10 tips for shy roleplayers

[@GinnyDi]

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring this video (and allowing me to get very weird with it!!) The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: skl.sh/ginnydi01201

[@epmeyer2273]

I love your videos!!

[@CyberianWaste]

This ad is amazing! So creative and different from the same scripted lists that others use! I love it!

[@seangall8055]

I hate myself for enjoying that ad

[@taiofmine]

The ad was perfection. *chefs kiss*

[@GinnyDi]

if it makes you feel any better, ads are how I pay for food and a roof over my head, and I work very hard to make them entertaining, so I very much do not hate people that tolerate them, let alone enjoy them.

[@Cap7171]

Say it again: "THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO OBLIGATION TO BE GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN!"

[@seriousthree6071]

This applies to most games. Although if you are a member of a team doing extremely high level content it can be an issue.

[@Brickerbrack]

@@seriousthree6071 Though if you're a member of a team doing extremely high level content, odds are you're _already_ good at it... otherwise you wouldn't be on the team. 😜

[@seriousthree6071]

@@Brickerbrack I play Guild Wars, high level fractals (read dungeons), pvp and Raids. When I am doing that level we are totally professional. Doing anything else and we just have fun. I have played stuff with complete newbies, done in game acting, been an attendee at an in game wedding, and generally messed about. Occasionally this required alcohol consumption in real life.

[@MOTHHMAN]

@@seriousthree6071 I don't know what Guild Wars is, but I just wanted to say I think it's really cute that you participated in an in game wedding! That's just so adorable lol

[@seriousthree6071]

@@MOTHHMAN Guild Wars 2 is a massively multiplayer online game where hundreds of thousands of people fight with each other against computer controlled Dragons and other monsters but optionally against other people too. Similar to World of Warcraft online but no monthly charge and the original is now free to play on PC. If you like it there are expansions available. Geez, now I sound like an advert!

[@ZArtifiziert]

I was once walking my dog at night, noone around, so i practiced roleplaying and the way my new character speaks and basically narrated her life story in character. Then my dog stopped to sniff at a corner, i turned around and had the horrifying realization that a person walking behind me had just listened to me rambling about how i accidentally burned down a village. With a lisp. I awkwardly greeted them and walked away as quickly as possible...

[@probablythedm1669]

This is why I only start making voices when I am sure I am alone in the areas where I like to walk. The occasional animal won't judge me... :P

[@shealupkes]

> I awkwardly greeted them and walked away as quickly as possible... now for the important part: was that in character?

[@TheLanceUppercut]

@@shealupkes I don't think we'll ever know. And that keeps me up at night.

[@foxyseven609]

Me when I'm talking with friends about killing people with fire on dog walks-

[@andrewstambaugh8030]

@@probablythedm1669 depends on the pet!

[@cyberneticsquid-godofmassd3759]

"practice roleplaying when you're alone" My maladaptive daydreaming: *heh...*

[@AndrewKln]

Huh, now I know the name of the thing I had when I was a teenager

[@sillygooseenergy]

Me

[@OklamaJr]

Facts

[@Stardreamer-fc9wr]

Practice is the easy part, actually talking to human beings is the hard part

[@OklamaJr]

@@Stardreamer-fc9wr yea we know

[@KirstenBayes]

In our game we hugely rely on our quietest player, to the extent we never play if she can't make it. Our game is investigatory, and she basically solves all the mysteries. Being quiet doesn't mean you are not wanted, needed and valued.

[@necromancer9829]

Not in our campaign. The people in our party always get the more loud and extroverted people to do everything, while the quiet ones are just watching

[@fabulouskelly3438]

i really needed to read this! thank you💖 i haven’t even played a game yet but i’m quiet and worried i’ll get talked over a lot :///

[@KirstenBayes]

@@fabulouskelly3438 I really hope it goes well! It's such a brilliant hobby.

[@sluttyMapleSyrup]

Our quietest player's the ethical compass of the party most of the time. Also integral to the party for wilderness survival and weaselling out of jail-time.

[@doctorjay8673]

The quietest player at my table literally one shotted one of the BBEGs in the final battle. It was the greatest thing I had ever witnessed

[@penaeskoesiin]

Off topic, but as a non-native english speaker I really appreciate how carefully you pronounce each word. Even though you speak very fast it's still super easy to follow and understand what you are saying!

[@jeremyfrost2636]

Off topic, but as a native English speaker I'm very impressed with how well you phrased everything in your comment. I get the impression your English is better than you think.

[@key37raminus]

Also subtitles!

[@joannapohorecka3136]

Same!

[@cvvsha]

@@jeremyfrost2636 it’s better than mine😂

[@jeremyfrost2636]

@@cvvsha Not a big sample size to go off of in your comment, but you got all four words right so I have to assume yours is pretty good too.

[@jordanw2741]

As a shy socially awkward person, it's amazing how just playing the extroverted "face of the party" has helped me speak up at the table in other games. It was tough at first. But it was more helpful for my RP than playing the out of touch druid (as my first character).

