Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LGMoses 02-03-07, 11:01 PM	Has a judge used ne of the above in ne of your games? What did they use? How did they present it? How effective was it in increasing the drawn in-ness (theres a word for this, someone help me out) of the game? How have you used props/music/visual aids to increase the quality of your/your players' gaming experience? Stories plz.
bhale187 02-03-07, 11:27 PM	We use a Chessex grid matt and D&D minis for every combat, it seems to make the action more intense and certainly easier for the DM to track. Occasionally we use the Dungeon Tiles, but they seem to slow things down too much to justify the visual aid they present. (I guess this could be pre setup and hidden until that specific combat begins, but I always forget to do that :embarrass ) As for music, never used it in a D&D setting, but our Star Wars GM years ago had the trilogy soundtracks and we listened to that through the game. It was a nice addition for ambiance
Lupo 02-04-07, 08:16 AM	Has a judge used ne of the above in ne of your games? What did they use? How did they present it? How effective was it in increasing the drawn in-ness (theres a word for this, someone help me out) of the game? How have you used props/music/visual aids to increase the quality of your/your players' gaming experience? Stories plz. outside LG: there were the Mystara boxed sets with audio CDs for play them at certain crucial points of the advenenture. i used them - it was more "funny quaint idea" then really helpful. miniatures in LG: it is nice to have some PC appropriate minis, it help to have some markers for the NPCs as well, i am not as peculiar as some other people who want to have the exact mini for every foe and monster, i am fine when the size is right. some players even abuse it, when they have failed all their knowledge check, a mini often would give them too much info. certain encounters and player combinations tend to get battle maps really really crowded fast, then it it is more helpful to have just big colorful tokens. ciao martin m.
cetiken 02-04-07, 10:12 AM	I keep wanting to download a some old school square dance fiddle style music for my bards' inspire courage (w/ IPod + some portable speakers). I think it would help people to remember to add +1 to hit and damage. Actually, thats a good excuse. I'm going IPod shopping. Later.
rockondon 02-04-07, 01:57 PM	write on a piece of blank white paper, soak it in coffee, seal it with candle wax, then hand it to the players. Now THAT's a scroll. or a map. or whatever. Somebody was tellin me he played on some big circuitboard once that basically was a lit panel with a grid on top, and the owner could program the layout of the dungeon beforehand and have the board light up the squares corresponding to the shape of the rooms, hallways, etc. He could premap every encounter so markers were never needed. A bunch of local buddies are big on molds. Many game grids I play on are littered with white plaster bridges and walls and countless other things you might find during your travels.
UMiskatonic 02-05-07, 03:53 PM	A handful of rocks and some plastic trees will do wonders for outdoor encounters I'm a big fan of counters, they are much more portable than miniatures. Colored markers help a lot, as do metal spell templates (Steel Squire, you da man) Post-it notes and index cards complete my set....
Haro 02-05-07, 09:30 PM	Colored markers help a lot, as do metal spell templates (Steel Squire, you da man) Post-it notes and index cards complete my set.... Steel Sqwire battlemats and spell templates are the best rpg peripherals going around (apart from mins obviously). As far as music goes, regardless of taste I've found that people enjoy instrumental electronic mixes (like the Global Underground series) in the background. It doesn't distract by having vocals and provides a cinematic flavour - think Neo and Trinity in the hotel lobby gunfight while rescuing Morpheus in The Matrix. Joe
tilloch 02-05-07, 09:38 PM	I keep wanting to download a some old school square dance fiddle style music for my bards' inspire courage (w/ IPod + some portable speakers). I think it would help people to remember to add +1 to hit and damage. Actually, thats a good excuse. I'm going IPod shopping. Later. I actually saw this at a con. He kept the volume down, but he used an IPod/speakers, like you suggest. It seemed quite the hit. Tilloch
tilloch 02-05-07, 09:42 PM	I have seen paper aged with a cigarette lighter in a car, music and sound effects programmed into the function keys of a laptop via some German-made software, and cutouts similar to the Map Folio 3D all used to good effect. The best so far has to be a map printed on fabic for the players (DM overachiever). We don't let him play anymore. He had to DM all the time now;) . Tilloch
amnuxoll 02-05-07, 10:04 PM	One of my best tricks (used rarely but often appreciated) is to have mug shots for NPCs and significant items. If you have a picture to hand around to the players it gets them thinking and focused. Pictures are also a *great* way to substitute for boxed text. I'm always on the lookout for a picture that can do this for me. Here's a recent example: http://lava.nationalgeographic.com/pod/pictures/sm_wallpaper/R5186_15.jpg I've never done it in LG but in home games I've seen DMs do this to great effect. My best story: One of our local intro mods has somewhere around a dozen significant NPCs. It's an investigational mod and success for the players relies somewhat on being able to keep everyone straight. So, I raided the free character portraits on the WotC website and made a cast of characters that can be handed out one by one as the PCs encounter the NPCs. It made a big difference. :AMN:
GrahamWills 02-06-07, 12:04 PM	Here is what I have found works best. It is ordered by effect / effort, so the topmost items give the best bang per buck/hour: Maps, Notes etc, that have been aged/burnt/sealed with wax/put in wierd tubes Lighting. Occasional use of candles / dim lighting Ambient sound (wind/rain/waves ...) Pictures of NPCs on cards to hand out Scenario-appropiate snacks and drinks (Easier when all the group is 21+) Music "Realistic" items: necklaces / rings / etc. 3D miniature environment. Especially bridges/castles and similar structures