Doing in-character voices is a hit or miss prospect for some games, and by no means required in a table-top RPG. As a DM that enjoys doing voices for various NPCs in my world I find this table helpful to develop different inspiration for voice types I might use, and having a reference like this lets me make a quick note so I can be sure to use the same voice next time. I compiled this list from a few descriptions for theater actors around the web and hope you’ll find it useful for your game as well.
d100 | Voice |
---|---|
1-2 | Nasal – Some of the sound seems to come through the nose. |
3-4 | Appealing – Shows that you want help, approval, or agreement. |
5-6 | Breathy – With loud breathing noises. |
7-8 | Brittle – You sound as if you are about to cry. |
9-10 | Croaky – Sounds as if they have a sore throat. |
11-12 | Dead – They feel or show no emotion. |
13-14 | Disembodied – Voice comes from someone who you cannot see. |
15-16 | Flat – Spoken in a voice that does not go up and down. |
17-18 | Fruity – Deep and strong in a pleasant way. |
19-20 | Grating – Unpleasant and annoying. |
21-22 | Gravelly – Low and rough. |
23-24 | Gruff – Rough, low, and speaks in short huffs. |
25-26 | Guttural – Deep and made at the back of your throat. |
27-28 | Half Singing – Lyrical, light and whimsical |
29-30 | High Pitched – Very high and shrill. |
31-32 | Hoarse – Low rough and strained. |
33-34 | Honeyed – Falsely sweet voice. |
35-36 | Husky – Low, rumbling and easy. |
37-38 | Lisp – Drags some consonant sounds with their tounge. |
39-40 | Low – Quiet and difficult to hear / in a deep voice. |
41-42 | Matter of fact – blunt and flat. |
43-44 | Modulated – Controlled and pleasant to listen to. |
45-46 | Monotonous – Boring because it does not change in loudness or become higher or lower. |
47-48 | Orotund – Loud and clear. |
49-50 | Penetrating – So high or loud that it makes you uncomfortable. |
51-52 | Plummy – This word shows that you dislike people who speak like this. |
53-54 | Quietly – In a quiet voice. |
55-56 | Raucous – Loud and sounds rough. |
57-58 | Ringing – very loud and clear. |
59-60 | Rough – Not soft and is unpleasant to listen to. |
61-62 | Shrill – Very loud, high, and unpleasant. |
63-64 | Silvery – Clear, light, and pleasant. |
65-66 | Singsong – Rises and falls in a musical way. |
67-68 | Slurred – Slow or lagging speach pattern. |
69-70 | Small – A small voice or sound is quiet. |
71-72 | Smoky – Sexually attractive in a slightly mysterious way. |
73-74 | Softly Spoken – A quiet gentle voice. |
75-76 | Sotto Voce – A very quiet voice. |
77-78 | Stentorian – Loud and severe. |
79-80 | Strangulated – One that someone stops before they finish making it. |
81-82 | Strident – Loud and unpleasant. |
83-84 | Taut – Shows someone is nervous or angry. |
85-86 | Thick – Voice sounds less clear because of an emotion. |
87-88 | Thin – High and unpleasant to listen to. |
89-90 | Throaty – Low and seems to come from deep in your throat. |
91-92 | Tight – Shows that you are nervous or annoyed. |
93-94 | Toneless – Does not express any emotion. |
95-96 | Tremulous – It is not steady because you are afraid or excited. |
97-98 | Wheezy – Has difficulty breathing. |
99-100 | Wobbly – Unstable tone due to fright or emotions. |