Still trying to catch up – day 4: message.
When I run games I do not make props. Sometimes I wish I was as I think the physicality of it, the overall impression would benefit the game. The core of the message would be enhanced with all the possible details on the prop – the material, the styling of the letters, the decorations, the hidden elements …
On a completely different side of things messages between the participants can be hidden notes. When we were younger we used the folded note handed across the table technique often. In recent years I found myself on the other philosophical stance – everything in the open to allow the other players to play into a secret.
In a recent Vampire game I started using the secret notes again. very sparingly. And maybe that is the key to them – keep the secret messages rare and infrequent, and make sure they act as teasers to those not in the know; not blockers.