What is, singularly, the best rpg-related purchase that you have ever made? I don't think that I could have honestly answered the question myself until earlier this afternoon, so I understand any uncertainty that may plague you. So, how do/i] I answer the question?
Well, earlier today, my copy of The Dicitionary of Imaginary Places arrived in the mail. . . this is easily the best rpg-related purchase that I have ever made (although I'm puzzled at the exclusion of places like Goatswood, while placed like Arkham are included). At any rate. . .
While thumbing through this book, I realized that it's effectively a huge collection of setting seeds -- all you need to add is a serviceable system, and you've got an instant game! And that rocks :D
since i tend to pull ideas from just about everything (lotsa genre jumping that i do), the best "related" purchase would be a good backpack to carry my stuff in
not exactly the answer you were looking for, i know. but aside from sourcebooks & dice, i haven't found anything close that was so useful. maybe an almanac . . . ?
Some time back Colonel Hardisson had two threads which may be relevent to this thread. Some really interesting responses in them.
http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3537
http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1372
Regards,
David R
Quote from: jdrakehWell, earlier today, my copy of The Dicitionary of Imaginary Places arrived in the mail. . . this is easily the best rpg-related purchase that I have ever made (although I'm puzzled at the exclusion of places like Goatswood, while placed like Arkham are included). At any rate. . .
Linkage?
General utility wise: My apartment. It's where we game.
Single Item: My wooden spools have come in immensely handy in the last six months, so for right now they rule.
Book wise: Shadowrun 3 main book. I own seven or so of them.
Quote from: Serious PaulLinkage?
Linkage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dictionary_of_Imaginary_Places) :)
A computer with internet access.
Some of the online stuff I've found is so fucked up as to be worthless, but there is just so much crap out there that it is impossible to not find something worthwhile to use in a game.
Packs of 3 by 5 and 4 by 6 lined notecards.
During games we use thgem for all sorts of things. Mainly to pass important notes between the players and the GM, or from player to player. All the likely conversations and bits of "offstage" business that should happen get covered by using those cards.
When running a Fantasy game last fall, we started byu accident to use a large map and a bit of miniatures - the back of those cards became the large rafts that the nasty/bad-guy Templars were riding on up the river.
We also used them to keep track of weapons platforms and how many missiles had been used uip and exploded during a big battle. (Some of you might know which battle if you know my past campaign history)
We have gotten so in habit of using them for private communications amonst us - that we got the lightly colored cards so that each player has his or mostly her own color. We usually know who is sending a message now at a glance. Tho I have wound up memorizing handwriting style unintentionally.
- Ed C.
Quote from: jeff37923A computer with internet access.
Yeah, I was thinking "my laptop". In addition to that, it allows me to organize and format my gaming data, make maps, store gaming material and products to take to the game, quickly search electronic game books, randomly generate data, provide background music, provide players with visual representations, communicate with the players outside of game time, research and make other gaming purchases, and so forth.
I'm with the computer guys.
Pencils?
Quote from: SosthenesPencils?
That, and paper.
In an emergency, Pizza boxes will do nicely. ;)
caesar slaad mentioned the star wars visual dictionary in another thread. if i was going to run *anything* in SW, those books would be a must "related" purchase.
hell, i picked up super-cheap the galaxy-class starship deckplans from ST:tNG years ago (2 copies, even) to use as a game aid. alas, they have yet to be used. . . . :(
Laptop. No more Kinko's for character sheets. I get to capture all those great images from the coffee table books I like and the old Sears catalogs I've bought and catalog and archive and re-compile all I want. The net is awfully valuable. Mapping programs are sweet.
I bought Po-Po the coconut monkey at the dollar store. He quickly became the Quarter Monkey, much to the chagrin of players who could not refrain from endless Star Trek/Star Wars/LotR/Monty freakin Python referrences.
Going from a backpack to a filebox with a nylon shoulder rig (with pockets and stuff) has been way more than $20 worth of beneficial. I had an overhead projector that I got cheap off a school. It served me well at cons (I had some overhead projector dice, also :) ) but I think I'm going to opt for a laptop projector in the future. I don't know. It's hard to isolate purchases. I mean--it was a big deal to me personally when I finally started earning enough to get a few extra bookcases for games, rather than the teetering mountain of milk crates. But I'm not sure I've ever had more genuine mileage out of anything besides dice and trusty spiral quadrille notebooks.
Thanks for the link. Interesting stuff.
