New Initiative Marker for Pulp Alley

[oabee]

Pulp Alley is a fun game, so as a GameMaster I've always tried to further that fun feeling. I used to use a cheap cast iron bell which marked the player that currently held the Inititative. They were, oh, about 6-8 inches or so tall, and at convention games I'd offer the bell to the winner of the game as a prize. They were nice, but no one ever got excited about them.

I'd be very interested to see what things you Pulp Alley aficionados use for Initiative, if anything. 

Since my 28mm Pulp minis are all Victorian Sci Fi/Steampunkish, whilst searching for such things on eBay I stumbled on the object below that works greatly as an Initiative marker. So while I'm preparing my after-action report for my MichiCon game, I thought I'd share it. Capt. Wolf is shown with his own Mauser for size comparison. The scenario is the Return of Dr Munro, who after his earlier defeat at the hands of our pulp heroes has relocated to a hidden farmhouse in the American south to try Evil Plan Number Two. That temple & altar in the background might have something to do with his mad schemes.....



Mike

[d phipps]

That's a cool one, Mike!

We don't normally use an Initiative marker, unless we have a really big group or new players.

Whenever we use a marker, the player that starts the scenario with the Initiative picks one of the Pulp Alley props we have scattered around -- Colt 1911, Mauser, Life-size skull, Maltese Falcon statue, African statue, and so on.....

I've seen a few players that use old 20's-30's style microphones. Those looked cool too. I'd like to get one. 

[oabee]

I've seen a few players that use old 20's-30's style microphones. Those looked cool too. I'd like to get one. 

I saw one of those in an antique mall, but it cost about $125. 

[FramFramson]

I saw one of those in an antique mall, but it cost about $125. 

I expect the trick would be finding one which is broken but still looks good.

[tin shed gamer]

Now I may be being a little to English here but-Doesn't placing a gun on the table automatically give you the initative and a nervous opposition ?
Or is it a sign that the next fortune card played will be personal?

[oabee]

That's a cool one, Mike!

We don't normally use an Initiative marker, unless we have a really big group or new players.

Whenever we use a marker, the player that starts the scenario with the Initiative picks one of the Pulp Alley props we have scattered around -- Colt 1911, Mauser, Life-size skull, Maltese Falcon statue, African statue, and so on.....

I have found that with my convention games, which are bigger groups (4-6 players) and almost all new players to boot, that a marker does indeed expedite things! I am envious of your prop collection, Mr. Phipps, and vow to start my own. 

I was also very aware that using the Mauser at a public gathering could be touchy, which is why I left the orange tip on it! As to the playing of Fortune Cards and such, new players are already apt to lose focus on the plot points and eagerly engage in personal vendettas against neighboring leagues, regardless of the presence or type of initiative markers! And despite my admonitions when teaching the rules that plot points are the only path to victory!

[YPU]

I think some people use appropriate Hats as initiative markers. I love the notion that the person in the silly hat decides who goes next. Like old school traffic.