Here is advice and tips on portraying
your character better and becoming a more effective player
A clear understanding of
the character's pre-history – it’s always important to
read the character sheet, then re-read the character sheet. The text of a
character sheet will not only contain basic facts, but also subtle hints (sometimes
not so subtle) of what the writer intends.
But the reading is only half the action you need to take. Look for what is
missing – since few character sheets are novel in length there is bound
to be a lot unsaid. Use pencil to make some bullet point notes on the back
of the character sheet. Ask the questions that you think are important regarding
what you don’t know about the character, then answer each question.
The purpose here is to create your own understanding of the characters history
before the session begins.
A clear understanding of
the story – every game session has a blurb or advertising flier.
These can be quite obtuse and “artistic”, but almost every blurb
contains a hint of what the game story is focused on. Read the blurb, and
then reread the blurb. Look for ways in which your character can interact
with what the blurb is hinting at.
As you participate in multiple sessions of Age of Aquarius story arcs, which
are stories told over multiple sessions, will be evident. Trust in that the
writers include every character in story arcs. Every character has at least
one developing storyline – it wouldn’t make sense to not write
them! The best way to recall what has happened and how your personal storyline
is developing is to review your notes on a previous session – so its
worthwhile jotting down some notes after every game session to remind yourself
of what is “meant” to be happening in the future.
Real listening – the more you listen to another player character, the more you will hear. Too often players simplify what another character says, and miss the layers of meaning that can be drawn from the dialogue of another character. Don’t rush conversation – try to imagine what the characters are saying as actual lines on the page – a living script – that can have a greater meaning if you “write” more meaningful dialogue. However, everything you do in a game session is verbal, so listening, listening to the words, is very important.
Investing in the "need" of the moment and not anticipating
the future – every time you interact with another character
it is like a scene in a play. It literally appears to other observers that
two or more actors are engaged in dialogue – from a bystanders perspective
sometimes the only difference between a freeform and a stage play is that
the audience doesn’t have good seats and the lighting is bad! Actors
on stage are trained to “focus” on the ‘moment” –
a performer concentrates on what is happening right now and what they are
saying and doing right now, trying not to worry about what is going to happen
later. Actors will tell you that every character in every scene has a “need”
– something that the character wants from that moment – it can
be as simple as a need to be heard, a need to relax, a need to be loved, a
need to be noticed – but whatever that actual “need” is
is what an actor will try to make sure is portrayed, rather than worry about
where the character is going in the storyline.
In Age of Aquarius we ask every player to think from their characters point
of view in such a way – what is more important is that a player inhabits
and lives the life of a character, being in a different role, rather than
realising set character goals and striving to a better future where the character
will be more powerful – dare we say higher level?
Being open to whatever happens next – as a player you can control your character. You can’t control what other characters will do. So it makes sense to have a positive attitude to what other players might choose to do. As a player don’t try and anticipate and prepare for what another character will do or say – rather concentrate on your own characterisation and let yourself be surprised and allow yourself to react as a character to whatever comes up.
Being relaxed – its simple. The purpose of “playing” is to relax and enjoy yourself. Don’t stress yourself out trying to live up to some kind of expectation. Simply roleplay as best you can – by being your character and going along for the ride. If you worry about what other people will think of you then you aren’t roleplaying – your are still being yourself and not letting go and inhabiting the character.
Trusting in yourself – allow yourself to feel as your character. When you can intuit, when you can instinctively guess what your character would do in a given situation, then you are playing the role.