Using props
While we provide item cards for all the key items in our murder mystery games, you can create a better atmosphere if you replace the cards with real props.
There’s an obvious practical reason we use item cards instead of physical props in our downloads, but there are other issues with using real props that we will explore here.
Getting props confused
One of the problems with using real props instead of cards is that they can become confused with ‘costume props’ (those that your guests have brought along as part of their costume) and scenery.
For example, a couple of our games include notebooks containing key information as items. If you give your guests notebooks and pencils to take notes, then providing the items as props presents a potential source of confusion.
One way around this is to attach the item card to the appropriate prop, perhaps with a luggage label or sticky tape. That way, it is clear whether something is an in-game item or part of someone’s costume.
Props best left as cards
Some items you might not want to re-create as props.
Some people are phobic of spiders and snakes, so think twice about creating props for those if the game has them. (And one or two do!)
Bulky props
Real props can be awkward to carry around, especially if they are bulky and heavy.
Items in our games include various boxes, a record collection, a staff, a roll of material… We wouldn’t want to spend the entire game carrying them around.
While we don’t mind burdening characters with all this stuff, we’re more considerate about burdening our players.
Spiders in a bottle – perhaps not an ideal prop
Concealing props
Unlike many props, item cards are easy to conceal, meaning you can keep something hidden that you don’t want others to know about.
Most items in our games start concealed, so you may need to provide character-appropriate luggage for your guests.
You might want larger items (such as weapons, such as swords) to always be displayed if they are being carried.
We haven’t included that in our games because we don’t believe it adds anything significant, but we’re happy if you would like to implement this idea. (One approach would be to display such items with a character’s name badge.)
Props our customers have created
