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Post by Sidera on Sept 15, 2016 20:41:30 GMT
Hey, I'm new to the forum and I was wondering what things everyone use's to improve the experience of playing and getting immersed in the game outside the activity itself? I know plenty of people use music to set the atmosphere or even soundscape programmes like battlebards and syrinscape and early on in the podcasts the idea of snacktime was suggested (bringing themed food to sessions), so does anyone on here have and ideas that they may or my not have used yet that they think are good additions to the experience, or even ones you have tried that ended up not adding to your game at all and why? Suggestions from myself: Candles, you can get RPG themed scented candles to spice up your session. With smell often evoking a strong emotional reaction and being the sense most closely linked to memory they could really add an extra dimension to the game. As well as that you may have your players exploring areas in dim light or only having a torch to light their way and what better way than playing in candle light to create that atmosphere. Old style tankards to drink your beverages out off. Picture this... you are sat down around the table deep into the fantasy world then *slurrrppp* your turn to your left to see Bernard drinking bright green mountain dew from the 21st century real world, oh no immersion ruined! Pour that bad boy into a tankard and maintain that fantasy theme, no one will be the wiser  People may not be willing to dress up for a game but who doesn't love a good tankard. You could even fill them with some alcoholic beverages every time your players enter a tavern and order a drink for their characters, or maybe not if you want them to actually leave the tavern occasionally... |
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Post by lasersniper on Sept 16, 2016 7:25:50 GMT
Most of my games are online now, so the music and setting up the digital gameboard is the most I do anymore. However, when I had some irl groups playing, I would absolutely LOVE to make themed notes, notebooks, letters, declarations, and other paperwork. Not only does it help build the world, it also takes the task of note taking out of the hands of the players so you KNOW they have it written down, a big problem in my last group. I still do quite a bit of that for my online groups, but I can't really recreate the hours of work I would pour into fleshing out some cultist or wizards research notebook. I always wanted to try something with a large bowl or bucket full of water beads, but never got the chance. The alien feeling you get when you stick your hand in them is amazing, especially if you don't let them see what they are sticking their hands into.
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Post by blakeryan on Sept 16, 2016 12:36:27 GMT
- talking in character, npcs and pcs. It helps get into the right headspace, the shared other realm of the story, and not the people sitting around a table after a long work week.
- maps - players love maps, map of the nation, map of the city, map to the treasure. Need them to look old? drag a damp (not wet) tea bag over it to make it brown, roll it up and singe (not burn) the ends.
- sound programs are great, but as background music or specific monsters sounds, not constant because you want to be able to hear eachother, and mentally focus on the conversations not the computer programs.
- candles and darker curtains for spooky castles or dungeon sessions, but not for desert or bright daylight in the hills.
- some people wear a cloak/robe, helmet or mask, its easy to get a few bits of fantasy dress up stuff, dress remember to take it off before you go get the pizza.
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Post by Sidera on Sept 16, 2016 15:05:15 GMT
Most of my games are online now, so the music and setting up the digital gameboard is the most I do anymore. However, when I had some irl groups playing, I would absolutely LOVE to make themed notes, notebooks, letters, declarations, and other paperwork. - maps - players love maps, map of the nation, map of the city, map to the treasure. Need them to look old? drag a damp (not wet) tea bag over it to make it brown, roll it up and singe (not burn) the ends. Yeh I'm really looking forward to making paper based objects for my games, maps are cool too! For them to find a map in game and have you pass an actual map to them would be pretty exciting. I always wanted to try something with a large bowl or bucket full of water beads, but never got the chance. The alien feeling you get when you stick your hand in them is amazing, especially if you don't let them see what they are sticking their hands into. Ooooo this is pretty fancy, didn't think of how other senses could work in the game. Kinda reminds me off the idea of making physical challenge or puzzle to give your players to do at the table, like a sliding board or something. Really add that extra layer of interaction. |
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Post by Chickadee (DM Trish) on Mar 29, 2017 15:56:29 GMT
I went crazy at the dollar store and picked up little, stoppered bottles that I half filled with food-coloured water for a couple of super powerful potions that I've hidden in our campaign. I also picked up some silk draw-string bags (also dollar store) that I filled with fake jewels. It's a bit silly, but my group loves getting tossed a 'reward bag' when they finish a big quest. Usually, I gather up the bags at the end of a session and re-use them when they finish another big section. Finally, I saw some advice online about using a scarf and little props (like a knife) to help get into character as an NPC. My scarf has been used as a flirtatious face veil, a barman's towel, a turban, an old lady's shawl, and a face covering for a dead body (so far). I'm a bit nervous to try music and sound effects - I'm a very new DM and I have a feeling I'd get caught up in the technology and lose the plot.  |
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Post by meribson on Mar 30, 2017 0:53:09 GMT
Something that I've become known for in my circle is my use of paper props. The first time I reached into my bag next to my spot at the table and pulled out a Wanted poster to hand to the players they practically climbed onto the table so that they could all look. Now if I'm starting a campaign where a hiring slip is involved, I type it up with an appropriate font before printing it onto a piece of cardstock that was steeped in coffee beforehand. Crumple it up a few times and flatten it with some weights and I've got a prop ready.
