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D&D Performance Anxiety: Tips for New Players and Streamers

sscrambled

2026-02-04

8 min read

Practical strategies inspired by Vic Michaelis to beat D&D performance anxiety for new players and streamers—prep, tech, and confidence-building.

Stuck behind the screen or freezing at the table? How to treat D&D performance anxiety like a boss

If the idea of roleplaying on camera makes your stomach flip, or you freeze when the spotlight hits the table, you’re not alone. Between algorithm pressure, live chat, and the social weight of being “on,” many new players and streamers suffer performance anxiety that kills fun and harms long-term confidence. This guide uses Vic Michaelis’ candidness about their own D&D anxiety as a springboard to give practical, stage-ready strategies you can use tonight—whether you’re in a local game or streaming to thousands.

Top takeaways (read first)

Prep reduces anxiety: session zero, mini-scripts, and improv warm-ups cut the cognitive load of live roleplay.
Tech is a safety net: simple OBS scenes, delay, and mods let you control the moment without losing spontaneity.
Accessibility and tuning work hand-in-hand: lower roleplay pressure by scaling stakes and using alternate cues for neurodiverse players.
Small, repeatable steps build confidence: schedule micro-streams, practice beats, and track progress.

Why performance anxiety is a bigger issue in 2026

Since the pandemic-era boom, tabletop streams and VTT sessions have moved from niche hobby to mainstream content. Platforms favor live engagement, and creators chase consistent output. That intersection—higher visibility plus the demand for weekly or daily streams—turns ordinary table nerves into a real career limiter.

Recent trends in late 2025 and early 2026 amplify the pressure: algorithms prioritize low-latency interaction, creators lean into serialized roleplay for retention, and audiences expect both high production value and raw emotional honesty. At the same time, the community has become more open about mental health and neurodiversity, creating space for honest conversations about anxiety—but also introducing a performative pressure to “be vulnerable” on cue.

Vic Michaelis' candid moment — what we can learn

“I'm really, really fortunate because they knew they were hiring an improviser, and I think they were excited about that... the spirit of play and lightness comes through regardless.” — Vic Michaelis (Polygon, Jan 2026)

Vic Michaelis has publicly talked about D&D performance anxiety. Their example is useful because it shows two truths at once: even experienced improvisers feel the pressure, and improvisational training can be a tool rather than a cure. Use Vic’s candidness as permission to be imperfect and a model for actionable preparation.

Session zero: the single most anxiety-reducing habit

Before any live session, run a session zero. This isn’t optional—it's your insurance policy.

Checklist for a focused session zero

Set expectations: roleplay level (high/medium/low), show structure, and VOD policy.
Safety tools setup: X-card, lines & veils, and a defined check-in signal for emotional overload.
Character comfort: agree on who will drive heavy scenes and who wants micro-scripting.
Tech dry run for streamers: test audio, video, overlays, and a 30-second delay option.
Define viewer interaction rules: allowed chat inputs, poll cadence, and moderator roles.

Prep techniques that cut anxiety

Preparation reduces the working memory strain that fuels stage fright. Here are practical ways to prep without losing spontaneity.

Mini-scripts and beats

Create simple “if-then” beats for big moments. Example: if NPC asks about family, respond with a 2-line beat that conveys tone and one personal tag. Mini-scripts give you an expressive anchor when your mind blanks.

Improv warm-ups (5–10 minutes)

Word-association pass: each player says one word related to the scene cue.
Zip, Zap, Zop for focus.
Emotional thermostat: call out emotion and do a one-line expression at that level.

These exercises burn off adrenal energy and prime playfulness—remember Vic’s point about the “spirit of play and lightness.”

Micro-rehearsals

Run a 3–5 minute private rehearsal of a key scene before going live. If you stream, record it off-air, review one or two actionable notes, and then start the session with those improvements.

On-stream technical strategies (for streamers)

Tech can be more than polish; it’s a performance safety net.

Use a short broadcast delay

A 10–30 second delay gives you and mods a buffer for moderation and for handling flubs. Modern streaming platforms support low-latency with optional delay. Experiment in private streams to find your sweet spot.

OBS scenes and “panic” screenshots

Create an alternate OBS scene labeled “Reset” that plays a 30–60 second b-roll loop with calming music—useful after a meltdown or awkward silence.
Hotkey this scene to your keyboard so you can “call time” without breaking immersion.

Audio hygiene

Bad audio spikes anxiety. Use a dynamic mic, set a gentle compressor, and build a noise gate. For local games, lapel mics and an interface can keep voice consistent and reduce worry about being heard.

