Weem’s DM Tip #5: Using Voices

These tips were pulled from a post I put together over on EN World called “RP Prompting and Immersion”. Here, I expand upon them further.

Using “Voices”

One of the things people new to RP-ing avoid most frequently is using voices for the characters. In fact, many veterans do as well. I won’t go into detail regarding the proper amounts or styles that should be used – my thinking is they are best used in moderation. Instead, I want to focus quickly on making voices work with regards to RP prompting and character immersion.

As a DM, characters not using voices (that aren’t theirs naturally) does not bother me one bit – but I do want the players to speak from their characters perspective, and by using voices myself, it’s a natural prompt for the player to respond from said perspective. When they speak from the perspective of their character, they are being further immersed in his/her reality.

For most of my NPC’s, I simply use my own voice. But there are a number of ways to give your own voice unique aspects.

• Talking faster or slower than normal
• Stuttering
• Awkward pauses (accompanying these with eye gestures helps too… looking down for example, or even hand gestures… scratching your head or chest)

Don’t Say Uh

When you are speaking as an NPC, do not use “Uh” or “Um” unless the NPC is actually undecided or unprepared for something. This is very different than YOU, the DM being unprepared.

For example, if a player asks an NPC, “Where were you born?”, the NPC should not respond with “Uhhh… hmmm… here actually”. He knows where he was born more than likely, and if not, then that would be the answer “I’m not sure” – either way, those answers come to people immediately. When you indicate out-loud in this fashion that you are not prepared, often times players are immediately extracted from the immersion you had going. It takes some work to get back to it.

If you need a moment to think, give yourself a moment by demonstrating SOME kind of reaction while you think.

EX:

PC: “Where were you born?”
DM: The man looks at you and cocks an eyebrow as if trying to decide what it matters to you! Eventually he responds, “I was born here, what’s it to ya?”