Amazing DnD Props for under $3
I’m having my first face to face D&D session this weekend and will be entertaining mostly new D&D players or players who have only played online with me and not in person. I wanted to make the event special…memorable, really get these new guys hooked.
Props are something I’ve always wanted to include in my sessions but playing online only can make that hard so I’ve decided to have props wherever possible and to keep this cheap but entertaining.
Behold the wares! (fine.. -I- called them amazing)
Two healing potions: $1.19 per vial at AC Moore Craft Store, Fruit Punch flavored Crystal Light drink mix.
Tunic scrap from cultist of Bane: $0.70 for the fabric in Wal*Mart’s reminant bin, $1.54 for the red fabric paint, $0.35 for the foam brush (Check hardware for the brush, not crafts)
Pouch of gold coins. $6.50 for all the gold foil wrapped chocolate coins. $0.50 for a yard of black toole mesh, $0.30 for the spool of gold ribbon. (comes to $1.50 each pouch)
Map back to the baddie’s hideout. Cost of printer ink/white paper. Parchment design was from the D&D Map-A-Day archives and drawn by my artistic friend Jordan Cain of o3visuals.
After the session, I’ll report back on how the party liked the props..and if any chocolate coins were left when it was time to pay the ferryman to use his boat 
I’m going to guess that none of the coins are going to be left. Hell, I’m sure the party rouge is going to “steal” them early on and consume them
Very cool. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a column about employing props in tabletop gaming and got some really good responses, but a common thread was “I like the idea but it’s a lot of work and can go unappreciated”. Having cheap, easy, and evocative ideas like these can really help mitigate the laziness factor.
Great article!
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Good luck! Those all sound like fun ideas.
My problem is I can’t keep it up. Sure, an hour to put together props isn’t much. But when you have to do it every week, it quickly adds up.
Playing online, like I normally do, I really don’t have to worry about props. That’s one nice thing about it.