Fun with Props! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Fun with Props!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
chorbox
May 08, 2010 12:04:50 Didn't see a recent thread for this so I thought I'd make one. If there is an active thread for it feel free to direct me to it.

I thought it would be fun to see what other people have done to make cool props for their campaign. I'll give my examples of amateur propmaking.

For one of my campaigns I wanted to make an old map for my players to use to navigate the wilderness and explore various points of interest marked on it. I used some heavy cotton paper i bought at an art supply store. This paper is perfect for maps but it is very rigid, so i crumpled it up into a ball over and over to get it to look old and mappy. After doing this repeatedly I still wasn't satisfied because the paper was very stiff and the creases were very angular, not smooth. I used a spray bottle to make it damp but not too wet. I crumpled it up, wetted it, crumpled it, wetted it, repeat, repeat, until I got the texture I was looking for.

Then I took a yellow pastel and rubbed it all over the paper to get the base color. I used the shammy cloth that came with the pastels to smooth out the color and work it into all the folds. The color was thicker in some places than others, but it was a smooth transition between lighter and darker spots that gave the paper some added texture. Then I added a smaller amount of a darker brown color and rubbed that in to mute the yellow.

Lastly, I used a piece of charcoal (also bought at the art supply store) to draw the various locations in the forest. That was actually the worst part because I'm not good at drawing so the pictures were fairly amateur. Still, it had a certain charm and my players were pretty impressed that I had put so much time into making a cool prop for them to use. I got to use that prop later when we lost a player. I had his character write a note on the back of the map explaining why he couldn't continue the fight anymore, and then he disappeared in the middle of the night.

I used the same technique to create a series of rune pages to be used in a skill challenge. I had run out of yellow pastel so the paper had a deep red-brown color, which made them a bit more ominous. That time I had one of the other players (who is a fantastic artist) draw the runes in charcoal for me, since that wouldn't really give away anything about how to solve the skill challenge.

One of my players looked at the pages and actually asked if they were real vellum, which made me feel like the effort had been worth it.

Anyone else made cool props for their sessions?
#2
mieorabloodsong
May 08, 2010 13:09:44
I usually use my parchment paper and calligraphy pens when im making things for the players, but another way to do the paper is to wet a tea bag and run it all on the paper (just regular computer paper.) If you want it crinkly looking you bake it in the oven, but I dont remember the temperature or the amount of time. It looks really cool when you are done.

I have also gotten some 'gems' when they were trying to collect a certain set. I had some cool painted rocks that I gave them as they acquired them in game.

I like props, they are fun to use, and give the players something to focus on.
#3
paulstrait
May 11, 2010 5:46:10 My gaming group lives in 6 states across 4 time zones, so needless to say my options for props are limited. I use a whole lot of images -- I try to find a good image for every monster they fight and every major NPC they encounter. Most of the letters and such they find, I send to them as simple text and I read it out loud, but sometimes I'll use a cool looking font to make a "hand-written" note and send that out. I also prepare "opening credits" every week... I just finished this week's for our Wednesday game. Check it out:
docs.google.com/present/view?id=d25cgjs_...
#4
Ktulu
May 12, 2010 16:24:58
My gaming group lives in 6 states across 4 time zones, so needless to say my options for props are limited. I use a whole lot of images -- I try to find a good image for every monster they fight and every major NPC they encounter. Most of the letters and such they find, I send to them as simple text and I read it out loud, but sometimes I'll use a cool looking font to make a "hand-written" note and send that out. I also prepare "opening credits" every week... I just finished this week's for our Wednesday game. Check it out:
docs.google.com/present/view?id=d25cgjs_...

I'm horrible with props, but I like "set-design". I can sometimes spend hours building a stonehenge out of lego bricks and painfully painting specific miniatures for the scene. When it comes to props, though, I'm either not creative enough, or don't find much use in them.

