Thrifty Prop Ideas

Here's a quick tip for tabletop roleplaying gamers. A lot of times, GMs will think of a nifty prop idea after coming up with a character concept: "Oh, it'd be awesome if this guy had a black briefcase," for example. But then it can be a pain to track down the exact prop you had in mind (or even something similar).

Instead, why not try the reverse? Go to a thrift store, garage sale, or any other source of cool stuff. See what you can find there that you can turn into a character concept. That 2000s Nokia flip phone? It can be a defining characteristic of an old-fashioned no-nonsense commander who's still barking orders on that bulletproof tech. Once they associate the phone with the character, the players' eyes will light up each time you pull it out and crack it open to detail some new plot point.

Or did you find a "Don't Ask Me About the Last, Best Crab Shack" hat? What kind of character would wear a themed hat like that? What if that's the defining headgear of a wry technician you just made up?

A fake-flower boutonnière, a monocle, or a scuffed coin can all form the basis for a memorable character, if you start with the cool (cheap!) prop and then decide on the NPC.

-- Steven Marsh