Prop based Campaigns

[Shawn Merrow]

Sounds like a fun way to start a campaign.

[J. Lionheart]

I do prop-based games from time to time, though to this point it has primarily been BTS2 that I do it with. BTS2 is a great setting for that, as the material is out there all the time, on CNN, in magazines and Newspapers, and on TV. All you need is to come up with the supernatural backstory that links the real life occurences, and voila - the players have all the data they need! Of course, you as GM need to be on your toes, watching and reading the news for updates to the stories you're using, but it works well. Combine with some reference books, marked maps (I've done that one, too ), perhaps a book-safe with a hidden key, and you're on your way.

DR is a little bit more of a challenge if you want to use real-world media, as stories about zombies attacking are a bit harder to come by, but if you're creative, you can do it. I posted on these boards a while back when the whole Swine Flu scare was just starting, pointing out how it perfectly matches most of the Zombie Survival Handbook's telltale warning signs for zombie outbreaks. Also, you can find stuff online related to pranks people have pulled (roadsigns that say "Caution, zombies ahead!" for example), and can pull footage and articles related to Detroit Zombie Walk or the Zombie Squad group as well.

If you're simply making up your own news stories and such, then heck yeah, that's easy as pie, and a great way to start the game. My players love it when I give them some material props to toy with, and I think most others would too. A news article in the hand is worth an hour of exposition, and physical props lead to creativity as the players reflect on the possible uses of items they hold.

[Sir Blayse]

H1N1 is the start of a Zombie Outbreak. You better make sure you have all your survival gear ready and your survivor group prepared and ready to move.

I love the idea, props are usually pretty good. In Rifts for a New West adventure we actually played a few games of poker with real cards, since there really aren't any rules for how to handle poker.

[Wōdwulf Seaxaning]

Haven't done it yet but my GM did so in his playtest game a lil' while ago. It was fun. I could see using a atlas or diary..reminds me of what happened in Resident Evil : Extinction.