How To Roleplay – The Basics

One could say that roleplay is an essential part of any tabletop roleplaying game. You’d think that at least, what with roleplay being right in the name and all. But we’re here to tell you a little secret: 

You don’t have to know how to roleplay to play a tabletop RPG!

Now don’t get me wrong, you will have to roleplay to some degree during each session. It’s inevitable. But you don’t have to be a master voice actor nor an improv guru. Remember, this is a game. You and your friends are playing it to have fun. Nobody is going to expect you to perform as though you were in Critical Role. But if you’d like a few tips to get you started, then read on.

Decisions

Roleplaying games are all about decision-making and exploring make-believe worlds as your very own character. The DM may prompt you to make dozens of decisions every session. These can be choices as small as what your character will eat for breakfast or as impactful as whether or not to slay the dragon protecting her eggs. Regardless of the scale, every decision your character makes has the potential to take them down a new path in their adventure.

Your character’s decisions directly impact the story and the world they live in, and they can lead to future consequences, both good and bad. Always listen to what the DM says and how they describe situations, then use your best judgment and think about how your character would act/react in those situations.

Don’t be afraid to ask your party members for advice or feedback when making a decision. Many things you do in a campaign will be a group effort, and you’ll rarely be alone in decision-making. Everyone at the table has their own ideas on how or where the story should go, so it’s important to come to an agreement or compromise when an issue directly affects the whole party.

Actions

Knowing how to roleplay may not come easy to everyone. One good way to approach roleplaying is by thinking about how your character may act in a particular scenario. Be ready for the DM to prompt you with a question or challenge: “What do you do?” or “How do you want to (insert action here)?” Your job is to figure out what actions are appropriate for the situation and decide how or if your character would do them. That applies both in and out of combat. Sure, you could be boppin’ goblin noggins, but perhaps you’re talking to an NPC or searching a library for clues instead.

When the DM addresses you directly with an NPC or a new situation, you are being offered a chance to develop your character or move the story in a new direction. The group will take turns sharing or passing around the spotlight like this. No one person is the main focus; it’s a group game, so everyone in the group matters.

And when telling the group what your character is doing, you can do it more than one way. Let’s say you are playing Garrick the Cleric, and you are trying to get the cookies off the top shelf. You can say:

• “My character climbs onto the counter and reaches for the jar of cookies.”
• “Garrick hops up onto the counter and grabs the jar of cookies”
• “I would like to try and get the cookies off the top shelf.”

After you tell the group what you are doing, the DM may ask you to make a role to see if you succeed. Many games go about this part differently, so if you don’t understand the mechanics of a particular system, never be afraid to go out of character and ask how or why something is done. Everyone has to learn somewhere, and the best way to learn is through experience.

Taking Your Turn

Think about possible options of actions you can take during your turn. What tools, spells, or abilities does your character possess? What is in your surrounding environment? And what are the NPCs and other players around you doing? Planning ahead can help keep the game flow going, and it allows you more time to come up with better solutions.

All tabletop RPGs have rules and boundaries that you have to work within but don’t let that stop you from being creative and thinking outside the box. If you have an idea, ask if you can do it. Chances are the DM will figure out a way to make it happen. There’s no shame in finding out something’s not possible either. It just means you’ll have to think of another solution! And who knows, maybe one of your crazy ideas ends up saving the day.

Speaking

At some point during the RPG character creation process, you have to decide how your character will talk. Will you give them a certain voice, a unique speaking pattern, or any quirks or ticks they portray in conversation? Finding the right voice for your character’s personality can enhance your gameplay.

When speaking, there are three general ways that you can refer to your character. Once again, let’s use Garrick as an example. You can refer to them as: “I,” “Garrick,” or “my character.” The first two options are more personal and can create a more immersive experience for you and your group members. The last option is acceptable as well and can be good to use when starting out.

When speaking as your character, you can either talk with your voice or give them their own unique voice. Choose whatever feels most natural to you. Don’t use a voice that strains your throat, and be sure it’s something that you can be consistent with at each session. Feel free to practice your voices in the shower or the car. The more comfortable you get with them, the easier you’ll be able to use them at the table.

Narrating

But what if you don’t feel comfortable jumping right in and speaking as your character? Well, just as we said before, you can roleplay without putting everything on the line. If you don’t feel comfortable voice acting, there are other ways that you can narrate what your character is saying. Let’s use Garick as our example again. You are introducing yourself to a merchant – here are two ways to do so:

• “My character walks up to the merchant and introduces himself.”
• “Greetings, my name is Garrick the Cleric! It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

The first options allow you to stay in character without having to voice every statement. You can use this form of narration regardless of how you choose to refer to your character. Starting with this third-person approach is perfectly acceptable, and with more time and experience, you will feel more comfortable speaking in front of the group. And if you ever want to try something new or are feeling courageous one day, you can always try speaking as your character for a session. Your friends will be thrilled to see you trying new things, and they’ll be happy to give you advice if you ask for it.

Personality

When learning how to roleplay, it is essential to keep in mind your character’s personality. Whether you are speaking to someone, deciding what to do, or trying to figure out a problem, always remember who you are playing as. Think about what your character is like as a person and what things they may know or be able to do. Are there things they might not be able to do or aren’t willing to do? 

You should always try staying in character during roleplay and allow their personality to shine. But keep things in moderation, and be conscious of your character’s actions and behaviors. You don’t want your character’s actions to negatively impact the experience of others at the table. One of the best explanations of this subject comes from Matthew Colville’s video on “The Wangrod Defence.”

Remember to enjoy yourself and be confident in your playstyle. Everyone is there to have a good time, and nobody will care if you slip up once in a while. Play whatever’s comfortable for you! And if you want more ideas for giving your character a deeper personality, read our article on Character Creation.