Do you use "voice acting" when you play?

[Vael]

I try, but maintaining a consistent voice is challenging. There's an ongoing joke that my accents will take you around the world in a sentence or two.

 

[Distracted DM]

Sometimes. I did it ever since I was a kid, both as GM and player. As a GM nowadays I tend to give the first impression in a voice or with some sort of inflection or different speech pattern, and then once the impression is set I'll switch to 3rd person.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Yes. In fact, one of my more memorable NPCs the players loved the most was a potty mouth woman tavern owner with a thick Australian accent.

 

[billd91]

I do a little of it, usually as DM and usually to emphasize something about the NPC's character. I use my own voice and just change up tone, expression, and cadence a bit for most NPCs and my own PCs.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it’s fun, sometimes burdensome.

I was in a whimsical mood DMing one campaign, in which someone Awakened a large lizard, and…I used an Elvis impression for its voice.

The group never tired of it.

 

[DragonLancer]

Nope. For me, role-playing is not about amateur dramatics. Unwelcome take I expect. It was funny when we were teens and 20's but the older I get the more I find it irritating at the gaming table. Sometimes the people I play with might do so session 0 or 1 to showcase that their dwarf speaks with a Scottish accent or their goblin has a squeaky voice, but once the game starts it's done.

 

[Piperken]

...No. I do however employ a "different" voice from my normal everyday talking style so IC language is distinct. I usually only make minor changes so I can have a greater selection of "voices" in case the PCs are interacting with multiple NPCs simultaneously. More often than not a "voice" is simply a change in pitch, tone, cadence, or pattern of speech. Sometimes for "really important" NPCs I will use the "bad impression" method to make sure that the NPC "voice" is truly distinct.

My "regular voice" is used exclusively for OOC speech.

Great topic for a thread! Cheers!

I lean this way also.

Most of this is mentioned in public or oral speaking, and it isn't necessary to be theater trained to use above with great effectiveness at the table. Take a minute or two privately to try.

Listen to monologues, sermons or speeches from different people. Try recording yourself reading a piece of writing you like out loud at what you feel in your usual voice, then again taking more time while maintaining a sense of naturalness to it. Then try at a more clipped, let's say, excited tone (your pitch will rise somewhat); all that can become the new baseline for a particular character.

Some people are described as being "loud" talkers. Some get told they mumble a lot. None of that requires a lot of effort to do, and it makes such a distinction for listeners right away.

You can dash in mannerisms, such as repeating particular words or phrases. You can play the opposite tone to what listeners expect (The small, revelatory, "That's my secret, Cap. I'm always angry," from The Avengers)

A different e.g. When this character or creature becomes angry, rather than raising the volume in their voice, they speak at a slower pace, in a whisper.

If you happen to know local colloquialisms that the table will understand-- step on a crack, break your mother's back, my uncle always said-- pepper speech with those if you feel like they will fit.

Even in person at the table, if you're seated, it's possible to incorporate just the tiny amount of body movement to signal things. You can sit erect, more towards the edge of your chair. You might slouch. Lean in slightly when the character wants to impart something secretive or important. Point a finger at someone when addressing them. Wave. Throw your hands up like one does when you don't get something, are in despair or exasperated (the same motion, but they all look different.)

None of above requires being able to slip effortlessly into dialect or fall back heavily on stereotypes. And because it's not as involved, it's easier make it more seamless, only when you're inclined.

 

[gnarlygninja]

I used to, but a few years ago I got extremely burnt out on how much effort I was putting into TTRPGs vs everyone I played with and this is one of the areas I just can't be bothered to expend any energy on anymore.

 

[Piperken]

Nope. For me, role-playing is not about amateur dramatics. Unwelcome take I expect. It was funny when we were teens and 20's but the older I get the more I find it irritating at the gaming table. Sometimes the people I play with might do so session 0 or 1 to showcase that their dwarf speaks with a Scottish accent or their goblin has a squeaky voice, but once the game starts it's done.

This is completely FINE, and not unwelcome at all. I've had lots of fun as a player at a table that has more or less portrayal, sometimes in the middle of the same session (after a break, for example)!

 

[TheSword]

Yeah I love it. I usually pick an actor or media character as a base and then key off that like @MGibster ’s Christopher Walken example. The lawyer in a recent game was channelling Michael Gambon.

Once it’s established I step out of 1st person and move to 3rd person. Partly because it takes longer to speak every word. But also because I don’t want the players to feel like they have to respond in 1st person. I’ll then mirror match the Players.