Moderation and chat design

Chat can be a distraction or a support system. Appoint at least one moderator per 50 viewers who can remove toxic messages and highlight constructive prompts. Use slow mode and approved links during high-stakes scenes.

Actor’s toolkit for live roleplay

Adopt small-scale acting tools to stay present without performing a persona you can’t hold.

Anchors and triggers

Choose 2–3 physical anchors (e.g., a ring, a particular posture, a breathing pattern) that signal your character's emotional state. When anxiety rises, use an anchor to return to baseline.

Lines you can bank

Write a handful of single-sentence character lines—intro, deflect, escalate, soften. You can say these when you’re out of ideas to keep momentum and character truth intact.

Fail-forward principle

Normalize small mistakes as opportunities for narrative beats. When a line flops, label it in-character—“That was a terrible idea, let’s try—” Shift the error into story currency rather than erasing it.

Difficulty tuning & accessibility

Not everyone processes improvisation the same way. Reduce pressure by tuning scenes and mechanics.

Roleplay scaffolds

Offer multiple response modes: full monologue, one-line reply, or physical gesture.
Allow time-to-respond cues: give players a “thinking token” to signal they need 30–60 seconds.
Alternate sensory cues for neurodivergent players (visual prompts instead of verbal cues).

Captioning and transcripts

In 2026, auto-captions are far better thanks to AI. Enable live captions, and post session transcripts for accessibility and review; they also lower the pressure to be perfectly verbal in the moment. Consider integrating with offline-first documentation and archive tools to keep recordings and transcripts searchable.

Adjust stakes, not fun

Lower the in-game mechanical stakes of a roleplay scene (rolls optional, smaller consequences) but keep emotional beats intact. This creates safer spaces for experimentation.

Dealing with silence and awkward moments

Silence is the enemy of anxiety because it feels like judgment. Instead, treat it as a tool.

Use a 3-second rule: count silently to three; if no one speaks, move to a pre-arranged fallback (describe setting, pass to next player, or use a viewer prompt).
Introduce the “stage whisper”: a line read under breath that others can pick up on and react to.
For streamers, let a moderator drop chat-sourced prompts into the scene to jumpstart interaction without derailing narrative intent.

Community & feedback loops that build confidence

Confidence grows through consistent positive practice and well-timed feedback.

Micro-stream strategy

Commit to short, focused streams (30–45 minutes) for skill practice—one type of scene per session (exposition, conflict, interrogation). This is lower-stakes and highly learnable. See playbooks on micro live sessions and sync to structure recurring short runs.

Constructive review

After-session debriefs: 10 minutes for each player to say what felt good and what felt hard.
Use one improvement target per player for next session.

Coach & peer models

Consider short coaching from an improv teacher or a 1:1 with a more experienced player to practice specific beats. Seeing peers normalize mistakes accelerates growth. Portable kits and on-the-road practice tips are common in edge-habits and portable coaching playbooks.

Case study: How a streamer turned anxiety into brand strength

Many creators in 2025–26 openly discussed anxiety and used it as community glue rather than hiding it. One pattern worked well: the creator acknowledged the issue publicly, set transparent safety and production rules, and then consistently delivered small, polished streams focused on process rather than perfection. That consistency led to steady audience growth because viewers preferred authentic, improving creators over polished but reactive personalities. Vic Michaelis’ visible blend of improv training and honesty provides a cultural template: show your learning curve and invite your audience into the repair process.

Quick-start checklist for tonight’s session

Run a 10-minute session zero (expectation + safety tools).
Prep 3 mini-scripts and 2 anchors for your character.
Do a 5-minute improv warm-up with the table.
For streamers: set a 15-second delay, one OBS panic scene hotkeyed, and a moderator in chat.
End with a 10-minute debrief and one growth target per player.

Final notes — the long game

Performance anxiety rarely vanishes overnight. It reduces when you build systems that preserve both vulnerability and safety. Vic Michaelis’ candid admission that they felt anxiety—even as an improv performer—reminds us that being skilled doesn’t mean being immune. The trick is to convert anxiety into structure: the warm-ups, the miniscripts, the chat mods, and the microstreams. Those structures let your creative impulse breathe.

Actionable next step: pick one checklist item above and commit to it for the next three sessions. Track the result in a short journal: what felt easier, what still stings, and one moment that surprised you.

Call to action

Ready to turn stage fright into stagecraft? Start your first three-session plan tonight: run session zero, bank mini-scripts, and set an OBS panic scene. Share your progress in the Scrambled.Space community or stream a micro-session and tag #ScrambledPlay—I'll highlight approachable runs and actionable fixes. Embrace the messy, train the craft, and let your best roleplay come from practice, not pressure.

scrambled

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.