I personally don't feel like rping requires funny voices or acting out everything that happens.
if you wanna try bringing more rp into the game then try every time they encounter an npc such as at the inn, the local shop, etc. have them talk to you as if you're the npc in question. if they want information, make them work for it.
but really, you can't force them to get into character, and if they're unused to the idea it can take a while to get them used to it. Encourage them to make decisions based on their character's ideals when you can, have them discuss things in character such as battle plans or how their loot gets split up.
as long as you as the DM keep encouraging them then soon they should get into the habit of acting as their character would and interacting with the game world through you.
Talk to your players about their characters' background and motivations -- what are their goals for the future? Their answers do not have to be lengthy or complex. Just get a general sense of where the characters come from and where they want to head.
First of all, asking these questions helps the players start to view things from their characters' perspective.
Second, you can collate the information and look and see what the PCs have in common--both in where they've come from, and what they'd like to do. This can help you figure out how to throw motivations into the story that gets the players jazzed up about what's happening because it's something their character wants to do. For example, maybe Bob the Fighter wants to get himself a magic sword, and Sam the Wizard wants to become a great magic item artificer. Behold! the magic sword could become Sam's first project. And you could build a quest to find the perfect gem that will become the pommel that is the root of the magic in the sword. Then it becomes not about "oh, we found yet another random gem, write it down on the treasure list," but rather, "We found the Sapphire of Tears! Now I can make that sword for you, and build my fame as an artificer!"
(This is probably not the best example but this is off the top of my head. Also, obviously in this example, the sapphire would replace the gold material piece costs of crafting the item.)
Some players that have trouble getting into character often do so because they see the reward of playing in meta terms -- more XP, more phat loot. If that's all that they feel is rewarding, that's all they'll put effort into. If resolving story elements is done well, THAT becomes rewarding too, and it becomes satisfying to roleplay. This shouldn't replace the more mechanical rewards of course (and there's nothing wrong with XP and phat loot!) but it should all be part of a piece (such as above, the phat loot also becoming part of a story resolution).
Just some random thoughts.
Are there any other baby steps I can take to get into the RP'ing mindset/mood and paint the scene better for myself and my players? Any advice is appreciated!
Lots of good advice thus far!
For your cut scenes and descriptions, if you don't already, I recommend reading lots (and lots) of fantasy novels. :-) The more you read, the more you'll pick up on the prose and be able to wing it on your own.
For example:
You see the inn you're looking for.
Vs.
You walk down the meandering street searching for the Beer and Pretzel Inn. Eventually you spy the well described by the beggar. Looking left you spot a faded sign board with mug and pretzel carving. As you approach the building, a half orc sails out of the doorway and lands on the cobblestone street.
If you create your own adventures, start writing flavor text you can read to the players. As you gain experience with GMing you'll be able to just string it together without a script.
Take care,
Harry
I have been known to give players a bonus feat at character creation if they will submit to me a 1 page minimum character background... Makes PCs powerful yes but it doesn't seems to break the game in my experience. Having to really sit and think up a story for who thier character is, what they are doing there, and what they want to accomplish really helps the character seem more real to player not just a fancy spreadsheet. If the player can be convinced to invest a little mental energy into thier character the RP will come more naturaly. Sometimes you can use the sketches as ideas for further adventures, let the character fulfill thier destiny as it were.
You might want to check out Hero Lab. They have a free version of the software just for the Beginner's Box. It can help making characters that fit the rules.
OK, guys, I have been DMing since 1974 or so, I have a few suggestions, they apply most to newer DMs.
Puzzles, riddles? Sure, go for it. Let the players have fun trying to figure them out or guess. But do remember that a player that isn’t so hot at this may be playing a Riddlemaster bardic genius. So, after they don’t get it on their own, let them get HINTS by making skill or INT checks.
Loot? Players love loot, but you don’t want to be Monty Haul. New DMs- use the WBL tables, but be a little more generous, remember that you can go one level above without breaking the game. So, with 5th level PC’s they can have up to 16K gps each. Err on the side of being generous, but don’t overdo it. Throw in some cool sounding loot once in a while like a “delicate hand carved ivory statue, worth 120gps”. (in the back of some older sourcebooks they have tables of this stuff) and make up a few fun but mostly useless in combat magic items like a “Toy song bird that sings along with you, adding +1 to Perform checks”. Never hand out a macguffin that they will NEED several games from now without making it real obvious.
Starting stats? Again err on the side of being generous. If the last DM had a 15 pt buy, try a modest increase to a 20 pt buy. Don’t go to “roll 6d6 keep the lowest 4, roll a dozen times, pick the best set”.
Source books- here’s where you should be conservative. Start with the Core & APG only.
DMPC’s- as in a NPC that you run, not the players. DON’T. Yes, some few experienced DMs can pull these off. You are not experienced. Don’t.
Evil games, evil PCs or CN sociopath PC’s: at some point in time, experienced mature players/DMs will want to give this a try as a change of pace. You’re not experienced. Don’t. Same with PvP. Ask the players to come up with a background which includes why they are together as a team, or suggest a reason. Just tell them “Hey guys, I want to run a mature heroic campaign here, none of that stuff. I can’t have fun too if you guys do that sort of stuff in this campaign. Maybe later in another game, OK?”
Pre-gen PC’s. Never. Do use modules, but change things up a bit.
Railroading. Yes, OK, within limits. Make sure you allow the players to “stop the train” to get off and visit a ‘whistle stop” etc. Read “DM of the Rings” Don’t be that DM.
Table time- make sure every PC has a chance to shine at least once a nite.
Splitting the party while adventuring; half the fun for the players, double the work for you. Don’t.
Lastly- have fun!
Chief Technical Officer
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You walk down the meandering street searching for the Beer and Pretzel Inn. Eventually you spy the well described by the beggar. Looking left you spot a faded sign board with mug and pretzel carving. As you approach the building, a half orc sails out of the doorway and lands on the cobblestone street.
That particular text, while evocative, does something that we avoid doing in read-aloud text in our adventures: telling the players what they themselves are *doing*. That removes the players' ownership of their characters, even if only subconsciously. By all means, get descriptive about what they see, smell, hear, taste, and touch, but they'll respond better if you let them tell you what they *do*.
Contrast:
"Looking left you spot a faded sign board with mug and pretzel carving."
"On the left side of the street is a faded sign board with mug and pretzel carving."
The latter provides immersion; the former harms immersion by subtly taking away their control.