would always swing the conversation around to my character simply asking another character questions about themselves, and not because my character was necessarily supposed to be super curious or suspicious, but because I, the player, was. My own character would rarely have strong reactions to things, because I was too busy dangling metaphorical carrots in front of other characters to see how *they* would react. I thought I was being a generous roleplayer, but I eventually realised that I was making things kinda boring. Not only did I quickly start to lose interest in my own character due to my own neglect of them, I realised that my unselfish playing was actually kinda selfish, because I wasn't letting the other players enjoy everything that me and my character had to offer to the story. I wasn't maintaining a balance. Anyway, thank you for this video, Ginny. Every single tip is super useful. And as one of those "quiet people" who is always waiting for the pause before speaking, it's nice to know that there are some lovely chatterboxes out there who see us and have our backs! :D
The cast of Critical Role is really good at most of these, and I feel like that’s their amazing influence on role playing in general. I’ve been playing D&D since I was little and consistently trying to improve all these skills are SO important!
At first I was wondering what Frumpkin had to do with the video. :D
Cat??
@@markg5611 Oh fudge! Thank you! I’ll edit cat to cast! 🤦♀️🤣
That, in my opinion, is the real core of why their game is great. It’s less about their acting chops or production quality, and mostly about them being generous and supporting with each other in the story.
Marisha and Sam could work on not interrupting but overall they have gotten much better
"The key is to think beyond just 'what would my character do' and also remember to think 'we're playing a game'". It is so good to hear more people saying this. Too often people use the "its what my character would do" defense for doing things that are really crappy. Acknowledging that their character does not, in fact, actually exist, and that they are collaboratively telling a story with others and need to be considerate of that first would improve everyone's experience. Such a useful video, especially for super anxious players like me who are always afraid of being selfish!
In my experience, I have so little cognitive bandwidth for this sort of thing that, in the moment I struggle to even figure out what my character MIGHT do, or say, or think, in any given situation. There's literally nothing left over for "how does this affect the game". Therefore, in practice, something, ANYTHING is greatly preferable to the awkward silence that typically ensues whenever our DM tries to nudge us to RP a bit more. But that's just me and my stunted ways.
When someone says "thats what my character would do" theres a 90% chance its something they know they SHOULDNT do as a player in a collaborative game. Its at that moment when the table should remind them that they are a player, and to not make the experience shit for everyone else.
This exactly. One of the players in my Friday night game and I got into a big fight a while back because I was getting really angry with her character's behavior, and we had to have a long talk afterward where I had to directly remind her that her character's actions don't live in a vacuum, and the reason I was angry was because her character's actions were directly interfering with mine and making the game not fun for me. She's been better about checking with the other players before doing anything weird now, to be sure she's not affecting the party in a negative way.
The philosophy behind my “don’t be a dick” rule explained more succinctly than I could ever
Well also people aren't 100% consistent automatons. There's no such thing as "what your character would do" because the same person is likely to have more than one possible thing they could do in a given situation.
"We've all experienced being interrupted or ignored"... Now, imagine that you're the DM. Am I the only one who faced this?
I've been there.
Best tip I have: "Roll some dice, and look up some tables, wait, then do that again." If you're playing online, let the players see the dice-rolls.
Players will notice the dice-rolls, and start wondering what you're looking up.
What you are looking up? Oh, the loot they missed for not paying attention to the DM.
I can relate to that as a DM, Player and a Human Being. I then tend to just shut up.
All of the time with my main group but theyve had it beaten out of them xD
@@ThePhoenixpaw Usually when I did this I was finishing prep work I didn't get to. If the topic got too far from the game a simple "okay, now roll initiative" would bring things back.
Well, I just say "Hey, shut up i'm talking" and it works.
"If there's another character who has experienced loss.."
My character started out as an orphan (so far so stock character) tried to help another party member save his parents, and failed (and constantly apologises for it.) The bromance that grew between them as a result of their shared pain however has been a lot of fun.
I definitely have some of the selfish tendencies when I play and some of these I try to mindful of, but as a human I am also forgetful or get swept up in a moment. At one table we have mostly newer players, so I'm sometimes also trying to fill a gap or silence when I could/should be mentoring someone into that gap or silence.
I think what I love about these tips is that they're also just pretty good tips for new roleplayers who need general advice. Not to mention great things for just about anyone at any level of roleplay experience to be reminded of from time to time, I think. I'll likely be recommending this video to all of my fellow players ... and maybe ask a couple of them to call me out when I fall short!
If I wanted to play an homebrew hybrid human oyster character, would that make me a shellfish player?
Good one XD
Must be a bard, cuz that's 2d4 psychic damage
Yes! You'd have to make sure you don't mussel into other people's conversations too much; it's often better to just clam up and sea what happens.
PFFT-
@@annafantasia I wish I had comedy skills like yours, lol.