[@jamesakin9996]

What helped me was actually dming because as a dm I can't just hide i have to roleplay all over the spectrum

[@drskelebone]

I had a similar thing. My cleric is quiet, and doesn't like to draw attention, but the rest of my party (to put it kindly) are absolute idiots most of the time. So it's time to roll intimidation, maybe with a bit of thaumaturgy, and toss out an angry leader-quote, as long as everyone is patient enough to let me say it, then do a quick edit to use the much better words I thought up as I was speaking.

[@nriamond8010]

Oh yes! In one group, I have a very extroverted GM who thought he would help me by giving me a quiet character who does not say much. He meant well but it was the worst thing to do ... now I find it really hard to say something even if I WANT to because it would not be much in-character ... (and it's hard to change the character after playing for years; also the campaign end is already in sight, but this character choice was really bad!)

[@AVspectre]

Hmmm (as I’m currently playing my first character - an out-of-touch Druid)

[@AnAngryRedGummyBear]

Just jumping in to say if the face is too much for you, try something else. The wizened party Dad was what helped me break out, and I'm going to try the crazy hermit lady next!

[@danieltaber4924]

You are a smart girl, *and* your hair is blue and I can't get over that. Blue is very you!

[@dustinridge3996]

See I told you icarly is a roleplaying model

[@masonstubbs2075]

My god

[@PerfectAlibi1]

She should go pink 😁

[@funnyvideoguy3216]

When someone today wants to go against society, they dye their hair blue and make a blog post about houlw there aren't enough obese women of color is super smash bros

[@buttersquids]

@@funnyvideoguy3216 ok dude

[@robincollins3680]

Ginny: You fail sometimes A member of the party who usually rolls 1-5: Yes... Sometimes...

[@KylaFallenAngel124]

i'm that person... and i'm usually the dm! my players certainly don't seem to mind it though lol

[@sirilundgren4288]

SO relatable!! It's kinda interesting being a DM too! 😂

[@foxfire7]

One of our regular player had a night at some point, full of combat where they did not roll above a 4. it was so damn uncomfortable toward the end.

[@jamesakin9996]

I got no room to complain but I have the opposite problem nothing is fun anymore since I roll so high. I even use other peoples dice but it dosen't help. This is why I became a dm and can fudge them lower

[@gryphoncompanion]

WIl Wheaton wants his dice back.

[@pufflesfox]

*me who doesn't like to talk over my friends during roleplaying* This video: THE D&D GODS HAVE DESCENDED

[@carsonedmiston6441]

I'd like to shout out Josh for being so down with whatever weird thing he's asked to do. that is all

[@GinnyDi]

He is an excellent sport and I love him a lot!!

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@GinnyDi it's obviously mutual and wholesome to see, may your years together grow ever better :)

[@sadlerbw9]

I love it when youtubers get their family and friend in on the fun. Honestly, I think it is a nice break for the creators as well, as I’ve heard sitting in a room talking to a camera can feel a bit lonely after a while.

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

Its normal for guys who are serious. Helping with acupuncture training is the worst I have done. (So far) Still, they look like Sabrina and Harvey, so its probably all good. Weird combos like that happen sometimes. I knew a girl whos name translates to english as "Red Riding Hood." Of course she married "Wolf, son on Wolf". The guy is Gargantuan or Colossal in size. If anyone asks why, its because he goes to the gym.

[@zachariaravenheart]

My first D&D character was a tiefling who early on in the campaign, convinced a field mouse to join his pirate crew he wanted to put together. Afterwards, he kept introducing himself like, "Hi! I'm Azrael. I have a mouse!" One of the players sang the "We're Pirates who don't do Anything" song and ended it with: "and if you ask us to do anything! We'll say, 'I have a mouse!'" Good times. Also, everyone at the table tried to do my voice for him. I was lucky to have such a good first time experience playing D&D.

[@zoemalone5769]

okay that is incredible and i love it so much!! A+ use of that song

[@Lite_Me_Up]

I'm currently in my first ever campaign and I joined like 3 weeks after everyone, but luckily I played my brother's character on the 2nd week since I wanted to see if I'd enjoy the game (he had to leave for automotive classes) and I enjoyed it! But now I have to fix my characters backstory (it's been like 12 weeks since my first game) its a bit to edgy for my tastes, especially since I have a rogue- 😭

[@thesupplyofpower]

I would’ve considered myself shy about a year ago but when I started playing an extroverted, maybe a bit crazy character it gave me like, an unhealthy amount of confidence-

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Nah, only narcissists and sociopaths has unhealthy levels of confidence, you'll be fine :)

[@thesupplyofpower]

@@SonsOfLorgar Alright, well then it’s just a healthy amount of confidence!

[@eggzs6727]

me toooooo!!

[@Flowerrr101]

I am still so awkward role-playing even though my character is supposed to be this social creature. Idk what to do honestly

[@doukzu]

@@Flowerrr101 Maybe making your character more destructive? I find it easier to make in-character quips if I can throw out something chaotic and random without thinking too entirely hard about it.

[@LookMyMoonEyes]

There's this time that I was so shy at role-playing because all my party members were from the US and I live in Mexico so my English sucks and none of them could speak Spanish so it was very hard for me to actually interact with them, so my DM suggest that I should embrace that and use it for my character, so I play her as someone who only speaks in her race language, so that open a lot of opportunities for very funny sessions!

