The Book of Props is a guidebook for making live-action roleplaying more immersive for its participants, not only through the use of physical artifacts like costuming, makeup, stage props and set design but also through character-development exercises and stage acting techniques. The book was written for The Masquerade (the LARP that later became Laws of the Night), although much of its guidance could easily be applied to any other LARP.
Summary[]
From the White Wolf catalog:
- Where Time Has No Boundaries...
- Enter the lairs of the Damned. Uncover chambers that have been hidden from mortal view for centuries. Delve into the most foreboding corners of your imagination. Discover tomes, artifacts, and remarkable havens. Or avoid the skulking and immerse yourself in the lights and sounds of your very own nightclub.
- Bring Your Stories into Vivid Reality...
- You can go to all these places and more, without ever leaving your home. The Book of Props will take you there. The Book of Props is a comprehensive how-to for designing everything from sets to costumes to believable characters. This book combines the best of Live-Action and stage theatre, enabling you to bring the World of Darkness alive as it's never been before.
- The Book of Props features:
- Professional tips on costumes, props, and makeup;
- Set design, from simple changes anyone can throw together to elaborate constructions detailed with step-by-step precision; and
- Techniques and tips actors use to get into and maintain a persona.
Contents[]
Introduction[]
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Chapter One: Character Development[]
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Chapter Two: Costuming[]
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Chapter Three: Makeup[]
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Chapter Four: Personal Props[]
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Chapter Five: Sets[]
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Background Information & Trivia[]
- The title of the book is given as "The Props Book" on its spine and nowhere else.
- Sanctioning information for running a Mind's Eye Theatre game at a convention or similar large venue is given on the Credits page by contacting Night Owl Productions' address. Also mentioned is Night Owl Productions becoming an official subsidiary of White Wolf Game Studio.
- Model credits for The Masquerade Second Edition were left out. They are acknowledged in this book: Omar Miller, David Clark, Susie Wiggins and Lee Anne McCullough.
- Ads at the back of the book include: Dark Destiny, The Essence of Dark Fantasy (Von Bek: Jan., Truth Until Paradox: Jan.), The Oblivion (Feb.), Rage Card Game (May 5), and "Shirts, Pins, Books, Attitude."
- The book offers very basic costuming patterns, makeup applications, suggesting props appropriate for the different clans, making fake blood, and stagecraft (sets). One might need additional resources for help, such as: Thurston James (The Mask-Making Handbook and The Theatre Props Handbook), David H. Rigden (The Prop Maker's Workshop Manual), various Costuming/Cosplay books, Special Effects or FX Makeup books, The Stagecraft Handbook by Daniel A. Ionazzi, mass etc.
- The book only discusses the Garou in the Makeup section, Garou Fashion in the Costume section, and the Introduction. There is no discussion of props appropriate for the different tribes nor any chapter on mask making as an alternative to makeup.
Terminology[]
| Previous release | Game Books | Next release |
|---|---|---|
WTA/cMET: The Apocalypse  |
Classic Mind's Eye Theatre books | VTM/cMET: The Masquerade Players Kit
|