Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jadebrain Apr 01, 2012 15:40:11	Here's the situation... I'm playing a character who has basically been a slave all his life. Due to being basically a freak of nature, he was treated even worse than the other slaves. One of the ways he was treated worse is that he was never allowed to speak using his voice, and if he did, he was beaten very badly. As a result, he has an intense fear of speaking, and often uses pantomime or other gestures to communicate. The problem is that my DM doesn't seem to think I'm roleplaying him at all. I try my best to get my character involved in the story (though that doesn't mean much, because I'm just not good at roleplaying; I have a hard time thinking of ideas in general, and that applies to things that my character does), and I'm not sure how I can improve my roleplaying style to show that I actually am involved in the story. It's gotten to the point where my DM is so frustrated with my supposed lack of interest that he has even threatened to end the game (not entirely due to me; only one player character does much for meaningful interaction with the NPC's, and that's due to charisma scores; meanwhile, the other player is just an instigator through and through) because he "can't run a game with only one character followed by a few collections of stats." I really am interested, and I want to roleplay my character, but as mentioned before, I'm just not good at thinking of the simple things that other people take for granted. What I need is help, and that's what I came here for. EDIT: Here's some quick info about my character, mostly pulled from a sheet my DM gave us players to help us flesh out our characters. Show -Name: "Brian" (no actual name, Brian is just what he's been called by most who cared enough to give him a name) -Age: 6 (about average for a goblinoid) -Sex: Male -Race: Tauric Goblin/Wolf -Significant physical features: Other than being a tauric Goblin/Wolf, he has a lot of scars -Education: None -Occupation: Former slave, current gladiator -Family: A group of druids created him, but he doesn't remember them -Childhood: Often bought and sold by abusive masters -Friends: Gum-Grin Gus (An old, blind slave with no teeth and a surprisingly jolly personality) -Religion: Never considered religion -Basic personality traits: Shy, Timid, Passive -Weaknesses: Weak-willed, afraid of talking -Strengths: Really fast, naturally talented with bows -Motivation: To find a place where he can live in peace -Loves: Being treated like something that isn't abominable -Hates: Nothing in particular -Favorite Art: Simple painting -Most significant Scar: A large scar on the face from an almost-dodged dagger -Pivotal Point in character's life: Meeting Gum-Grin Gus, being separated after being sold to an arena
#2 Avenger_jr Apr 01, 2012 16:08:21	One of the things that can help alleviate the pressure of 'speaking in character' is simply describing the characters actions. I DMed two different groups with mute characters - one was a gnome bard, a former slave, whose vocal cords were damaged, the other was a half-elf ranger suffering damage from a curse. The Gnome bard had reflavored their abilities to fit with pantomime and his musical implement, which worked out very well. The player was able to explain all sorts of quirky actions that his character does. Rather than sit there and provide no input, he focused more heavily on his characters actions, with mostly exaggerated ones. There was one time that he had spotted an ambush ahead that the others didn't. Unable to explain what was ahead, he stopped and starting jumping up and down waving his arms to get the party fighters attention. The Ranger was the cold and calculating, stealthy type, he would sit back and watch and wait, preparing their arsenal of weapons for any situation. When it came to communication, he used a chalk & slate, or a 'sign language' secret language (Dragon 313, Article 'Art of the Kill') to communicate with the party Warlord. There are many ways you can 'communicate' without speaking, and more interaction with NPC's instead of CHA or skills. When I run my games, I encourage my players to give an actual statement or explanation of what they say and do when conversing with an NPC before making any sort of skill check - one response could help or hurt the other.  From what I explained, hopefully you can get some sort of idea of ways to involve yourself in the game more. Taking from the examples above, you can see one big help - Take your characters background, race, class, and personality into consideration to help shape how they speak without words.
