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This page provides an overview of both accepted appearance and construction methods for a variety of props at game.

Prop Caveats[]

To reitterate, from the Core Rulebook:

"Weapons and packets must be checked at each and every event where they might be used. You are responsible for the safety of any prop you swing or throw in combat, so you should check them yourself during the course of an event. Every player, both PC and NPC, is responsible for bringing their own weapons and packets... [Staff] reserve the right to fail any weapon or packet [deemed] unsafe. It is not uncommon for weapons to fail or break, so you should try to bring a backup weapon and materials to repair your props."

Typical Materials[]

The following materials (in various combinations) are typically used to build game props - particularly weapons - from:

Material Type Weapon Type Other Notes
PVC 3/4" schedule 20 One-handed weapons thin wall pipe, avoid schedule 40
PVC 1/2” schedule 20 One-handed up to 36" not safe for longer weapons!
CPVC 3/4" schedule 20 One-handed weapons up to 42", bows thin wall pipe, avoid schedule 40! Bend for bows using heat
Galvanized aluminum pipe 7/8" Two-handed weapons Used only to re-enforce CPVC in two-handed weapons. CPVC fits snugly inside it - the end that hits others should be the CPVC. Use adhesive like Plumber's Goop or lots of strapping tape wrapped around the seam (or a combo of both) to join them. For staves, the CPVC goes on both ends with the aluminum in the middle.
Kite pole .505 Ultralight One-handed weapons Known vendor: "Into the Wind" part # 4409, insufficient for two-handed weapons.
Kite pole .610 Ultralight Two-handed weapons Known vendor: "Into the Wind", more expensive but required for two-handed weapon lengths.
Pipe Insulation Foam 5/8" Most weapon padding Traditionally available at McMaster-Carr under "polyethylene pip insulation". See foam chart below
Duct Tape Various Taping & strapping weapons Colors of tape have significance to gameplay! See color. Excessive layers can make weapon too heavy/rigid.
Kite Tape Various Taping & strapping weapons Colors of tape have significance to gameplay! See color. Considered "lighter" taping option, but sloppy taping susceptible to wet weather.
Cloth Various Weapon cover Used to give a finished look, optional. Colors have significance to gameplay! See color
Latex Coating[verification needed] Various Weapon cover Used to give a finished look, optional. Colors have significance to gameplay! See color

The following pipe insulation foam types from McMaster-Carr work well with the following cores as follows:

Core Part # Style
Ultralight .410 4530K161 Unslit
Ultralight .505 4530K161 Unslit
Ultralight .610 4530K162 Unslit
Ultralight .750 4530K163 Unslit
3/4" CPVC 4530K163 Unslit
3/4" PVC 4530K163 Unslit
1" PVC 4530K165 Unslit
7/8" Aluminum 4530K165 Unslit
Shield Edges 4734K151 Slit

Weapon Prop Colors[]

The overall color of the weapon indicates what material it is said to be made from, since we obviously can't have people hitting each other with real crystal or stone or what have you. Below are the most basic categories of color for weapons for the weapon and its Striking Surface:

Color Represents
Black Metal, Wood
Brown Wood
Red Claws
Grey/Silver Metal
White Bone
Blue with white diamonds Crystal
White with Blue Diamonds Crystal
Green Unarmed /hand-to-hand attacks

How To Build Props[]

For more information on creating combat-safe weapon props, see the Boffer page.

For information on how to create spell-casting packets/aura, see the entry below under Packet.

How one builds a non-weapon prop is going to wildly vary. The following sites contain advice for building props:

  • Istamira's Quill - Focuses on new player help & in-game journals, but does have entries regarding prop construction

The following sites contain advice for creating leather props:

  • Xeph Ink - Merchant site, but offers costuming/prop advice in blog sections (direct link is to the Leather guide).

Types of Weapons[]

Packet Construction[]

Rulebook Entry[]

Packets are small bean bags that are thrown to represent magical attacks or special powers. They should be made of stretchable fabric and filled with birdseed. You should use only small birdseed with no larger or sharper seeds. A square of fabric is pulled around the birdseed and its corners are gathered together to form a “tail” and closed up with strapping tape. You may also sew a packet shut. Sealing the packet with rubber bands or other types of tape will be allowed on a case by case basis, and the packet should have give in any case. Packets with any other material inside will not be allowed. The head of the packet should be between 1 and 1.5 inches in diameter, and the tail behind the tape should not be longer than 3 inches. The fabric must be stretchable and cannot be pulled so tight that it no longer has give. You should be able to squeeze the center of the packet and almost touch your fingers together.

Tips[]

  • When shopping for fabric, select "knit" fabrics and not "woven" fabrics. Woven fabrics do not stretch enough and are too stiff to make good packets. A perfect example of a knit fabric is t-shirt fabric. If you're not sure, ask for help and typically fabric store employees can point you in the right direction.
    • Woven fabrics only like to stretch in one direction. Knit fabrics are stretchy no matter which direction you tug at them from!
  • Two scoops or so of bird seed from the cap of a soda bottle is usually plenty to fill a packet with.
  • It is okay to use a rubber band to close the packet so long as the rubber band is not excessive. Try to find smaller sized rubber bands but not tiny ones - if the packet is pulled too tight, it will become too hard to use safely!
  • Black or brown hair ties can also be suitable as long as they have no metal in them.

