Everyone thinks the key to being a good roleplayer involves becoming an expert improvisationalist, but there’s more to it than being a quick thinker. Roleplaying is a skill like any other. Start by building your foundation and practicing. There are 5 easy things that anyone can do to become a better roleplayer with a little effort.
#1 Know Your Character
The first step to being a better roleplayer comes from your character itself. Build characters as whole people, not just stats. No matter if you just started a new game or have been playing in a campaign for a while, you can always stop to assess who your character is as a person.
To feel alive, your character should have their own desires and goals. What does your character want from life? How does this adventure bring them closer to it? What is holding them back from getting it? Generally happy people who want for nothing rarely go on dangerous adventures.
Next, build a personality. Choose a few traits that would describe your character. Maybe they have a sunny disposition or are suspicious of those with wealth. How do they view the world around them?
Try not to make it too complicated at this point. Just having a couple of core ideas can guide your interactions with events and players. This way you can discover more about the character as you play. It also leaves you room for the character to grow and change.
Example with a Dungeons & Dragons Character
Imagine you are making a character for a Dungeons & Dragons game. You chose to play a Ranger with the Outlander background. You decide that you were literally raised by wolves. All your character wants is to feel like they belong (to a group, a family, with people in general). This adventure gives them a chance to bond with the party. Not knowing how people act in social groups holds them back from getting what they want. You decided that you want to play as eager, helpful, and socially clumsy sort of like a puppy meeting new people. It might be endearing or it might get you in trouble.
Check out our free TTRPG Character Personality Worksheet to help you with this process. This fillable PDF will walk you through the creating a character that is truly your own.
#2 Start Saying “I”
After you have made your personality choices, next you need to get into character. The easiest way to do this is to stop saying “my character does…” and start saying “I do…”. Switching from 3rd person to 1st person narrative perspective makes a huge difference.
This can be really tough for people. Roleplaying feels weird, especially if you are new to it or are playing with people you don’t know well. Speaking in the 3rd person removes you from the actions of the character so it doesn’t feel as personal.
However, this is the opposite of what we want to do. Remember, you aren’t playing you. You are now the person you built. You want to put yourself in their shoes, see from their perspective, and act as they would act. The easiest way to do this is to say “I”.
Examples:
“I walk into the tavern.”
“I search the door for a trap.”
“Hello ma’am. I was wondering if you could point me to the harbour.”
“My friend was arrested for brawling. How much will it cost me to get them out?”
This one little change will make you and everyone you play with more immersed in the story you build. Even if it feels strange at first, it will get easier the more you do it.
#3 Be a Team Player
Now that you know your character, take the time to learn about your party. Ask them questions about their characters. Learn about their skills. Find useful ways to incorporate every member in the action. Everyone feels special when another player pays attention to their character.
When appropriate try roleplaying this in game in character. Listen to what they say in conversations with NPC’s for clues to their wants and needs. Do they mention family or their home town? Notice how they react to situations. Ask follow-up questions.
Examples:
“Why do you get so mad when you get dirty?”
“Sister? You have a sister?!”
“I give the amulet I found to Felkar the Wizard to see if he can discern anything from the markings.”
“Deloria is tall. We should boost her up to see if she can reach the top of the pit.”
Whatever you do, don’t become the person that has to make everything about them. Nobody wants to play with a person who always has to have the last word, save the day, make the killing blow, or generally steal all the focus of the group. Parties work best when they work together so everyone has their time in the spotlight.
#4 Take Notes
Good roleplayers take notes. They remember the names of locations and important characters. They know the party’s goals. If your character were a real person, they would have built these memories. Players often forget that several months of sessions may only add up to a few days or weeks in game.
Taking notes also opens up roleplay opportunities. Use that info to create new paths in the story for the game master. Imagine this scenario. Your party needs to get resources from local nobility. You know from your notes that she has a reputation for being somewhat vain. Instead of going straight to her home, you suggest that the party stop to buy a bouquet of flowers from Ivor Flamebeard the half-devil florist as a present to get on her good side. The game master gets to play a story event that they didn’t have to create and you get more chances to interact in character.
As a bonus, game masters love players who remember and use the details they provide. It tells them that you are invested in the world they have created. It shows you respect all their hard work planning the session but keeps the world fresh and surprising for them too.
#5 Be In the Moment
More than just paying attention, good roleplayers are engaged. Listening to the game master and other players, taking notes, and being in character all keep you actively participating.
Know what you need to focus and help others get what they need too. Limit whatever distractions you can in advance. Play music in the background. Grab a fidget toy. Put your phone in another room if you know you won’t be able to stay off of it. Have drinks and snacks on hand.
Lastly, since nobody knows your character like you do, being in the moment also means being prepared. You don’t need to preplan everything, but you should have an idea of what you want to do when it comes to your turn. Make sure you understand how your skills, abilities, or spells work and when to use them. Being prepared helps keep gameplay moving. Being with your friends is great, but games are most fun when things are happening.
Keep Trying
The key to improving any skill will always be effort. Start slowly by adding one of these suggestions or throw yourself into all of them, you will see a change in how you roleplay. Give yourself some grace to make mistakes. If you feel even a fraction more comfortable playing your character then the effort has been worth it.