[@nightfall89z62]

If this comment is a sample of your English speaking skills, as I frequently find is the usual, you are better at it than you think.

[@AA-cf4es]

@@nightfall89z62 writing is easier than speaking for some of us.

[@TheMrVengeance]

@@AA-cf4es Yup, you don't have spellcheck when you speak, you can't go back and correct a mistake before anyone reads/hears it, you can't take the time to look up a word etc.

[@marli4442]

im kinda in situation like that but where all in the same country one in the us but im the youngest and the newest player and there all boys so that adds to my nervousness and when it time for me if i dont know what to do i get a panic attack and my mind will go blank so its realy hard for me to imbody my character but im trying

[@Haexxchen]

i feel you. I am German and studied English at university, have been learning it for 20 years now. I am far from perfect, but consider myself a good speaker. Joined a warhammer group with a few guys from the US. They had horrible dialects and audio quality and I felt like I barely spoke a word of English. (There were actually studies done, that show how groups communicate well with English as a shared second language. Insert only one native speaker and communication slows down. Because no one understands the native speaker properly or they shy away from speaking, because a native speaker is listening.)

[@quinnsinclair7028]

Your ads just keep getting better and better. I love when you incorporate Josh.

[@jasminecarroll9788]

I need you to know how much I love the ads. Not only does it make them much easier to consume, but I legitimately consider the products.

[@RaptorRocka]

@@jasminecarroll9788 Best bit is, she puts when the ad is over in the time stamps.

[@philurbaniak1811]

3:55 to skip to/rewatch the ad because it literally made coffee come out of my nose 💙👍

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Up there with Squire

[@ixelhaine]

I love your profile pic, gives a very Majora's Mask vibe.

[@alaskasu9264]

Playing a character different than yourself is a VERY good tip. I am a quiet player and always get ignored or talked over. But when I played a character that was glamorous and selfish and arrogant I was way more able to roleplay and add to the situation.

[@raemckay]

*Don't be afraid of failing* 10:49 We have a motto at our table: "Failure is where plot happens." It's where characters are most challenged. It's where relationships are most strained. We get excited when someone fails because it makes things interesting.

[@expensivemagic4754]

oh I love that motto

[@jennifermk4059]

I'm a perfectionist who used to be shyer at dnd. Regarding tip 9, however, I have learned that sometimes those failed rolls are THE BEST ROLLS. Even if your character doesn't get the result they were aiming for, sometimes failing is better in the long run. For example, my barbarian got a nat 1 when the party had to roll wisdom saving throws. She got a faerie dragon friend out of it!

[@shealupkes]

I think the most exciting part of putting together characters for me is figuring out my dump stat

[@ladysymble2731]

Shy or new: stop talking over them when they are directly asked something, counting their dice throws for them and pointing to their own stats on their own character sheets all the time. Give them time to get comfortable with where everything is and how to play their character. That will do wonders for confidence.

[@alanarama]

As some one with dyscalcula PLEASE keep counting my dice 😂 (I'm very new)

[@paulscouten1868]

ok, I'm gonna say it. Anyone who complains about her sponsorship drops are just being abrasive... I LOVE her sponsorship drops and they are regularly one of my favorite parts of the actual video. I literally paused to click the skillshare link in the description before I even realized I don't have time to utilize the 14 day free trial (I may get it in February though... if she has another moving, dramatic sponsorship drop)

[@Pip8448]

Every time the "And now a word from our sponsor" pops up I'm like, "Uhg, a commercial" Then I see the effort and humor in it and I'm like, "That was really good. I kind of want to watch more of this story." Then the video starts back up and it's almost jarring to be back to a normal KZbin video instead of the story I was just watching.

[@melodymalone4076]

I loved these tips a lot!!! My main issue when I'm playing is my brain just does not think of stuff to say and it makes it really hard to play with groups. No matter how much I know about my character, my brain is my enemy from being tired and not able to think.

[@echothenardier8053]

Same!!!

[@UltimateMustacheX]

As a relatively quiet introvert, I've noticed that having a different voice for a character actually makes it easier for me to say things that I would normally have a filter over. For some reason, not saying it in my own voice tricks my brain into dropping the extra filters I normally have up.

[@azareii]

I should try that. Thanks for the advice.

[@foxfire7]

Hi, I'm pretending everything is okay, thank you for your assistance today.

[@GinnyDi]

I'm RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!! Good job, you're doing your best, keep at it

[@quinnsinclair7028]

Gorgug: Are you my dad? Augefort: I was about to ask you the same question. Gorgug: ... ... ... What?

[@Crazyivan777]

My absolute favorite moment of that particular trope. The perfect storm of Gorgug and Augefort!

[@eskrupz9303]

“There is no obligation to be good at what you do for fun” thanks I needed that

[@criran]

How the hell did you keep a straight face for that promo? I would need like a million takes.

[@jaredjordan7094]

My biggest issue is that I tend to play characters who react nonverbally. Now that my group has moved to online sessions, my roleplay style has had to change.

[@chaonis24601]

Same!! I miss reacting with body language and casually cosplaying my character.

[@chinchillacat9964]

You could play with cameras (e.g.on Discord). That works well in my group

[@ZArtifiziert]

Maybe you can just narrate how they reacts?

