You’re Allowed to Mess Up Your Character Voice, lad.
Mike’s Opening Rant
Back when I played in the Lichen Coast campaign, we had a bard named Fen. Decided he was gonna do a pirate voice. Sounded more like a hiccupin’ goose wearin’ a monocle. First three sessions, every line started strong and fell apart halfway through like a drunk cartwheel. “Arr, me—uh—musical condolences?” By Tharn’s itchy chainmail, I nearly choked on me ale.
But ya know what? By week five, nobody bloody cared. Because Fen was funny. Fen was tryin’. And by the final boss, when he shouted “LET’S GET ’EM, ME SCURVY FELLOWS” in a voice that sounded like a walrus swallower a piccolo — we all stood up and cheered.
So let me say it loud for the cave-lost, rune-manglin', accent-fearin’ milk drinkers in the back:
YA DON’T HAVE TO BE GOOD AT CHARACTER VOICES TO ROLEPLAY.
Ya just gotta show up.
Voice Cracks Welcome Here
👉 Mike’s Tavern is where failed accents become fond memories. Browse Player Tips for more blunders-turned-brilliance or peek at Player Builds & NPCs for characters who carry a story without needin’ perfect pipes.
Everyone Sounds Dumb at First
Here’s the truth nobody tells ya when ya start: every character voice sounds dumb — to the person sayin’ it.
You’ll hear it in yer own head and cringe. That’s normal. That’s everyone.
Even the “voice actor” at yer table? They probably practiced for hours alone in the privy. Even The Sorceress Who Glows Like a Villain But Fights Like a Hero had to trip over a few lines before landin’ one that felt right.
Voice is like armor — takes some time before it fits. Until then, let it rattle a bit.
Your Character Voice Can Evolve (Or Die Screaming)
Too many players think they’ve gotta pick a voice and stick to it forever. Rubbish.
Your voice can change. Morph. Fade. Get weirder. Even vanish if it stops bein’ fun. That ain't a failure — that's character development. Some of the best roleplay I’ve seen came after a player dropped the accent and just started speakin’ with real heart.
So go ahead. Try an accent. If it flops, let it. Then shift. Adjust. Make it part of the story. Maybe yer character used to sound like that, but trauma, growth, or magical laryngitis changed things. Done.
Laugh With ’Em, Not At ’Em
Now, if someone at yer table mocks ya for tryin’? If they sneer or roll their eyes? You point ’em to Loot Don’t Mean Leadership, Ya Gold Grabbin’ Pebble Counter and remind ’em what actually makes a good party member.
We laugh with our fellow fools — not at them. If yer trying, yer winning. And if yer voice cracks, wobbles, or turns into a chicken mid-dialogue? All the better.
Tips to Loosen the Tongue
If yer wantin’ to give character voice a real go, but the nerves gotcha clammed up like a dwarf at a poetry slam, try this:
Start with cadence, not pitch. Change how ya speak, not how high or low.
Repeat catchphrases. A line yer character always says gives you a voice anchor.
Think in attitude. Sarcastic? Stoic? Nervous? Let tone lead before accent does.
Practice in private. Ain’t no shame in talkin’ to yer cat in goblin-voice.
And remember — even Ye Olde NPCs Who Carve Themselves from Silence don’t always get it right the first time.
Accents crack. Voices squeak. Roleplay survives.
If yer still shakin’ after that last attempt at dwarvish opera, warm up with these other scrolls:
What If My Character’s Dumb — and So Am I? Yer Not Dumb, Ya Damn Fool.
How to Get Into Character When You’re Too Tired to Care
Or return to the full tavern wall of shame at the Roleplay Anxiety Survival Index.
FAQ
Q: Is it bad if my character voice changes over time?
A: Not at all. That’s growth — or poor memory. Either way, it’s normal.
Q: What if my accent keeps slipping?
A: Then it slips. Let it be part of the charm. Nobody's trackin' yer performance metrics, lad.
Q: Can I drop the voice altogether if it’s not fun?
A: Yes. Yer fun matters more than yer falsetto. Drop it and keep playin’.
Sound Like a Goblin, Play Like a Hero
👉 At Mike’s Tavern, we don’t care if ya sound like a troll with a flute up his nose — we care that yer tryin’. Grab a drink, drop the fear, and find yer rhythm with our Player Tips, or get inspired by bold builds from our Player Characters. Voice or no voice, we’re rootin’ for ya.
