What to Say During Your First TTRPG Session

Especially when your Neurospicy hits and you have no idea what’s happening

So you finally sat down at the table. Your sheet is filled out (kinda/mostly), the dice are pretty (math rocks go brrrrrrrrr), and someone just said:

“The goblins roll initiative. What do you do?”

And your brain—your beautiful bisexual Star Trek-loving brain—goes completely blank.

If you're thinking “I literally don’t know what I’m allowed to say,” you’re in the right place.

Welcome to your beginner guide to what to say during your first TTRPG session, especially when you feel totally out of your depth. Because, spoiler: everyone starts here. Heck, some of us are still here and feel this way even after years of playing and that’s okay! The Table is for everyone, you’re not alone.

 “I would like to ___” — Your New Favorite Phrase

This is your get-out-of-confusion-free card.

You’re not expected to know all the rules. Instead of silently panicking, try this:

• “I would like to try to trip the goblin.”

• “I would like to sneak behind that crate.”

• “I want to scare the Goblins away.”

Your GM wants you to interact with the world. Tell us what you want to do in the moment, what’s on your mind? How can we make that happen. This invites story, rolls, and chaos. Yes, even if it’s weird. Especially if it’s weird. Combat or Roleplay situations don’t have to be the most tactical or beneficial, we want to see teamwork and action. Prompt your GM and they will help give you options.

Think in Vibes, Not Stats

You don’t have to memorize your whole character sheet. Instead, think about how your character would act, and then describe that.

Say things like:

• “I think they’d try to lie their way out of this.”

• “I want to do something reckless.”

• “I grab the glowing orb. What happens?”

Let your GM help translate that into mechanics. You make the choice, your GM takes you on the journey.

Use These Easy In-Character Lines

If your table is roleplay-heavy and you’re unsure what to say as your character, try these:

• “Uh… hi? We come in peace?”

• “That thing is giving me weird vibes, let’s be careful”

• “So. How illegal is this, exactly?”

• “I’m not saying we should light it on fire, but…”

Don’t overthink the “voice.” Your normal voice is fine. Imagine your character is just you, with more weapons and slightly worse judgment.

Out-of-Character Phrases That Are Totally Valid

You don’t have to stay in-character 24/7. It’s 100% okay to speak as yourself, especially when learning.

Try these:

• “I’m not sure what to roll for this?”

• “I think I get what’s happening now—thanks!”

• “Wait, can I take that back? I misunderstood.”

The only wrong move is staying silent and confused. Your GM (especially if it's us!) wants you to speak up. We’re here to help you tell your story!

The Tome Is Built for Newbies Like You

At Links Tome of Adventure, we love helping new players find their voice.

Your first session might be messy. That’s good! That’s storytelling. Whether you say something brave, chaotic, or weirdly flirty to a goblin priest, what matters is that you said something.

We’re here to make it feel safe to speak, play, and be the nerdy chaos gremlin you are. Like we’re always saying: the next page is yours to write!

TL;DR:

When in doubt, say something. Ask questions. React. Be curious. This is your story too.