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Thoughts about TTRPG play styles specifically for performance: A thread for players
In improv, they teach that being “bulletproof” or “unaffected” leads to boring scene work. But there is a tendency to play idealized, perfect, stoic or “too cool” versions of ourselves or who we wish to be in TTRPGs. We want to feel awesome and solve puzzles or fight monsters.
But if your audience doesn’t know you, they can’t root for you. They won’t feel connected to the story you are trying to tell if you are not connected to the character you embody. Allowing your character to be vulnerable will always have a higher pay off than being “right”.
What are you thinking? How do you feel? Paint those pictures not only for your own character development but for everyone else at your table. Especially for a podcast. Did you scrunch your face, grab your heart, are you thinking about running away but decide to stay?
Don’t wait for the DM to do these things for you. They are juggling the plot, energy dynamics, and timing on top of being a performer alongside you.
Doing this will signal to the other players at the table what is important to you so they can also build and weave their own POV into what is happening. All of the successful shows and podcasts I have watched, listen to each other very closely and build together
It might feel strange at first to be so blunt but what you feel as "being subtle" may in fact be too subtle or taken in an entirely different way.
Say what you feel, dare to be honest, and communicate as clearly as you can. You'll engage your table, audience + its fun!
Say what you feel, dare to be honest, and communicate as clearly as you can. You'll engage your table, audience + its fun!
Just got off work!
I'm glad that this resonates with folks. It's something that took me a bit to get comfy with because I thought it was selfish or "stealing spotlight" but in reality saying your needs, wants and fears is strong AF both at the table and in life
I'm glad that this resonates with folks. It's something that took me a bit to get comfy with because I thought it was selfish or "stealing spotlight" but in reality saying your needs, wants and fears is strong AF both at the table and in life
Oh! One last thing:
The reason I separated this out as advice for performers is because not everyone who plays TTRPGs wants to dive into the heavy RP side. And that's OKAY!
The reason I separated this out as advice for performers is because not everyone who plays TTRPGs wants to dive into the heavy RP side. And that's OKAY!
It's perfectly valid to love games for strategy or even as a way to meet new ppl. There's no right way to play but engaging an audience does require certain skills and awareness ✨