I've also used old metal trinkets that I've found at yard sales and thrift stores mixed in with plastic coins to fill an old "treasure chest" I found in the garage a few years ago.
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Post by Chickadee (DM Trish) on Apr 7, 2017 4:21:14 GMT
Little update: I tried the Snack Challenge with my group (mentioned in the podcast) and they LOVED it! Our group messages used to mostly be about arranging the next day/time for a session but now, it's all "What's the theme for next week's Snack Challenge?"  |
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Post by dmdeejay on Apr 7, 2017 7:22:06 GMT
I'm a fan of providing paper props for things the characters would have or find (i.e., region maps). I have occasionally hand drawn sections of dungeon maps and given those to the players if they received intel about a dungeon before they delved.
I've also branched into making wax seals using clay which was surprisingly easy. It totally sold the package.
All this culminated with my group and the Lost Mines of Phandelver: The party met in Neverwinter and received a parchment from a dwarf asking them to make haste to Phandalin and promised gold for the travel. The players were handed an aged letter sealed with the Rockseekers wax seal. What they found out last week is that on that same paper, there was a secret map, drawn in lemon juice. They literally hand to hold the paper over a flame and a map was revealed. It was awesome and months in the making.
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Post by Chickadee (DM Trish) on Apr 11, 2017 20:18:44 GMT
I did something similar by providing 'aged' letters as invites as the start of the campaign, but I'd never thought to use the lemon juice trick - that's brilliant!! My brother and I used to have 'how to be a spy' guides when we were little. I still have the books so I think I may have to dig through for some fun ideas - like using a simple coded message or something like that. |
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Post by DM Exitium on Apr 12, 2017 13:26:45 GMT
Awesome inspiration in here! I work in a lab, so I take styrofoam from shipping waste and when we have plastic lab waste that isn't a biohazard, I sometimes just imagine what it could be used for.... Example: these "Spell Scroll Holders" were once a SYBR green MasterMix tubes for qPCR. Once all the reagent was gone, took the box home, and painted tubes! I now hide these tubes in 3D displays when big combat encounters go down. Attachments:
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Post by Chickadee (DM Trish) on Apr 16, 2017 21:06:25 GMT
Last night I incorporated background music into our session (after listening to episode 61) and WOW, what an insanely positive reaction. My players were so stoked and focused it was unbelievable. I kept it really simple: 1 track for a creepy section, 1 general background track for exploring a goblin base in a ruined castle, 2 for encounters to have a bit of variety, and 1 victory track at the end of each fight (all instrumental - I get distracted by lyrics). I also had one track set aside if a PC died during a fight.
It was much easier than I thought it would be and made a huge difference.
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Post by DM Exitium on Apr 18, 2017 18:22:15 GMT
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Post by Chickadee (DM Trish) on Apr 19, 2017 2:21:15 GMT
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People may not be willing to dress up for a game but who doesn't love a good tankard. You could even fill them with some alcoholic beverages every time your players enter a tavern and order a drink for their characters, or maybe not if you want them to actually leave the tavern occasionally...