[@wren5325]

Mine was as well. I found that if I tell my character’s actions as if telling a story, it helps with the narration and still participating in the RPing.

[@BeeBeeBean15]

omg me too! i play a character who operates a lot on the unsaid/ intuitive/body language level- so while two of my party members follow me pretty well, the other two miss all of my narrative cues! I've had to become what feels to me very obvious with my descriptions because they can't read my mind. 😅

[@wherehaveallthegoodnamesgone]

I'm definitely one of the "shy" players, or at least I am while playing over voice chat. I have a really great DM that makes sure to get people participating by rotating to what each character is doing during a situation, or if your character goes off by themselves he might breakaway to them to see what they're doing. I've gotten more in to character lately by playing a character fairly unlike myself. Playing a Tiefling Warlock who constantly keeps up Disguise Self so nobody knows he's not human. I've kept this from the other players so only the DM knows about it, so when my character reacts certain ways to a situation it makes for some interesting discussion. I have found that trying to get more in to my characters personality/motivations helps keep the game interesting.

[@Martina_horst]

I was the super shy role player for the first year or so of playing - I think it was a combination of a number of things: still learning the mechanics of the game, not knowing a few of the other players in the group, and not fully knowing how to immerse myself into my characters. Now that I’m more familiar with the game and my group I spend a lot of time creating characters and fully fleshing them out so that I know how to play each one properly. That really helped me come out of my shell and roleplay more. These tips will really help others who struggle with role playing - thanks for doing this!

[@king11456]

I wish I was more comfortable with my group. It’s been a year since we started playing together and it’s been sessions where I just don’t speak at all.

[@ThereseH2O]

I am super shy and have extreme social anxiety. I'm with a complete newbie group including myself. I noticed there was not much role-playing happening and everyone was kind of chaotic neutral and selfish so I made a goodie good character who's extremely extroverted. It's really helped some others come out of their shell too. Sometimes its hard for me to know how to react but my character is quite predictable so I always have something to fall back on. So that first tip of playing someone who's unlike yourself is a FANTASTIC tip!

[@deborahhagans2901]

I am a very shy person, the youngest in my DnD group by far, so imagine my surprise when my character started playing a more leading role in our game. I think it happened because I inadvertently followed tip #1. My character isn't shy. She's not a "leader" type most of the time, but she's extremely curious and always wants to jump into the action or down the hallway, around the corridor, wants to be at the front of the party experiencing everything first, even splits the party occasionally (^ヮ^;) So she's always going her own way, occasionally throwing caution out the window, and her curiosity leads her to question people more, inadvertently leading along the group somehow. It's been really fun!

[@this_fanny]

As a shy (and anxious) person that has never roleplayed, and is waiting for the 1st session to happen with a group that I don't know, I really appreciate this video and all of the work you do. Your videos had helped me a lot to understand and feel more prepared for the session, thank you! 💛

[@Erica-nf2tj]

Its really late but I hope your session was great!

[@allyfern9939]

My favorite player character gag I've done so far is having my gnome druid use druidcraft to make flowers/daisy chains/flower crowns to give to other PCs and NPCs as an attempt to comfort them or thank them

[@richardcumming8074]

I like that It is creative and i would be thankful if i were the recipient

[@Crystan]

As a DM, I have a few shy players in my group. It can be hard to bring them out of their shell sometimes, but I do my best to make sure they feel involved with the story. One person in particular likes to wander off on his own, away from the party, to pursue less adventurous pursuits. Being able to tie those pursuits into a campaign has been my absolute delight, and they've responded really well to it.

[@frankjones6802]

I’m definitely the shy one in our group. Most of us are introverts but I also have severe social anxiety (so bad that I start to shake if I’m talking in front of more than 6 people), but I’m also one of our two main GMs. I notice my shyness sometimes getting in the way when I’m a player but never when I’m GMing because I’m always too busy keeping everything moving and making sure everyone else is having a great time. This was a great video with some wonderful tips and I hope it helps those that need it. Also that ad was brilliant!

[@argleb1869]

I'm always the quiet one at the table, not that I don't want to join in, I actually enjoy sitting there being quiet and listening in more than actually trying to Roleplay.

[@jamesakin9996]

Perfectly valid strat spectating can be fun and if done in character can make when you do chime in far more inpactful

[@Kay_Lock]

I love how so many of these tips in these videos can be boiled down to communication. The answer is always just communicate with those who you're playing with.

[@CrispysTavern]

I always advise players to take full advantage of "yes and?" Use the more talkative players as a bounce off to join the roleplay. Of course it's a two-way street, the other players need to pull back when they notice someone new joining the conversation. When it works, it really works. I've noticed two of my quieter players are really benefitting from just bouncing off of our more talkative cleric/blood hunter.

