Author: Tim Emrick (---.132.115)
Date: 05-07-2002 14:03
Wow, I'm feeling some real colonial "tangible history" envy...Boston, Mass., is even less convenient to Egypt than York, England, is. ;-)
I can *almost* replicate your Aztec idol bad example. I had a GM once who, after we had defeated some people who came through a dimensional portal and searched the bodies, handed us a small bottle. "This is what you find. Yes, it looks just like this." It was a 6" tall bottle of Kahlua, labels intact. I guess he thought it would look alien to our PCs; it didn't to *us*.
Thankfully, I have good drawing skills, and can usually do better. ;-) In my games, I frequently prepare maps and sketches of landscapes, characters, and artifacts to show my players during play. Examples from my recent GURPS fantasy campaign:
http://www.geocities.com/thastygliax/arc/artwork.html
While I enjoy the "wow, cool drawing, Tim" reactions, the real payoff is when you present them with a picture, and watch their expressions change as they work out the implications for themselves. Much more satifying than (for example) just *telling* them that the Emperor's royal sword bears the holy symbols of all six orders of the Celestian Church, including that of the peace goddess.
Keep the good stuff coming, Mithras! I must get out to the Museum of Fine Arts again soon (sketchbook in hand), and soak up more inspiration for my own Egypt game...
Tim Emrick
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