Prop ideas

See Prop suppliers for detailed advice on specific suppliers.

This is a page to list common props and their uses (like ribbons), and items which are less well known but could prove useful in putting together a game (such as toys and technical gimmicks like UV pens).

Ancient scrolls

To make a passable 'ancient' or 'antique' document, just burn/fold/tear the edges a bit, then wipe a used teabag over it and pop it into the oven at 50-100°C until dry. Do any tearing first to avoid tell-tale white edges.

Beads

If you want to have people trade some kind of token, beads are fiddly and bounce away if dropped. Use poker chips instead.

Cards

If your game requires cards, the easy way to make them is to print stickers and then stick them onto a normal deck of playing cards. Avery Template L7160 address labels (64mmx38mm) are a good size - you can buy 525 stickers for about £7 ($10USD).

Hats

If you're trying to establish the moderator as some sort of authority figure, you can't really go wrong with a good hat.

Beret = artist/secret agent, bowler = businessman, top hat = toff...

Magic pens

UV pens have ink which is only visible under UV light. They are probably available free from your local law enforcers (for marking your property to aid recovery if it is stolen). You can get UV or 'blacklight' lightbulbs, torches (used for examining stamps or currency), and LED keyring dealies - these are available at electronics/hobby stores.

Secret agent pens are toy sets of two pens, one which writes invisibly, and one which makes the writing from the first pen visible when you scribble over the invisible message. Usefully, the ink in the invisible pen may also be revealed under UV light.

Also see lemon juice secret writing.

Mobile phones

Very basic pre-pay mobile phones are surprisingly cheap nowadays - you can pick them up for £20, or even less with a mandatory credit top-up. Smaller, dodgier stores will sell you unlocked handsets so you can replace the SIM.

Trying to save money by buying a second-hand mobile can be more trouble than it's worth.

Monopoly money

Makes an inexpensive substitute for real money.

Ribbons

Looped ribbons are a cheap and easy way to denote teams, or to help players recognise one another. If you're running multiple iterations of a game, make sure to use different colours for each round, as some of the earlier players might still be lounging around wearing ribbons.

Voice changers

There are voice changer toys shaped like loudhailers which both amplify and change your voice to give a Dalek/alien type effect (some of them offer a variety of effects).

You can also get smaller voice changers designed to be held over a telephone mouthpiece.