D&D General Could Improv (and maybe Theatre) save your Roleplaying???

[nevin]

Are you troubled by the effects of video games in your RPGs? Want a focus on the fiction and interaction instead of mechanics and button pressing? Maybe you're just need a different source of inspiration for your games? Try Improv and theatre!

Instead of recruiting players form the gaming world; recruit players from the worlds of Improv and Theatre! Post flyers at your local play house, or improv school! Hang out at your local actor hot spots! Find players who enjoy show tunes! It worked wonders for Matt Mercer; it can work for you too!

Conversely, you can bring Improv and Theatre to your group! Spend time before a session conducting Improv exercises. Take your group to a local play. Help your players find their "motivation."

Don't want video games in your TTRPG?? Pump some acting into it instead!

this for me is a know your group thing. the Improv acting etc can be great fun. It can also mean games where you spend a year doing a month of game time. Some groups just want to be murder Hobo's and that's ok it's a game. As long as I don't have to run it.

 

[Umbran]

the 'Yes and' instead of 'no' seems like a GREAT lesson (and it is), but it also has it's limits. Sometimes you HAVE to (especially as a DM) say NO

The point is that, even for the GM, the frequency with which you have to say No is significantly lower than we generally think.

 

[Umbran]

this for me is a know your group thing. the Improv acting etc can be great fun. It can also mean games where you spend a year doing a month of game time. Some groups just want to be murder Hobo's and that's ok it's a game.

Sure. But note in the OP how many times he asks about needs or desires:

Are you troubled by the effects of video games in your RPGs? Want a focus on the fiction and interaction instead of mechanics and button pressing? Maybe you're just need a different source of inspiration for your games? Try Improv and theatre!

So, if you aren't troubled, you don't want a focus on the fiction and interaction, or you aren't in need of a different source of inspiration... the advice does not apply! Such people can move along and not worry about this thread. The case of folks who just want to play murderhobos was handled rather neatly in the first sentences of the OP.

 

[MarkB]

Edit: Wrong attribution.

 

[MarkB]

Same people complaining about video games will start complaining that the actors want to talk to everything and explore the ethos and morality of their enemies instead of turning goblins into red mist.

Reminds me of the rock-monster scene in Galaxy Quest.

"You need to figure out its motivation."

"It's a rock, it doesn't have any motivation!"

"Oh, this is so typical, you were never serious about the craft!"

 

[HammerMan]

Reminds me of the rock-monster scene in Galaxy Quest.

"You need to figure out its motivation."

"It's a rock, it doesn't have any motivation!"

"Oh, this is so typical, you were never serious about the craft!"

just hit it in a vulnerable spot....

 

[HammerMan]

The point is that, even for the GM, the frequency with which you have to say No is significantly lower than we generally think.

agreed. But like all advise (especially from different formats) I wanted to point out it DOES have limits (even if I agree alot of people need to be MORE open to it). I just want to remind people that at the end of the day this is a game, and the game has rules for a reason, the YES AND idea can lead to rule problems that can cause the loudest at the table (or most extraverted) getting more time, energy and spot light from the DM then is healthy and sometimes you need to balance the yes and with a "NO"

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I don't know that making up character/concept spur of the moment is a real need for most players

It's pretty useful for DMs though.

 

[DEFCON 1]

agreed. But like all advise (especially from different formats) I wanted to point out it DOES have limits (even if I agree alot of people need to be MORE open to it). I just want to remind people that at the end of the day this is a game, and the game has rules for a reason, the YES AND idea can lead to rule problems that can cause the loudest at the table (or most extraverted) getting more time, energy and spot light from the DM then is healthy and sometimes you need to balance the yes and with a "NO"

And that's the advantage of actually taking improv classes... (general) you learn very quickly how to share the stage and always try to make your scene partner look good. So the potential valid issues presented here are lessened if not actually removed when (general) you bring those philosophies to the game table.

 

[HammerMan]

And that's the advantage of actually taking improv classes... (general) you learn very quickly how to share the stage and always try to make your scene partner look good. So the potential valid issues presented here are lessened if not actually removed when (general) you bring those philosophies to the game table.

agreed.

in general a college level history course or two. an improv class. a physics class. a philosophy class. and many more can ALL help... but may be a bit much for people useing the little free time they have to play the game instead of doing things to improve the play time.