Accents at the table?

[Halivar]

Do you encourage, discourage, or are you generally ambivalent about fake accents at the table?

I've found that they can be really distracting if done poorly (mea culpa here).

On the other hand, I noticed that when I started using them, I stopped speaking in the third person in conversations with players/npc's, so personal immersion was enhanced.

Your thoughts?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

"Silly ka-nig-uts! We are French! Can you not tell by our out-raaaaaaay-geous accents?"

 

[Kinak]

I don't force it on my PCs, but I find it helps make it clearer which NPC I'm speaking for when I'm GMing. Particularly when multiple NPCs are talking to the party (or the party is eavesdropping) it can be a lifesaver.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Janx]

I seldom do accents, but I do change voices for my characters.

I speak more gruffly as my half-orc barbarian

I speak more eloquently and snidely as my Fighter/Thief/Mage of lordly position and assassinly reputation

I speak more "parrot-like" as my Raven Familiar for my whispering gnome conjurer (the raven does most of the talking for the pair, I have a puppet for him).

I speak more tersely as my urban Ranger/assassin

I use a cajun accent for my Gambit-clone Thief PC

One of the ways I differentiate characters is their speech patterns. What they are like affects how they speak. Which in turn, affects how they act.

 

[Umbran]

Depends what you call an "accent". Is trying to speak a little creakily to indicate an older character an accent?

Do I try to do full-on Welsh or Russian? Not usually. Do I try to change voice somewhat to match a character? Often, yes. Especially as a GM, as it helps differentiate which NPC is speaking.

 

[Felon]

I use accents shamelessly. With new players, it is a good way to find out quickly who has a stick up their bum.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I'm terrible at accents. I often do them anyway. If there's two or more NPCs with differing accents, I'll find myself starting in one and transitioning to the other mid-sentence without meaning to.

I need to apologize to Hypersmurf for last years Leverage game at GenCon, where he became an impromptu NPC and I proceeded to use the world's worst New Zealand accent.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I need to apologize to Hypersmurf for last years Leverage game at GenCon, where he became an impromptu NPC and I proceeded to use the world's worst New Zealand accent.

I'm pretty sure the world's worst New Zealand accent belongs to an actual New Zealander. Some of them are appalling!

-Hyp.

 

[Tzi]

I do accents sometimes, or try to change my voice, but it is difficult.

Unfortunately I can only do various Southern Accents, German and Yiddish accents. Which gives me very little coverage.

Its exceptionally problematic since the campaign setting I'm building is in an area more reminiscent of Ancient Mesopotamia.

 

[Wycen]

Once in a rare while I'll try one, but usually only for the first session and maybe the second.

The sandbox Pathfinder game I'm playing in has two guys who both used "Celtic" accents in their first session, but I missed their second session so can't say if they continued.

The Curse of the Crimson Throne game I'm in has a guy who is using Werner Herzog is inspiration for his voice.