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7 months ago ::
Oct 29, 2012 - 9:32PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Sep 11, 2012
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I was running a solo game for my brother the other day, and it dawned on me that I was saying exactly what the NPCs were saying. He seemed to like it just fine, but I wanted to get your opinions on how to convey an NPC's message. What do your players like?
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7 months ago ::
Oct 29, 2012 - 9:35PM
#2
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2012
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I would say it depends mostly on the playstyle of the campaign which should be determined completely by the preference of the players. So if your player(s) like it then you're doing quite well.
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7 months ago ::
Oct 29, 2012 - 9:42PM
#3
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I would say it depends mostly on the playstyle of the campaign which should be determined completely by the preference of the players. So if your player(s) like it then you're doing quite well.
This. Both techniques have their pros and cons, as well as the simple subjectivity of liking one or the other. Neither is inherently better or worse, just different.
Another day, another three or four entries to my Ignore List.
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7 months ago ::
Oct 29, 2012 - 9:48PM
#4
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Date Joined:
Sep 11, 2012
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I sort of assumed as much. Thanks for the quick responses! I guess it can also be situational, such as during combat vs. during a conversation with an important NPC.
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7 months ago ::
Oct 29, 2012 - 11:00PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2004
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I like doing voices, but I'm not that much for long exposition or argument, and I dislike playing a character that is trying to conceal something. So, I tend to speak rather neutral sentences in character and go into third person if I'm trying to convey information to the characters, or otherwise get something across about the NPC.
[N]o difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions. - L. Tolstoy
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7 months ago ::
Oct 30, 2012 - 4:19AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Apr 14, 2010
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My experience is that if you do all conversations in character, they will generally take a lot longer since most NPCs need to be told about the context of the situation. You know what's going on, but if the NPC doesn't this can take a lot of time. Also, repeating your question over and over can get pretty boring pretty quickly.
In a single player game it isn't that bad, but when dealing with 3-5 other players who are waiting for something to happen you'll be looking at a lot of bored faces while the party leader keeps hogging the spotlights.
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7 months ago ::
Oct 30, 2012 - 5:23AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2012
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Sounds like your table is running just fine. In my experience the style of delivery is much less important than avoiding the standard narrative pitfalls like exposition dump (the infamous "As you know..." conversations). So long as your NPCs have dynamic goals that involve the interests of the players I think you'll be ok.
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7 months ago ::
Oct 30, 2012 - 7:43AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Jun 25, 2009
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It's fine to switch between "he says this to you *insert information*" and talking in character directly to the PCs.
Sometimes, it just comes down to what's right for the moment. If you need to convey quickly or if you have a heavy investment in RPing at the moment. I like speaking direct dialog from the NPC when they're important/recurring. Otherwise, it's "this, that, and the other"
My username should actually read: Lunar Savage (damn you WotC!)
*Tips top hat, adjusts monocle, and walks away with cane* and yes, that IS Mr. Peanut laying unconscious on the curb.
http://asylumjournals.tumblr.com/
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7 months ago ::
Oct 30, 2012 - 8:14AM
#9
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I tend to switch around between the two methods, sometimes even within a single conversation. It all depends on what I want to achieve and what the mood is of the people sitting at the table.
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7 months ago ::
Oct 30, 2012 - 10:02AM
#10
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Date Joined:
Jun 20, 2012
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My experience is that if you do all conversations in character, they will generally take a lot longer since most NPCs need to be told about the context of the situation. You know what's going on, but if the NPC doesn't this can take a lot of time. Also, repeating your question over and over can get pretty boring pretty quickly.
In a single player game it isn't that bad, but when dealing with 3-5 other players who are waiting for something to happen you'll be looking at a lot of bored faces while the party leader keeps hogging the spotlights.
Yep. Mix it up as best fits the situation.
If the players pass a common farmer in the field and the farmer asks about "news from the big city", I don't begrudge them if one of the players says "I tell him about the joust we won and ask him if he saw the guy we're looking for go this way."
Or, if two players are being questioned one at a time and being asked the same question... I'll go into some detail about how he words the questions as the first player is being asked, but I'll simply say to the second player "He asks you the same thing" and then paraphrase.
Use whichever suits best to speed things up or to detail important points.
A rogue with a bowl of slop can be a controller.
WIZARD PC: Can I substitute Celestial Roc Guano for my fireball spells?
DM: Awesome. Yes.
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