I came across a huge education folder of stuff about cholera in glasgow with maps and tenement floorplans, and it just became "a thing"

@shimminbeg @RogerBW @Taskerland

@Printdevil @RogerBW @Taskerland I can see that being an incredible resource, whether you used it directly or for background material more generally.

I've been collecting things like that since the Jackdaw folders in the 1970s. My house is trove of un-run games.

@shimminbeg @RogerBW @Taskerland

I've been contemplating on "the ideal prop/handout" recently because of playing so many mystery/murder box sets and education folder material is almost always good because it is designed by specialists in delivering information in digestible ways. Too often you get people thinking "more is better" in handouts and props and really they aren't worth the time spent on them to the players*

*unless you are showing off. Showing off is good. Especially about Bok

@shimminbeg @RogerBW @Taskerland

One of the things I've come across time and time again (and entirely guilty of myself) is spending time on things like playbills for theatres or concerts, which are just mostly exercises in design and don't provide the players any actual information that you couldn't just tell them. That's table litter. I being a photoshopmonkey am terribly prone to making very artful trash.

@shimminbeg @RogerBW @Taskerland

@Printdevil This discussion makes me want to run a game featuring that 'chimney sweeps fighting monsters' thing from the comic I wrote a few years back. Because I don't have enough un-run games already... @RogerBW @shimminbeg @Taskerland

@Taskerland "First rule of the trade, innit."

"Regular sweeping?"

"No. Always bring shotguns."

@Printdevil @RogerBW @shimminbeg

Isn't that all a bit Nigel Pennick?

@Taskerland @devilsjunkshop @RogerBW @shimminbeg

@Printdevil @RogerBW @Taskerland I agree, but sometimes the joy of the handout itself is enough.

That's something Vazh has discovered, but I think you have to be intelligent in your use of time about these things. I can go down a complete rabbit hole making lovely things that amuse me, but aren't effective use of prep for a game.

Making props for the sake of it is a different kettle of shoggoth though. Like my werewolf box or various other things. Those have no specific game intent.

Generally I work on PC-sheets, Plot, NPC details. Then handouts last.

@shimminbeg @RogerBW @Taskerland

Working on background stuff for yourself, that the players may never need, is prep for GMing with texture.

@Taskerland @shimminbeg @RogerBW