Poll (sort of): Playing in character vs not

[Zelda Themelin]

Depends on a group. Some prefer dice-rolling, others more in-character-speeches and doing extra things (as long as it doesn't take game away from adventure focus). I've played with groups really heavy on role-playing, and sometimes it is fun, but at other times it is boring. Too much in-character-acting is just another way to dominate game for few people I know.

 

[JoeGKushner]

As a GM, I try different things for different characters.

For instance, standing and moving around the table.

Clenching hands.

Looking about anxiously.


Taking sips of water every few seconds between whispers.

Funny accents and other things usually arent' my way but for some NPC's, I'll talk lower, deeper or faster.

I find that with some character, it's best to Blue Book it. This is where you're basically passing notes around for different aspects. One cool feature of this is your ability to describe a situation different ways. For example, you could have someone come into the room that a few people in the party hate, describe it one way on the paper and pass it to those people, and describe it another way to those that don't know the individual.

For players, I prefer it when the players get at least a little into character. "I say this." is lame. Ever listen to a conversation when the people use terms "like, seems, apparently, could be, it was like." I want to slap those people. Spit it out. "I say that this is the time to go!" vs. "This is the time to go." Describing character movements is acceptable of course. I wouldn't want anyone jumping on my table screaming for their sword.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I generally try to speak "as" my characters, although I only aim for accents when I'm GMing.

 

[hunter1828]

As a DM I do a lot of accents, voice inflections, and facial expressions to get the point across.

My players generally use the 3rd person perspective to describe actions ("Devin checks the area for tracks") method when describing actions but switch to 1st person perspective for conversations ("What say you, Simon? Do you agree with Grey's assessemnet?").

hunter1828

PS - Happy Holidays

 

[Kichwas]

In my present group I will alternate between 'does this or that' and 'So Galthunk, what's an Orc like you doing in a place like this?'

I shift from third to first person perspective depending on the moment and the mood.

I do the same when I run the game - which is what I primarily do; running a Freedom City MnM game and a Kalamar DnD game (I only play in one game - also Kalamar DnD).

Some of my players stick to third almost all the time, unless addressed in first, others stick to first almost all the time, unless addressed in third in some metagame way (Tharnak is not about to tell the owlbear that 'I rolled a 16', but Chuk might...).

A lot of times I've found it's easier for the low charisma characters to be done in first person - because people find it easier to say the absurd or crude and promote table humor than the say the sauve, diplomatic, or romantic.

So we'll end up with the thugz and barbz in first person, but the bards and paladins in third.

In the effort to promote 'roleplay' over 'rollplay' - be it in first, second, or third person - I always try to address everyone by the name of their character rather than their name - particularly useful for the players playing across gender.

 

[shilsen]

In my group we always speak in first person for our characters, but nobody does voices. As a DM, I don't do voices either, mainly because I'm bad at it (and with my accent every NPC will sound Indian anyway ). But I try to throw in little mannerisms, habits of speech, repetitive phrases, etc. to set NPCs (important ones, not every peasant on the road) apart.

 

[babomb]

I'm a big fan of first-person roleplaying, and I try to do it as much as possible. I'm not very good at voices, but I never use my normal speaking voice when I'm IC. When I played an aasimar paladin, for instance, I used a slightly higher and more nasal voice. My dwarves usually have a deeper, gruffer voice. I'm bloody awful at female voices, though, so I don't even try. When I'm DMing, I try to at least use a different voice for each of the NPCs in a particular scene. I occasionally throw in some physical mannerisms for my characters as well. Truth be told, I'd probably do a lot more acting if it weren't for the fact that most of the people in my group do not get in character very much.