What is your favorite Roleplaying tip?

[rowport]

When in doubt, always default to doing something. Active players (and characters) make the game. Lull periods are inevitable at some point, but easily fixed with an immediate action. It matters less what you do, than that you do something- that action will spur other responses, even if it is your fellow players asking, "why the heck did you do THAT??" b

 

[Greatwyrm]

Don't be afraid to play a character as "appropriately stupid". Just because you know the powers and weaknesses of a certain monster or the general plot of an adventure, doesn't mean your character does.

For example, in our last session, we found ourselves up against a Rakshasa with some sorcerer levels. He was kicking the crap out of us. Sure, I know the old blessed crossbow routine, but my character's Knowledge: Planes check said he didn't. I could have just metagamed it and used Align Weapon on my crossbow and laid into him, but I played "appropriately stupid" and forced myself to come up with some other method.

As it was, I cast Silence on the party tank (see my sig), who proceeded to grapple the Rakshasa. Nearly the whole party joined in, wizard included, and pinned him to the ground and choked him to death. I think that makes for a much better story than, "I blessed my crossbow, pegged him a couple times, and looted the body."

 

[Michael Tree]

Take risks! Extreme methodical caution might make you more likely to succeed without a hitch, but it's boring. The game is about dramatic plot turns and fun, not about effortless success. How boring would a James Bond movie be if Bond succedded on his first try, wasn't captured by the villian, never met the seductress because he snuck around successfully, and got in and out of the villain's lair without ever messing up and getting into a gunfight. Failing spectacularly can be a lot of fun.

Some other minor tips:

Describe your character's actions in the first person. Don't say "my character climbs the wall" say "I climb the wall".

If you must do an accent for your character, don't accent every word, accent every fourth or fifth word. It will sound much more realistic, and won't be nearly as grating. (This is a tip from the theatre)

 

[Hand of Evil]

Game naked.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Game naked.

Have a fancy for bearded Welshmen, do ya?

Mine would be don't give the DM ideas

AR