Cross-posted from the Haven because I can (http://www.therpghaven.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=469).
Are you using props for your gaming questions? Actually bloodied pieces of parchment as the message on the corpse the PCs find in the dungeon? A trinket the goblin shaman uses to curse them? Costumes and make-up?
How about miniatures, and decors?
I like using miniatures for D&D. Sometimes, I will just use my tact-tiles and other 2D props, but other times, I will set up complete 3D decors, including Dwarven Forge dungeons, homemade pieces of decor and so on.
Here are some pictures of my games involving props:
(http://static.flickr.com/81/257405787_0c0352e011_o.jpg)
(http://www.enrill.net/images/photos/S4D.jpg)
(http://www.enrill.net/images/photos/session6-1.jpg)
(http://www.enrill.net/images/photos/game11-4.jpg)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/164997404_ac5192b51d.jpg)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/57/169931289_2b3074020c.jpg)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/165288876_19b908b98a.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/169934938_08afd7914a.jpg?v=0)
You can see more on my Praemal Tales gaming blog (http://praemal.blogspot.com) or my Flickr stream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79205912@N00/).
What about you? Show your props! :)
I am shamed. The best we do is cardboard cut outs and large magic boards.
Well, we do tend to eat Japanese food and bowls of rice while playing Nippon! but really, it is not the same.
I don't do 3D terrain.
I sometimes do minis on cardboard flats, or minis on mats. Depends upon the game.
I use some buildings printed on card (folded all 3D like) but I am completely jealous. I love your set up there Benoist.
Tell me, is it all modular or are they set pieces? Did you make them all yourself?
It's all modular. I have some homemade pieces, paint miniatures, dress the set-ups myself, but most dungeon pieces you see there are Dwarven Forge sets. These are building blocks of 2 by 2 or 4 by 4 inches you can put together to build the dungeons you want.
Dwarven Forge's Website (http://www.dwarvenforge.com)
This is the kind of investment most people will want to consider over months and years, rather than weeks, but it's well worth it when you're really into dungeon crawling and miniatures for the long term.
Nice models.
I've made the usual maps, etc., with tea and matches. I made a chest once with a real secret compartment in the bottom.
Seanchai
After a brief dalliance with miniatures earlier this year I'm now moving towards more abstract props. For my next 4E campaign I'm going to institute a no-minis embargo. Instead we'll be using cheap rune stones I bought online.
I have, and some of the groups that I have played with over the years have made good use of props in our games. Things like hats, pipes, canes, etc. Usually it is just a signature item to signal something about the character I am playing. I recall a Mechwarrior campaign in which my character had a bum leg due to old injuries and so I used a cane when I played him. It just set the mood.
The most extensive use of props was in a comic fantasy game years ago when all of the players and the GM played multiple characters (who sometimes had conversations with one another) and we all wore special hats to signify which character we were actually playing at that moment. For example, I wore a particularly flamboyant "pimp" hat when I was playing my half-orc (born from a love match) thief named Sweet Jimmy.
I think that it works well to use props at the table, even if it is just one item to represent your character. It feels a little silly at first, but it is great fun. And you should see the faces of those innocent non-gamers who pop by to see a group of grown men sitting around the table each wearing an outlandish hat! Priceless...
TGA
I had players make simple paper fans while we played L5R. Excellent.
We also used minis and paper building flats showing the plans. (and the tatami). All in 20mm figs and 1/72 ground scale. $40 got me 3 boxes of Zvezda samurai minis. An excellent assortment. I won't go back to metal.
I use paper mini's occasionally. Seeing the OP I realize I really don't do a whole lot of prepwork. That's awesome!
I gotta say, I play with veleda boards, 2d paper clips and dice, or simply with pencils and paper too. I don't build these set-ups all the time. That way, they don't become "usual" or "mundane". It's a matter of balance, and every style of game play, with or without props, has its avantages and inconveniences.
I like to use props in my games. I've always been big on handouts in D&D. Things like letters found on corpses that are sealed with wax, and look aged. I did a whole series of maps like that as well.
My last Deadlands game I ran I had bought a big tub of plastic cowboys and indians. I took a bunch and trimmed them up and painted them. A couple I even modified. I took and cut an arm off a mechwarrior clik I had a couple dupes of. I then cut the corisponding (sp?) arm off a cowboy gluing the mechwarrior one in its place. Painted it up to look like it was made of brass and black iron. I then cut up a rubber band and made it (painted it) look like leather straps holding it on. On another I took and glued a poker hand of cards, to the hand of a gunfighter, to make a huckster. I also made a mad scientist by replacing his rifle with a sci fi looking gun built from scraps from my modeling box. I wish I had pictures to show you guys. Alas I have no digital camera. :(
The basic set of plastic cowboys and indians was similar to this one. But it came with way more stuff.
(http://www.besttoysoldiers.com/acatalog/WildWestVillage.jpg)
I've got a pile of polystyrene boxes I keep meaning to carve into scenery, but they're unlikely to match the awesomeness of that setup.
I particularly like the goblet turned into a tower.
I don't tend to do props, but I keep my laptop on the table and a good supply of images that might be relevant during the session.
For example,
"The terrorist stops the van, and gets out firing his pistol as he runs off."
"Shit! We duck down and pull out our pistols."
"Okay, that takes you a moment."
"I open the car door and pop my head out with pistol, ready to fire!"
"You see him running down the road, about to turn the corner."
"I fire!"
"Roll the dice."
"Damn, I miss."
"The round zings past him as he hits the corner."
"We get out and chase him!"
"Okay, you run down the road past the van, its back doors are open."
"Shit, better stop and have a look."
"You see this."
"Uh-oh."
Yes, I've started to use images on my computer screen way more in the last couple of years.
RPGpundit
I've been thinking of lugging an out of use laptop home from work to give that a go, but the times I have used them before, the simply took up too much table realestate and instead became a distraction rather an a prop helper (I too love the idea of having several images available on demand).
I am curious how you guys (or any others) cope with that?
If you have a newer TV, odds are you can use that as an external monitor. But the "out of use" laptops at workplaces tend to be older models....
The distraction factor is how you use it, and whether you let your players use their own electronics.
Quote from: tellius;310559simply took up too much table realestate and instead became a distraction rather an a prop helper
It helps that I use rules-light systems, so the space which would normally be taken up by a GM's copies of rulebooks, instead that's my laptop. I don't think I could do it with GURPS4e or something. But looking back I guess I did it - I've got a table that'll seat 6, and usually we're 4 or 5, so there's enough space.
As for distraction... well, that's just a matter of concentration. I'm not sitting there playing
Diablo while the players argue.
The distraction for me was more about having to move the laptop around all the time as it was getting in the road of the various other props (Trees, walls, maps, dice).
Maybe I have to have a rethink about seating and how it all hangs together or maybe (more likely) I am just all thumbs and no dexterity.
I live in an apartment with a gigantic living room. My GM table is over in one corner, next to my computer desk, while the players are about six feet away on one of the two couches or two lounge chairs.
RPGPundit
I'm a big user of Dwarven Forge - and Benoist I like your setups - and I'm an either/or kind of guy. Either we go with the full bug and use proper minis and so on or no minis/terrain at all.
I don't use minis at all, but I have to admit, those are gorgeous. If I was ridiculously rich, they'd be enough to make me want to get a massive collection.
RPGPundit