Unrelated side note: We used to run our Shadowrun game from lap tops, with each player having one, networked to a system, with a big screen that we jacked in for maps and real time videos.
Alas the lap tops all belonged to one guy, and they all crapped out. We'd like to get a table set up again where each station has a chat/messenger function and keyboard and screen to use.
We've considered using "Online Game Chat" with microphones for games, like teamsspeak and the like.
Quote from: jeff37923A computer with internet access.
Yes. And now the more exciting answer: the 1st edition AD&D
Dungeon Masters Guide. When I finally got it after years and years and years of not being able to find it anywhere in Hungary, it was not just the immense amount of coolness inside, it was also the feeling of satisfaction. And to boot, the hard-bound photocopy I got once belonged to Tamas Galgoczi, the guy who co-designed the first Hungarian RPG. The game I started with. :deflated:
The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island (http://www.wetanz.com/collectibles/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=27&zenid=ff1442c20c2d4cc7275cf5909f1da3d9) is a fantastic resource for a pulp lost world game. But in general I have to agree with those before me. A computer with internet access is a great tool for info, and just stuff in general. My group has a similar thing to Koltars note cards. We use small (seems like their 2x4) notepads. Bought a bunch of them for a game a year ago. And we've used them ever since. With my last campaign (the vietnam one) I've made several big maps, and have been using 1/72 scale US army rangers and VC minatures. (I got the minis from a buddy of mine thats a huge wargamer guy) Thats been fun too.
Quote from: RoninThe World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island (http://www.wetanz.com/collectibles/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=27&zenid=ff1442c20c2d4cc7275cf5909f1da3d9) is a fantastic resource for a pulp lost world game.
You and I seem to think along the same lines. I did a long review on this site (can't seem to find it right now) of this book with the same conclusion.
As others have said, I can't think of a purchase better than a computer with internet access.
A clipboard with a snap-shut storage compartment with plenty of room for dice, pencils, interlingual pocket dictionary, tape, scissors, index cards, tobacco and pipe. I keep almost all my GM stuff in there, and I haven't exceeded its capacity. Includes a calculator that's both solar and battery-powered. And it's a clipboard.
Quote from: DagobahDaveA clipboard with a snap-shut storage compartment with plenty of room for dice, pencils, interlingual pocket dictionary, tape, scissors, index cards, tobacco and pipe. I keep almost all my GM stuff in there, and I haven't exceeded its capacity. Includes a calculator that's both solar and battery-powered. And it's a clipboard.
That's just crazy talk! I think you're talking about a backpack!
Quote from: DagobahDaveA clipboard with a snap-shut storage compartment with plenty of room for dice, pencils, interlingual pocket dictionary, tape, scissors, index cards, tobacco and pipe. I keep almost all my GM stuff in there, and I haven't exceeded its capacity. Includes a calculator that's both solar and battery-powered. And it's a clipboard.
For about $125 (US) you can get a full-on contractor's clipboard like this that is machined from polished aircraft-grade aluminum or stainless steel (a bit cheaper than the aluminum one). Next time you clock your disruptive player with one of these, he'll remember it (after medical rehabilitation)!
That sir, was hilarious.
A book called the Magicians Companion. It has awesome charts and things for symbolism and associations. I can't imaginge running Mage or a dream sequence without it.
Quote from: KrakaJakA book called the Magicians Companion. It has awesome charts and things for symbolism and associations. I can't imaginge running Mage or a dream sequence without it.
I really like "The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage" (available online for free from Sacred Texts) for the supposed heirarchy of Hell (hundreds upon hundreds of demons names and their specific stations, according to SL Mathers). It's great fodder for Victorian horror.
Tri-fold presentation boards.
I used them to make the Deckplan spreads like you see in the avatar picture behind me.
Having a large viewable graphic of the starship that the players are on has been a BIG help in the campaign.
....also the glue sticks, transparent tape and scissors used to put the deckplans on there the right way.
Dr. Rotwang - if you wanna make a deal - I'll make one of those for you too. You want squares or hexagons??
- Ed C.
Hmmmm....
Can't beleive nobody has posted this yet:
PTOLUS!!!
Without question Ptolus is the single best RPG related purchase ever made. It really is incredible! We're having our 5th Ptolus session on Friday and it is the most enjoyable & refreshing D&D setting I have ever had the pleasure to run.
Does anyone know if there is a Ptolus thread here at theRPGsite?
Quote from: HarnelootHmmmm....
