Does anyone use props?

[Felix]

I was thinking over on a Rules thread that mentioned the Ring of Counterspells that as a DM, I would rather not know what spell the PC put into the ring. So I thought perhaps if the PC had a big ring, he'd be able to write on the ring (or attach to it) the spell that was currently in it.

There was another thread mentioning archers in the Rules forum, and that got me thinking that as a frequent melee character player I never liked how the archers never ran out of ammo. They would rapid shoot, manyshoot, stab-arrow-through-orc's-eye-then-shoot, and they would do all this without concern over how many arrows remained. So I thought perhaps if they had a quiver with arrows, (or a small cylinder with toothpicks), and discarded one arrow (toothpick) after each shot they'd perhaps hold back more. Maybe thier quiver re-fills automatically after each fight when they search for spent arrows, but at least it would be some kind of leash on arrow-use.

Maybe fill small bottles with blue Gatorade to signify CLW potions.

Maybe hand out sheets of paper with a spell name on it to signify a scroll.

Maybe have a foot-long stick of balsa wood with 50 thumbtacks in it to signify a wand, each charge used removes a tack.

Perhaps you give your players something physical to represent money?

So does anyone use props in their game? What items do you use them for? How have your players responded to keeping track of physical stuff instead of simply something they write on their character sheet?

 

[diaglo]

yes. i've used them in the past.

100 page small notepad for a spellbook

index cards for scrolls

fake jewelry for some magic items

 

[William drake]

No...and think Id be a little put off if I came into a game where people carried staffs, or swords *wooden or real* or anything else that is just IN GAME things.

TO close to L.A.R.P'ing for me...

 

[sydbar]

I have a DM that has done props before. In one game our characters found a small wood chest, and our dm brought out a wood box, and when we finally opened it, it popped(he tied some poppers on a string, so that when we opened the box it went pop) we looked in and all our hands went in and grabbed whatever we could from the box, i ended up getting W.H.A.M. bubblegum(a red plastic shredded licorice container full of different colored bubble gumballs, each color had a different effect). I have used empty babyfood jars, filled with different drinkable liquids and food coloring as potions for the dm(non-alcoholic, since kids played in our group). He has had us find scrolls that we have had to decode to find out what spell they were. I wouldn't want to use props all the time, but they do make a nice change of pace once in a while.

 

[Emirikol]

I don't know if the're props, but I do a lot of cardboard foldups and whatnot on the battlemat.

I gave up working with large props long ago. Players don't give a crap (well, I'm sure one of the 6 would..but others don't want to stare at your prop..they just want to hear "it's a potion of CLW.")

Props should only be used as things players will need to reference..such as "letter" handouts or maps with clues on them.

It's not worth your time otherwise..probably even in a LARP it's not worth your time anymore.

jh

 

[FalcWP]

100 page small notepad for a spellbook

index cards for scrolls

I did both of these for my last wizard. I actually went through and wrote the details of all my spells in a small journal, and the details of every scroll on an index card. It worked *extremely* well - it gave me a nice refresher on what each of my spells did, and it meant I had all my spells handy without having to flip through the PHB or Spell Compendium to find details on them. When I used a scroll, I would just get rid of the index card. First time I used something like that in a game, and both I and the other players were impressed by how well it worked. Only sad part was that the game ended fairly quickly, but, next time I play a wizard, I'm doing that again.

As for other props... not at the moment, just because the only games I've DMed recently were online. However, I've managed to get some pieces toy jewelry from supermarket vending machines, and I have a couple Crown Royal bags around that I can fill up with a variety of coins. Planning to use those next time I run a real life game. I agree that using props all the time can be a bit much, but they are nice as a change of pace.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

The ones that work best seem to relate to a mystery or treasure find in the game that's part of the adventure. As a system for tracking character usage, it's not as effective as you might think in the long term. What if people forget to bring the stuff or you lose it? I recommend item cards or things like that to track stuff. It is really cool however to throw a leather pouch down on the table and say "you find this". Fill it with neat things....

 

[donremus]

Back in the mists of time a previous DM used to wear a big black cowled cloak with a large brass key round his neck. Lots of candles that used to get played with ending up with wax all over the place.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Back in the mists of time a previous DM used to wear a big black cowled cloak with a large brass key round his neck.

A picture of this would make you famous on these boards.

One prop I have used successfully was fake money for an attribute auction (Amber DRPG). When one player submitted the highest bid, I took away the amount of money they "spent." It was wayyyyyyyyyyy better and smoother than keeping track of the numbers on paper.

 

[Felix]

No...and think Id be a little put off if I came into a game where people carried staffs, or swords *wooden or real* or anything else that is just IN GAME things.

TO close to L.A.R.P'ing for me...

The staves, swords and shield wasn't quite what I was talking about. It would be for usable things (like arrows) to keep track of, instead of "keeping track on my sheet" (as if archers ever honestly do), and disposable things that nobody can remember who has on their person (like potions or anti-toxin).

As a DM, I kinda don't want to know what it is that the PCs have done to prepare for an adventure, but I want some way to keep them easily accessable and, well, "proveable". The Ring of Counterspells example will allow me as a DM to cast away in ignorance and it will keep the player honest about what spell is in the ring.

As a system for tracking character usage, it's not as effective as you might think in the long term. What if people forget to bring the stuff or you lose it? I recommend item cards or things like that to track stuff. It is really cool however to throw a leather pouch down on the table and say "you find this". Fill it with neat things....

I've a footlocker I keep my RPG stuff in. I figured I'd section it off for the players to put thier stuff in so it would always be available.

Props should only be used as things players will need to reference..such as "letter" handouts or maps with clues on them.

Oh, absolutely. Letters, maps, contracts...

Pink and green ape minis with bbs glued on.