The fact that you add an example after each tips, is really clever and show really the point :-p
I use a lot of these tips in the current Vampire game I play in on Saturdays. My character is the Sheriff, so the actually has authority over the others, and is constantly scheming (he's a Lasombra) so it's very easy for me to end up dominating the role-play. So whenever things end up focusing on me too long I'll ceade the floor to someone else, or seek out their input on what's going on. I also use my position as the coterie leader to delegate tasks so everyone has something to do
Always best to operate behind the scenes anyway. ^_^
This is how me and my sister grew up as well haha... as a DM I make a point to notice quiet players and engage them when i can, specifically when its something i know they are interested in.. as a player i look to these players and get their help with a task. I should talk about that a little bit on my next making a d&d encounter video as well.
I think also another good tip is don't make assumptions of people's characters or literally make decisions for other people's characters.
for example: I have a character that I want to be a bit flirty, maybe even not be a good guy with relationships and cheat on their significant other, but my table as dubbed them as a 'Cute and romantic Himbo'
as such whenever I go to do something I want with my character i get a ton of 'Noooooo's' and '(my character's name here) isn't like that' and 'You don't need to do that, you're character is happy' and stuff like that. The DM then proceeds like my character didn't do something. At first i thought it was because they weren't huge fan's of cheating characters, but then they let someone joined who describes their character as cheating on their significant others, so it wasn't that.
They've written my character's personality in their minds and don't allow me to express my character how I want or let them have an arch because of it. It's super frustrating and takes me out of the experience
That's something you may want to talk to your dm about if you haven't already. That's shouldn't happen at anyone's table
@@fariahcriss5696 Agreed, wtf. Are you less experienced than the other players? I wonder why they feel like they can essentially make decisions for you. Very uncool and you have every right to mention it to your DM -- they should be making sure you have the space to make your own choices for your character, and acknowledging them when you do.
you need to put your foot down and turn to them and say, "Nope, he's doing this" and do it.
If the dm ignores you, you need to turn them and say, "Ah hey, I was serious, they're doing this"
And if they complain that isn't your character you can kindly remind them that they don't let you do the actions he wants to do.
But I agree with others, this is something you need to speak to your dm about so they can back you up when it does happen again.
I am one of those quiet people that gets steamrolled. Thank you for this video.
As an actor DM who plays in games run by less experienced dungeon masters, I worry about if I'm hogging the spotlight constantly. This is the most directly useful D&D video I've seen in years. Thanks!
Every time you swing the conversation back to the quiet person who was interrupted, you make the world a little bit better! Seriously, it helps so much!
"The key is to think beyond just 'what would my character do' ..." More people need to hear that.
“It’s what my character would do” should serve as an invitation and not a justification. It should clue the rest of the party into “something else is going on, maybe we can help.”
Omg, I really needed this. I tend to talk over people a lot with out even realizing, so this is definitely something I need to work on. I liked the tip about finding something my character has in common with the others, I think it's gonna help me to engage with them more in the future. Thank you!
Not only are these great RP tips but also great people communication tips in general. Thanks Ginny!
Dude I just was doing a thing with my Changling character where she came to the group in her real form and legit NONE of them, other then my bf who has long time experience with rping, reacted to it. It completely shut down a moment of growth for her. And it's not like I was trying to make it all about me, I had her alone without her other form and she ended up chasing after something. I had made it clear that this was nerve racking for her and the butler character convinced her to show her true form to the group. It's my first campaign and I left because none of the people in the group vibed with the story😅
I think thats probably a problem with managing expectations, if you want things to go the way you've planned and your character to have meaningful growth writing might be more fun, dnd doesn't usually go like that, especially with inexperienced players. You can't really force people to be good roleplayers, it's just about finding a group that matches the style of game you want to play
@@butasimpleidiotwizard D&D can absolutely go in the direction of meaningful growth with inexperienced players! My own group is an example of that; most of us had never played before. It's a little gatekeepy to say to someone who was invested in a game "you're not going to get what you want, maybe you should just take up writing instead." Yes, we do have to be willing to collaborate and not be attached to plot expectations. But I totally understand this person's disappointment -- and it sounds like it was the right choice to leave, unfortunately. OP, you'll find another group that's more RP-focused, and while not every interaction will go how you hoped, it can definitely be more fulfilling
@UC44EPNBjs1H19c-3OPrSEvw True! That would be a perfect moment for the DM to fill them in by saying something like "none of you have ever seen such a thing before" or "a stranger appears in your group and starts talking as if they know you." This player mentioned that they had made it clear that the situation was nerve-wracking for the character, so ideally the DM should pick up on such things. And it's okay to decide to leave because people aren't in tune with each other -- I do think they'll find something that fits them better!
