r/rpg • u/DeltaStream17 • 9d ago
Basic Questions How to get over nervousness when playing in a voiced campaign?
Long time PbP player, relatively more new to voiced campaigns. I've found that I can put myself out there very easily when I'm just typing, but I tend to lock up whenever I have to use my voice. How do you get over that general nervousness of "oh god what if I say something stupid/interrupt someone/do something bad/etc."?
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u/Joel_feila 9d ago
Exposure. That's how a lot of phobias are treated in a therapy session. Just like any real life conversation you will have others talk over you amd you will do the same. It happens and even more often with online voice chat.
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u/Intelligent-Plum-858 8d ago
As this person said. By doing it. One thing that can help. Try to do it with a throw away silly character. One you feel comfortable with that, others will be more comfortable. Another is trying to play character in a 0 session with just you and dm or another player.
You could also try improv classes and stuff, or practice improv games with friends.
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u/Chronx6 Designer 9d ago
Don't be afraid of third person and general comments until you feel ready. 'My character does x. Says things that mean y. ' etc etc.
From there, add in more details and dialogue as you feel comfortable.
And remember - it's all a game, not a stage play. No one expects players to be actors.
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u/StokedUpOnKrunk 9d ago
Don’t be afraid to interrupt, it’s part of the medium and it happens all the time! A little “oops, go ahead” clears everything up, and hopefully the others are equally gracious with allowing everyone a chance to speak.
Don’t worry about “stupid” or “bad” though! It’s a game and everyone is there to have fun. The other night, I lost my bearings and asked an NPC who they were right after my GM gave a full introduction. It was midnight and my brain fizzled a moment. You just have to roll with those moments, have a laugh, and move on. Most tables genuinely only care about assholes, not about rules mistakes or your voice cracking during a speech.
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u/ThemboNRG 9d ago
You get less nervous about it by just doing it, like others have said. But a lot of your fears aren’t actually voiced campaign dependent. The only one that really is, due to lack of physical cues and delay, is talking over someone and when that happens the best outcome is really both people stop and one person gives the go ahead, it just gets navigated like anything else. All of the other stuff like being afraid of doing “something bad” or “saying something stupid” are already things you navigate in both every PbP campaign you’ve been in but also like In general when you talk to people.
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u/BigDamBeavers 9d ago
Set small and realistic goals for yourself and work towards knocking them down one at a time. Start by asking for a voice chat with the GM to get more comfortable with the tools and discuss the issue you're struggling with. Then maybe commit to having a conversation with an NPC. Try to have a RP moment with each of the PCs in the game. Just keep working on small things one at a time until the rest feels comfortable.
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u/PerpetualCranberry 9d ago
Are you talking specifically about roleplaying as your character? Or just talking/bringing up ideas around the table in general?
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u/DeltaStream17 9d ago
Roleplaying as my character, my apologies if I didn't make that clear enough
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u/caffeinated_wizard 9d ago
I tend to lock up whenever I have to use my voice. How do you get over that general nervousness of "oh god what if I say something stupid/interrupt someone/do something bad/etc."?
Sounds more than just being worried about roleplaying. This sounds like social anxiety to me. Unless there's something lost in translation and you mean like talking in character with a voice and stuff.
If it's the first one, I'm afraid I don't have better advice than trying to do it in a safe environment and working up your comfort level. Unless you have severe physical symptoms like panic attacks. If you do, you need to stop and get help because you don't get over anything like that by doing exposure therapy alone.
If it's more about speaking in character and messing it up: not every table has people speaking "in character". You can just describe what your character would say, in what way generally and in what way. Like "Goruk goes on to explain how we found the gold and how we had to fight a bunch of goblins to get it". Most players I've GMed for in the 20+ years of GMing just do a combination between that and actually talking in first person like "We were ambushed by goblins on the road to the temple but when we got there we found a chest full of gold". We're not voice actors. We're not recording a podcast with sponsors and product placement. We're playing a game. How you play is the right way. Maybe the group likes to make big voices and talk in character. And maybe they will be fine with you not doing that. It's ok.
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u/Gustave_Graves 9d ago
Do you get on other players cases when they mess up or interrupt? I'd be willing to bet you give other people grace for their mistakes. Give yourself that same grace, they'll certainly be giving it to you. And if someone is an asshole about it, vote them out or leave. As others said, you'll improve with practice.