[@notanalien5496]

That "yes and" method is one of the best things you could suggest. It works almost all the time and makes conversations way easier. You just gotta make sure you're constantly going down the "no and" route, that can totally ruin a vibe

[@mairimka8757]

Can you explain how that method works exactly? I'm still fairly new to roleplaying and have never heard of it before :)

[@notanalien5496]

@@mairimka8757 It's an acting technique, usually made for improv. Essentially, if somebody proposes an idea or a prompt, you can go with the "yes, and" option which is essentially going along with their prompt and adding onto it with your own prompt. There's also "yes, but" where you go along with the other person's statement but then propose an opposing statement. Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, I'm terrible at explaining things--

[@mairimka8757]

@@notanalien5496 I see! That makes a lot of sense, actually . Thanks for explaning!

[@notanalien5496]

@@mairimka8757Well, glad I could help! Again, sorry if the wording was off though,,

[@amaeve1950]

That skillshare ad was amazing. Also,I made my husband watch this. I have also made him go through all your pov videos. They've really helped!

[@unwithering5313]

As someone who hardly ever gets heard in sessions, this might be useful Edit: dear god, I didn't expect to get that many likes (thanks) I'm coming along a bit better when it comes to getting heard and being involved in the roleplay

[@eveescastle5866]

On the third point I've found asking simple questions and explaining why is a great way to understand your character and act as building blocks for more complex questions, like what is their favorite colour? What's their favorite season? Or what's their favorite snack. These are just a small list of my go tos that have really transformed my roleplaying.

[@lord6617]

When playing online, remember you can always type things out too. I sometimes feel its hard to get a word in, so I'll type it in chat. Use combat as your opportunity to get your "guaranteed" roleplay time as well. When its your turn in the initiative order, it is your opportunity to roleplay without other people drowning you out.

[@olorii]

I wish that were true, I've been cut off and drowned out in my own combat turn lol. Had to sit and wait for a good minute or two before I could carry on with my actions.

[@lord6617]

@@olorii But you DID get your time, your turn didn't get skipped.

[@montionetwothree8899]

I had to pause on that ad and take a breather. Man, that was funny.

[@sadlerbw9]

Both my kids tend to be...talkative. We have been working with them recently using Among Us to help them understand when to quiet down and how to let other people talk, even when you could keep going. We know several folks who fall on the shy side of the spectrum, and know how easy it is to shut them out of a conversation if you aren’t careful.

[@druid_zephyrus]

Me at Autumn: It's Green!!😍 Me at Winter: Ooo it's Wintry!!😍 Me at this Video: It is Blue Again!!😍 It Always looks great!!

[@awfulhorrid]

As a 50 year old with purple hair, I have difficulty getting over someone that says they're "too old to get over" you having blue (or green, magenta, metallic silver, or no) hair. I'll at least agree with them about the smart comment, though.

[@kristinbenini7967]

I dyed my hair magenta when I turned 50 💜

[@bexseely2649]

I literally just started raising my hand when I or my character wanted to say something. I hate that it works, but it's helped me get comfortable talking without raising my hand. I think it helps that my group does video sessions, so we're all looking directly at each other, but there's another idea for y'all

[@o0Inochi0o]

This video made me realize how much I am actually the quiet one haha. Every time I'm RPing I'm always asking if I'm hogging too much time and end up never doing much or responding fast enough. Also, that ad break was so well done! I'd honestly watch an entire video of just those tbh

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Good tips Knowing your character is a very good tip for all players

[@argeniosm]

Thanks for adding #10. To all those who are shy, your presence is appreciated, even if you talk up once, or just during combat, or not at all night. You are happy that you are enjoying playing with us.

[@VertexParadox]

I seriously cannot stress enough how helpful your role play videos have been for my character. I spent a few weeks periodically watching them a few times over, and now answering in character feels so much more natural! Thanks for making me love my character even more

[@eveescastle5866]

I think another point that can fit into this list is a reminder that not every group is the same, and you just might not click with a certain group. I've had games where I respectfully was like you know I don't think I'm a good fit for the group and parted ways. Nothing against them or a fault of my own they are people after all and you aren't going to click with everyone you meet. Finding the right group can make or break a game. So don't feel bad if you can't quite get into their style of roleplay, talk to them after the game and let them know you appreciated them having you but that you don't think their table isn't for you.

[@trashpanda2200]

That first tip is actually something I've found really helpful. Around strangers or people I'm not extremely close too I'm very shy and timid because I'm afraid to be obnoxious or annoying, so a good way to take away that fear for me is to intentionally MAKE my character obnoxious and annoying because then it's fine if I am! The important thing is to do it within reason though, don't always butt into conversations and when you're trying to plan what to do or it's a conflict, cool it a bit until it's a less tense situation. That's really helped me.

[@mayak3429]

wow, these ads are sam riegel level of amazing

[@archfeykoi]

This is such a great companion video to the "how to be a less selfish roleplayer" video, especially as someone who wants to DM in the future. Considering all these things is a big help!

[@FeiNixx04]

I used to roleplay stories with my online friends for years, it was a big part of my healing journey and got me through a lot of hard times in my teenage years. Being able to escape to another world where I had some sort of control over the reality and outcomes was refreshing for younger me. I recently joined into a group server, and I absolutely love the community and the people involved. They are all so sweet, creative, and caring. But, I haven’t roleplayed in almost 5 years- due to a dark period in my life keeping me from being able to engage regularly with my friends online. I feel so out of place, even though I’m very much welcomed there. This video helped me a lot, as someone whose more timid and unsure of how to approach new people after so long of being closed off. I appreciate this so much. ❤️

[@daMnedest-visiOnAry]

For me, it was making a character that was more similar to myself, and as I got more confident, so did my character. I played a very chaotic evil character who felt that most others were beneath her as my first character, and the problem was she just didn't speak. My current character has a more similar alignment and personality, so it's far easier.