@@annafantasia thank you seriously it sucks tho. I always carry super low expectations but like the dm didn't even try to pull the players together. Like we all did our best to pull ourselves together but he never showed he truely cared about the story unless it was about his self insert
@@annafantasia can you maybe not call me a gatekeeper because I suggested that she might enjoy writing since it doesn't rely on other people having their shit together and she'd get to explore her characters in more depth, that doesn't mean she can't play dnd as well just that when you're invested in your character's development it helps if dnd isn't your only story telling outlet because you are just going to be disappointed, dnd isn't critical role, most groups can't play like that and many struggle to roleplay at all, let alone seriously.
I grew up always being told to quiet down/shut up, and so my D&D career has been years of not getting any kind of spotlight or even any room for roleplay. I've been told to "just speak up", but no matter what, I always got interrupted or talked over. I've left groups because of it. I really hope that eventually I'll get to actually roleplay... but first I need a group to play with u_u
I know the feeling. I've been there, and currently is there, too.
For me it became an interesting situation when I was GM'ing. Seeing some of the people who were used to taking up space finding the game grinding to a halt when the GM/DM just waited for silence. Had a player leave the group because they couldn't stand the silence.
I feel the exact same way >.< I always end up having side role plays with people sitting next to me because there's always someone who steam rolls me when I'm trying to finally say something in the main story. I feel like I end up never talking to the DM, with the npcs, even the time I played a bard, trying to branch out and say more. The players around me still would just talk over me, and since I'm so passive, I just let it happen >.
The way I combat being spoken over is directly taking it up with both the DM and the player(s) who might be giving me a hard time interacting in the story/gameplay, of course in a private setting and out of sessions. I know it's easier said than done, but I can 100% recommend taking it up and talking about it, since it's too draining to wait for a chance for others to let you speak, especially if they don't know you need to be given a space to speak out!
In my current DnD group, we are only 3 players, but we have one player who can get very very loud and she takes a lot of spotlight at times, especially during NPC conversations. I took this up with her, met her in person, and we talked it over about how anxious I at times got when she interrupted me/my character or downright ceased my character doing an action I ended up taking really personal. Now, she doing so much better, letting other players speak and even actively seeking out our responses on whatever is happening in the gameplay.
(Mind you, I am terribly anxious and I hate socializing with people I don't know very well, but if I never got the problem fixed, I knew I would just have left the DnD group all together, so I'd say it's worth to at least try and repair the problems before completely giving up on the group completely)
I understand completely and have had that situation with online groups. I know it may not be, but if possible find an irl group to join. It becomes much more obvious to those around you that you are waiting your turn and if you can get into the roleplaying they may go out of the way to encourage you to speak up because they enjoy it. Even if the players get too into roleplaying and don't give an opening just have a conversation with your dm and explain what you are after. Every other dm I have met loves when the players go out of their way to explain how they feel and their thoughts about the game. That way the dm can know to try to plug in spaces asking what your character would do or thinks. When I dm I want to provide a good experience for everyone involved, and when players pull me aside to talk about the game it both gives me clarity on the situation, but also it helps me learn what clues and details I need to look for and pay attention to, and the better I know the situation the better a dm I can be. I hope you find the group for you, and good luck!
Geez, we're looking for two more members if you are still looking, I'm called the eternal GM, so you're welcome to join
Thanks! My online session is today and I'm the bard, so this video could not have been timed better
Also, remember some players don't want to roleplay, and are chill just watching you do it. If you invite them to, and they don't, its not a failing on your part, just them not desiring to join.
Its okay to have audience, but when all players are audience members then you have a problem.
@@CathrineMacNiel Matthew Colville?
@@c.mitchell2900 absolutely. He is my spirit guide.
@@CathrineMacNiel Hell yeah.
I will also add on to the point that some times people will play the character that is either focused on something so they don't care to much or they are just playing someone that wants to be alone which is also a hard thing to rp as.
Well, my Players really could use the advice...
I was thinking the exact same thing lol
If you're a DM it's okay to tell the players that. Ours do it, since we play online and everyone can't talk at once.
Something I really appreciate in a DM is the ability to use NPCs to engage with the quieter characters. I bet you can still apply these tips as you're running a game to help the shy players be more involved (even something as simple as having a chatty shopkeeper turn to the silent fighter and ask, "you've been awfully quiet. Isn't there anything you might be wanting to purchase today?" etc. And if nothing else, you can share this video with your group and see if that helps.
@@caramelwen137 yeah im not a dm but this is our first dnd campainge amd we're kind of dysfunctional or at least me and another player. i just sent it and told them it was just helpful
THIS. WAS. SO. HELPFUL!! Thank you so much for the tips! I tend to get pretty socially anxious around roleplay and hugging the spotlight, especially as an extrovert, so thank you for handing me the tools to slowly work to fix those issues!
I have been waiting for a video like this for so long. You did great on recapping everything positive around how to be a selfless and inviting person at the table!
I definitely need to work on some of these. As a stage actor, I love the RP side of games. I do tend to back down if someone else also speaks up at the same time, but I know I do also tend to dominate because the others are slightly quieter.