#3 jadebrain Apr 01, 2012 16:29:02	One of the things that can help alleviate the pressure of 'speaking in character' is simply describing the characters actions. I DMed two different groups with mute characters - one was a gnome bard, a former slave, whose vocal cords were damaged, the other was a half-elf ranger suffering damage from a curse. The Gnome bard had reflavored their abilities to fit with pantomime and his musical implement, which worked out very well. The player was able to explain all sorts of quirky actions that his character does. Rather than sit there and provide no input, he focused more heavily on his characters actions, with mostly exaggerated ones. There was one time that he had spotted an ambush ahead that the others didn't. Unable to explain what was ahead, he stopped and starting jumping up and down waving his arms to get the party fighters attention. The Ranger was the cold and calculating, stealthy type, he would sit back and watch and wait, preparing their arsenal of weapons for any situation. When it came to communication, he used a chalk & slate, or a 'sign language' secret language (Dragon 313, Article 'Art of the Kill') to communicate with the party Warlord. There are many ways you can 'communicate' without speaking, and more interaction with NPC's instead of CHA or skills. When I run my games, I encourage my players to give an actual statement or explanation of what they say and do when conversing with an NPC before making any sort of skill check - one response could help or hurt the other.  From what I explained, hopefully you can get some sort of idea of ways to involve yourself in the game more. Taking from the examples above, you can see one big help - Take your characters background, race, class, and personality into consideration to help shape how they speak without words. Thinking of ways to communicate without speaking is a good idea... But (and I really should have mentioned this before), my character, as he is right now, is incredibly passive. He has basically learned as a result of how he was abused as a slave that he should go along with whatever he's told and do nothing else (basically, if his former masters could detect him thinking, they'd beat him for that). I have so far tried to roleplay how my character is reacting to his quickly and constantly changing circumstances since the beginning of the campaign (from his mental communication with an imprisoned angel to becoming slightly more passionate about his life as a result of said communication with the angel), but apparently that is not enough for my DM. What I need help with is thinking of ways to effectively roleplay my character while in transition from a weak, timid, passive slave to whatever he becomes as a result of his adventures. It also doesn't help that, as I have repeatedly said, ideas don't come to me very easily. Maybe, just so that I don't have to try to explain everything after answers are given, I should post a quick sheet of personality traits of my character? I think I'll do that.
#4 richardine Apr 01, 2012 18:02:55	Assuming the character can not read, and that you are near a town. Talk to one of the other players.  Have them buy an empty book and some simple paints for your character.  Now he has a means of communicating complex ideas, and making maps, charts, graphs, rubbings etc.  Make sure the DM sees this, it will show him your effort into developing the character beyond his handicap.  If he learns to/can read he can move from pictionary to words.  Might need to get two books and extra paints. Talk to your DM.  If he is having trouble with you not roleplaying, then see if he will craft some situations where you have to become more than a timid goblin/wolf to solve the puzzle.  Maybe something where two levers need to be pulled only to find that the party is caught in a trap and your character is the only one in position to save them, but has to think for himself and communicate at the party not to pull their lever.  Maybe he has to become the face of the party to negotiate with some kind of abomination or goblins. If I understand the way you designed your character correctly he starts his roleplaying career by not roleplaying, and then needs outside catalysts to begin roleplaying.  That seems to be the problem for your specific character and you need to work out something with your DM to create those catalysts.  Maybe have the other characters push him to be more involved in what the party is doing. Final idea for now: Roleplay down time.  This will give your character the chance to begin to open up without threatning the party, and doesn't need speaking.  Try cooking their meals or setting up their tents.  Something that shows initiative on your part and then when the party thanks/compliments him it gives him a reason to finally start opening up and thinking for himself.  That can lead from intra-party interaction to interacting with NPCs.
#5 Reg06 Apr 01, 2012 21:12:36	Assuming the character can not read, and that you are near a town. Talk to one of the other players.  Have them buy an empty book and some simple paints for your character.  Now he has a means of communicating complex ideas, and making maps, charts, graphs, rubbings etc.  Make sure the DM sees this, it will show him your effort into developing the character beyond his handicap.  If he learns to/can read he can move from pictionary to words.  Might need to get two books and extra paints.   I'd go so far so to get a small white board, and actually write down what your PC is writing. It'll help get the character across, and it'll keep you from speaking (which will help everyone get into character).