One of my players, who also DM's, is really good at propping. He's done full-on logic puzzles with props, all painted up and looking nice; handed out medallions to heroes; and loves the parchment/calligraphy.

I often consider doing it, but can't come up with something I like so I move on.
#5
powercat
May 12, 2010 21:14:05 The best prop I've found is an old Ezra Brooks whiskey bottle. It's in the shape of a bear rearing up on its back legs, probably about a foot tall, and copper-colored.

I haven't been able to use it yet, but I know I want to someday.
#6
malcomfox
May 15, 2010 0:14:04
My current group found a book recently that has numbers in it - they didn't know I was actually making it out of a small 40 page journal. One of the players realized that the number on the outside was a large "3" and the first two numbers inside were 14 (3.14 - pi). when i confirmed that the 40 pages housed PI to roughly 11,800 places, most of the players seemed to be less than impressed and told me that I had too much time on my hands.

ultimately this will work like a less extreme "deck of many things" for 4e when the PC's read a page something will happen to them
#7
woorloog
May 18, 2010 13:29:50 Heh, OP's story reminded me what happened to my character sheet in my friend's game (his own rules and world). Since it was summer, we naturally had coke on table. Well, this bottle had been on freezer to get it cold quickly. The bottle had been on table for some time and when i took it and started to pour it to my glass. Unfortunately the bottle had become wet and slipped from hands. My character sheet (normal computer paper sheet, all things hand written and drawn) got quite a bit of coke on it. Afterwards it had become almost like an old map. If i had crumbled it a bit... well, it would have looked pretty accuracte. If you can spare coke, it can make good looking papers for maps. Too bad the character sheet itself had no value as a prop :/

I'm interested in using props and i have an idea. I was thinking of using a paper towel tube as a message tube (you know what i mean?). Since it would be closed... well, if i give it only to one player... and switch it later when he's not looking... I might get a group of confused players when they try to figure out or remember what was in the first message or maybe they'll blame the first one for lying... dunno. Partial messages? Need to think carefully how and what i'm going to do. But if i do it right, it's going to be interesting.
#8
vlazreus
May 24, 2010 20:25:51 Legos, repurposed action figures and play-sets of all kinds work well. like those fisher price castles you had when you were little. they're useful for big kids too. I steal pieces from board games alot as well. I have a feeling things from those really fancy model train set things people make could be applied as well, but they're more expensive.
#9
cahrn
May 25, 2010 15:29:45 I made a map to use in my game with thicker drawing paper. I roughed the edges and singed parts to give it an old look. The players thought it was pretty cool and it made it fun when I talked about different place names and where different roads lead to.

I have a feeling things from those really fancy model train set things people make could be applied as well, but they're more expensive.

Model trains are actually another hobby of mine. On several occasions I have used components from my trains in a Dungeons and Dragons setting, though the overlap is not too big. At least its good to know that theres a non train enthusiast thinking about us model railroaders.

#10
vlazreus
May 26, 2010 20:26:29 have always been intrigued by model trains, and models in general. while not a train enthusiast myself, I like the idea of creating a landscape like that and have always wished i had the time, money, and space to take up model building. I myself have a large lego collection instead.
#11
nukeleo
May 27, 2010 5:45:51 My sister spilled water on an old deck of playing cards so I took some card stock and pasted it over the "X of Y" side, leaving the fancy doodly bits on the top. Then I drew small symbols in black ink that would, when activated, transfer SOME effect on the user. What the effect would be is something only I would know. Some of the cards did things like grant thousands of gold, a level up or gave the blessing of a shapeshifted form to that of a lycanthropic...thing. I dunno what to call it, but being able to turn into a were-bird-of-paradise sounded pretty freakin' sweet on paper and that has NEVER failed to impress when used in-game!

...However other cards could do things such as implosion, kill your family or alter your gender. It's part of the appeal: you don't know what to expect! Once used they're fried and useless, the magic spent, and I let the PCs keep them.

