Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi,
i just wanted to ask what kind of props you use when you run (do you say run in english? in german you say "meistern = master" (like "to master a game")) a game.
Most of the other guys in my group who run (ill go with run for this post ) games go either without props, and one of them goes with "maps" (either with props from the 40k game or with the doom-bordgame map) from time to time (for example when storming a building or something).
I for example like using props like (selfmade) maps they can use (HUD-style ), preparing "Data files" (well..i just take a random circuit board layout and lay text over it ^^) and stuff like that. But i dont like to use models and terrain. I like describing everything in detail and stuff, but i saw a picture by H.B.M.C. in another thread with some big maps and models on them.

So, how do you do it? : )

'Run' would be the correct word in this context.


We do just about everything with models, but I still read out descriptions. It's one thing to say "You're in a cave - see? Look at the tiles! Cave!". It's another to describe the cave in a bit more detail, tell them not just what they see (which may be obvious) but also what they can hear, what they can feel, smell and even if it's cold or warm or whatever. It adds atmosphere.

But we're 40K players first, so we have massively stupid model collections and we like to do things visually using those large model collections.

Yeah, we use models too. It tends to make complicated combat situations easier to keep in mind, and it's nice to have a representative of your character to paint up. Apart from that, generally speaking just tiles or a hex mat. If I'm feeling generous I might put together some kind of handout, but I'm generally too lazy to do so.

I've made a few handouts. Generally they're printed logs of journal entries or data-logs from computers listing various important or cryptic bits of information.

I do have one handout that my players will be getting in the next session - an old crumpled piece of paper with a report of enemy convoys. It's just a piece of paper that a friend of mine's wife stained with tea to make it look all old. I then printed all the information on it, then scrunched up the piece of paper, tore away at bits of it, scrunched it up some more, then folded it heavily in a few places and I've had it jammed between two boxes for a couple of months. Should look nice and dishevelled when they finally get it.

I love making props for RPGs, but doing so is one reason I don't run a game at the moment. For a while, when running Deadlands I think I was spending 10-20 hours a week doing prep.

I dunno, i just feels like a bit of a buzzkill when they see/ Know what comes next all the time, and i think im too lazy to add terrain everytime they round a corner xD
Also im not really sure how to show some of the spaces they are in in the right scale if they use 40k models for themselves. For example in our last adventure they entered a "cargo storage" on a ship that got lost before the HH filled with baneblades, landraiders and an imperator titan. That thing was HUGE. I think for the right scale, even the room we were playing in mightve been too small xD (length, not height )

But i usually have my maps where i can mark theyr positions : )

The group I'm with only uses models for combat, the rest is done through handouts and the power of imagination(tm). Though when we're in planning mode we bust out the BFG minis to map out possible strategies and plans of attack.

We distribute real beer.

Yes, props are usually a good addition to a game so long as it follows the rule that real weapons are not to be used.