So I’ve been roleplaying for a long, long time now and I’ve discovered a few things that make people more (or less) enjoyable to roleplay with. Obviously we all make mistakes and we’ve all fallen in to doing some of these behaviours, but a little effort and self-reflection never hurts, so here’s a few things I’ve come up with, please feel free to add more to the list. Edit: I’ve revised and reviewed this.
- Know your character – You don’t have to start off knowing the entire series or all the lore, but you should know the basics of your character’s abilities. Make sure you’ve read everything there is on the basics of your abilities in the sourcebook, and you can even make point form handouts or notes for yourself to remind you. Get clarification before the game on special abilities or anything you find confusing and add notes to your sheet to help you understand.
- Ask questions – Your fellow players, your game master, the resource books and the internet are all sources of information. Use them. Be respectful of other people’s time and energy and do ensure you’re putting in a little effort yourself, but as a GM you should be prepared to answer questions as well.
- Take notes – I’m bad for this, myself, but do your best. A short phrase or a few words is better than nothing, point form can jog your memory. Set aside a notepad (easily and cheaply found at dollar stores) or a text file on your computer just for this.
- Keep track of your stuff – If your game requires this of course, but remember that everyone in the group has things to do, and if everyone does a little themselves, no one feels put upon. If you have a really hard time with tracking items or similar, let the group know and politely ask if someone will help you or if the GM can help find a work around. Don’t assume! Ask!
- Don’t steal the show – It’s great when there’s a storyline or scene in which your character really gets to shine, and you should enjoy those moments, but don’t forget this is a group game, and other people deserve some time in the spotlight. If it’s someone else’s turn to be centre stage, support them, let them be there, and applaud their efforts. Don’t interrupt, talk over other people, butt in to other people’s scenes or conversations, or demand constant attention. A good game master will cater scenes and storylines so that each character gets a chance to be in the spotlight, so be patient and give them a chance.
- Check the scene – Before you join, find out what their style of roleplay is. Are they heavily combat-based, with most sessions being about fighting, or are they more interested in character development and roleplay? If their style isn’t yours, but you’d like to give it a try, go ahead, but don’t try to change the dynamic. It’s okay to say no if their style isn’t your thing. And if they’re not giving you the space or the time to learn, grow, or develop your characters the way you’d like, move on. This is usually the discussion had in your Session Zero., along with safety tools and boundaries.
- Give your character depth – sure a funny accent, habit, or quirk is great for a laugh, but when that’s all there is to your character, both you and the other players will get tired of it quickly. Dig deeper and add more, and while it doesn’t need to be tragic and dramatic, people are more than their quirks. See here for some ideas to deepen your character’s backstory. Don’t fall on cheap tropes, clichés, or offensive stereotypes in order to make them interesting. The whole point of roleplaying is to experience life as another person in another world, so make sure you’re writing a person.
- Don’t cheat – Roleplay is a story game told with some numbers to help guide and constrain the story. You’re not going to “win”, and cheating and/or lying is going to hurt and annoy the people you game with.
- Don’t be a dick – It’s really frustrating to have a player who disrupts the game and ruins things for everyone else. First, don’t use your character to excuse bad behaviour or as a way to express offensive opinions. Second, even if there’s something that would be in character for you but it would severely disrupt the scene or ruin the encounter, consider backing down. Sometimes you just need to get along for the sake of the story and for the player group dynamic.
- Let the game master do their job – It’s great to pitch in with a new player, and it’s always tempting to answer questions you know the answers to, but it’s also game master’s job to steer the plot and tell players what they see and experience. Don’t step on their toes, and show respect for the huge amount of work needed to run a complex campaign. Thanking them is pretty great too. Let the GM answer questions, make rulings, and other decisions. You might not have ruled it that way, but it’s their game. If you feel their rulings are unfair, talk with them. Sometimes a quick conversation can clear up misconceptions.
- Respect the space – whether you’re playing in real life at a friend’s place, a gaming store, or playing online with a group, show respect for the gaming space. In person; clean up after yourself, remember to bring your supplies with you when you arrive and take them when you leave, don’t yell or shout, and thank the host for their time. Online, keep background noise to a minimum (turn off the TV) and mute yourself when it’s not your turn. Don’t ever eat while unmuted, no one wants to hear that.
- Adapt and Create- If you end up in a situation where you can’t do what you usually do or your techniques aren’t working, that’s okay! Don’t get discouraged, as mentioned above, you aren’t going to be the star of every scene. Most GMs will let you try something crazy. Even if it doesn’t work out, it can be fun or educational to see what happens when you try an outside-the-box tactic.
Any suggestions or things you’d like to add? Leave a comment below.
Ivaebhin 