How can I become creative and spontaneous enough to improvise character-specific dialogue in the unpredictable and time-sensitive situations of a tabletop RPG?
Other players keep telling me my character "has no personality" and I've been kicked out of my last group for that.
if you're an autist you should just come up with a personality beforehand and write it down
My characters have three personality traits that I keep visible on a card.
I think "What would a [trait 1], [trait 2], [trait 3] person say about this?", and I have no idea for several minutes.
By then, the in-character conversation has moved on. I'd be replying to a line of dialogue that another player said 5 minutes and 20 lines ago.
Trying to keep up is really mentally exhausting for me to the point of being not fun.
The solution is to play characters with the same personality as yourself
If you're autistic and playing a fantasy game, just play a dwarf. Talk as normal about your special interest stuff, but change the words so you're talking about gems and craftsmanship. When people interrupt you or talk over you smile and laugh OOC, and show your real inner reaction in character (but quickly).
Playing a dwarf will finally, truly allow you to be yourself in a social environment. Embrace it!
>And I'll tell you one more thing about OSR it really lets you feel in control of your own destiny within the game, it helps f-
>"But what do you think about the-"
>QUIET WHEN I'M TALKING, BUTTERCHEEKS! It helps you get in touch with the REAL roleplaying that was done decades in the past, the old ways!
>And I'll tell you one more thing about O̶S̶R̶ quality masonry it really lets you feel in control of your own destiny within the g̶a̶m̶e̶ kingdom, it helps f-
>"But what do you think about the-"
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I would say it's a trained skill.
Read more, anon.
Stop consuming the media you watch the most and instead seek books or even biographies of famous people
Doesnt matter what it is, fantasy, history, even plumbing instructions
Looks to me that you cannot do it because you barely get out of your confort zone
Just seek knowledge, anon
I have this problem too. I think the best way to tackle the problem is to first make your characters start out as brooding edgelords that are men (or women) of few words and gradually over time pipe up and speak a bit more. That can be interpreted as character development of the character.
As for dialogue. I'm not sure how to help. Maybe take anon's advice.
Just flowchart it out
lmao I remember this guy
>9 years ago
frick
Law of averages, he's HAD to have a successful usage of it by now
>#2
D
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Seems like no one would get the references, unless that guy also cosplayed as Mr. Game & Watch.
>I would like to pump you
Go to a therapist and cure your autism. If your moronation is terminal, stop trying and find a hobby that better accommodates your disabilities.
Practise. Same as anything.
Actually, I'll give two examples. Ever seen the show 'Who's Line Is It Anyway?', it's on Youtube if you're too youngforeign to have seen it. That format of improv comedy is used educationally and is a really good way to learn how to improvise complex ideas in a short amount of time. If you have a few friends interested in acting, comedy, writing, or just having a silly little time then this is a premium method of improving.
If you can't find people to do it with you can use the 2-man version which is to tell a story where each person says one word, alternating back and forth. It is incredibly silly, but a good party game, and is also a good way to adapt your brain into thinking quickly and creatively. It has the benefit of being more fun than stressful with a good friend.
Also, on the topic of autism, accept that you may have limitations that makes it so you can't be as proficient at something as you'd like. That's okay. But also don't forget that just because it's hard doesn't mean you can't get better. So, really, practise. Even when it feels like you're accomplishing nothing. Having an RPG table that is encouraging and friendly will also be better for developing any improvisational skills.
I don't have access to another person to give prompts and feedback for that kind of improv exercise.
Is there a way to "practice" that isn't in a real game with real people? If not, I need advice that will help me on session 1 of the very next RPG campaign I join so I don't offend other players while I'm practicing.
Speechmakers practice by rehearsing in the bathroom and looking at themselves and how they act in the mirror. Even with just yourself as the audience, unless you are that socially isolated you can still get a sense of what feels/looks right just from looking and hearing yourself in a technical second-person view.
Eh, with limited resource all the advice I can give is generalised.
1. Vocalise your thoughts. If you are thinking about what's behind a door, state that charname is wondering what's behind the door. Tie it into a statement if possible, like your character asking another party member about the door.
2. Ask questions about the environment around you. First clarify details, and then ask leading questions that reveal your intentions. Again, tie it in from your character's perspective.
>"When you say the bouncer gestures to his weapon, does charname see what weapon it is?"
>"Charname wants to enter through the window, does it look like it's left ajar, or unlocked, or is otherwise easy to enter through?"
3. When there's lulls in the action, when people are thinking of what to do, describe a simple action your character takes that is not related to gameplay. Like cleaning their weapon after battle, or admiring a painting in the hallway, or adjusting their clothes. Something that grounds your character in the world. With practise in a game with socialising players this is an opportunity for intercharacter roleplay. In a world where you play with hostile strangers it can be defence against an accusation that you aren't engaging with the world.
4. Be interested in other player characters. Ask questions about them, in and out of character. This is the basis of socialising and works just as well in the game as it does in the real world. People like talking about themselves.
The real secret is of course to make friends that wont kick you for annoying them. Because you can do no wrong and offend someone, and I don't know about you but I offend people all the time. Cultivating a community that forgives and tries to work through problems instead of cutting contact the second things turn rough will always have better mileage. That might not be an option right now, but keep it in mind for the future.
It's literally just practice. Sorry, man. You're going to fail a lot before you can rise to being just boring, and keep working to become actually fun to be around. Imagination and improvisation are both specialized skills and they're easiest to train in childhood. You'll have to work a lot harder to do it as an adult. Still worth it though, as general life skills.
I feel that less is more. From my experience, everyone is competing for the spotlight, and there's nothing wrong with taking a step back. When I started playing RPGs, I usually tried to play attention-grabbing characters. Now that I'm older, I generally prefer to let everyone else seize the spotlight, and to be more understated.
I usually play your classic grizzled heavily-armored Cleric, now. The kind of guy who gets the "Sergeant" or "supportive friend of the protagonists" role, as it requires relatively less characterization other than being somewhat stoic.
If you need to ask - you can't
>Other players keep telling me my character "has no personality" and I've been kicked out of my last group for that.
What the hell is this phenomenon, honestly? Of kicking someone out of an RPG game because their character doesn't have enough depth. Who fricking cares? Most RPG groups already have 2 or 3 people talking over each other at once. Why does everyone need to be a talented actor? Modern RPG groups are so saturated with wannabe thespians and attention prostitutes with the fricking entitlement of Matt Mercers Critical Roll gays. Who think they're deserving of a professional actors performance and try their harder to emulate it
>How can I become creative
stopped reading there
stfu