One thing my DM does that I really like, is that if more than one person speaks up at once, she'll go through us one by one and ask if we have anything to say or do. Not as organic, but it does give everyone the chance to say or do something they wouldn't have otherwise.
I recently got into D&D and my anxiety makes me think that I’m overtaking the RP a lot... I don’t know if I’m being selfish at all; I tend to go silent when others are role-playing with each other. I do speak when I’m told to and I join in when possible. I’m just... Not very confident in what I’m doing.
I know I make mistakes on occasion and I know I’m not perfect, but this video helped me feel a bit more confident. Thank you.
Also, use that to your advantage. If it feels like your character is hogging the spotlight, maybe think about why they tend to do that and add it to your backstory. Then it might give you something to work with story wise.
This is such good advice for so many social situations. Everyone wants to be validated. Missed you today on Discord. Hope you're okay.
There was a moment last session, where we had to trick a gargoyle into saying the word trickery, it looke like 30 minutes of me and the dm going back and forwards, with others chipping in. After i got jt, i made my chracter pass out, so everyone else had a chance to speak and do rp. The quiest person at out table made an off hand comment that they attended a fae wedding, so im soooo taking to them next session.
My point is, when i started playing i was very loud, and steam rolled people all the time, but im activity trying to get better, and thats all that matters!!!
If ur watching this, then u probably allready want to be mlre fun, so well done! Keep going! Ull do amazingly!!
Super helpful tips, thank you!!!! As a quieter player, this also gave me some ideas for speaking up a bit more. ♥
"Invite others in..." is advice that turns talkative role players into great DMs.
My friends: Why don’t you speak more? You need to come out of your shell
Me: Goes to speak and is either ignored or interrupted and talked over.
My face when: T_T
I'm like this too. Speaking to my DM has helped us come up with ways to get me some more rp opportunities, since the other people I play with are pretty loud and always talk over eachother and me.
I know it feels insulting to have to do this but our solution was sending messages to him so I could do what I want when everyone else is talking over me.
Also, it's definitely okay to tell people they're talking over you! Some players won't notice until you do.
Have a chat with your DM and see what might work for you ^_^
This is all really good advice! I haven't actually played any tabletop RPGS in a long time, but lately, I've been worried that I might try to be the center of attention without realizing it. I'm going to be playing in a campaign soon where I'm the only experienced player, besides the DM, and I don't want to unintentionally take to fun away by being a selfish roleplayer, especially since it might have have a negative effect on how the first-time players view D&D.
These are all great! We switched to playing on Zoom with the pandemic in March and that distance can also make it difficult to not talk over others, and easier to forget about the quieter players at the table. When we’re not all at the same table, I found everyone needs to work a little harder to push the forward TOGETHER rather than individually, and keeping these in mind is definitely going to help.
Something we started doing recently that’s helped a lot is rather than asking “who is taking next watch” is “who do you wake up for next watch” and spurring a little interaction every time. It’s created some great mini moments between characters that don’t typically share scenes
Our group in DND has this problem. I recorded the first game we had in a new game and I was shocked how bad we were talking over eachother. There was two of us that barely talked at all. Thank you so much for the advise, I'm going to try and talk to our DM about it.
How did the conversation go with your dm? Did it change for the better?
Alternative title of this vid: How not to be an Orion Acaba.
Lol, in all seriousness though all of these vids are amazing Ginny. Especially for someone like me who is as introverted as they get, drama was NOT a good subject for me in highschool. I hope it's ok but i just made a playlist of most of your RP focused vids. They definitely are helping me to try & flesh out how I'll play my first character (whenever I get to play him, lol).
GOD, I hate how right you are. I wanted to punch Orion so hard in the final episode of Critical Role he was on.
@@sagesaria Tell me about it. Don't get me wrong, I 100% get that he was going through some health issues (cancer, hiv, etc) at the time but still, the guy did not handle them well/ was a complete douche & it forced Matt & co's hand & he's gone. This isn't even going in to the screwing over of people on Kickstarter or GoFundMe or whichever one it was. Or the mental abuse of his exes.
All great advice. It makes for a more enjoyable game, when players can work together to role play & encourage shy folk to speak up. The bit about constant references is so true! It derails the in-game convo so quick. Occasional bits are fun, but we had to drop a player who would not stop themselves (it was CONSTANT and he outright refused to stop).
It's so hard to translate online though! No one in my group can use their cameras bc our internet is too slow to handle it (yay rural mountain community). I can't wait to see my friends irl again
I know I tend to be a "spotlight hog" just by nature of trying to engage the world and characters the DM puts around me.
I specifically struggle because, being aware of this, I tend to pause periodically and ask for input from the party but it's like PULLING TEETH. There's one who also is very high-engagement, but the rest we can sit there and try and engage and be met with like 20 seconds of silence.