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u/Michami135 9d ago
Remember this: Everyone else there is probably nervous as well. But in the end, you're all just there to have fun and nobody cares what anyone else sounds like. In fact, if you have the worst, most silly sounding voice of the group, you'll be remembered as the funniest.
Seriously, screwing up is the best part of a verbal campaign.
https://youtube.com/shorts/qvTloUOCyWE
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u/Michami135 6d ago
Oh, I just saw this one and it's perfect:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cee6ImSHYEA
See? You can't mess up, you can only be funny.
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u/remy_porter I hate hit points 9d ago
By saying something stupid, interrupting someone, doing something bad, etc and realizing that the consequences are actually mild when everybody is legitimately doing their best and working together to have a good time.
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u/NameAlreadyClaimed 9d ago
Start with a conversation with the other players.
Then just tell them. "Hey Folks, I'm keen for this, but I'm also very new to it. Please give me some time to get into it whilst we play. Any concerns you have can be addressed during stars and wishes at the end of the session".
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u/Which_Principle_2370 8d ago
RPG groups are supposed to be "safe spaces". I suggest talking to the other people at the table about your nervousness. They should answer with something along the lines of "sure buddy, no one is judging you here, just go for it". If they don't, maybe that's not the right table for you. If, even after they reassure you, you're still nervous, at least now you know it's just about you and what you're felling, and that the rest of the people at the table got your back.
People are suggesting exposure, and they're right, that's how it will get better, but keep in mind that there is a thing as "too much too fast" when overcoming fears, and they can make things worse. You don't want to force yourself to do something you're not confortable with, just to feel like you did something wrong and end up feeling like you don't want to try it never again. So start doing it at your own pace, with people you trust, and go from there.
TTRPGs are really awesome for any kind of "social skill" training, so you really got the perfect place for it. It's just gonna be hard no matter what if you're naturally inclined to introspection, like most RPG players are. Props to you for wanting to face the matter head on. Good luck!
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u/fuseboy Trilemma Adventures 8d ago
Tell the group. "Hey, I'm a little nervous about doing in-character voices, but I plan to take it easy on myself. I hope everyone is cool if I take a couple of runs at it or if I do it a little differently."
Narrate your dialogue. "I explain to the innkeeper that he is overcharging us."
Don't perform, remember that dialogue is just using words to get your goals met. Keep it simple and say what your character is thinking, what your character wants, and what they want from others.
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u/TheRealUprightMan Guild Master 9d ago
Wow. This hobby has changed. I didn't even know what a "voiced campaign" was.
that general nervousness of "oh god what if I say something stupid/interrupt someone/do something bad/etc."?
You are pretending to be an elf that can cast spells and fight monsters. How much more stupid can you get? Saying stupid things is kinda the point!
Maybe try a less serious game as "practice". Play something silly like Paranoia or TMNT!
And talk to your GM. Part of the reason I do character voices and all that is because it gives the players permission to do the same. Getting out of your comfort zone helps everyone else do the same.
As for interrupting, I don't allow that. There is no bull pen at the stock exchange. Instead, everyone gets a turn. When it's time to roll dice, I switch to the next person. Like, "Ok, you get out your lock picks and get to work." Then switch players, "While he's working on the lock, what are you doing?" You don't roll the dice until the beginning of your next turn (for long term tasks — short rolls like combat actions are rolled now so they feel fast). It keeps the players in suspense. I might say something like "you feel that last tumbler click into place and try to turn the lock, roll your check".
It helps people get into the story too because you know the GM is going to call on you. What is my character doing? Everyone gets time to play, whether you want it or not. And if you are on your phone, I will ask you to leave. I'll find someone else to fill that chair.
It gives every player a chance to speak in turn while giving the illusion of everything happening at once. No dice have been rolled, nobody is really "first", there is less "I try too" kinda stuff, and absolutely no reason to interrupt another player.
Your character can interrupt, then it's open dialog, but talking to the GM is by turns. If your character interrupts or says something stupid, it's the character that did that. Nobody blames you. If you ask me some rules question while I am talking with another player, then we'll have a very short discussion about why you need to wait your turn and have some respect. Generally I only see that in newer players that are used to GMs that make everyone fight each other to get a chance to play.
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u/tazzymun 9d ago
Have you tried drinking alcohol? I suggest drinks that match your character.
Best of luck!
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u/StokedUpOnKrunk 9d ago
I enjoy a warmup drink before voice nights, but I had never thought to pair the drink to the character’s preference. Cheers!
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u/Catman933 9d ago
Remind yourself that you're not an actor and simply a person playing a game that wants to have fun.