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Time to Get Motivated!
Let’s face it. Sometimes we do not feel like playing a tabletop RPG. No matter how we try, we can’t get motivated. However, we have already made the commitment. Now, many people today would just bail and not tell anyone they are not coming. How many times has this happened to you (and you know it has happened)? This lack of character is something I cover in my RPG Elite Philosophy series.
In this article, I’m assuming you are someone who thinks keeping their word is important and does not let your feelings dictate what you do. Even if you are not, this will help you become that kind of person, which will change your life overall. So keep reading anyway.
Even though we enjoy playing tabletop RPGs, there are times where how to get motivated for a session eludes us. Well, no longer.
In this article, I will list five ways to get motivated for your tabletop RPG gameplay sessions. Not only will these give you the pick me up you need to get yourself ready, it will help you become more creative at the table.
Watch the Food You Eat
Make sure you’re eating the right foods before you play. Low blood sugar will make you feel tired and lethargic. Certain types of food will help you feel the same way. Sugary high-carb foods will give you a boost at first, but you will crash in the middle of the session. That’s not a good look when others need you to be engaged in what is happening at the table.
Some foods you want to avoid to prevent brain fog are sugary drinks. Ditch the pop, energy drinks (loaded with sugar), and fruit juice. They are bad for you in more ways than one, and we know that it is the drink of choice around most tables. Opt for water, green tea, or a no calorie drink. Make sure you stay hydrated. Not having enough water in your system may make it difficult to think or concentrate.
Eat brain food that will help you with focus — blueberries, fish like salmon and tuna, or broccoli. Yeah. That healthy stuff. Sugary foods make your blood sugar rise and then crash. So don’t consume them before or during a session.
Write a Short Side Story for Your Character
When I say short, I mean maybe a page or two. This preferably takes place in the same place as your campaign but happens off-camera. This way, bits and pieces can be mentioned as the session goes on.
Sometimes writing what your character does off-camera will give you ideas of what they do when they’re on-camera and keep you in a state of anticipation. It also gives you an opportunity to explore another side of your character you haven’t touched on yet in the campaign or mini-adventure. It can build that excitement your need to play the character.
If you are a GM, the same thing goes. Write something interesting about an NPC, location, or object. It doesn’t necessarily have to be tied to what’s going on in the current session, but it’s a way to get motivated because of your looking forward to the session you will reveal what you have worked on.
Build Your Character in an MMO
This one I have done several times. Many of the characters I have created as MMORPG characters first show up as NPCs in my campaigns.
Pick an MMO with a decent character creation system (City of Heroes still has one of the best character creation systems of any MMO. Try them out. You’ll thank me later) and create your character in that game. Explore and play the game. The look, moves, and attitude of the character can spark ideas that creates a sense of expectancy to get motivated for your next RPG session.
Create a Full Character Profile
There’s always a bit of excitement when it comes to character creation. We get to see something we’ve created come to life, so to speak.
But many times, it’s a skeleton. We don’t know simple things like their height, weight, eye color, and so forth. Sometimes this can be remedied with a picture (especially with AI art apps like Night Cafe), but rarely with every detail imagined.
How about going deep with other details — favorite food, color, songs, hobbies and recreation, pet peeves, and fears. Do they have family and if so, how have the affected the character? Are they alive? These details will undoubtedly increase your desire to want to play them. Not only will this get into the head of the character for deeper role-playing, but it will prevent the loathsome Will Smith syndrome, where every character you play ends up being just like you or the same character over and over again.
Make a New Character
Sometimes, whether we care to admit it, the reason we can’t get motivated for a session is because we’re burnt out on our current character, or the idea we thought was great at the beginning turns out to be one that has become a little banal after playing them for a while.
Make a character just to make it. Something to keep on on tap just in case. If you’re completely tapped out with your character, ask your GM whether you can make a new character and tell them the reason. Don’t just say you’re bored (and don’t make it a habit). Preferably, you want to do this days before a session so your GM can adjust things for the upcoming session.
Any one of these can do the trick for you. Give them a try. If they are not doing it for you, not to worry. There’s a Part 2 coming. Stay tuned, and keep it Leet!