Other props I've utilized were tiny pieces from old toys like mini jewels for a reward of sorts. I'd made a little badge out of some ribbon, gold plates from my sister's barbie set and skulls from some tiki toy I had. The result? A mark of proof that certain PCs showed up to the special game night where we started, worked on and completed an entire mission including the saving of a princess from a demon.

Or another time I used a small obsidian chalice, no larger than pen cap, with a ball bearing glued to the top (it was a wicked cool weight and desk ornament) as a token for a player that had, uniquely, earned the favor of a particular angel that would use that chalice as payment for "a favor". Whatever he needed done and the angel was capable and willing to do would only cost the chalice and it would be done.

Little things like that tend to be pretty cool. My buddy's wizard has all the spells printed out and glued into an old science binder. It's all worn out and tired looking, thick with notes and pen markings as well as small drawings of animals and plants. When you see every third page detailing his spell works and reagents... it feels like a real alchemist's tome. It made me use my engineering pads for my Dwarf Cleric's rituals since a lot of what I sketched seemed similar to architecture and design seen in D&D relating to Dwarves.
#12
cahrn
May 27, 2010 17:05:23 Not so much a prop, but we'd usually play with rather dim lighting and a few candles over the part of the table where the miniatures were. Sounds cliché but it did help hide the plastic shine of the D&D brand miniatures and take the focus off the rather spartan scenery that we used.
#13
MrCelsius
Jun 02, 2010 5:20:42 In my last Eberron campaign I drew up a very crude page (perhaps more a visual aid than a prop) from a murdered goblin fence's ledger. It showed that the last entry was interrupted in the middle, and the dying goblin had placed the bloody murder weapon on the page, leaving a dagger-shaped imprint with a single bloody fingerprint to the right of the dagger. The goblin, a member of Daask, was leaving a secret clue as to where his murderers were heading; the page was a map. The dagger print represented the Dagger River, and the fingerprint pinpointed their destination. I just used kitchen knives dipped in food colouring to make the shape; worked better than I expected.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 chorbox May 08, 2010 12:04:50	Didn't see a recent thread for this so I thought I'd make one. If there is an active thread for it feel free to direct me to it. I thought it would be fun to see what other people have done to make cool props for their campaign. I'll give my examples of amateur propmaking. For one of my campaigns I wanted to make an old map for my players to use to navigate the wilderness and explore various points of interest marked on it. I used some heavy cotton paper i bought at an art supply store. This paper is perfect for maps but it is very rigid, so i crumpled it up into a ball over and over to get it to look old and mappy. After doing this repeatedly I still wasn't satisfied because the paper was very stiff and the creases were very angular, not smooth. I used a spray bottle to make it damp but not too wet. I crumpled it up, wetted it, crumpled it, wetted it, repeat, repeat, until I got the texture I was looking for. Then I took a yellow pastel and rubbed it all over the paper to get the base color. I used the shammy cloth that came with the pastels to smooth out the color and work it into all the folds. The color was thicker in some places than others, but it was a smooth transition between lighter and darker spots that gave the paper some added texture. Then I added a smaller amount of a darker brown color and rubbed that in to mute the yellow. Lastly, I used a piece of charcoal (also bought at the art supply store) to draw the various locations in the forest. That was actually the worst part because I'm not good at drawing so the pictures were fairly amateur. Still, it had a certain charm and my players were pretty impressed that I had put so much time into making a cool prop for them to use. I got to use that prop later when we lost a player. I had his character write a note on the back of the map explaining why he couldn't continue the fight anymore, and then he disappeared in the middle of the night. I used the same technique to create a series of rune pages to be used in a skill challenge. I had run out of yellow pastel so the paper had a deep red-brown color, which made them a bit more ominous. That time I had one of the other players (who is a fantastic artist) draw the runes in charcoal for me, since that wouldn't really give away anything about how to solve the skill challenge. One of my players looked at the pages and actually asked if they were real vellum, which made me feel like the effort had been worth it. Anyone else made cool props for their sessions?