It's so frustrating e_e
Yo I feel this so hard
Same. I have the same struggle. I actually want to explore the world the DM made and so I talk more and the other players like do the minimum amount of interaction needed just to get to the end of the plot 🤦🏼♀️ and I've been laughed at for it, like sorry I want to be immersed
I feel this so hard man
For interruptions, not breaking your attention from the interrupted speaker is also helpful. When reasonable, don’t give the interruption/interrupter attention. Paired with reorienting attention on the interrupted speaker and coaching for people that have a habit of interrupting, this can be powerful for both parties.
Understanding. Family talks over each other AND expect you to wait your turn. At the gaming table with newer or even green players, I have my character ask their character for what course of action to take; I encourage them to take the wheel on decisions that influence how the story progresses. I also ask other characters to weigh in case they had alternatives to offer. Collaborate and listen so everyone not only are included, but to ensure everyone is heard.
7:21 Be an observer.
Story time:
One of our most hyped moments in our campaign was the capture of an NPC named Fredrick from our rogue’s past by the group working under the big bad. None of the players were actually there, but the rogue’s familiar was in Fredrick’s pocket because she was just trying to bust him out of prison. This was an actual battle encounter where my husband, the DM, had every turn, but we were so invested in Frederick’s escape that we didn’t care. My husband apologized later, saying he felt like he was just playing “with his own toys” instead of the group, but I think it was one of our most memorable moments in game. After all, the DM is a player, too.
What happened??? Now I'm invested, too.
@@annafantasia Fredrick ended up being captured, and we recently found him in a pocket plain the big bad was using as a home base called Aegisylm. We rescued him and escaped, but our monk/sorcerer now has her brain in a jar. She died in the process of fighting the boss’s right-hand, and we resurrected her using a brain in a jar the rogue found very early on in the campaign. 😂
@@phoenix_raven91 Hahaha! Peak D&D. Well I'm relieved for Frederick, but awfully sorry for the monk brain jar sorcerer... sounds rather tenuous... XD
@@annafantasia Luckily she’s Way of the Pacifist and good at things like crotchet: she’s making a sort of sturdy satchel to keep her brain in until we figure out a better plan. 😂
My favorite way to interact with the "memers" is to, in character, ask them what they mean by a "glizzy", or why they think the best way to fight off the enemy horde is to apparently... show them the sights of the town? Is that it? We're fighting a war, Varrin- I don't think the zombies are interested in being "brought around town" or whatever that was. ...It brings back immersion and also, if they aren't just a jackass, immediately kicks off a hilarious scene where they have to justify why their dnd character knows about Wojack.
How is it that every video leaves me saying "Thank you Ginny"?
Thank you Ginny!
I really appreciate your wholesome and friendship-focused approach to tabletop gaming.
Just on the Intro but wanted to say, I was raised in a "Never Interupt Others" household and I have found my own solution to being quiet in RPGs. I 'ninja' note the GM (now much easier with texting) my moves and actions while all the other players are all trying to yell over each other and taking hours of real time to plan things. And when, several hours later, they stop and realize that my character is no longer in the room, the boss is dead, and/or the loot chest is empty I just grin at them and shrug. ;)
My online group does this all the time via discord. We even straight up have character interactions via text chat sometimes.
Interesting idea! Sometimes I agree this makes perfect sense in-character. I think if I was playing with someone who did this a lot, though, I'd get upset about the frequent thunder-stealing. If they don't understand why you're doing it, and if y'all don't talk it out OOC at some point, this could easily backfire on you. Some people prefer a game where everything is talked out. Maybe y'all can come to a compromise or agreement so that you get a word in edgewise!
@@annafantasia Yeah, that could/would get annoying if done a lot, I agree. I only pull out that behavior in situations like, "Hey guys, I know the solution to the riddle you've been thinking about for the past hour RL." and I get "Quiet Marcus, we are trying to solve this riddle" THEN I slowly
go off and just do it. ;)
@@marcusdire8057 Hahahaha fair play!!
I started doing solo sessions with my dm to do long conversations with npcs i wanted to enjoy so that my team wouldnt have to deal with long conversations. This helped me allow space saying I wasnt on a scene so my team could center stage without me here and there. Then i could enjoy the discourse from a backseat too XD
As someone who is regularly interrupted or ignored in conversations, I genuinely feel like its my duty to speak up for others when they're being interrupted or ignored, especially as a GM
I once saw a video on what good roleplaying attitudes players can learn from Travis Willingham. That video taught me a lot and it's been great noticing that the stuff I learned there really does help make the other players shine.
These tips remind me of that video, some overlap, but also some entirely new tips that I'm excited to try out!
I'm currently playing in a group of 3 players, where I am the most experienced. It's been wonderful seeing the other players grow out of their shell and the story has gotten to a point where I know their backstories will come up soon. So this is the ideal time to practice ways to make their characters shine!!
