Speakerphone Cameo

[Asmor]

Last night during D&D one of a player's friends called and asked to be put on speakerphone. Nothing terribly productive happened, but it did give me an idea.

You could probably have some really interesting things happen at a game using speakerphone.

Imagine, for example, you're playing Dread. The players might be 911 dispatchers, working at a pizza place, whatever, or even just a bunch of people hanging around at home. The GM arranges for someone to call, and at first the call is normal but then something happens-- the caller goes into a war-of-the-worlds style description of the terror unfolding before screaming and being cut off suddenly.

I'm having kind of a brain fart trying to come up with ideas, but it definitely seems like the sort of thing that could be a lot of fun. I could even see having a "call-in" game where you posted your number on some (semi-)public board and invited people to just call in during the listed hours. For example, the PCs are at a royal masquerade and you invite people to call in pretending to be nobles and such, whether just providing unexpected role playing or even giving people special bits of info that they should try and work in...

Probably not anything I'd ever be interested in doing, either as a caller or host, but I think it's interesting to think about if nothing else.

 

[Umbran]

There's also the "Charlie's Angels" shtick, where there is some person the characters regularly interact with, but not in person. Having someone who isn't at the table, but who is willing to handle such calls, could be a flavorful element - especially if they might eventually show up at the table in person, as a surprise.

 

[jdcash]

If you could get the speakerphone to self destruct after delivering the message it would be priceless!

Actually you could also use voicemail messages, it would give you more control/ flexibility in the players receipt of the message and still add a new dynamic to game delivery that.

 

[Protagonist]

Simple prerecorded messages using a cheap headset and maybe some filters (Audacity is free and very easy to use) might also be a way to have "phone-ins" that don't actually require timing as long as you are willing to use a laptop / mp3 player or similiar during the session.
This would - of course - not be interactive, but perfect for the Charlie's Angels thingy