I am hopeless with voices. I find it hard to make them consistent and remember them between sessions or even scenes. “Staple” accents and familiar voices from movies are also difficult for me to replicate.
Any advice or resources for people who want to improve? I GM several mini sessions a week for my stepson so I have lots of time to practice on throwaway characters.
If you can develop a few utility voices you can use them interchangeably. Don’t push accents as bad accents are a misery to everyone, unless the bad accent is the point. I tend to come up with a phrase that kind of represents the character to me, and then use that phrase to recenter if I start to stray.
If you can develop a few utility voices you can use them interchangeably. Don’t push accents as bad accents are a misery to everyone, unless the bad accent is the point. I tend to come up with a phrase that kind of represents the character to me, and then use that phrase to recenter if I start to stray.
Noisy Person Cards? http://paracosmpress.com/npc/
Noisy Person Cards? http://paracosmpress.com/npc/
Jason Cox Good thing I can push shameless bad accents on my stepson and hope they will eventually become less bad. I generally try to vary qualities other than the accent though, for the reason you mentioned. Like pitch, enthusiasm, speed, melody, etc.
Jason Cox Good thing I can push shameless bad accents on my stepson and hope they will eventually become less bad. I generally try to vary qualities other than the accent though, for the reason you mentioned. Like pitch, enthusiasm, speed, melody, etc.
Tim B Good idea. Need to find someone to play with then.
Tim B Good idea. Need to find someone to play with then.
If you can’t get voices down, it may be easier to resort to other things about the characterization that makes them unique. You always start anything they say with a leer at the players, or maybe they have a nervous laugh all the time. Maybe they stoop and hold their hands near there chest like Palpatine. Anything that you can do that helps players recognize who they are talking to quickly or before you speak bring characters to life.
Additionally, doing these things while trying to do a voice repeatedly may help you develop a bond in your mind between the action and the voice associated with it, almost a muscle memory.
If you can’t get voices down, it may be easier to resort to other things about the characterization that makes them unique. You always start anything they say with a leer at the players, or maybe they have a nervous laugh all the time. Maybe they stoop and hold their hands near there chest like Palpatine. Anything that you can do that helps players recognize who they are talking to quickly or before you speak bring characters to life.
Additionally, doing these things while trying to do a voice repeatedly may help you develop a bond in your mind between the action and the voice associated with it, almost a muscle memory.
David LaFreniere said exactly what I was going to say so… buy a bunch of unique hats…
David LaFreniere said exactly what I was going to say so… buy a bunch of unique hats…
Most of my gaming is either online or in a car so it reduces the effectiveness of visual characterization, but I see how it can help me get in character and remember the voice. Professional voice actors use their whole body even though only the audio is used.
Japanese animes and mangas really exaggerate unique character voices by giving them catch phrases and special words. Maybe I can get some inspiration there.
Most of my gaming is either online or in a car so it reduces the effectiveness of visual characterization, but I see how it can help me get in character and remember the voice. Professional voice actors use their whole body even though only the audio is used.
Japanese animes and mangas really exaggerate unique character voices by giving them catch phrases and special words. Maybe I can get some inspiration there.
I’m not a skilled impersonator or anything either, but keeping someone in mind to imitate/inspire–an actor, celebrity, or just someone you know–can at least keep you consistent. If you can keep notes somewhere, just a “Councilman: Bill from work” can go a long way.
I’m not a skilled impersonator or anything either, but keeping someone in mind to imitate/inspire–an actor, celebrity, or just someone you know–can at least keep you consistent. If you can keep notes somewhere, just a “Councilman: Bill from work” can go a long way.
the speed of your speech can also make a big difference. talk slowly or even pause for older, larger slower NPCs. Talk fast for younger, smaller, stranger characters
the speed of your speech can also make a big difference. talk slowly or even pause for older, larger slower NPCs. Talk fast for younger, smaller, stranger characters