Voice Acting in Your Tabletop RPGs: How Much/Little?

[CleverNickName]

Imagine your game is a kick-a stereo system from the 80s, and there is a dial for "In-Character Voices and Acting." Where do you like to turn that dial to?

Do you like to keep it as close to zero as possible, and hardly ever use character/monster voices? Or do you like to crank it all the way to eleven, and rock out in-character all day long?

(The purpose of this poll is to measure a part of the "Mercer Effect," the suggestion that a large number of D&D players want/expect a D&D game to be as close to Matt Mercer's game as possible. One of the most frequently mentioned things in those threads is Matt's propensity for using character voices (which is understandable, since the cast members of Critical Role are all professional voice actors). I wanna know just how big of an expectation it really is.)

 

[Morrus]

None for me. I’ll inject tone into my own voice, but I don’t do accents and stuff. Not my skill set. I find I can be pretty engaging without accents.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

I prefer that it be kept scant to none. Accents just distract me.

 

[Stormonu]

As much as I can get away with, as often as I can. My other players, not so much - maybe a 4-5 on the dial if I can inspire them. My eldest son wants to be an 11, but he has only one (bad) accent, unfortunately.

 

[CleverNickName]

I like a good bit of it, but hoo boy, are we terrible at them!

The purpose of this poll is to measure the "Mercer Effect," the suggestion that a large number of D&D players want/expect a D&D game to be as close to Matt Mercer's game as possible. One of the most frequently-mentioned things in those threads is Matt's propensity for using character voices. I wanna know just how big of an expectation it really is. (I wager it isn't much at all.)

 

[Stormonu]

Matt who? (I kid, but don't watch RPGs on any platform).

 

[Badvoc]

I'm absolutely dreadful at trying to pull off an accent - in general I mean, not necessarily just at the table. Not something I have a shred of aptitude for. Nobody wants to hear that.

I will to speak quite differently from character to character in terms of language and vocabulary, and am happy to pull all manner of facial expressions, but you've got to work with what you've got. My strengths are definitely in other areas!

"The Mercer Effect" is a real thing - I can't remember anyone doing accents regularly in the various gaming groups I was part of prior to actual play streaming phenomenon. I'm sure people did, but I wonder just how much more prevalent it's become since then?

I have at least one friend that would love to try RPGs, but has been discouraged by watching Critical Role. Not that she doesn't enjoy the show, but she now equates roleplaying to having to put on an entertaining performance in character - which fills her with dread.

 

[Darth Solo]

Next to 0%. I prefer giving NPCs distinct personality quirks.

 

[Ace]

I like to do affects sometimes so I went with 5.

Problems is with YouTube and the like showing actual speakers it means say a once tolerable "Gamer Scots" or Gamer Irish accent is now pure cringe.

Also some accents even when good either risk offense like my Graham Greene First Nations affect or are too circumstantial like my Sling Blade Arkansas one.

So I tend to stick to affects and other patterns of speech which works fine. My tough guy growl if easy, fun gets the point across and is inoffensive as well.

 

[Lanefan]

I'd vote 11 except none of us are professionals, so 10 it is.