The rule to have good and fun NPCs with voices in your tabletop rpg is to remember this: you are playing with your friends. Maybe they gonna make fun of you or your NPCs but the more you practice in character voice acting the more relaxed you will be. I don't think you need 1 hour in front of the mirror every day to practice this. Use a few existing mannerims and talking styles from real actors. Don't worry if you suck at voice acting. You will be much better than those who never try this out. Be silly in front of your friends. They will love your games for sure on the long run . And the plot twist is this: they try to use voices for their characters as welll. And this is the best gift to you from your rpg party ever. Playing 100% in character without any trolling or loosing focus. So guys, practice and don't worry about failing.

@Runehammer1

4 ай бұрын

well fucking spoken

@juauke

4 ай бұрын

Freaking love that advice! Motivates me so much to do more 'stupid' voices

As for someone who really enjoys NPCs and find it natural, I always struggled with combat and tactics (and found a system that fits my interests better). Found a trick for NPCs in combat that might suit you better. If the NPC is just a person, they get nothing. If a PC tells them to run, the PC can control them with a movement speed but nothing else. If the NPC would have class levels, they get nothing. They aren't even on the board. They give the PCs a bonus effect. Druid healer makes it everyone gain 2 hp at the beginning of their round. Rogue give them a d4 additional dmg. Barbarian gives them a +2 to hit. Yes, it's not 'realistic' but neither is AC. The story is about the PCs. The NPCs are only helping. This simulates that.

@alexroman6424

4 ай бұрын

NPCs as equipment is a cool idea.

@alexroman6424

4 ай бұрын

Follow up idea, followers as equipment. Now you get to be a level 5 paladin with 7 different 'groupies', who each give him +1 AC, +2 hp and the equivalent of 2 extra Lay on hands per day.

@lycaonlycos2140

4 ай бұрын

I recommend you to look into Talisman RPG. All NPC’s there work as described by you

My favorite way to build NPC's is a quote from Jason Morningstar I believe that says "Good characters have a concrete goal and a preferred method of action." The cult's assassin wants to kill the party and will use eldritch means to achieve that, etc. I also like how NPC's and factions are built in Blades in the Dark. A name, a few personality traits and what gear / resources they have at their disposal. Mushing those two ideas together provides great results.

Talking naratively instead of acting: I am really trying to get to this place, because I once played in an exalted game, and the character was designed to be an orator whose words were so powerful they shaped the emotions and perceptions of those around them. To deliver that, I wrote a few very short summaries of the kinds of impactful alagories he would use (like a few words to a sentence), and for the entire game I just described how those stories were told. I didn't have to perform, I just had to tell the story of the performance well enough that my friends WISHED they had heard it. By far my best played character, and everyone really enjoyed it.

Great tips, Hankerin. Knowing your cognitive limits is key when it comes to how to best run NPCs, even more so than trying to apply every single great idea you come across and have a mental "blue screen of death" as a result.

"I'm struggeling with podcasting" at the end had me giggeling. You are great and inspirational. Will work in your advice and ideas into my games for sure.

@Joshuazx

4 ай бұрын

Struggling with podcasting might be code for viewership, thinking up good topics, or a messy desk.

@Runehammer1

4 ай бұрын

nope, hehhe. All forms of 'broadcast', to me are kind of distractions from the guts of my work.. but essential for reaching people!

That's exactly how I do npcs. I'm uncomfortable with voices so I describe everything as in a book. Including tone, mannerisms and facial expression. I try to make it as colorful as doing the acting thing but in a different way. Works for me.

This was the video I needed. I can't believe Runehammer does the same thing i do with NPC voices... Great advice. What's funny is that when I break in new players, I tell them them they don't have to speak in the first person. It takes the edge off and ultimately once they get the hang of the game, they naturally start playing their character in the first person. I'm not sure why i don't give myself the same slack. Thanks for the great content.

Thank you for the valuable advice and insights on creating and running NPCs! It's reassuring to know that not doing voices is perfectly okay, and focusing on the NPC's demeanor, tone, quirks, and characteristics can be equally effective. Letting players utilize NPCs as needed, rather than having NPCs steer the narrative, is a great approach. They indeed shouldn't overshadow the world but enhance our exploration of it. Here are 5 additional tips for running great NPCs: Outline Wants/Needs and Secrets/Obstacles: Understanding what drives an NPC and what stands in their way adds depth and relatability. Provide a Simple Character Sheet for Combat: This allows players to seamlessly integrate NPCs into combat, acting on the controlling player's turn, making the process smoother. Keep NPCs Balanced: They should complement the party without outshining the players. One or two defining traits or abilities are sufficient to make them memorable without overcomplicating their role. Classify NPC Attitudes: Defining NPCs as hostile, untrusting, neutral, friendly, or allies simplifies interaction dynamics and decision-making processes during encounters. Use NPCs to Enrich the World, Not Dominate It: NPCs are there to add flavor and assist in the narrative, not to take over the story or solve problems for the players. These tips, combined with your guidance, are incredibly helpful for enhancing our tabletop experiences. Thanks again for sharing your expertise!

I think treating NPCs and animal companions like LOOT is some of the best RPG advice out there. Even if you have other players running them, the extra time it takes to run additional turns slows everything WAY down, and I was so happy to discover this method of keeping them present, but in the background until it matters.

Big advantage of that mostly narrator focused handling of npcs is fast pacing. Also helps avoid information overload that can cause players to lose focus or simply forget things. Though I'm pretty good at it, I've always seen speaking dialogue to be similar to describing a dungeon room - too much and pacing and clarity of info will suffer.

When i do voices, i basically impersonate famous actors and go from there.

I think it’s perfectly valid and a good strategy to “dolphin dive” and switch between 1st person NPC and descriptive. Even sentence by sentence. Otherwise, regards npcs: the players should be interacting with the world and the dm plays the world. If the DM is playing an NPC interacting with the world then the DM is outside their scope.

Love your content! Love your insight into rpgs. And love your support of fellow RPG creators. You are one of the good ones. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rune Hammer delivers an empowering and insightful discussion on facing challenges head-on in tabletop gaming. With a focus on enhancing NPC interactions, this review promises a transformative experience. Through their engaging presentation, Rune Hammer offers not just strategies, but a supportive atmosphere that encourages growth and mastery in the gaming realm. It's rolling initiative to level up both as a player and a storyteller, making each gaming session .

I don't know if I learned this from my leadership teacher or a drama teacher, but their rule was "go big or go home." You look good because you're going all in, even if you're a little off. You look bad when you wimp out and do something half-hearted.

I meet people all the time for my job and I don’t remember any of them. An NPC not remembering the players is probably fine

Thks I'll try this tonight

This was suggested to me and it worked good at first and got better with practice. Use a quirky list, and take just one for minor NPCs and small combinations for important-er NPCs. Try using the GURPS Quirk list to get started, let it grow from there.

I am struggling with gms npcs. After seeing your video he is obsessed with slimes, who are chatty and wierd.

About time someone talks about the biggest gap in DM ability of the average DM and an Epic DM. Most DM's cant RP their way out of a paperbag or even RP the average merchant. Their game worlds are flat and do not come to life.

100% my weakest skill, thanks for commiserating

Excellent as always.

MY CABBAGES!!

Fan boing?... lol