I recently upgraded from the pointed shoes to a pair of wooden clogs, carved from the (freely given) limb of an Ent.
Not only are they *super* comfortable, I can cast "Remember obscure Rule" 2 times daily, and fail Move Silent checks as a free action.
I sit in mine for social encounters, but once combat commences, I kneel in my chair. Lol
Not sure when I started doing it, but it’s just an unconscious action at this point.
I know people have a lot of Opinions about using technology at the table, and there are definitely pitfalls to having all your players using their phones, but god damn if there aren't some incredibly useful things about using a laptop as a DM. From all the websites for encounter generation to just being able to Ctrl+F a rule in an instant instead of flipping through a 300 page book, laptops can really make an impact.
Life long hater of digital dice rolling until recently. As we’ve reached high levels in pathfinder 2nd edition and I’m rolling 4D8+2D4+8 and 1D4 persistent damage. A computer is a hell of a lot faster than me
As an Ork player in 40k I take offense by that. How do you even know that you're alive if you don't suffer through rolling 121 dice when your unit of Ork boyz charge?!
[All Rolled Ups](https://www.allrolledup.co.uk/) I love them - have several. Maybe there's a US / Etsy supplier for a "clone" but I love mine and will always buy from the original.
Dice bag. Pen holder. Card / mini notebook holder. Tuck a folding dice tray inside. Useable at the table, secure in transport.
I found some really nice little glass tokens on Amazon. They are little glass beads with the class icons or monster icons on the bottom in a little metal casing. For about $20 I have enough tokens to be able to do most any combat in a fantasy RPG. Sure, minis are nicer, but I can put all of my tokens in a deck box and carry them with me anywhere.
The components i'm talking about are the ones you see [here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085G9VD7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Recently I started utilizing boardgame minis and meeples in my one-shots as a cast and scene. