Evil DM TricksTM
Theater and Props
Aging documents
Wiltrix
I soaked a regular piece of paper in tea, then I put in a frying pan in the oven. The tea dries irregularly on paper and the heat gives it a ripple effect. I also sprinkle some corn oil then crumple it up. It gives it a wax and preserved feel.
gonzoron
Wiltrix's method is what I use. Haven't tried the corn oil, though. Brew the tea nice and strong. Burning the edges carefully with matches is good too. Do NOT experiment with Soy Sauce. It gave a great look, and neat leathery feel, but a year and a half later, it STILL smells like soy sauce.
Dave Rivera
A good way to add a seal to a parchment note or envelope is to pour a bit of candle wax (red looks the best) on the parchment where the signature would go. Pour enough to cover a large coin, like a quarter. Then press something that will leave an interesting imprint. Coins, cufflings, pendants, jewellery, you name it. This works best if you wait for the wax to dry a bit first, or else it might stick. It will make an imprint and look like a signet ring. It’s harder to get an envelope to stick, so you may have to increase the amount of wax used.
Cold hands
Stu of the Kargatane
In his campaign, Stu once used an interesting ‘cold hands’ trick. His players were to meet a vampire, but then the players did not know the undead nature of the NPC. Behind his DM screens, he secretly clutched an ice pack, to make his hands ice cold. Then he rose from his DM seat and actually shook hands with all the players when they met the NPC, evil smile at their surprise …
Haunted Alleyway
Wiccy of the Fraternity
I first used this gimmick during an online game, but found it to much fun to leave it alone. The party rogue was attempting to sneak down a darkened alley to reach the rear of a building. To simulate the darkness I turned off the lights and lit several candles to allow play. While they were discussing their plans I pulled out a telescopic pointer and pulled it out to full length. The rogue was roughly half way down the alley when I told him that he could feel something brushing against his leg, at this moment I birched his leg with the pointer. Since he was opposite from me he naturally blamed the innocent player sitting next to him. Later I let them in on the secret, once the session was over at least.
Pictures and Drawings
gonzoron
A picture is worth 1000 words... The Ravenloft books are full of pictures. Why hog them for yourself? I copy and display the pictures of most major NPC's, and some landscapes and locations to get the feel across. It helps the players keep everyone straight, and allows you to save time in description for important things. Why describe the woman's hairstyle, face and clothes when you can be conveying her movements and the feelings she projects?
Props and Dramatics
Wiccy of the Fraternity
If you have trouble getting things across in a certain scene, have yourself and the group play it out theatrically. Move the table aside if necessary and get some room for the short dramatization. Props are useful, a long stick could be a sword, but toy ones are great, real are even better if you can get your hands on them and trust they can be used safely. If a person is going to have their throat cut, a little fake blood, a blunt knife and a little squeezy to push the blood out is a fantastic way of doing things. Nothing helps set the mood than a little bit of dramatics and the promise of some extra experience should be enough to get the players to go along.
Real Life Dramatic Actions
Wiccy of the Fraternity
Some proper character acting and dramatics also helps, have the players act out their motions as a drama group would. I have done this several times and it really helps the players get into things when just a narrative or singular character acting wouldn't do the job. For example, I had a group tracking down a serial killer only to have the killer panic and jump at them. One of the party members was caught off guard, pushed to the ground and had a knife placed at their throat. The players didn't seem too threatened so I had them take the positions in the garden while I kneeled over the character that had fallen with a ruler pressed to their throat (didn't think it was safe to use an actual knife). From there on, things changed as the players realised that by the time they could reach their friend he would be dead. A new sense of mortality comes over players who can see things in the right perspective, something miniatures cannot do but the group can physically.
Volume of Your Voice
LicheHazel
When action gets heated, take the volume from your voice, speak softly and watch, people will literally sit on the edge of their seats. Always a good piece of Advice that one.
Water Splash
hida_jiremi
Something that I did only once but got quite positive response from most of the group was the squirt bottle trick. The characters were tracking a monster that they had determined to kill its prey by means of acidic spit and were closing in on it. As the PCs entered a dark tomb in pursuit, I had them briefly turn the lights off, and at my cue turn them back on. As the lights came back up, I quickly produced a squirt bottle full of warm water and sprayed the nearest player. A mild shriek was produced, along with the rest of the group's applause. I wouldn't recommend doing this too often, but as a dirty trick it works well.
To contribute to the Evil DM Trick, send your ideas to Joel@fraternityofshadows.com