It’s common knowledge that roleplay is a large part of Dungeons and Dragons. After all, it stands for the “RP” in RPG, but getting into the headspace to roleplay your character, both as a player and a DM can be difficult sometimes. Here are some simple tips to encourage roleplay at your table:
- Call them by their name: No, not their real name; their character name. When you all sit down at the table, virtually or in person, your players should now be their characters in your eyes. Addressing them as their characters is a great way to subtly help them immerse themselves in the session at hand.
- Occasionally include props: This tip doesn’t need to be applied every session, but can be a very nice surprise to your players! When you’re on the pirate ship and the party is being assigned their crew positions, your navigator is going to be more engrossed in the session if you hand them a real compass! There’s a reason props are often used in improv! The occasional small prop hand-out will go a long way in increasing excitement at the table and investment into the story unfolding before you.
- Lead by example: As the DM, you’re the headmaster of your table. If you want your players to roleplay in first-person, then jump into character with all of your NPC’s! Roleplay, especially for a new group, can be intimidating. If you show your players first-hand that it’s okay to fall into character, no matter how silly it might feel at first, then they might feel more comfortable doing the same!
- DM’s ARK: If your party goes somewhere you didn’t prepare as a DM, it can be difficult to jump right into roleplaying new NPC’s on the spot. Luckily, the DM’s ARK can assist you with creating vibrant, fleshed-out characters in real time and even provide some pointers on how to roleplay them!
D&D feels the most magical when everyone at the table is fully immersed in the session at hand. Deep and genuine roleplay is a great way to enable that immersion. Happy gaming!
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