[GMs/Players] One medium or many media?

[Tom Cashel]

I finished the collage for season 2 of my D20 Modern game, and it got me wondering what other kinds of media GMs might use to get players keyed up for upcoming games, plotlines, etc. As players, what other media do you bring to the table?

I put together collages. Do you write fiction, poetry, or a factual handout? Do you send out the mp3 file of an appropriate song? Do you play a song on your guitar or sing one? Do you make cool handouts (soaked in tea, burned edges, spots of "blood," etc.) or props? Or do you stick to the tried-and-true RPG media of pen & paper and words?

Here's the collage, called "Crawling to Carcosa." What's your favorite "extra" medium?

 

[EricNoah]

I'm afraid I'm a language-only DM (speaking and writing). Wish I had the talent or skill for other media!

 

[ThoughtBubble]

This time around, it's writing. I got an idea from the peole playing of what they wanted to play as, then wrote up a couple of pages of backstory for each one. It did a lot towards grounding the players in the game.

I also offer XP for character theme songs. It gives me something to listen to while I'm brainstorming, and shaped my last game pretty significantly (themes in the songs picked were freedom, wandering, and being willing to fight, so those all showed up in the game).

 

[diaglo]

i'm an eXtra Large.

whatever i can find to keep my players happy.

 

[Tom Cashel]

I also offer XP for character theme songs. It gives me something to listen to while I'm brainstorming, and shaped my last game pretty significantly (themes in the songs picked were freedom, wandering, and being willing to fight, so those all showed up in the game).

What a great idea! I think I'll try that.

It also made me realize that this thread is for players too.

 

[Tom Cashel]

whatever i can find to keep my players happy.

For example...?

 

[diaglo]

For example...?

themed sessions.

the PCs found several owlbear eggs after killing mommy and daddy.


we cooked up a big old omelet for the session.

edit: and the moldy wheel of cheese from the Ogres cave in B2 Keep on the Borderlands. made an appearance as a chili topping.

and wax sealed papers. and humming or singing a song... Brave, brave sir Robin...

 

[Psion]

At best, I photocopy or print out scenes that get across a location or personality.

 

[Ferret]

I have before now brought in a gemstone that represented the toothe of a baby dragon, that was cool.

 

[Berandor]

I use pics for characters (but not drawn by me). I write a Story Hour. I compile a soundtrack for the adventure (or if more freeform, at least provide music). I am a hand-out freak: Maps, letters, tavern menus, I do them all. I am thinking about making a campaign newsletter; as it stands, we communicate over message boards and formerly my website off-game. I have made some flash movies as teasers.
Sadly, what little talent I've got for the arts has gone into writing, so most of my "projects" are in that vein.