Can't beleive nobody has posted this yet:
PTOLUS!!!
Without question Ptolus is the single best RPG related purchase ever made. It really is incredible! We're having our 5th Ptolus session on Friday and it is the most enjoyable & refreshing D&D setting I have ever had the pleasure to run.
Does anyone know if there is a Ptolus thread here at theRPGsite?
The search function turned up this: http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1635&highlight=Ptolus
but ptolus is a game purchase, not really a game-related purchase. now, maybe a travel guide to, say, vancouver when you're running a campaign there, that's a game-related purchase.
Dice. Pencils. Paper. They're the foundations, and I make sure I'm never without.
Well, Ptolus can't be run without the D&D rules, so its not a game in itself, but I see your point.
my non-game answer would be: Dunjinni mapping software!
Also - I tired a Search of the forums I didn't pull up that thread. The Search didn't even pull up THIS thread that I had just posted the word in. I must be doing something wrong but cna' see what that is.
Anyway, thanks for the link to that thread!
Quote from: One Horse TownThat's just crazy talk! I think you're talking about a backpack!
It's got one of those, too.
Here's what it looks like from the top. That's a map of Salzenmund I put together. Also shows off the calculator. This WFRP adventure is going to be 9/11 times 1,000.
(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/1-overview.jpg)
Those are my sausage-like fingers opening the latch. It's actually a pretty flimsy piece of plastic that busts off every once in a while. It's easy to put back on. It's a $15 clipboard, what do you expect?
(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/2-latch.jpg)
Lots of dice and stuff!
(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/3-open.jpg)
Got my cardstock economy, index cards, faux parchment, poker chips, writing utensils, breath mints.
(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/4-contents.jpg)
Ho ho ho, what's this? Something under the Latin dictionary?
(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/5-latin.jpg)
(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/6-amazing-space.jpg)
(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/7-amazing-space-closer.jpg)
Quote from: DagobahDave(http://www.davesgames.net/wfrp2/images/clipboard/7-amazing-space-closer.jpg)
HAW!
I mentioned this in that other thread:
Good Chairs for my players.
Chairs with arms and a back that supports them.
Its a very recent thing ...but I've been wanting to do that purchase for quite awhile.
A tape recorder - so I can go over past game sessions to keep better track of things and maybe tweak or improve my GM-ing skills.
- Ed C.
I recommend couches and a coffee table instead of the dining-room-table approach. I've done it both ways over the years, and I've usually found people to be much more relaxed with couches. I think it's because you tend to lean back instead of hunch forward.
That's assuming you want the group relaxed. I want my group to only use the edge of their seats.
Notebooks, lots of notebooks. Nothing beats having a convenient medium for writing down stray ideas or wahtever else sounds cool and creative. They're cheap too.
The best thing I've purchased that is directly related to RPGs... The Savage Worlds Customizable GM's Screen. It's like a vinyl-covered cardboard trifold clipboard but each panel has a transparent vinyl pocket for holding whatever charts and information you might want. Best part is it's in landscape format so it spreads out to cover a large area of the table, and I can easily see/be seen over it.
Indirectly... notebook computer. Ebooks are awesome for rules reference (searchability), and I plan games using stuff like Word or Excel. Very handy.
Quote from: architect.zeroThe best thing I've purchased that is directly related to RPGs... The Savage Worlds Customizable GM's Screen. It's like a vinyl-covered cardboard trifold clipboard but each panel has a transparent vinyl pocket for holding whatever charts and information you might want. Best part is it's in landscape format so it spreads out to cover a large area of the table, and I can easily see/be seen over it.
Indirectly... notebook computer. Ebooks are awesome for rules reference (searchability), and I plan games using stuff like Word or Excel. Very handy.
SECONDED!! on that GM screen.
I've been using one of those the past 2 years. I love changing the picture on the plays side of it. Its tuerned into a "Main viewing screen" for the group at times. On the GM side I can switch out what charts and whst NPCs I put in the pockets.
- Ed C.
Quote from: Serious PaulUnrelated side note: We used to run our Shadowrun game from lap tops, with each player having one, networked to a system, with a big screen that we jacked in for maps and real time videos.
Alas the lap tops all belonged to one guy, and they all crapped out. We'd like to get a table set up again where each station has a chat/messenger function and keyboard and screen to use.
We've considered using "Online Game Chat" with microphones for games, like teamsspeak and the like.
That, sir, is possibly the most awesome game of Shadowrun I've ever heard of - and I don't even know what you
did!