So you're starting a brand new campaign on StartPlaying Games—and whether you're shy or charismatic, loud or soft-spoken—you want to try something new!

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, one of the greatest joys - and challenges - comes from stepping into the shoes of someone wildly different from your own. It’s not a game that forces you to conform to what you look like - there’s no typecasting here - and every session is an exercise in empathy, improvisation, and imagination. In theory, it’s the perfect setting to try something new!

Pulling it off however, well, that’s the tricky part. So to help you on your journey, here are five helpful tips for bringing a totally different kind of character to life!

Define Their Characteristic‍

Before the dice even roll, take time to figure out who your character really is. Go beyond just subclass, alignment, and race, though these can be helpful guiding principles.

Think about what goal they are working toward, and how they plan to achieve it? What are the cornerstones of their personality?

Are they selfish and self-serving, or altruistic and soft-spoken? Writing these things down will help you begin breathing life into your character. Identifying their defaults ensures they feel consistent, and once you’ve built that solid foundation, you can move into deeper nuances!‍

Find Overlaps & Conflict‍

No character exists on its own. It’s up to you, the player, to bring them to life - and no matter what kind of character you choose, parts of you will seep through, and that’s not a bad thing! In fact, it can be super helpful to identify where you and your “different” character overlap.

You may not know what it feels like to ambush an enemy with otherworldly stealth, but I guarantee you know the feeling of catching, with Spider-Man-like reflexes, a cup knocked off the counter. Channel those feelings into moments that fit your character, and soon enough, you’ll relate more than you might expect.

On the flip side, find the places where you don’t align. Note choices you’d normally make as a player and then try the opposite! Making bold choices brings surprising amounts of fun.

Means & Ends — Define Their Fight-Or-Flight Instincts And Stick To Them

A lot of D&D is casual, low-stakes roleplay, your shopping episodes or games round the fireplace — but as drama and danger unfold, it’s important for you to know your character’s knee-jerk reactions.

Being able to answer Fight, flight, or freeze for your character is just the tip of the iceberg.

Go deeper: “When it comes down to it, my character will always…”

“Choose the winning side”
“Bet on myself”
“Help those in need”
“Save myself”

The possibilities are endless, but by narrowing in on how your character reacts to threats or danger, you give yourself a consistent fallback — even when that reaction might differ vastly from your own.

The Key To Physicality — Adjust Your Body Language, Voice, Posture, And Quirks To Match Your Character.

One of the best ways to bring a character to life is through physicality. Adjusting your voice, body language, posture, and quirks to match your character - even subtle changes can elevate your roleplay to the next level.

Pick a few physical characteristics that help reflect who your character is and also helps bring them out of you. Maybe it’s:

• A posh nasally accent for your royal elf sorcerer, that makes even you roll your eyes at times when they speak
• A hunch and a constant imaginary beard petting for your elderly dwarf, that helps bring out the gruff nature needed to bring them to life
• A deep, meditative slouch for your Way of Mercy monk where one cannot help but feel a little more zen when playing

Make active, physical choices that take you out of yourself and deeper into the role. Big or small, these changes make a difference.‍

Retcon– It's Okay To Course-Correct As You Go! (Edited)

One final tip, it’s okay to go back! It’s okay to make a choice and not stick to it, or forget something and revisit it later. It’s even okay to try something, hate it, and never use it again.

This isn’t the Globe Theatre. While character consistency helps build immersion, retconning is totally valid. Change the accent. Drop that trait. Let your character grow and evolve naturally, because ultimately that’s what people do. Playing something new is scary and exciting and just trying is already a huge accomplishment.

So get ready. Be bold. And good luck with your StartPlaying campaign.

You're gonna do great.

Written by Hannah Harper, TTRPG Content Creator and Professional Dungeon Master