Roleplaying - What Goes Unsaid

DM:  You stand by the staircase, weapons at the ready, waiting for the hordes of undead to come rushing up the steps. You hear countless footsteps milling about in the darkness downstairs, until silence finally descends upon the tower. Moments elapse, but nothing happens. What are your characters doing?

Player 1: Err... we're waiting.

Well, obviously the characters are waiting. But that doesn't make for very interesting storytelling, does it? Not exactly what you would call compelling, is it? 

Let's try that again:

DM: (...) What are your characters doing?

Player 1: Ludger's shield grows heavy and his arm begins to sag. A bead of sweat runs down his temple. Remembering the dead bodies found earlier, he grits his teeth and hefts his shield with renewed vigor.

Player 2: Valleria's bow is strung, fingers ready to release the moment she spots one of the monsters. Her eyes dart back and forth between the steps and the railing, knowing that they can climb up either way.

Player 3: Nackle shifts nervously in place, glancing back at Valleria and the arrow pointed dangerously in his direction.

Player 4: Bane's leather glove squeaks as the man tightens and loosens his grip on his sword.

Ah, now that's better, isn't it? Those are some interesting characters. Roleplaying isn't just about what your character says or how he says it -- it's also about what goes unsaid. Mannerisms bring life to your character by painting a picture of him in action (or even in inaction.)

There's a classic scene in the movie The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, where three gunslingers have a showdown (you can watch it here on Youtube). In essence, the scene consists of five minutes where virtually nothing happens. Described plainly, the three gunslingers stare each other down for a while, until someone finally pulls the trigger. Yet those five minutes of nothingness are charged with tension, energy, and excitement. Why? Sure, the music helps. But the focus is on the mannerisms of the characters: their facial expressions, their demeanor, even their personalities can be inferred from nothing but the most discrete of mannerisms.

As you watch that scene, imagine that one of those three gunslingers is your character, and whenever the camera focuses on them, force yourself to describe his actions or inactions. If someone is doing nothing but standing, inactive, how does he stand? Does he stand heroically, grim-faced, motionless, like a granite statue?

Take-home message: roleplaying your character's mannerisms can be even more powerful than roleplaying dialogue, and is more likely to leave a lasting impression on your DM and fellow players because it paints a visual image in the mind's eye.