Improvisation or Improv and D&D are often referred to each other in the same sentence. I have even discussed the common phrase of “Yes, And” many different times on this podcast, but have never delved into much detail on what exactly that entails. D&D at it’s core is an Improv based game, there isn’t a script, there isn’t a set path (in good games), and you and your group are constantly creating on the fly. So if we’re going to be playing an Improv game then we should learn Improv skills and elements that will make our games even better.
Insert the wonderful book by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton from the world renowned comedy theatre The Second City in Chicago. This book takes the skills they have used and taught in The Second City for decades and repurposes them to be used in different settings instead of just on a stage. Reading through this book gave me a lot of insight into ways to enhance my own D&D game and experience, but also how to be a better member in groups. So let’s discuss how we can utilize these Improv skills to enhance your D&D game, and TTRPG experience.
Book mentioned - Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second City by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton : https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Improvisation-Reverses-Creativity-Collaboration-Lessons/dp/0062248545
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Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com
Additional sound effects obtained from https://www.audioblocks.com/and Synrinscape
Music from https://filmmusic.io
"Unseen Horrors" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)