Talkin’ In-Character Ain’t Embarrassin’ — It’s Called Playin’ the Game

Sep 26

Mike’s Rant

Let me ask ya somethin’, lad.

Why is it that when a party fights off twenty undead ogres, y’all scream with glee like tavern rats in a biscuit barrel, but the moment I ask ya to say one line in character — you clam up like a cursed oyster?

Yer rogue just dove off a roof. Yer bard seduced a demon last week. But today?

“Uhhh... my guy says... I guess I talk to the guard? But like, my guy says it.”

Ain’t no such thing as “my guy says.” It’s you, ya pebble-countin’, surface-dwellin’, spotlight-evadin’ wet blanket.

JUST OPEN YER MOUTH AND TALK LIKE YER IN THE BLOODY WORLD!

Now calm yerself. This ain’t a trial. This is me showin’ ya how to stop lettin’ nerves rob ya of the fun — cause everyone’s awkward, lad. The whole damn table’s fakin’ it. That’s the point.

1. Accept the Awkward — It’s Part o’ the Game

You think the rest of the table ain’t cringin’ inside too? They are. Every single one of ‘em. Even the loud ones.

The magic ain’t in perfection — it’s in mutual weirdness. This is a table full o’ fools pretendin’ to be wizards and pirates and talking bears.

So lean into it. Like they say in the old human empires:

When in Rome, do as the bloody Romans do.

Need proof? Read Roleplay’s Supposed to Be Awkward, Lad — Here’s How to Survive It. It’s practically a survival manual for the socially anxious.

2. Start Small — Real Small

You don’t need a fake accent or a monologue with tears and thunder. Just try one thing:

Call someone “friend” instead of “you.”
Say “I’d like a drink” instead of “my character asks for ale.”
Change yer posture, tilt yer head, squint a little.

Little things build big habits. And before ya know it, you’ll be shoutin’ threats at ogres and makin’ trade deals with necromancers like it’s second nature.

3. Trust the Table — They’re Probably Just as Lost

The moment you open up, someone else will too. You’ll see it. The shy one will sit up straighter. The bard will grin. The fighter’ll mutter somethin’ gruff just to keep up.

You’ll unlock ‘em — like a domino of bravery.

Look at what happened to The Bard Who Can’t Sing But Tries Anyway. That lad couldn’t hold a note, but he held the room once he stopped apologizin’ for tryin’.

Awkward Ain’t a Curse — It’s a Shared Language

Yer first in-character words don’t gotta be clever. They just gotta happen. And every time they do, the game breathes a little deeper.

👉 Dig into more Player Tips if yer lookin’ for ways to loosen up the tongue. Or read through The Quiet Player’s Guide to Gettin’ Noticed if yer still hesitatin’ to open that gob.

4. Laugh With It — Not At It

You’re gonna mess up. Yer voice’ll crack. You’ll forget yer character’s name. You’ll say “hello” like a goblin with stage fright.

And then?

Everyone will laugh. With ya. Not at ya. And the moment will pass. And ya won’t die from it.

That’s the magic, lad. Let the laughter in. It means yer doin’ it right.

5. Play Like No One’s Judgin’ — Cause They Ain’t

Truth is, the only voice judgin’ ya… is yers.

Nobody at the table is waitin’ to roast ya. They’re rootin’ for ya. And if they ain’t — then yer at the wrong table. And that ain’t yer fault.

You want proof that weird, over-the-top roleplay can still be golden? Go read about The Sorceress Who Glows Like a Villain But Fights Like a Hero. She’s a bloody disco ball with fireballs — and players love her.

Yer Table’s a Stage and a Campfire — Don’t Just Sit There, Speak

Yer voice is part of the spell. Don’t mute it just cause it don’t sound like a dragon’s roar. Speak up. Fumble it. Try again. That’s how legends are made.

👉 Contact the Tavern if ya need help figurin’ out what kind of character voice suits ya. Or hit the FAQ page to see how others eased into the game without breakin’ a sweat.