Learn how to roleplay the sinister Mind Flayers as a DM in D&D!

Here are some tips and tricks to run roleplay only games in Dungeons & Dragons.

For example, just telling your players that a few days have passed can be a bit boring.

A man stands with his arms out before a large deity.

They might just want to get to the next objective.

Ask players before a game what they’d like to focus on for the session.

Use them to encourage roleplay by having the NPC start engaging narrative conversations with the party.

An Orc, a Gnome, and A Human from Dungeons & Dragons

Create a more immersive and engaging cleric experience.

With any luck, this will help get less seasoned roleplayers feeling more comfortable, and get conversation going.

Plus, there’s nothing more repetitive and tedious than players taking turns roleplaying with just the DM.

In D&D Dungeons and Dragons DND A Warlock Uses A Genie’s Vessel To Battle A Cyclops By Zuzanna Wuzyk from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

This leaves other players on the sidelines, and feeling bored.

Encourage players to talk to each other first before talking to you or an NPC.

Players may simply say, ‘We take a long rest,’ and then move on.

Two player characters talk in a split image with a forest in Dungeons & Dragons.

But, long rests are a great opportunity for players to roleplay while they regain their abilities and HP.

You might be surprised what comes up for players the moment you give them the opportunity.

This goes back to the idea of using NPCs to help moderate discussions.

Qunbraxel, Leader Of The Grimlocks In Gibbet Crossing, Sits On A Throne.

Halflings by Jane Katsubo

Not every spell has to be cast by shouting in latin.

So many interesting facets of a player’s character can emerge in lulls or downtime.

Don’t rush players to a foregone conclusion.

A group of halflings gathered around a table eating a meal in Dungeons & Dragons.

Halflings by Jane Katsubo

Your players might surprise you with what comes to them.

Remember, sometimes silence is golden.

This can be a totally non-threatening way to get roleplay out of more timid players.

A Loxodon with two companions in Dungeons & Dragons.

Loxodon via Wizards of the Coast

2Allow Time For Solo Quests

Branch Out!

Sometimes, players may want to roleplay something that doesn’t involve the rest of the party.

You will have to step into the eldritch shoes of a patron.

A group of characters arguing while a Beholder sneaks up behind them in Dungeons & Dragons.

Conflict Between Characters by Scott Murphy

For an entirely roleplay-based session, just verify you limit each player to one solo quest per game.

Otherwise, this can get tedious and exhaustive for players and DMs alike.

But, you could entice them with tangible rewards, including Heroic Inspiration,or DM Inspiration.

A four person adventuring party with a dragonborn, elf, gnome, and human attempt to cross a river.

An Adventuring Party by Viko Menezes

Many tables and DMs will reward players for successful roleplay with an Inspiration die of their choosing.

A mage and her animal familiar walk through a city street in Dungeons & Dragons.

A Settlement by Sam Keiser

A player-character is seduce by a fey creature at a Feywild ball in Dungeons & Dragons.

Boreal Ball by Katerina Ladon

Two player-characters bargain with a hag in her hovel in Dungeons & Dragons.

A Hag’s Bargain by Linda Lithen

A wizard using a ball of scrying in Dungeons & Dragons.

The Scrying Spell by Gaboleps

A variety of adventurers shopping in a bustling metropolis in Dungeons & Dragons.

Life In A City by Sam Keiser

An owlin and two other students explore Strixhaven in Dungeons & Dragons.

Strixhaven Curriculum of Chaos via Wizards of the Coast

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