After watching Ginny Di’s video about the value of improv in D&D, I was struck by a question. Her video is called “I was wrong about improv and D&D,” and you can find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG0b4l7pGjI
Does thinking about improv imply that D&D is inherently performative? I suppose a follow-up question might be: is “performance” something to value when playing D&D?
Yes, it’s kind of in the name. D&D is a role-playing game, after all. That means you’re playing a role. But how much of the role-playing needs to be an actual performance? Performance, in its essence, means doing something for others, for the benefit of an audience.
In all my years of playing D&D, I have never felt the need or even the subtle pressure to “perform” for the other players (your mileage may vary). Nor have I ever witnessed another player “perform” or behave in a way that made me feel like me and the other players were their audience.
I’m not talking about using a voice or gestures or whatever. That’s a common part of the game, and it’s something players do as a natural part of expressing themselves and having a good time. Yes, the DM and the other players are witnessing it, but I think much of that performative energy is more about personal expression, and not performance in the more literal sense of the word.
BUT, and this is big, when you’re a DM, things are different. You are absolutely called on to perform for the players, both when taking on the role of NPCs, and as monsters and other “actors” in the dynamic experience of the game.
Getting into the role of your character directly implies that you are performing a role, but here’s the kicker. Performance is about other people and how they receive what you’re doing. Is that necessary to have a great game of D&D? Absolutely not.
Being able to perform, of which improv is a valuable skill and ability, can absolutely enhance your game as a player. But only if you’re into that. As mentioned, every player I’ve ever sat with at a D&D table has played the game both effectively and enjoyably without performing at all, at least in the sense of performing for others.
Improv can implicitly help develop muscles that aren’t obvious. It can build your ability to think on your feet, and to pursue creative approaches to problems. No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy, and being able to improvise effectively is a potential antidote to situations where a plan isn’t feasible, or when a plan fails to go as, well, planned.
The ability to improvisationally perform as a player is about as functionally useful as being able to draw a cool character sketch on your character sheet. It’s great and can be a lot of fun for you and others at the table, but is by no means functionally necessary in order to have fun.
Improv can be scary as hell for some players. The idea of being at the center of attention is anxiety-inducing for many. I don’t think Ginny Di meant to imply that improv is somehow required or even a best practice. She even says as much near the end of her own video.
Is improv great? Yes, absolutely. It has several benefits. But is it required to be a good player or to have a good time playing D&D? Not at all.
Express yourself the way you enjoy most, but don’t feel like you have to in order to be perceived as a good player by the other people in the room.
D&D is subjective, and what is “best” has as many definitions as there are people enjoying this hobby.