Yep, do it on a regular basis. What's really fun is running 2 or more NPCs that have a conversation in front of the party and having to do the split-personality thing.
I try to give each NPC of import a unique tone of voice and speech mannerism. "Throwaway" NPCs I tend to take the speech mannerisms/tone of an actor/actress (Yes, I do the FM voices too) and run it as a bit of a walk on part, as it were.
But as earlier stated, you really need to make sure your players are into that sort of thing. In my experience 90% are but you get some that just can't handle it. Two of my former group* weren't upset by it per se (we were all living history nuts at the time), but felt so pressured into getting their character's conversation skills "right" it took a lot of the fun out for them.
So, for them and one or two others I ran a lower key campaign using Moldvay-Cook B/Ex D&D and they were a lot happier doing the third person routine.
*= "Former" because of mundane issues; they constantly bemoan not being able to game. Or, at least, that's what they tell me.
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Always remember, as a first principle of all D&D: playing BtB is not now, never was and never will be old school.- Tim Kask, Dragonsfoot
Voice Acting in RPGs
Being of good dramatic stock, the "voice" thing is one of my sources of pride, small though it may be.
However, I've become strongly aware that there's a difference between establishing a voice in terms of solidifying character - Veddy Proper British, Guttersnipe, RPG Geek, what have you - and putting on an over-the-top act that's a) hard to maintain for any real length of time, and b) ends up more a source of distraction and derision than contributing to the game itself. These days, I try to put the term Quiet Good Taste to real effect; better to leave 'em wanting more than blowing the gag.
However, I've become strongly aware that there's a difference between establishing a voice in terms of solidifying character - Veddy Proper British, Guttersnipe, RPG Geek, what have you - and putting on an over-the-top act that's a) hard to maintain for any real length of time, and b) ends up more a source of distraction and derision than contributing to the game itself. These days, I try to put the term Quiet Good Taste to real effect; better to leave 'em wanting more than blowing the gag.
For exotic characters, yes. If it's the innkeeper, I'll just use my normal voice. Or if I want to inject some roleplaying into the game.
Once, my group crossed paths with a couple of bumpkins in a small town. They needed some assistance from these guys, but I wanted them to have some fun. Their names were "Cletus and Curtis". They would finish each others sentences and agree with one another on almost everything, all the time with deep south, 'redneck' accents (I'm from Arkansas... I do it quite well). Obviously, folks native to Greyhawk didn't have that kind of accent, it did show the party who they were dealing with.
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kim@trolllord.com
Click here: http://tiny.cc/4rvo5
Once, my group crossed paths with a couple of bumpkins in a small town. They needed some assistance from these guys, but I wanted them to have some fun. Their names were "Cletus and Curtis". They would finish each others sentences and agree with one another on almost everything, all the time with deep south, 'redneck' accents (I'm from Arkansas... I do it quite well). Obviously, folks native to Greyhawk didn't have that kind of accent, it did show the party who they were dealing with.
_________________
kim@trolllord.com
Click here: http://tiny.cc/4rvo5