I do my warm ups out of character and spend 10 minutes at most. My favorite is “circle game” aka “what are you doing?” Players form a circle or semi-circle. Player 1 (P1) is determined by dm and begins pantomiming an action. Moving in a clockwise direction the next player (p2) asks p1 “what are you doing?” P1 must make a response with another action which P2 pantomimes. If at any time a player hesitates to give an action, or names a similar action to one already used in this game session they are out (at which point the player asking resumes pantomiming the last legit action that was performed.). The winner is the last man standing in the circle (I may give inspiration for use in that game session if I’m feeling nice.). I will also do a few rounds of the “Whose Lines Is it Anyway” games of Questions only, Song Titles, or Alphabet game. And will end play after 10 minutes ensuring that all my players had some time on stage and no one player is dominating the stage. Most of my warm up games have a “do not hesitate” rule because I find they help with getting into a mindset that will help combat go faster (you have to think about your next play.). Most of my games will not be related to the session game and are designed to get improv juices flowing. That said I do like the “one sentence interrogation scene” where each character is interrogated by the guards alone and must recap the last session one line at a time and in character. This might be a done in a “Guard asks the question, player writes down a one sentence answer and GM reads the answers back Apples to Apples style.”
This is a great video! I am very good at listening during roleplay, but I get very nervous when talking (even though I'm a very loud person irl, but the moment I need to roleplay I get anxious). The moment it's my turn to speak my throat closes up and I can't think of almost anything fun, interesting or contributing. Do you have advice for getting over that?
Thanks for watching! I completely understand. I've run over 300 games and I still get nervous and tongue-tied (I have bad anxiety). Try this: write down 3-4 one-sentence descriptions of attacks, one-liners, or some feature that your character has. Shorter is better. When game time comes around, have these handy. Improvisation and creative writing/roleplaying are two different skills. By having one part of that prepared, you can focus on the other in-game. Let me know if that helps! 👋
I do my warm ups out of character and spend 10 minutes at most. My favorite is “circle game” aka “what are you doing?” Players form a circle or semi-circle. Player 1 (P1) is determined by dm and begins pantomiming an action. Moving in a clockwise direction the next player (p2) asks p1 “what are you doing?” P1 must make a response with another action which P2 pantomimes. If at any time a player hesitates to give an action, or names a similar action to one already used in this game session they are out (at which point the player asking resumes pantomiming the last legit action that was performed.). The winner is the last man standing in the circle (I may give inspiration for use in that game session if I’m feeling nice.). I will also do a few rounds of the “Whose Lines Is it Anyway” games of Questions only, Song Titles, or Alphabet game. And will end play after 10 minutes ensuring that all my players had some time on stage and no one player is dominating the stage.
Most of my warm up games have a “do not hesitate” rule because I find they help with getting into a mindset that will help combat go faster (you have to think about your next play.).
Most of my games will not be related to the session game and are designed to get improv juices flowing. That said I do like the “one sentence interrogation scene” where each character is interrogated by the guards alone and must recap the last session one line at a time and in character. This might be a done in a “Guard asks the question, player writes down a one sentence answer and GM reads the answers back Apples to Apples style.”
Im loving this, will totally use it for school RPG workshop coming up, thanks for the vid!
That's awesome, Bethany! Would love to hear how it goes! 🙂
This is great content. I am happy UA-cam recommended me to your video. I enjoy this style of advices, thanks a lot!
This is a great video! I am very good at listening during roleplay, but I get very nervous when talking (even though I'm a very loud person irl, but the moment I need to roleplay I get anxious). The moment it's my turn to speak my throat closes up and I can't think of almost anything fun, interesting or contributing. Do you have advice for getting over that?
Thanks for watching! I completely understand. I've run over 300 games and I still get nervous and tongue-tied (I have bad anxiety).
Try this: write down 3-4 one-sentence descriptions of attacks, one-liners, or some feature that your character has. Shorter is better. When game time comes around, have these handy.
Improvisation and creative writing/roleplaying are two different skills. By having one part of that prepared, you can focus on the other in-game.
Let me know if that helps! 👋
@@DnDDigest oh my goodness that is so clever! I will definitely try it out, thanks
Good luck!
@@DnDDigest hey thank you so much, I took your advice and it was my best session to date!! I felt less anxious and had a lot of fun
@@nastya_is_slay so glad it helped! May every session from now on be your best session to-date!
Great Video!😊
why in this world you don't have the attention you deserve
D&D players should just focus on yes, and. They already but a ton.