Thank you, Ginny! You continue to make content that makes this community better
I’m joining a table tomorrow and know I’m a loud and overwhelming person often (who takes over in panic when there is awkwardness/silence) so these tips have been super helpful! Thank you 🙏🏼
Our poor DM is having to come up with epic level rules now, because we have become so comfortable at letting each other have their moments and knowing what those moments are for each character over the last 2 years that we don't want to start a new campaign.
Oh my god! My mother has always said I “commandeer the conversation” and I always feel like my sister in law isn’t as active or included in our roleplay, so I’m here for tips on how to make it more fun for her!!
Thank you for this! So much really helpful advice, and really tactfully phrased as always. This is definitely something I'm going to rewatch a few times so that I can start to internalize these concepts and act on them.
3:50 I really love this idea of interruptions being welcome, but not at the cost of the person who was originally speaking. It seems like a healthy way to make space for shyer and quieter players, without making the louder and more interjection-prone players feel punished or suppressed.
side comment, love your videos keep up the good work c:
I don't know if I would call it be less selfish, but you have some very good advice about being more engaged.
The biggest problem I can see is for long standing games. If you already fill the role of being the character who is a bit Narcissistic or has been demanding the spotlight, it could break the game if all of a sudden your character has such a dynamic shift in personality. So depending on the situation,it might come down to doing what is expected.
When starting a new game or campaign - this is where you can implement the share the spotlight ideas, especially among players you've been with for years. Joining a campaign or starting a new game with players you haven't played with - I usually leave it up to or blame the DM for having selfish or shy characters. The only reason I say that is because when starting a new game or gathering the party, the DM should be using the character motivations - not the games motivations to gather the party together. If the character are all just meeting in a pub and getting hired to kill goblins - most players wont be invested or motivated to help the others players because they aren't really invested in stopping the threat or want to split the reward if they are doing it just for the money.
I am guilty of this especially being a player that the DM has played with before and I do my best OOC to help struggling players see why they either want to help (or hinder) the party. I also think to much and have had to play characters that don't just to force myself to not make a plan and allow the other characters to be what they are.
Great video and thanks for the tips.
In the campaign I'm in, I play a bard whose best friend is the group's druid and he's also planned to date the party's paladin later on. All three of these PCs are flirty characters and it gets chaotic whenever we're allowed to branch off from the rest of the group during filler sessions-
Our characters are called the Th0t Squad-
We also have the ability to get the most attention out of the rest of the group if we're not careful, but I always make sure not to get too crazy, the druid is also tasked with keeping my bard and the paladin in check and the paladin can't do a lot of chaotic flirty stuff without needing to go pray so we're only able to be borderline chaotic which is great.
This is awesome, thank you! I'm fairly new to roleplaying and I'm trying to be aware of this kind of thing. These will be really helpful :)
You have said everything that has been on my mind because of some very frustrating experiences at my table recently... These are such great recommendations that are so well expressed. Engagement is so important--"Be a fan of the other characters."
I recently just started playing dnd and it’s a bunch of fun. But I do have anxiety and things like this worry me sometimes since I feel like I do tend to talk a lot, sometimes more so than the experienced dnd players in my party. story telling is also one of my fav things to do so My character has a very intense and kinda detailed backstory, which I’ve been told isn’t good for beginners.
The DM has kinda been giving a lot of spotlight to my character because of it I’m sure, he recently made my character have a dream that related to his backstory and gave him a npc that talked to him about it. so we’ve been focusing on him for a while now. Which kinda makes me happy but also very nervous, Bc since it’s my first time, I stumble a bit at role playing and I worry I’m not staying in character well, but this video helped me be aware that this story isn’t only about my character and it honestly kinda takes some of the pressure off. I focus so much on my character backstory and worry that I’m performing well (thanks anxiety) that I forgot that maybe it’s okay to just have a character moment, and let them contemplate it in silence while the other party gets the spotlight. My character is a more quiet person anyway, I just unfortunately am not. But like in your video, it’s my opportunity to let the other more talkative characters have a turn.
I know our party is about to travel through our cleric’s hometown, maybe I should keep that in mind and try to ask him how it feels to be going home. I tend to have like, ideas of scenes I want to happen in the next session but I honestly think I should go with the flow more, I’ll have to try that this session Bc it’s a game after all and supposed to be fun!
Sorry for the long comment, but thanks for the video, it made me think on a few things and gave me tips to not feel so alone in my nervousness to be perfect when playing, because it’s not all about me lol.
