I Cast...Brainstorm issue 35!

In partnership with

This week — Role-playing Tips for Players

Thanks for reading I Cast…Brainstorm!, a weekly newsletter with ideas and advice to help make DM-ing and playing D&D (and other TTRPGs) easier and more fun.

You can say hello, share feedback, and let me know what you’d like to see in the newsletter at [email protected].

And please share our link with your friends and fellow gamers, so they can join us, too. https://icastbrainstorm.beehiiv.com/

Let’s brainstorm some fun!

In this issue...

• Role-Playing Tips for Players

  • Creating Loose Frameworks

• Brainstorming Links

• Gifts for Gamers and People Who Love RPGs

Happy weekend, all. This week I’ve been thinking a lot about role-playing and character “voice”, so read on for some things that help me think on my feet in a session, and that help keep my characters consistent throughout a campaign.

Thanks for reading, and happy role-playing!

Role-Playing Tips for Players

Role-playing your character — acting and reacting as that character in an interesting and consistent way as events in the game unfold — can be one of the most fun things to do in RPGs. It can lead to some unforgettable funny, interesting and poignant moments at the table, whether the player uses an accent and gestures as part of the “performance”, or takes a more reserved approach.

Not all players are confident about role-playing, though, and it can sometimes be tough to make a strong, interesting, or fun “in-character” acting choice in the middle of a session, even for players who are great at it. What helps me improv on the fly is to do just a little bit of pre-planning.

Creating Loose Frameworks

Once I feel like I have a good idea of who my character is, I create loose frameworks for the character to help me role-play on the fly. To do this for your character, its a good idea to identify a “voice” for the character first — gruff and sour, or silly and whimsical — something to help focus in on the character. Then make up a list of triggers or events that could occur in a session, and write a few ideas for things your character might say in those moments.

For instance —

What does your character say when something awful happens? Do they say a short prayer to their god, or simply mumble “Of course.”?

What does your character say when something amazing, or lucky happens? This could be something as simple as a made-up idiom from your character’s past — “That’s an orc on ice skates!” — and it doesn’t matter if none of the other characters understand the reference.

How does your character curse? You can have a few favorites locked and loaded for just the right occasion.

Is there anything or anyone in your character’s past that they would call back to, or reference? A relative who “always said…” something useful, or (funnier) useless?

How would your character react to seeing a dragon or some other powerful creature?

Does your character have nicknames for the other PCs? Or for particular monsters? Maybe they only refer to their Goliath warrior party-member as “Treetrunk”, or call zombies “stink-walkers”.

How would your character insult or poke fun at the other PCs?

What is your character obsessed about, (or even interested in)? If they're an avid fisher, maybe they often refer to different fish and how to catch them, or if they’re obsessed with gems, maybe anything good is “Near perfect as a diamond”.

You can also anticipate specific events, especially campaign or story events, and think ahead of time about what your character would do or say in those moments. Then, when these things happen, you can flip to your notes and land that perfect thought or turn of phrase. Some example events you could prepare for —

After solving a difficult puzzle.

After meeting a legendary NPC in that world, or an NPC that’s important to the story.

After being knocked unconscious (and surviving).

After another PC dies, or is raised from death.

Finally meeting the Big Bad of the campaign face to face!

Of course, these things may change over the course of the campaign. Some events might never occur, and you might add dozens more as the story unfolds, and the cast list changes during the campaign. That’s fine. Consider it a living document! Jot down ideas as you go, and incorporate catch-phrases and events from your sessions. These make for great call-backs, and make it much easier for your character feel authentic and alive in the world of the game.

Brainstorming Links

You probably already know about the folks below, who are real inspirations to me, but if not, do yourself a favor and check them out.

The Arcane Library — masterpiece adventures, and Shadowdark, too!
https://www.thearcanelibrary.com

The Angry DM — so angry….so many great ideas….
https://theangrygm.com/

DMDave — on point analysis of D&D rules, and a ton of fun ideas
https://bsky.app/profile/dmdave.bsky.social

RPGBot — whip smart critique and explanations of 5e rules
https://rpgbot.net/

Sly Flourish — a DM’s best friend who is also a better DM
https://www.slyflourish.com/

Treantmonk — years of helpful advice and clever ideas
https://www.youtube.com/@TreantmonksTemple

If you like I Cast…Brainstorm!, you might also like these amazing newsletters with more great ideas, advice and news about RPGs.

Thanks so much for reading! I have a lot of ideas about how to build the newsletter into something even bigger and better, and if you like I Cast…Brainstorm! so far, please click on the ad below to help us grow!

You don’t have to face debt alone.

Debt in America is at an all-time high, but there are more ways than ever to take control.

Whether you’re managing credit cards, personal loans, or medical bills, the right plan can help you lower payments and simplify your finances.

Money.com reviewed the nation’s top relief programs to help you compare trusted options and choose what fits your life.

You can start taking back control in only takes a few minutes.

Compare your options today

Gifts for Gamers and People Who Love RPGs

You can also check out great gifts for the gamers in your life at the I Cast…Brainstorm store, which features all-original designs by yours truly on shirts, hats, mugs and other gifts!

 www.icastbrainstorm.etsy.com

I Cast…Brainstorm! newsletter subscribers save 10% off everything in the store!

Your Ad Here!
If you have an online store that sells D&D or TTRPG themed things, let me know — I’d love to add it here.

What Do You Think?

How do you like I Cast…Brainstorm! so far? What’s working for you? What would you like to see more of? Or less of, or done in a different way? How’s the layout? Please let us know at [email protected]

The original ideas in this issue of I Cast….Brainstorm! are covered under the Creative Commons BY-SA license — all content is free to use (including commercially) and change, with proper attribution.

You can read about the license here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en