How Do you Game? First Person or Third Person?

[Steel_Wind]

I recently have been watching another group play D&D. While there are wide dfferences between the play styles of groups -- and there may even be significant regional differences too -- one thing I saw/heard leapt out as being completely different from the gaming styles I am familiar with.

They referred to their characters in the third person. "Horgor goes over", "He says", "She walks over and says to him", "Danella draws her sword".

The players were always referring to their character in the third person - as if it was somebody else.

We've never done this at our gaming table. From time to time, if a new player shows up - they will frequently refer to themselves in the third person. The DM inevitably prompts the player to "say it then" -- it's not "So-and-so says... Say it - just say it".

And we then wait while the player restates what their character says in game in the first person -- directly if possible -- without the use of self-referencing pronouns. Soon enough, they understand that we just don't use third person referencing at our gaming table.

The only time where this is not done is by the DM/GM. Even then, it's rare that the DM prefaces a line with the words "he says"... We just all shy away from that indirect play style. It's immersive or first person roleplaying -- all the way.

Do you refer to your character as a player in the third person or the first person? Is that approach different when you GM?

 

[GuJiaXian]

Both.

 

[Fifth Element]

As a player, always in the first person. (Except, of course, if I'm playing a character who refers to himself in the third person. )

As a DM, sometimes first and sometimes third in order to be clear. If there are a number of NPCs involved in the situation, I'll generally use third person.

 

[Piratecat]

I'll speak in first person unless, as a DM, I'm roleplaying an inconsequential NPC (or I need to summarize information quickly.) Then I'll switch to third.

 

[firesnakearies]

As a player, always first-person.

As a DM, always third-person.

 

[Shadowslayer]

Both.

Same here.

If I'm a player describing my action, I'll say "I'm swinging my axe at the orc", "Im listening at the door", "I'm picking the lock on the chest"

As far as dialogue, sometimes its "I go up to the guard and tell him that there's a fire two streets over, and that he might want to go take a look" (then roll the bluff check)

Sometimes I'm inspired to actually speak the dialogue, but that depends on the group and whether or not they have fun with that type of thing...and what kind of mood I'm in.

Only time I've ever seen a problem is when you get a DM that insists on you speaking your dialogue directly, and you're not in the mindset, or you have a player who's not comfortable with that. And having it forced on you is no fun.

Speaking your dialogue shouldn't be a requirement. DMs that push that even when you're not up for it should have their dice taken away IMO, but ultimately, its up to the group as a whole. (not just the DMs preference.)

 

[Rykion]

As a player almost always first person. As a DM it varies quite a bit. A conversation might start out in third person and then switch to first.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Most of the time it is frist person as a player. The exception was in games where I was running more than one PC. In that case it was third person in order to prevent confusion

As the DM, since I have to play the part of lots of different NPCs, I do it in thrid person to start so the players understand just who they are dealing with, but if it is a dialogue, I then switch to first person.

 

[Stoat]

Both

I'm almost always the DM.

Generally, I narrate more significant NPC's and more significant dialog in the first person: "I'll pay you 100 gold crowns to recover the holy MacGuffin from the wreck of the good ship MacGuffin."

Less significant NPC's, less significant dialog and big chunks of exposition? I narrate in the third person:

"The High Priest gives you directions to the good ship MacGuffin."

"The shopkeeper is happy to sell you a boat so you can sail to the wreck of the good ship MacGuffin."

"The villagers are happy that you recovered the holy MacGuffin."

IME, first person narration takes longer and tends to involve the players more (they feel a need to respond, often in character). Third person narration moves things along and is good for glossing over unimportant details.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

As player, usually first person.

As GM, it varies.