I'll add my own experience to the mix:
I'm the guy who unintentionally hogs the spotlight from time to time. We play online, so without being physically present - it can be difficult to 'read' who wants to speak. I became self-concious about it a time when I had spent, what I felt was, too much time doing a minor side-thing alone (Rogue meeting with his Juliet)
So after the session, I dm'ed one of the other players and asked about it - to my surprise he very much enjoyed it, and love when I surprise the party with a plan B, C and D - and notes on how to murder everyone in the party, in case someone turns evil/is possessed (Yes, Batman)
I brought it up when we prepared for next session and everyone else agreed with him - not that everyone wanted me to hog the spotlight, but that they didn't mind I sometimes did my own thing for a bit, as they actually loved the Noir/Batman-style in contrast with our regular, more light-hearted comedic tone: It was a welcome change of pace every once in a while.
Tl;dr - Communicate! Your party might love your selfish roleplay - or they might be frustrated. Taking the initiative to have the discussion will, at the very least, be appreciated in the party and you will be respected for it.
I'm in a group right now that are all lovely people to play with on the whole, but even then there are a few of these that happen in our group too.
First is somewhat a mix of "Create balance/Embrace Weakness". This is especially something for Bards and Rogues to keep in mind with expertise, because it feels bad as a player when you have invested a lot into a certain skill (either through character story, game mechanic benefits, or both), and then someone else comes along and just does that better without trying. Expertise is notorious for this, especially in the late game. It sucks when the +2 Charisma Rogue is better at persuading than your +5 Charisma Sorcerer just because they've taken expertise.
The other one is "Add, don't subtract", or in our case something I'll call "Shouting down the hallway". We all love RPing scenes with each other, but it's always important to be conscious of when your character is physically present in a scene and who else is there. If you have 2 characters in a scene together while you're elsewhere, try not to just hop in on the conversation while you're still 100ft away from them.
For a personal experience thing, I've had it in a campaign where I was exploring with another character, something dramatic happened to them, and before I could even react myself I had two other players jump in and start saying what they're doing. I ended up not actually doing anything in that scene when I should've been the first who could react to it, and as a player that sucked because it felt like I was just pushed to the side.
(This last one could also come under "spotlighting" too, and just making sure that you share the spotlight with other players where you can).
Conversational combat? That sounds awful. I'd never be able to speak.
These rules are even more important now while many of us are playing on video or voice chat. It's even easier to talk over each other by accident.
This is really great and so incredibly helpful because you provided real, actionable suggestions for how to get around things that I know I do. I'm definitely going to start doing this. Hopefully it will get some of our more reserved players to jump into the action more too! It's always more fun with more people RPing in a scene.
As someone on the opposite side of this (very shy and awkward about role playing), I really appreciate you making a video like this. My group is very nice, but I’d love it if they verbally brought me into the role playing portion a bit more.
I really needed this video. I gotta put more faith in my DM when he switches to other characters point of views and trust that he will come back to me when apropriate.
Just found your channel. I like your content. You relating your struggles with playing a dumb character (while being naturally a problem solver) reminds me of what I did with one of my dumb characters. I would think of a "smart" response and a "dumb" response to situations that my character was in. Then roll Int. Often to hilarious results.
This is an awesome video! I sent it to my players that I DM for, and I'm rewatching it from the mind of a player now to remind myself how to play nice in my other group.
About 11 min: I had a character in 4 who was a halfling warlock. She was curious but easily frightened and would always teleport places she shouldn’t. I’m a paranoid person and it was sooooo hard to not transfer that to my character! Like I knew she shouldn’t port away from the group and hide behind that door but that’s what she would do! It stressed me out so bad! I loved it!
This is well worded, great advice for beginners and veterans. Positive, doesn't talk down to people, and gives great examples. Also a lot of people don't know how to start conversations around this subject with their tabletop rpg group. :D Also a healthy dose of self reflection on my own rp styles with my D&D group.
Thank you for this video!
So your making of this video is in itself unselfish. Very thoughtful and nice of you to admit your short comings and work on improving them. Ginny Di levels up with character development. ;)
Just joined a game were me and one other player are very assertive, and the other 4 are newer and shyer.
Reviewing this video again to not crush them all game long.
One of the things i would add has to do not with the other players but with the DM. I had a couple of different DMs and i realise that some of them never allow a "rest moment". I dont know how to explain it exactly, but its like they always try to keep the story moving fast. I think in Dnd we should have different levels of pacing. The moments of high stakes, combat, investigation, where the tension is peaked, but we also need moments of quiet, of meditation, of healing, of having fun. This variation is super important. I feel some DMs are so eager to jump straight into plot that we dont have the chance to poleplay those kind of moments and it feels like we arent exploring our characters and relationships between the party enough, or in different scenarios. Sometimes its even hard to poleplay a conversation that would happen in your night watch with other character because the DM just jumps straight to morning without asking or giving time for any conversation to start. So i would say, give the players more time and ask them if they are ready to move on from a scene.
absolutely love these tips, i just started playing Call of Cthulhu and have a bad habit of talking more than my fellow investigators. much appreciated
"I was raised in a talk over each other household" from another Italian, omg you put the thing into words!!!!