#6 Cohen95 Apr 01, 2012 21:46:22	Honestly it sounds like the whole group, DM included, needs to have a little pow-wow. The DM is getting frustrated that his players are coming off as overly passive. While he is encouraging roleplay, what he really wants is active interaction. He doesn't just want you to play a character, he wants you to play a character that is actively engaged in the world, the adventure, and the quests. To that end, your character is a bad fit. One, your character is mute, so you can't speak in character. Two, the character's abusive past has led them to be overly passive, so you're roleplaying that by being exactly what is frustrating to the DM. I think you all need to sit down and come to a consensus of what kind of game you all way. It sounds like the DM wants something possibly a bit more sandbox-y, with PCs having agendas, plans, and ideas of their own. That's perfectly fine, if the players like that style and have characters that work well in that style. Your character does not, because the character's personality is such that they will simply go along with the rest of the group. Again, the issue isn't with your character specifically. Ostensibly, there's nothing wrong with your character at all. The problem is that it appears as though, most likely through lack of communication, your character and your DMs game aren't a good fit for each other. The same is likely true for the other PC that isn't very engaged. So, as with most such issues, I think the best answer is to talk it out, together, as a group.
#7 jadebrain Apr 01, 2012 22:26:08	Final idea for now: Roleplay down time.  This will give your character the chance to begin to open up without threatning the party, and doesn't need speaking.  Try cooking their meals or setting up their tents.  Something that shows initiative on your part and then when the party thanks/compliments him it gives him a reason to finally start opening up and thinking for himself.  That can lead from intra-party interaction to interacting with NPCs.   That would be a great idea, were it not for my character's lack of skills. However, we are going to be gaining three levels soon to represent the transition from a prologue arc to a main arc, and I've been looking at the Scout class... This will definitely be something to consider. Honestly it sounds like the whole group, DM included, needs to have a little pow-wow. The DM is getting frustrated that his players are coming off as overly passive. While he is encouraging roleplay, what he really wants is active interaction. He doesn't just want you to play a character, he wants you to play a character that is actively engaged in the world, the adventure, and the quests. ..."window.parent.tinyMCE.get('post_content').onLoad.dispatch();" contenteditable="true" />To that end, your character is a bad fit. One, your character is mute, so you can't speak in character. Two, the character's abusive past has led them to be overly passive, so you're roleplaying that by being exactly what is frustrating to the DM. Yeah, I tried explaining to him that I'm roleplaying a passive character... While I consider him to be a good friend of mine, we don't see eye to eye on most things. The same is likely true for the other PC that isn't very engaged. To be fair, the other player isn't so much "not engaged" so much as she is "engaged in a decidedly fruitless manner." For the whole session (this last session was the one in which she joined), her character repeatedly attacked the uber-powerful NPC who, thankfully, just ignored her, and she did so despite knowing full well that it would have no effect. After the NPC left, she then had her character try to convert random bystanders into shadow monsters (did I mention this campaign is restricted to monster-type characters?) for fun. And she's always been like that, in pretty much all games I've seen her in. Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that she's the DM's girlfriend, I'm not sure if our DM would even let her play.
#8 Avenger_jr Apr 01, 2012 23:12:19	Here's another thing to think about for how to engage your mute, slave character: Now that they are effectively 'free', would they feel inclined to slowly begin doing things they previously would not have been able/allowed to? Perhaps this would be with instigation from other characters - them urging yours to move out of its comfort zone.
#9 Krusk Apr 02, 2012 15:37:19	Describe your actions and have the character mime things. Instead of saying "I object to that" say "My PC frantically motions, you take it to mean he is objecting". "I ask them to follow me" "I motion to them that they should follow me". You don't even need to come up with the actual motions. Your PC is going to be way better at it than you would be, and if pressed explain that.