Missile Construction[]

The core rules detail an exotic method of creating Missile weapons, but observation indicates that archers and other missile weapon users can just go ahead and use Packets. You still need a valid prop to represent your firing mechanism (e.g. bow, crossbow, etc). For packets, see details in the section above, and for firing mechanisms, see the Other Props section below.

Throwing Weapon Construction[]

These weapons represent daggers, darts, and javelins.

  • Must be at least 2” in length
  • Larger thrown weapons, such as javelins, are allowed if the game staff deems them safe.
    • Larger thrown weapons may be weighted with birdseed, but at least 5/8” of foam must be between the birdseed and the surface.
  • Note that throwing weapons do not require a "core" pipe
Weapon Lengths Minimum Length Maximum
Dagger 4” 12”
Dart 2” 12”
Javelin 8” 36”

Melee Construction[]

There are MANY types of melee weapons! So many it would break the seams of reality to try and fit all the information regarding them into this page alone. For the full entry, see the Melee Weapon Construction page

Other Props[]

Firing Mechanisms[]

Overview[]

Any attack that uses "ammunition". Typically: bows, crossbows, and firarms of any time period. Always verify with your campaign which weapons are permitted/prohibited for the setting (e.g. not all fantasy games allow crossbows, some fantasy games allow certain gun types, some futuristic games may not allow bows, etc).

Weapon Lengths Minimum Length Maximum
Bow 36” 48”
Crossbow (body length) 18” 36”
Crossbow (bow width) 18” 24”
Non-packet Bolts 2” 8”
Non-packet Arrows 2” 8”

Bows[]

These weapons use thrown type projectiles and a prop for the bow made from padded PVC. If using prop arrows rather than packets, arrows can be round, open cell foam and tape projectiles with an 8” streamer.

  • You must draw the arrow prop or packet, touch it to the bow, and draw it back to your ear. You may then throw it to represent the arrow.
  • Always roleplay drawing back your arrow, and it is appropriate to make a "fftt" style noise with your mouth to further indicate that you've shot an arrow (so that you are not misconstrued as casting a spell).
  • In many cases being attacked with a melee weapon interrupts your archery attempts, as it "causes your bow to become unstrung". You typically need to roleplay restringing your bow to resume shooting arrows.

Crossbows[]

These weapons use thrown type projectiles and a prop for the crossbow made from padded PVC. If using a bolt prop rather than a packet, the bolts are round, open cell foam and tape projectiles with an 8” streamer.

  • You must draw the bolt prop, touch it to the crossbow, and draw it back to your ear. You may then throw it to represent the bolt.
  • NERF type crossbows are allowed if they meet the size requirements and the crossbow and bolts are painted so they are not brightly colored.

Firearms / Guns[]

Coming soon

Armor[]

Armor props are worn on the body, and the material they are made from indicates the level of armor points they provide to your character.

  • Light armor includes light suede, thin leather, and furs.
  • Medium armor includes rigid leather, and chain mail.
  • Heavy armor includes scale mail, plate mail, or chain mail reinforced with rigid leather or plate pieces in at least two areas.
    • If you wear chain mail reinforced with rigid leather or plate pieces those pieces must be clearly visible to count as heavy armor.

Remember that the valid coverage areas for armor are:

  • Head
  • Upper Torso
  • Lower Torso
  • Shoulders
  • Arms
  • Legs
  • A "full suit of armor" must cover 4 of the above areas

It is possible to purchase metal armors from commercial retailers, and you may also make it by hand if you are skilled in such things. Ensure that your metal armor is relatively safe for you and other players (e.g. you proooobably don't want rows of big razor sharp spikes and blades sticking off of your armor).


Shackles[]

Shackles are a prop that imitates the binding of wrists or legs of a character, but must be loose enough to remain comfortable and - for safety - the player must be able to easily remove the prop if an out of game need arises. A prop placed on the ankles must be constructed to allow the player to stand and walk slowly.

A shackle prop can be constructed from foam, plastic, or other soft/safe materials as long as the prop emulates the look and feel (but not the full functionality) of metal shackles[verification needed].

Shaman Circles[]

A Shaman Circle for Circle Of Bones or Circle Of Vengeance can be made from a variety of materials. The bones themselves can be made from any of the following so long as they retain the look of actual bones:

  • Plastic
  • Foam
  • Styrofoam
  • Papier-mâché
  • Sculpting clay or other non-toxic sculpting materials
  • Real bones may be used if they have been properly sterilized/sanitized and they do not have sharp or jagged edges

There are no size requirements on how big or small the bones may be so long as they help to form a circle of five feet in diameter.

Other props maybe included as part of the Circle. For more information, see entry under Circle Of Bones or Circle Of Vengeance

Arcane Sanctums[]

Coming soon!

Forges[]

Coming Soon!

Other[]

Coming Soon!

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