You can still have props in your game even if you’re not playing face-to-face. In this post, I`ll supply some ideas and mention some resources you can use to add that element of realism to your online game sessions.

I’ve never had the pleasure of DM`ing a face-to-face session. Without a doubt, its something I’d -love- to do. While I don’t consider myself a “theatrical” person, I’ve always been interested in the concept of using physical props that I can hand out/pass around to my players. Remember, since my campaign is online, played using Gametable and Teamspeak, things need to be modified a tad. I introduce to you, Virtual Props.

Just because you’re not sitting next to your PCs doesn’t mean you can’t pass them some props. Don’t tell them what the Crooked Oak Tavern is serving for dinner. -Show- them.

A simple way to distribute this to your players is to throw it up on Imageshack and post the link in the Gametable chat window. Personally, I have a Linux box I salvaged from a dumpster (Woo!) that hosts my website rather nicely. I just stick the images up on there before I’m about to use them and send the link to my PCs. To find images like this, open up Google Image Search and start the hunt. “Old paper”, “scroll”, “parchment”, and other related terms will yield some results you may be able to use. Once you have the picture, open it in your favorite image editor (MS Paint, GIMP, and so on) and add your desired text. Here’s a link to the blank version of this scroll.

Or maybe your PCs see a note posted on the town bulletin board warning of bandits patrolling the roads. Make one!

Link to blank version

My PCs were in a forest when they came across this sign.

I left it up to the PCs to examine the sign and ask questions accordingly. They determined that it was pointing to the right and that the text scratched on it was unreadable by any of them. One also noticed that it appeared as if some text was removed from the sign before the current text was placed on it. (Yay smudge tool).

In the same forest, the party arrived at a well with an old bucket dangling from a weathered bit of rope. On it, was an old inscription that after years exposed to the elements, was hard to read.

Kinda hard to read? Good! It adds a bit of realism when you describe the inscription as hard to read and then the PCs actually -do- find it difficult. It was great to hear them (remember.. Teamspeak) work as a group to decipher the writing.

Last one. I wanted some of the bandits harassing the roads to have a common insignia found on some part of their apparel. Something to tie them together from one group to another. Personally, I’m no artist and decided to ask a friend who was for a little assistance. After telling her what I was after, she asked “What should I base the insignia off of?” … Hmm. “Uh.. How about the symbol for the Euro”. 10 minutes later, she IM`ed me with this.

Perfect!! Now I was able to show my PCs what this symbol looked like instead of just describing it.

So, even though you’re not playing face to face, you can still add this level of realism to your games by only adding a little extra prep time. Your PCs will appreciate it!

If you’ve used any virtual props in your sessions or would like to share some ideas of your own on the subject, please comment!