[@RainyLS]

I've only been playing for a month or so, but something that has already helped me is playing in a place I'm comfortable in. At first I avoided playing in my room because I shared it with my sister and instead played in the basement, but when the basement wasn't available I had to play in my room and fount myself talking louder just because I felt at home, I guess? Playing in the basement made it feel weird and something to keep quiet about, but in my room I felt better. And it was easier after I just told my sister "Sis, I'm gonna be playing dnd. If you hear me talking, ignore me." And it worked

[@phoenix_raven91]

Ah yes, my favorite soap opera: Skill Share. 🤣 That cut was perfect.

[@docnevyn5814]

Like bitcoins through the internet, so are the skills of our shares

[@phoenix_raven91]

@@docnevyn5814 🤣 It took me a minute to get that.

[@invictarussuzerain]

That is 100% the first unskippable ad I've seen in a long time. I laughed, I cried, 10/10 would recommend.

[@kelly_seastar]

I roleplay quite often on Discord, but my RPs are text-only. I'm nervous about getting into DnD because I'm not sure how live RP works.

[@Phoenixqueen77]

It's fairly similar. Don't worry about it, it may take a bit to get used to, but once you get into the hang of it, and comfortable talking to the others at the table, it helps a lot :) (It helps getting settled if you already know the people you're playing with.)

[@Hebion95]

it's kinda the same, but it can be hard to be heard depending on how many people you're with. Try looking for a small group of maybe 3 or 4 people, including you, and see where it goes. I'd recommend a classic dungeon crawl.

[@KIWIMAN47]

I was in the same boat for years honestly. I was nervous about being heard, or if inflections I'd finally figured out how to describe in text would be caught the way I wanted to when I acted them out. But it's honestly not that different once you get into it. If you find a group that prioritizes RP, unlike my first group which was just "I hit it with the thing and do 12 damage," you end up getting sucked into the character as much if not more so then when your writing them out.

[@lenodas3567]

There's usually one or two of my friends who prefer text over voicing their character's when we play together, and we're all fine with that. Not everyone is going to mesh super well with that kind of thing, and it's important everyone can understand that. Tho, we play over Roll20 which allows for that kind of thing to happen in the first place, so bear that in mind I guess

[@daviuhh]

I started with roleplay too- a (now) good friend of mine introduced me to d&d and a group of her friends and we really clicked. If you have the right group, role playing with them comes naturally. I tried with strangers but it didn’t work out as well. She’s the DM for the first campaign I played, and most campaigns I play come from that group. Switching from text to voice was surprisingly easy- and the big walls of text turned mostly into just dialogue and shorter pieces. The scariest part is character generation- My first character doesn’t have an accent and I just use my own voice, but after months of playing this game I’m going to put her through surgery to change her race- and voice. You can always change things later if you don’t like it- or even if you want to ease into it there’s tons of westmarch d&d campaigns that are over text and don’t have one specific party.

[@mayawalker8905]

I normally skip sponsers but you are literally the only and best sponser youtuber i have seen - with these skits they have me rolling on the floor i love them so much lmfao 🤣🤣🤣

[@JimPekarek]

I always struggled getting into character when I was younger, and the key for me was definitely playing a character with an accent. The accent helped separate in-character speech from ooc speech, and really made it fun to dive into their personality. And after 5 years of weekly practice, I now have an amazingly good Barbossa-style pirate accent I can bust out when people least expect it.

[@MPRiley-rb6lj]

Often playing characters larger than life at Convention I can suggest the DM assign my character a "Jimminey Cricket" or voice of reason adversary in group to a noob or shy person to get them out of their shell with purpose. It has worked multiple times.

[@froggiefittoad]

Bless this video✨I really can’t wait to start playing again! I moved to a state where I don’t know anyone right before quarantine started so I’m hella deprived. I’ve just been binging DnD content but it’s fine everything is fine 🥲

[@nriamond8010]

