Beyond NPC voices and mannerisms

In another article, I wrote about how I use NPC voices and mannerisms to make an NPC come to life at the table. However, this method is not the only way to quickly and easily roleplay an NPC. Two other methods which do not rely on extensive acting lessons are easy to use at the table!

Describe rather than play

If we’re not comfortable “getting into character” for an NPC, we can simply describe how they act. Use the voices and mannerisms from the previous article to narrate to your players how the NPC acts, without having to actually act out these mannerisms. Add the description of another gimmick, to give more details to the NPC. D&D is a game of the imagination. We can let players imagine the way an NPC sounds and acts without having to do it ourselves.

Reskin an existing character from fiction

Mike Shea from slyflourish.com recommends simply picking a character from fiction and using them as a template to roleplay an NPC. The ogre chieftain could be a know-it-all like Hermoine Granger. Or the princess acts like Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones. Notice that switching the gender of the character we are reskinning immediately creates a more unique NPC.

Many ways to roleplay NPCs

We can use gimmicks, or roleplay NPCs with voices and mannerisms. We can describe how NPCs act in third person, or reskin existing characters from fiction. I use all of these methods when they seem appropriate. For an NPC who might never appear again, I might simply go with the first vocal characteristic that comes to mind. If I think an NPC might take on a bigger role, I will make sure to write down a voice and a physical mannerism for them. All of these methods are tools for us to use. And we pick and choose depending on our own DM style, the needs of the game, and the status of the NPC.