#2 mieorabloodsong May 08, 2010 13:09:44	I usually use my parchment paper and calligraphy pens when im making things for the players, but another way to do the paper is to wet a tea bag and run it all on the paper (just regular computer paper.) If you want it crinkly looking you bake it in the oven, but I dont remember the temperature or the amount of time. It looks really cool when you are done. I have also gotten some 'gems' when they were trying to collect a certain set. I had some cool painted rocks that I gave them as they acquired them in game. I like props, they are fun to use, and give the players something to focus on.
#3 paulstrait May 11, 2010 5:46:10	My gaming group lives in 6 states across 4 time zones, so needless to say my options for props are limited. I use a whole lot of images -- I try to find a good image for every monster they fight and every major NPC they encounter. Most of the letters and such they find, I send to them as simple text and I read it out loud, but sometimes I'll use a cool looking font to make a "hand-written" note and send that out. I also prepare "opening credits" every week... I just finished this week's for our Wednesday game. Check it out: docs.google.com/present/view?id=d25cgjs_...
#4 Ktulu May 12, 2010 16:24:58	My gaming group lives in 6 states across 4 time zones, so needless to say my options for props are limited. I use a whole lot of images -- I try to find a good image for every monster they fight and every major NPC they encounter. Most of the letters and such they find, I send to them as simple text and I read it out loud, but sometimes I'll use a cool looking font to make a "hand-written" note and send that out. I also prepare "opening credits" every week... I just finished this week's for our Wednesday game. Check it out: docs.google.com/present/view?id=d25cgjs_... I'm horrible with props, but I like "set-design". I can sometimes spend hours building a stonehenge out of lego bricks and painfully painting specific miniatures for the scene. When it comes to props, though, I'm either not creative enough, or don't find much use in them. One of my players, who also DM's, is really good at propping. He's done full-on logic puzzles with props, all painted up and looking nice; handed out medallions to heroes; and loves the parchment/calligraphy. I often consider doing it, but can't come up with something I like so I move on.
#5 powercat May 12, 2010 21:14:05	The best prop I've found is an old Ezra Brooks whiskey bottle. It's in the shape of a bear rearing up on its back legs, probably about a foot tall, and copper-colored. I haven't been able to use it yet, but I know I want to someday.
#6 malcomfox May 15, 2010 0:14:04	My current group found a book recently that has numbers in it - they didn't know I was actually making it out of a small 40 page journal. One of the players realized that the number on the outside was a large "3" and the first two numbers inside were 14 (3.14 - pi). when i confirmed that the 40 pages housed PI to roughly 11,800 places, most of the players seemed to be less than impressed and told me that I had too much time on my hands. ultimately this will work like a less extreme "deck of many things" for 4e when the PC's read a page something will happen to them
#7 woorloog May 18, 2010 13:29:50	Heh, OP's story reminded me what happened to my character sheet in my friend's game (his own rules and world). Since it was summer, we naturally had coke on table. Well, this bottle had been on freezer to get it cold quickly. The bottle had been on table for some time and when i took it and started to pour it to my glass. Unfortunately the bottle had become wet and slipped from hands. My character sheet (normal computer paper sheet, all things hand written and drawn) got quite a bit of coke on it. Afterwards it had become almost like an old map. If i had crumbled it a bit... well, it would have looked pretty accuracte. If you can spare coke, it can make good looking papers for maps. Too bad the character sheet itself had no value as a prop :/ I'm interested in using props and i have an idea. I was thinking of using a paper towel tube as a message tube (you know what i mean?). Since it would be closed... well, if i give it only to one player... and switch it later when he's not looking... I might get a group of confused players when they try to figure out or remember what was in the first message or maybe they'll blame the first one for lying... dunno. Partial messages? Need to think carefully how and what i'm going to do. But if i do it right, it's going to be interesting.
