On a Side Note: How to talk Out-of-Character
Written by Tyson J. Hayes on 2009/12/03 – 08:00 -
Character voice is the most important tool in a roleplayer’s arsenal. Their speech patterns and vocabulary help create the character at the table, but what happens when you want a snack? How can you signify you are no longer talking as Grognar, mighty chief of the half-orc tribe, but as you the player?
Simple, take your index and middle finger, and place them gently next to your temple.
This now signifies to the rest of the table that you are speaking out-of-character. Hence forth, until you remove your fingers from your temple, anything you say is out of character.
This technique allows for further immersion into the game because everything you say is what your character is saying. The action of speaking out of character reminds everyone at the table that anything else is in character. Since we started using this at our table we have found that people are apt to speak in character more often, and interactions between characters become more commonplace. The Game Master may use this to further his immersion, as he may restrict himself to responding only to what characters specifically say or do, tracking the conversation and narrating appropriately. This rule may also be applied to the GM, as anytime he speaks without using the gesture he is speaking for any present NPC’s. This will force him to focus on his own roleplaying and immersion, as well as that of the players.
Personally I have found this method brings me to a blurry line where players seem to become the character, fully embracing their characters actions and mannerisms, and have become disrupted when players choose to speak out-of-character.
This rule should be enforced to taste, as some of you may be more hardcore about it than others.
How do you signify out-of-character speech?
Tags: conversation, out-of-character, tyson j. hayes
Categories: Game Masters, Players, Roleplaying Tools |
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By Spyder Z on Dec 3, 2009 | Reply
In the game I’m currently playing, my character has a very specific mannerism to his speech (He not speak common good). I also use an “In Character” voice for him, so it’s rather apparent when Bekker’s talking, and when I’m talking. ;P
By Tyson J. Hayes on Dec 3, 2009 | Reply
I’ve used that quite effectively myself for some of my characters. Specifically not speaking “common” (english in the case of the game) and referring to myself in the third person.
When I hear you deliver Becker it’s like I’m listening to my old character.
By Hillary Crenshaw on Dec 20, 2009 | Reply
I only managed to effectively use this method once, but giving your character a distinctive accent also helps. I played an Irishman in a Shadowrun campaign, and he would also refer to the other characters as McRunners. The mage became McMagus and we had a McHacker and a McFighter (Conner wasn’t very clever). I believe that was the first campaign where Tyson started using his patented “Dekkard Cain” voice.