Improving Your Storytelling – Act the part

At this point you’re probably thinking, “what does this all have to do with improving my storytelling when my role-playing group gets together?”

While it is true that I haven’t touched on what most writers and gamers would expect in this group of posts, these topics are very important because storytelling isn’t just the story, it’s also the presentation – you have to be engaging!

Which brings me to item number three on my topic list – act the part.

Up to now we’ve been focused on describing the area around the action, the setting, now you need to step into the role of actor. You are no longer simply stating what the characters are seeing you’re interacting with them. You need to be the innkeeper, the town guard, the waitress, you have to stop worrying about the rules of the game and be part of the game.

Now I know that there are bluff checks, knowledge checks and so on that everyone want to use which if fine but don’t simply state the outcome, act it out.

For example:

The party approaches the town gate where everyone is being stopped and searched. The party is carrying items they do not wish to have inventoried or taken so they decide to bluff their way through.

Town guardsman (TG) – “Halt. All packages and parcels are subject to search.”

Player 1 to GM, “I’m going to try and bluff us in.” The GM makes the roll and tells the player to role-play it in character

Player 1 – “What is your name! Do you not know who that is?” Player 1 to GM, I point to Steve’s character (a fighter in full plate armor).

TG – “Donovan’s the name and searching bags is the game. Now you can either comply or head back to where you came from.”

Player 1 – “We will do no such thing. The Duke of Belis is above such petty things.”

GM to the group – The town guardsman takes another look and gives a slight nod and steps aside.

TG – “My apologies I didn’t recognize you sir.”

Obviously the bluff check worked and the party was able to proceed without being searched.

I know that this is a difficult thing for a lot of folks but you need to take on that actor’s role. Spend some time when you’re away from the gaming table coming up with ideas on what different characters are like. Do they talk at a rapid pace? Do they stutter? What’s their sense of humor like? Do they have a particular outlook on the world? Are they biased?

In my campaign I have a reoccuring NPC who is the most annoying individual you can imagine and when he shows up there’s a collective “oh no” from the players because they know what they are in for. The pattern of speech is always the same, the sarcasim and humor are always the same and that’s what makes him a memorable part of the story. He’s not the same person with different window dressing, he’s an individual and I take on his persona when he’s there.

After all, that’s what role-playing is, taking on another role and acting it.