All the World's a Stage, Setting the Location of the Game

When people are talking about the games they play, either as a player or a game master (GM), they talk about the in game events. But remember the events happening outside of the game influence the game tremendously. There are things that can be done to help bring everyone more into the game being played. I've heard people talk about what can be done during game play, I have even written on that subject, but how about taking a broader view?

How you prepare the gaming area can make a difference in how the game goes. There are a lot of fun things the host, or the GM, of the session can do to help create a mood for a game. Here are some ideas on how to enhance a game by staging some things before the session. I'm not looking at ways of spending a lot of money on new little toys and gadgets. Instead, I am working on the premise of some quick and easy things you can do to help get things going in the right direction for your gaming session.

Many people have dedicated gaming rooms where they play. The rooms are decorated with collectables, artwork, figurines, books, assorted side tables, etc. the group has become comfortable in the gaming room because they know where everything is at—the Mountain Dew is in the mini-fridge and the Cheetos are on the shelf to the right. Other gamers use the dining room table, kitchen table, or the piece of plywood balanced between the sawhorses. I have game in all of these settings and they all work. So what can you do to change it up to make the session a little more memorable?

I know most players don't want to use a tablecloth, but adding some strange cloth to the table can set a different mood. A spread or a runner that matches to the style of the game can set an immediate change of the mood for the players just by seeing it.

Walking into John's apartment you know this is the session the group is facing off against the evil priest, but the day at work left you still thinking about the unfilled order you have to deal with tomorrow. Then you see the "gaming table." There is a red tablecloth with a couple of candles placed in the middle. Next to the candle is an old knife sitting next to a small cutting board with a raw piece of meat. The thoughts of the day quickly shift from what was to what is going on now.

 

All of this can be cleared away before the actual gaming begins, but in a simple gesture the mood for the game has been set by a quick visual reference. This can be done multiple ways by changing what is set on the table. If you want to get even cleverer with what you are doing, the pregame setup could provide clues to what is going to happen. After doing this a couple of times you might even get people interested in showing up by a certain time so they can explore the setting before it is taken down for the game.

Instead of giving everyone the same thing you can also provide players with specifics for them and their character. The first thought people think of is the note the GM gives out before starting, but I saw this done a little differently in a mystery game that changed the evening up. The table had a bag for each player with their name, and their character's name. Inside the bag was an item along with a note to give that player a specific clue about the adventure. As the players we were informed we could not discuss our item until given permission at some point later in the game. When the time came the player was allowed to show their item, but not the note (nor read aloud from it) and we could provide whatever information we felt worthy of sharing.

At another game I showed up and the GM who was hosting had cleared the gaming room of the table and chairs. We immediately offered to help get the table and chairs so we could set up, but were informed that because the party had been travelling and spending the nights in the wilderness, we were gaming on the floor because it was our campsite. In those younger days that was not a problem, now with getting older along with most of my group, I don't think we will be doing this one. But, it might be a way of starting out the evening to get people thinking about what is going on, then break out the table and chairs. You could also probably come up with something to just leave the chairs put a way for a while and have people standing around the table.

During game play you can use other things to set the proper mood. My wife, in a moment of clarity, decided she was willing to try playing Aces and Eights because it was based more in reality than most setting we play. As part of the preparation for the game we bought several nerf pistols and extra ammo. The guns were hidden around the room so when the big finale broke out me, as the GM, and her were able to draw out the hidden weapons and shoot the other players.

People, in general, think in visuals. If you say horse, people don't usually think of the word, they visualize the animal. And there is a reason it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. But, using a visual display to develop a setting can create more than just the visual by itself. You can use the setting on the table or in the room to create a mood that goes deeper than what is seen. The technique is used all the time in theater and in movies. Many times they use it as a form of visual foreshadowing.

I know others have used other visual setups to create a unique gaming experience. I would enjoy hearing about them because new ideas are great fuel for the imagination.

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