|
In order to inject some extra fun into the new Runelords campaign my group is starting, I've decided to bring some character props and costume items.
I'm working on a Caileanite tabard since I'm playing a cleric of that particular faith. Also I'll be bringing a medieval-looking mug along. Just makes sense to me to add some color and fun to the already entertaining environment.
For Kingmaker, I ended up wearing a tiara for a time. Heh.
Other than coins (as per another thread), what props and/or costume items have you seen or used for adding color to your campaigns? I know GMs will often put out cool distressed looking maps or create some neat handouts but I'm curious about the player items. What and why?
When I was running a Call of Cthulhu campaign, I brought in 1920's style plane tickets, bus passes, matchbooks, old really weird looking statuary, "weathered" pages of manuscript and other assorted odds and ends. Was really fun. I used those little glass beads (you find em at the bottom of vases and stuff) as gems and put them in a small dice bag...all kinds of stuff!
I've used polished stones as gemstones, carried in little leather dice bags; foreign coins used as money; weapons bought at the local Renaissance Faire when presenting players/characters with magic items; sanded and stained wooden sticks for wands; various toys used for miscellaneous props. It depends on if something inspires me, and how much extra I'm feeling for that week's session.
The favored tavern of the characters was famous for its crab cakes, and one of the players made crab cakes (based on my description of them) on evening. Fortuitous, because that session the owner of their favorite tavern was kidnapped, and oh man, were they pissed...
Our GM(s) bring in puppets and exotic foods. The puppets are pretty good sized and represent familiars (one is a crow). One GM is a part time puppeteer and used a child sized puppet to represent a "poor lost child" that was actually a halfling that was picking pockets.
I have an assortment of tools/display weapons I have no practical use for that I've used in video/photo projects over the years. A few years back in a 3rd ed game, I strapped my blunt rapier to my brlt and kept it on the whole game, only removing it when I had to do something out of character.
If I had the time and sewing ability,vI would make myself a GM costume.
@kmal2t
Sure puppets! It's great when the guy who has the Witch roleplays his Crow familiar and they banter back and forth about the eyes of the dead!:D
His familiar had to be something else when we were in the underdark. The guy with the puppet show had a lizard puppet or something like it.
Yes, it is very strange for a guy to have a whole collection of puppets that he brings to the game. They are sort of like the Jeff Dunham puppets. fortunately those are expensive, so he only has a couple.
Too bad my group uses Skype for our sessions. I could have a LOT of fun with these ideas.
I have used glass beads to represent HP (in D&D and PF), it's quite nice as when PC's take damage they actually realise that they're in trouble and hurt.
The look on some players faces when they are down to their last 3 beads is fun.
It also allows me to vaguely monitor the PC's HP as well.
It's not like 6 players have familiars and each has a puppet. As I said, those things are expensive. One guy is using it. Since he is GMing and player only part of the time, the puppet is in the game only part of the time. But yea, to each his own. I can't see the GM dressing up in a costume or a player bringing a sword to the table because he wants to be in character.
The only games that I know that request you to do that are LARPs like Vampire The Mascquerade.
I played one day in a Larp when I realized I didn't like it. :)
I think you are right about the weapons. (I was referring to Big Lemon taking a "blunt rapier" to a game) But some of those games take place at college campuses and it may be a rule that they can have them inside but not outside. I have no clue either. If I were in charge, I wouldn't allow even stage weapons.
There was a game and I can't remember the name and people dressed in foam padded armor and it looked as close to real as possible. They used PVC pipe as swords and proceeded to hit each other with them.
Nothing to do with gaming, so I'll drop it.
As I said before, what ever makes the game fun for the group. I look a little sideways at people getting into Renn Fair outfits for a game, but that's just me.
Aside from the occasional handout that's made to look like a letter or old parchment, we're not that big into props. Aside from that one LARP I played in back in the '90s, or that time we gamed on Halloween, I've never used costumes in RPGs.
We've done a lot of props, but unfortunately one of our party thinks LARPing is nerdy (he doesn't even say TOO nerdy, just nerdy! I know, right? Irony!). So, to spare him embarrassment, we do no costuming.
He's normally a really cool guy, so I'm not sure what his deal is with costumes...
But I lurve costumes, so if he ever goes away (not that I want him to, but if) I'm totally bringing a cloak! :P
Yeah props are ok but Costumes I also draw the line at but our whole group feels that way so its good
|
LARP is way more then props. And pretty fun. Unless you swing a 10lb. greataxe made of foam at a dude who could be swept away from a breeze, un-shue him (not kidding, i un-shued him) and then help him start breathing again because obviously, mild impact empties his lungs.
But as far as tabletops go, thank you, no. No costumes. I find that silly. Props on the other hand are awesome. A friend made a whole bunch of coins from false gold and it is such a satisfying feeling when you get payed and the GM tosses a real leather bag filled with coin.
No costumes. I find that silly.
You're completely right, Hama. I would hate to have anybody who sees me hanging around with a bunch of other thirty year olds pretending to be an elf fighting monsters think I was being silly. I better leave the cloak at home. :P
It looks silly to me personally. I don't give a damn if somebody looks at us and thinks we are silly. Your sarcasm wasn't appreciated, and i see no reason for it.
I apologize. I had just gotten off the phone with my sister when I typed that, so I was kind of in sarcasm mode. I honestly didn't intend it to be mean.
I just meant to say that role-playing games are already somewhat intrinsically silly to me, so the addition of costumes wouldn't really up the ante, much.
Sorry, again. :)
Playing monopoly is normal...dressing like an 1890s tycoon and slapping people with an ivory cane like some Dickensian villain when you take their money would be taking it far enough that I would find silly.
You make a very good point, actually.
Still, I really want to do this, now.
"Why, sir! I am a dapper thousandaire! I shall tie you down to the dastardly train tracks! And wear a cape for no good reason!"
I've done things like wear novelty fox ears for my Kitsune, use hand puppets for when I'm in animal form, and generally wear Regency outfits whenever possible to be seen and heard over the power gamers/munchkins.