Those are really great tips :D I'm a VERY shy player, too. And I'd like to add a few things which work for ME: - I find it really helpful to look for a character from a movie or a series as a „role model“ for my character. Not a main character, if possible, that might be too obvious. But I go specifically for movie/series instead of book character because then I can remember their way of speaking, choice of words, way of moving and behaviour better because I can SEE it. Helped me a lot with larp characters, too. In larping, things like „way of moving“ is even more important, but in tabletop gaming, you can also describe how your character moves or what he does even if you don't know what he would say right now. And then, it's a start because even if you're just telling the others that your character leans against the well and watches then you have _something_ to say and are not being silent. - I look for a setting I'm comfortable with. DnD is very difficult for me because I don't know any about the usual settings (Forgotton Realms? I'm not even sure about the name of the world we're playing in …) and I find it very hard to find out anything about it, especially in German. So instead, I go for a German RPG with lots and lots of information about the world. Also, I now prefer fantasy to modern or sci fi settings (although I absolutely love sci fi) because it's much easier for me to know what is possible in that world. I started roleplaying with Star Trek and because I watched every single show multiple times, I know a lot about the setting and it went fine. In random sci fi settings, I am completely LOST because of overthinking and not knowing how to react to things happening. For other people, modern setting might work better than fantasy. Just find something you know a lot about, if it's Harry Potter or a samurai setting or a 1920s Cthulhu game or whatever. - I look for a group of people who are more on the quiet side, too. Not always easy because we're a minority, but luckily my group of friends is mostly like me :) It's much harder to try to talk more if the others don't even give you a chance because they are constantly talking themselves. Of course, if you DON'T want to talk more and just like listening to others and just saying something now and then, a group of talkative people who don't mind someone not saying that much might be the right thing for you! But whenever you are in a group who constantly critizes you for not speaking up a lot: Run and look for another group. Not all people are compatible in their roleplaying preferences and that's absolutely okay, but don't force it. That makes nobody happy.

[@mimharries4349]

I definitely fall into both options depending on the day, so I appreciate having both videos to refer to! And the sponsor spot is, as always, incredible. I burst out laughing when Josh turned around and that was much needed today.

[@moonsandbears]

That is without a doubt my favorite Skillshare sponsor bit in a youtube video ever

[@rustydynamo1088]

I completely laughed my ass off at that sponsor sketch. One of the best placements ever seen!!

[@cert2b]

I think a really good GM can help this type of player as well. If, as a GM, you notice someone isn't talking as much. Or if you notice people talking over each other, then a good GM can bring out the shy player. Start small, "OK, you swing your blade, but just barely beat his AC, so you just clip his arm, but still do 10 points of damage. Does your character say anything like 'More where that came from," or 'I'll chop you up one piece at a time," or does he/she just smirk knowing you true first blood. Then when they start to get a little more comfortable then start to ask, "What's your response to event X?" My group lost a player to real life shenanigans. And a friend of one of my players brought someone in. She was very shy and introverted. So I was asking some questions trying to help her flesh out her character's backstory while keeping it simple so she didn't feel overwhelmed. And she told me when it came to roleplaying that she was "petrified" of the idea. So I knew to keep it simple with the idea that she was a rough gnoll barbarian who just didn't trust strangers and as the group started to help her character out she started to roleplay and be more open while her character started to feel she could trust the other players characters. It was very organic and quite frankly, awesome to see. Now she's only been with the group for about two months now, but she feels like she's been with our group for years.

[@atomykebonpyre]

I wanna play a wizard that introduces himself as a registered hex offender.

[@funnyvideoguy3216]

You are a comedic genius

[@ThatoneBlackMage]

"uhh hi, I'm [wizard name] and Im swinging by to tell you im a registered hex offender."

[@jadeyu7197]

your hair looks so good, i love it so much and it brings me extra extra joy when i listen to these very helpful things, thank you!

[@HapyHappiness]

As the dm of my group, I try my best to try to involve all my players. I'm constantly asking what they want to do, what they are doing, wanting to say, etc. If someone is a little shy I'll try and ask them more often about if they wanna do or say anything if they aren't being included as much in dialog or interactions. I believe involving all the players equally is something important to do in a campaign, even if they aren't the most outgoing of the bunch. I love my shy players wholeheartedly

[@iLikePie-lg2tj]

My group just started our 3rd campaign. I've always been a shy roleplayer, as well as the healer, so I've always just been the quiet guy that just heals people and enjoys and the story, but never actually really becomes part of the story. With this new campaign I'm still the healer, but also the frontline tank (Redemption Paladin), and after session 0 last week have been ordained the leader of the group (due to my character's written personality and 20 Charisma). It's going to be interesting, but I think being "forced" into those roleplaying experiences will help me become comfortable roleplaying. It's like learning a new language; you can study all you want but the only way to actually learn is to go out and experience it.

[@trissie_xx2170]

Hey Ginny, I was wondering do you ever get tired of your character? And it feels like whatever you do you can’t get excited to play them anymore? I would love to see a video about that. Love your content!

[@Fiona_Co]

Thank you for this video!! My DM just had us do an improv type session for character flashbacks where we all played different random characters in each other’s flashbacks, I was terrified at first but it wound up being really fun!!

[@Bitterthorne]

I CHOKED when Josh turned around oh my gosh ahahahaha!

[@ManiacMcCurtis]

These are all really great tips. Ginny D touched upon some things and to add to an already great video, these were some things that helped me break out of my shell: 1. If you're a shy player, GM your own little one shot session. It doesn't have to be anything big, extravagant or long and can come from an already existing module or something your friends have already played. It could be a quick 2 hour session with your buddies. It provides a tremendous amount of perspective and really helps grow you as a player and a potential GM down the line. 2. Ask your GM to implement a simple and loose buddy / rival system. It gives you a point of reference of how you should interact with another PC at the table. 3. As GM, ask your more experienced players to engage your shy players in game. As a GM, privately tell them, "A and B are my amazing experienced players at the table, I'm going to give you a personal task of engaging Y and Z players in role play at least X amount of times per session." 4. As GM, give your players a secret agenda to accomplish. Tell them not to explicitly share it with anyone else but to try and push the story toward accomplishing the goal subtley. You can even go as far as rewarding them with an inspiration point should they accomplish it. This is an amazing trick for GMs as it helps carry the story without you having to steer your characters in a direction. Instead the players do it themselves.

