As a player you want to see your character succeed. You want to be able to do everything that you can think of doing— everything your character would do in a given scenario. But the truth is that this kind of freedom isn't what makes a good game. If you're playing Dungeons & Dragons (or any other RPG), then it's important for all players at the table to advocate for themselves and their characters.
In a roleplaying setting, advocating for yourself can mean many different things. It means setting boundaries with other players so that everyone feels comfortable having fun together. It means communicating clearly so that everyone knows what's going on when it comes time for decisions to be made. And it also means being willing to listen when someone else wants to make an adjustment or change their plan—because they might have a better idea or think of something you haven’t.
But what about advocating for yourself? It can be really easy as a player to get lost in your character's story and forget that there's a real person sitting across from you at the table—a person who needs to eat and go home at some point! And while it might seem strange to advocate for yourself at first, setting boundaries and communicating effectively are actually crucial parts of playing well with others.
When you're playing DnD, it can be tempting to let other players push your boundaries. You may find that your character is being forced into things that you don't want them to do or say things that you don't feel comfortable saying. Setting boundaries will help prevent this from happening and keep you safe from unwanted situations and overstepping boundaries.
We believe that advocating for yourself doesn't mean bossing other people around—it means being honest about your needs, desires, and feelings so that everyone can have an enjoyable time together at the table.
The DM is there to help facilitate a good experience for everyone involved in the game, but they can't read minds! If there's something that would make your experience better, like having more time between encounters or a different kind of monster encounter than what's on the board already? Communicate that! The DM is there to make sure everyone has an awesome time playing their character and making decisions they're happy with—so let them know if something isn't working
Here are three final tips to help you in advocating for yourself:
- Ask questions if something doesn't make sense to you.
- Make sure your character has a personality and goals of their own—that way, they'll be more interesting to play
- Don't be afraid to say no if someone asks something of you that feels uncomfortable or unsafe for your character (like having them do something violent). You can say no, people will understand. They'll probably even respect you more for taking a stand on behalf of your character.
