Gaming Props - What do you use?
- Thread starter Rechan
- Start date
Darkwolf71
First Post
That's better. And, having had a chance to look at them last night at home, WOW. Those are amazing. What is it about Cthulhu players that makes them create such props. You rarely see such creativity in the GMs/players of other games outside of LARP.
Thanks 
. There are a number of reasons why it is easier to make props for CoC than D&D. The 1920's and 30's are a well-known, and relatively recent, era. I can go out and buy items from that time (or items that look it) from antique shops and flea markets. Since it is a somewhat more recent time, it's also easier to generate original props. I can look up what a deed looks like, and re-create it fairly easily. I can use photographs, and all kinds of other modern resources.
With D&D, its much more difficult. I can't easily do artwork and such of the period. Plus, my knowledge of it, is much, much less. Not through lack of research, but simple lack of exposure. In many ways the 1920's still permeate this era.
. There are a number of reasons why it is easier to make props for CoC than D&D. The 1920's and 30's are a well-known, and relatively recent, era. I can go out and buy items from that time (or items that look it) from antique shops and flea markets. Since it is a somewhat more recent time, it's also easier to generate original props. I can look up what a deed looks like, and re-create it fairly easily. I can use photographs, and all kinds of other modern resources.With D&D, its much more difficult. I can't easily do artwork and such of the period. Plus, my knowledge of it, is much, much less. Not through lack of research, but simple lack of exposure. In many ways the 1920's still permeate this era.
Emirikol
Adventurer
Here are my essentials:
Battlemat (well worn and with permanent markers on it where PC's have died)
Parchment (for handouts)
Modelling clay
Red clay
shredded green paper (vines etc.)
trees and shrubs (from teh hobby store)
Pine trees (from the hobby store)
pebbles (of various sizes and fossil content) to be used as boulders, objects and stuff for the PC's toclimb on (or for orcs to ambush off of)
dominos (walls..I dont' waste time on drawing stuff so much)
Cardboard HOUSES - various products
Cardboard TOWERS -various products
WALLS - Castles boxed set
DOORS
Tables
chairs
TORCHES (wisps of cotton smeared with yellow and orange paint..using rolled tape at the bottom to stick onto mini's weapons
Longship and little boats
sticks (for logs)
TABLE TENTS - we recycle these by adding new art/pictures on the top with PC names/race/clan/class
Tiles (I bought all the sets)
Thematic posters or whatever I happen to print or tear out of a magazine
Back when dungeon was stil in print (backwhen it was still good), I show PC's pictures
TERRAIN. I took some yellow-hard insulation, cut it into different shapes (with rough edges), painted it gray and did the edges in dark gray (for ideas check out WARHAMMER)
HORSES AND CAMELS
COTTON BALLS - some stained/painted red/yellow for fire
COTTON BALLS - marked gray/white for smoke
COTTON BALLS - unmarked for showing PC states
White styrofoam for glaciers and icebergs (really important now for our frostburn games)
My players periodically bring fossils or lava-rocks and we stick them on the game table for terrain.
jh
..
Battlemat (well worn and with permanent markers on it where PC's have died)
Parchment (for handouts)
Modelling clay
Red clay
shredded green paper (vines etc.)
trees and shrubs (from teh hobby store)
Pine trees (from the hobby store)
pebbles (of various sizes and fossil content) to be used as boulders, objects and stuff for the PC's toclimb on (or for orcs to ambush off of)
dominos (walls..I dont' waste time on drawing stuff so much)
Cardboard HOUSES - various products
Cardboard TOWERS -various products
WALLS - Castles boxed set
DOORS
Tables
chairs
TORCHES (wisps of cotton smeared with yellow and orange paint..using rolled tape at the bottom to stick onto mini's weapons
Longship and little boats
sticks (for logs)
TABLE TENTS - we recycle these by adding new art/pictures on the top with PC names/race/clan/class
Tiles (I bought all the sets)
Thematic posters or whatever I happen to print or tear out of a magazine
Back when dungeon was stil in print (backwhen it was still good), I show PC's pictures
TERRAIN. I took some yellow-hard insulation, cut it into different shapes (with rough edges), painted it gray and did the edges in dark gray (for ideas check out WARHAMMER)
HORSES AND CAMELS
COTTON BALLS - some stained/painted red/yellow for fire
COTTON BALLS - marked gray/white for smoke
COTTON BALLS - unmarked for showing PC states
White styrofoam for glaciers and icebergs (really important now for our frostburn games)
My players periodically bring fossils or lava-rocks and we stick them on the game table for terrain.
jh
..
Hella_Tellah
Explorer
People have already covered most of the stuff I use, but there is one thing I add: a campaign sourcebook. When I ran a game based on Shinto mythology, I presented every player with a 40-page handout on organizations, character types, supplementary rules, maps, and new playable races, to be used as a reference at the table and to read at home. Also, I really like having a custom social networking site for the game; you can see what I set up at here.
Oh, and Arravis? I'm pretty sure you are the god of GMs, and I want to be your cleric.
Oh, and Arravis? I'm pretty sure you are the god of GMs, and I want to be your cleric.
MarauderX
Explorer
Tact-tiles, easily the best investment in gaming materials (not the PHB - they'll make the transition to 4E no problem). They work great for improve and you can explain as you draw a map of the kingdom, a unique trap, or something in section or 3D.
Along with the above is an array of different color dry erase markers to designate spell affect areas, secret doors, traps, initiative, etc.
Minis, of course, but beyond the WotC. Check the kids aisle sometimes and you can find some nifty stuff.
Some dungeon tiles that I use with poster putty to lock them in place on the Tact-tiles.
Jenga blocks; they are about 3" long, 1" wide, and 1/2" tall. Stack for 3D such as balconies, place under Tact-tiles for fighting on a hill side, or columns, walls, stairs, etc. Sometimes they can fall too - perhaps that character whose player with the shaky hand needs to make a Reflex when the player knocks one over.
Wide-format paper prints (up to 36x48) for some of the larger settings that the characters may need to defend.
11x17 prints for the smaller encounters, or just as something to get the players to illustrate where they are instead of 'just around the area'. It works well, as sometimes players have the habbit of getting lippy with the wrong shape-changed Rakshasa.
Along with the above is an array of different color dry erase markers to designate spell affect areas, secret doors, traps, initiative, etc.
Minis, of course, but beyond the WotC. Check the kids aisle sometimes and you can find some nifty stuff.
Some dungeon tiles that I use with poster putty to lock them in place on the Tact-tiles.
Jenga blocks; they are about 3" long, 1" wide, and 1/2" tall. Stack for 3D such as balconies, place under Tact-tiles for fighting on a hill side, or columns, walls, stairs, etc. Sometimes they can fall too - perhaps that character whose player with the shaky hand needs to make a Reflex when the player knocks one over.
Wide-format paper prints (up to 36x48) for some of the larger settings that the characters may need to defend.
11x17 prints for the smaller encounters, or just as something to get the players to illustrate where they are instead of 'just around the area'. It works well, as sometimes players have the habbit of getting lippy with the wrong shape-changed Rakshasa.
taliesin15
First Post
Something I've tried with some effect was using puppets as props. I've seen this done very well by other DMs. Makes more sense with humorous situations, as in the two trolls getting in an argument (depicting them with sock puppets) while the halfling and dozen dwarves slip away...also really good in urban situations when the PCs are encountering multiple persons each with own POV, it can help with the play acting...
blargney the second
blargney the minute's son
I love the sock puppet idea. This is the sound of one hand *yoink*ing.
... uh, or something grandma-friendly.
... uh, or something grandma-friendly.
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