[@robinrichardson5243]

Those were some really good suggestions! Thank you for compiling this list! I'm been tempted to try the first suggestion of playing a character that's against my type but keep getting nervous about the new waters. I'll give it a shot when my current character dies/retires.

[@infrognito8233]

This was definitely an eye-opener. I've often struggled with being too quiet, getting talked over and not being able to break out of my shell. In the end, I always felt like I was holding the other players back, so I dropped out of my roleplaying group. I haven't played in many years, and these concerns have kept me from trying again. Thank you for sharing these amazing tips and for convincing me that there is still hope!

[@Noor-oh4jq]

I wish my group had shyer people, our campaign consist of yelling at each other and running around like kids as we act out the action from combat

[@Dekunutcase]

I came thinking we quieter players were going to get attacked and instead, you were very respectful. Thanks!

[@artcatdraws4203]

6:15 me remembering what everyone from critical role said about Laura on their first game

[@Overlord99762]

What did they say?

[@Vercanya]

@@Overlord99762 I think it was something about Laura just automatically being in character when they started playing. Others still figuring out what their characters' voices (etc) were and Laura was natural with Vex'ahlias accent and mannerisms.

[@Overlord99762]

@@Vercanya I think a person whise personality is close enough to their character shouldn't have much trouble finding the perfect fit, personally, I find myself at home with the character I'm making (Dwarf fighter with a knack for nature)

[@fratguide9835]

Love that you switch from green to blue for that seasonal 𝑎𝑒𝑠𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

Being a shy introvert with actual fears of dealing with people, I have noticed two things when I game. One is that if I dont want to speak, I still do enjoy a well played character. One of the best moments was when a new character almost panicked before enemies even attacked. It gave me too a rush of excitement that I have rarely had even on hardest battles. Battle IS scary, and we need other players to properly get into that feeling. Second is that when I do have a character who lets me open up, I speak too much just for the feeling of freedom it gives. This can challenge my anxieties but also make it worse; Im too vocal and bother other players and then feel guilty of doing it and decide not to do it again. :-/

[@dextra_24703]

One thing that helps me take a cushion and scream into it once, it opens up the throat, air ways and can relieve stress. A hot tea or warm chocolate milk towards the start of the session can have the same effect. And if you want to prepare set yourself a goal or a cool scene that you want to narrate and don't feel bad, if you don't have a moment to say it write it down for next time.

[@shaundenehy4681]

Epic failures are some of my best moments in D&D. Also got my old group to ban me from almost every class lol.

[@johnsmithfrombackeast7376]

I must say @Ginny Di that is the most creative/original word from our sponsor I have ever seen on youtube. Well done!

[@TeaquestSagas]

I feel like 1 thing was forgotten / or could be a good idea for a video itself: Biggest issue I have with being shy... Is finding a group in the first place. Are there tips for reaching out, maybe some places aside of reddid/whatever that are less toxic / in favor of extroverted people where one could search for a group?

[@Zandalorscat]

Thank you for thinking of quiet roleplayers! As a quiet person I genuinely adore anyone who makes an effort to include me.

[@brianroberts783]

That sponsor message is proof that storytelling is more about tone than dialogue!

[@Squidbush8563]

a different method of communication can bring out a quiet player as well. i once had a VERY quiet player that rarely participated until I suggested she try a mute character that had, as compensation, the ability to see hints of the future. the challenge was to tell the rest of the party. She really came out of her shell and had a lot of fun with it. Especially once she found her voice as a player. I have found that, as a GM, it's important to sometimes give your players a little nudge in the right direction to help them enjoy the game.

[@magdachlebicka3895]

My best tip: play an idiot. You'll never feel like you're interrupting the conversation and ruining the game for others. You'll be interrupting the conversation as a part of your roleplay and everyone will find it funny

[@jamespolk5955]

So I should keep my 8 int 8 wis Dragonborn then?

[@magdachlebicka3895]

@@jamespolk5955 yes!

[@christophermiller1501]

I've needed this video so badly, and I'm so happy to have discovered it. This is gonna help step up my RP game immensely

[@bronwynembree7592]

I love my calendar! Your Barbarian is displayed proudly on my wall :)

[@OtterThunder]

Great point on the role-playing a loud character. Most people I know think its easier to roleplay a character similar to themselves since it's comfortable. But I can see how that pigeonholes them into being less outgoing in game.

[@matthewletexier]

Its been a while since you've done jester, the accent really caught me off guard here

[@drbell26]

I like how you break the video up by points. And the advice is spot on.

[@kearnsguitars2236]

Never thought I'd say this but, great job on the add...lol oh and the tips were good too

[@zackburns3720]

I actually used tip 5 recently, all our characters were separated and quiet with one another, until my 5'10 red teddy bear character marched up to the smallest two characters, stared them down, and said "hello friends!" Which easily got everything going. Now everyone gilsby meets is his new friend, until they attack him.