My DM recently pointed out that my character takes up a lot of space during roleplay, which I never initially wanted of course. My enthusiasm takes over during a session which can sometimes lead to me steamrolling over more quite players. Or by creating plothooks which is only interesting for me and one other player, but the rest has to backseat. I want to change that, so these tips are very useful!
I love that these tips are so helpful without being cruel to naturally chatty people! Interruptions and speaking over people can so easily happen by accident, especially when you’re neurodivergent, so it’s great to get actionable tips that don’t make you feel bad about how you work in the process
Oh I RELATE to the bit about Italians talking over each other (and it doesn’t help that I was the only one invested in my first ever game and had to drive the story by myself, so now in a game with people who actually care it’s a hard habit to break)
As someone who has never played a character (the Forever DM) before. I sent this to my entire party after our last session's game where I had 1 character who wants to get on with the story so that he can finish his backstory (this meant he got annoyed at anyone having an RP moment), 1 guy who over RP everything and 1 who tried to steal the spotlight as he wanted to get into every bit of lore as possible.
our group is mostly pretty new apart from the DM and one other player. We've seen that most of the RP is centred around that player mainly because they helm the RP. I've been contributing as much as is suitable but this guide has given me a few ideas to bring in some of the other that are pretty quiet and not so involved.
Love the advice keep doing what you do!!
But you know what's so hard? Playing with my mom. She loves watching me create stories, so she helps with fights and lets me go wild. I'm just not sure how to bring her into the story too.
Wahh so cute n supportive I'm sure you'll find a way to bring her in too!
@@songfreak1745 I'm certainly trying. :)
@@olliedayze Make her a "fairy godmother " Someone who pops up from no where and gives the group a "hand" either with useful or useless info or items. Or because you like to go wild in fights, If your players seem like they are about to go down have her appear and save them by teleporting them out. I don't know if she wants to play or if she just wants to help with the creation process. I'm just tossing ideas out there for you. Do what you will with them. ^_^
@@Steelcry Well at the moment it's just me and her since, you know, covid. But I'll keep that in mind! Thank you!
Every time I watch these vids, my brain keeps going back to Dimension20 and how i love all the cast but seriously, Siobhan Thompson is so good at these. And Emily Axford.
Oh my god, that entire cast, just. yes. goals.
God I need this video. I feel like I'm too loud because everyone else at the table is pretty quiet at the table. I need to nudge some of them into taking the spotlight.
Super well-though-out, useful and insightful list. (Also, love your eyeliner thing, not sure what to call it.) Kudos to Ginny Di!
Out of game chat in discord is a great outlet for our puns and pop culture references without derailing game
"Conversational combat, it's an Italian thing" Yes, we italian do that. Haven't you seen our parliament?
This is honestly such a good video with so many good tips!
I fear that some people won't click it because "oviously they aren't selfish" but this is all solid advice and a mindset everyone should aquire when roleplaying! It does take practice and it does require reflecting one's own behaviour even if you think of yourself as "not selfish"
Ahh, I grew up in LA, and when I moved to the South to be with my wife, I had a big learning curve to get through adjusting my conversation habits! I had no idea I interrupted all the time because everyone around me did and that was just how conversations went, which ended up shutting her down a lot until we figured out how to address it. Very good tips!
At the risk of seeming toxic, I'd suggest a "Talking Stick" rule...
A Talking Stick is just that, a stick or similar object and the person holding the stick "has the turn to speak"... He or she then uses it to say their peace, and then passes it to the next to speak... It's very useful in large groups to be sure everyone gets a roughly equivalent turn to speak their minds... It's traditional to use in clan meetings with Native Americans and other indigenous folks, where the meetings might get heated or the discussions need review from everyone present.
AND with Gaming Groups, it's a good excuse to find a tool handle, cut a length from a broom or mop, or just about anything stick-like and decorate it... Pass it around the group, too... each adding their own decorations so that they don't cover up anybody else's BUT they get to add flare, too... When a new member joins, you can even pass the stick to them for decorative additions... sort of a ritual of passage...
This gives a VISUAL side to the rotations of speech... AND it makes it that much easier to notice who seems to hold onto the stick longer and who happens to have it more and more often... Besides the GM, who should speak consistently a LOT, just running the game, there might be a Player who seems to hog the spotlight...
NOW... this might all work okay in your Game... Some people are lynch-pin personalities, and some group dynamics make up for that... It's alright where it's a healthy part of the group... BUT if it seems a little unfair, then maybe the group needs a discussion about that. ;o)
Thank you, I'm an extrovert with ADD and steam-rolling my fellow players is my worst habit, because I always want to blurt out the thought or idea that just came to me. It's something I'm still working on, and one thing I've been trying is, when the group needs to make a decision, I count to 10 before I speak up to give my fellow players a chance to get their ideas in.
Good job. Well thought out suggestions. Adding to my list of "you all should watch this one" list.