Urtog Fight-Good (or, why D&D voices are sometimes a pain)

[alanajoli]

So, I got to play one of my favorite D&D characters today--a character who made a debut in 3.5 but never got to go much of anywhere. His name is Urtog Fight-Good, and he's seen more life outside of D&D than any of my other characters, simply because his shtick is so fun. I've probably introduced more students to D&D during the Ireland trip and the Greece and Turkey trip via Urtog than any mention of rules and dice.

Urtog used to be a half orc, but those don't exist any more, so he's a full orc now. He's not too bright (intentional understatement), which was the point in developing the character--playing someone not as smart as I am. To play Urtog, I use a very large, scratchy voice, because that voice coming out of me (I stand 5' nothing, for those of you who haven't met me in person) is part of the fun factor (for me, and I hope for others).

This leaves me, however, in the unenviable position of drinking hot tea on a warm night, because I have completely abused my vocal chords. But man, was it worth it.

Now off to bed, so I can get up early and accomplish more writing on the module before my library shift and DMing Xen'drik tomorrow.

---

Reading Rapunzel's Revenge, by Shannon Hale Barnes and Noble

Writing "Head above Water," and adventure for LFR, Cormyr (by pages, noting that many half-pages are also completed)

Comments

[smerwin29.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who had to stop playing a PC because doing the voice gave him a migraine the next day. Now that's HARDCORE! I try to make all my PCs (and NPCs) with relatively quiet voice to save my vocal chords. My newest NPC talks like Clint Eastwood ala Dirty Harry, through clenched teeth.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Quiet voices are definitely the *wise* choice (although any time I run giants, ogres, trolls, etc... well, it's just too tempting to do the loud scratchy voice!). For my Star Wars PC, when I eventually get to play her, I'm going to try to combine Han Solo's Correlian vernacular with some of the slang from Firefly and see how that goes over.

You also realize that if you do make it to Anonycon now, I'm going to ask to hear your Dirty Harry impression... ;)

[orryn-emrys.livejournal.com]

I just moved to Wichita a couple years ago and adopted a new D&D group at that point. They were all experienced players, three of them old-school, but they were kinda wooden. I brought one player with me who, like me, uses different voices for each character. After being exposed to that, as well as my multi-voiced NPCs with a variety of accents, now it seems that nearly everyone in my group has adopted the practice.

*grins* I'm kinda proud of them.

Incidentally, none of them seem to think my hot tea habit is overly strange anymore...

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! Way to bring light to the old schoolers! :)

[(Anonymous)]

Roughing up the vocal chords is an acceptable sacrifice for the good of the game. :D

Half-Orc's are way fun so it doesn't surprise me that people would be interested in your character. Mine wanted to take over the world in FR. :P

I do hope your vocal chords heal up, if nothing else for the next session!

-Albone

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm right as rain now. I have about a day and a half recovery time (which is good to be aware of: never play Urtog before having to give a speech or concert!). ;)