Once again, it’s time for everyone between the ages of five and eighteen to get ready to go back to school. It’s also time to stock up on gaming supplies, thanks to the back to school sales and tax-free weekends across the country.
(If you’re not stateside, my apologies at pointing out this annual semi-event. We’ll get back to our regularly scheduled innuendos, GMing advice, and Halfling jokes shortly.)
Even if your state is not on the list linked above, take a moment or two and scan the local ads for back to school specials. Many stores will have ‘loss leaders’ to draw in the customers. I’ve seen notebooks for a nickel, and lined paper for pennies.
Some common school supplies that are also great for gaming: pencils, map colors, dry-erase markers, notebooks, index cards, graph paper, boxes for pencils (or dice, minis, whatever), folders, binders, and the all-powerful Trapper Keeper.
Got any other sources for cheap gaming materials (besides stealing from the office stash)? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
My office manager continues to benefit my gaming by ordering the wrong size of things. It shall be many a moon before I go wanting for 5×8 index cards ( my preferred size for game prep ). She should’ve ordered 4×6…
It’s been said before but craft stores offer inexpensive and very customizable options for storing gaming gear. I also find inspiration/props for gaming in home decor nic-nacs which can be had on the cheap @ thrift and dollar stores.
I used to work at Pier One and all the myriad of candle holders gave me great ideas for fantasy temples. YMMV.
Candle holders as inspiration for temples? Genius!
It’s back to school time in the UK too. With all the offers, maybe it would be the right time to think about picking up those items you wouldn’t normally consider.
Quite a few of them had faux antique gold or faux patinated copper/bronze finish. Some were even shaped like pyramids or ziggurats. Add to that a terracotta vase filled with wrought iron lilies and a shallow basin filled with chipped quarts and faux gold nuggets; it all just sort of screams “ancient altar in the forbidden tomb”.
Great article and I am glad Stubleupon brought me here. WOW!
My Alma Mater had a shelf outside the psychology department labeled “free.” Thanks to that I have enough binders to organize all my notes for the foreseeable future. The thing I need is something to store Note Cards in. Anyone got any suggestions?
Half size binders with pocketed folders work great and can hold up to 5×8 cards. They also make 5×8 sized graph paper. I got mine @ staples.