Role-Play Tip: Conversations on the Road
We all know them: the times your DM says "you travel for x hours and arrive at your destination," "you walk along for x days," "travel on this road is slow, but you eventually arrive." So often, this 'missing time' of hours, days, or even weeks is reduced to a single sentence with no encounters, skill challenges, or role-play to speak of. Players! I encourage you to fill in this dead airtime with role-play. Think about how many times you went on a long road trip or a long hike with other people. Did you all spend the entire trip in total silence? Did nothing interesting happen whatsoever? Of course not. People share stories, talk about their feelings, tell jokes, and all sorts of similar things whenever they travel somewhere for an extended period of time. Your characters probably would too, don't you think? So, Players, next time your DM starts to say "the trip is uneventful," say "actually, my character wants to talk to one of their companions." This will allow you to practice Role-Play, increase bonds between people both in and out of character, and really help everyone at the table come to understand who your character is as a person. Besides, role-playing is fun!