Public Speaking & Dungeons & Dragons

Public Speaking & Dungeons & Dragons

Public speaking isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a skill you build over time, just like in D&D. From sharing ideas in a meeting to introducing yourself at a gathering, you’re already practicing this every day—even if you don’t think of it that way!

D&D can be a surprisingly great tool for honing these skills. One of the best ways is to speak as your character. You don’t need a voice or accent—just use first person instead of third. It’s a small shift that helps you get more comfortable with putting yourself out there.

A lot of public speaking comes down to three big questions:

Who’s your audience?
Why are you talking?
How will you say it?

D&D gives you the chance to explore these constantly. Whether you’re convincing guards as a paladin or spinning tales as a bard, you’re practicing purpose-driven speech in a safe, collaborative setting.

Delivery matters too—varying your volume, pacing, and emotion keeps people engaged. In D&D, you’re already doing this every time you shift from a tense battle to a heartfelt plea for help. That’s practice you can carry into the real world.

I’m not a natural extrovert. But DMing forced me to learn how to speak up and adapt on the fly. Over time, those skills bled into my real-life communication—helping me feel more confident when it matters most.

If you want to see how I tie all of this together, check out the full video above. And I’d love to hear your thoughts—how has D&D helped you build confidence in speaking or presenting?

Cheers,
Brian