#8 vlazreus May 24, 2010 20:25:51	Legos, repurposed action figures and play-sets of all kinds work well. like those fisher price castles you had when you were little. they're useful for big kids too. I steal pieces from board games alot as well. I have a feeling things from those really fancy model train set things people make could be applied as well, but they're more expensive.
#9 cahrn May 25, 2010 15:29:45	I made a map to use in my game with thicker drawing paper. I roughed the edges and singed parts to give it an old look. The players thought it was pretty cool and it made it fun when I talked about different place names and where different roads lead to. I have a feeling things from those really fancy model train set things people make could be applied as well, but they're more expensive. Model trains are actually another hobby of mine. On several occasions I have used components from my trains in a Dungeons and Dragons setting, though the overlap is not too big. At least its good to know that theres a non train enthusiast thinking about us model railroaders.
#10 vlazreus May 26, 2010 20:26:29	have always been intrigued by model trains, and models in general. while not a train enthusiast myself, I like the idea of creating a landscape like that and have always wished i had the time, money, and space to take up model building. I myself have a large lego collection instead.
#11 nukeleo May 27, 2010 5:45:51	My sister spilled water on an old deck of playing cards so I took some card stock and pasted it over the "X of Y" side, leaving the fancy doodly bits on the top. Then I drew small symbols in black ink that would, when activated, transfer SOME effect on the user. What the effect would be is something only I would know. Some of the cards did things like grant thousands of gold, a level up or gave the blessing of a shapeshifted form to that of a lycanthropic...thing. I dunno what to call it, but being able to turn into a were-bird-of-paradise sounded pretty freakin' sweet on paper and that has NEVER failed to impress when used in-game! ...However other cards could do things such as implosion, kill your family or alter your gender. It's part of the appeal: you don't know what to expect! Once used they're fried and useless, the magic spent, and I let the PCs keep them. Other props I've utilized were tiny pieces from old toys like mini jewels for a reward of sorts. I'd made a little badge out of some ribbon, gold plates from my sister's barbie set and skulls from some tiki toy I had. The result? A mark of proof that certain PCs showed up to the special game night where we started, worked on and completed an entire mission including the saving of a princess from a demon. Or another time I used a small obsidian chalice, no larger than pen cap, with a ball bearing glued to the top (it was a wicked cool weight and desk ornament) as a token for a player that had, uniquely, earned the favor of a particular angel that would use that chalice as payment for "a favor". Whatever he needed done and the angel was capable and willing to do would only cost the chalice and it would be done. Little things like that tend to be pretty cool. My buddy's wizard has all the spells printed out and glued into an old science binder. It's all worn out and tired looking, thick with notes and pen markings as well as small drawings of animals and plants. When you see every third page detailing his spell works and reagents... it feels like a real alchemist's tome. It made me use my engineering pads for my Dwarf Cleric's rituals since a lot of what I sketched seemed similar to architecture and design seen in D&D relating to Dwarves.
#12 cahrn May 27, 2010 17:05:23	Not so much a prop, but we'd usually play with rather dim lighting and a few candles over the part of the table where the miniatures were. Sounds cliché but it did help hide the plastic shine of the D&D brand miniatures and take the focus off the rather spartan scenery that we used.
#13 MrCelsius Jun 02, 2010 5:20:42	In my last Eberron campaign I drew up a very crude page (perhaps more a visual aid than a prop) from a murdered goblin fence's ledger. It showed that the last entry was interrupted in the middle, and the dying goblin had placed the bloody murder weapon on the page, leaving a dagger-shaped imprint with a single bloody fingerprint to the right of the dagger. The goblin, a member of Daask, was leaving a secret clue as to where his murderers were heading; the page was a map. The dagger print represented the Dagger River, and the fingerprint pinpointed their destination. I just used kitchen knives dipped in food colouring to make the shape; worked better than I expected.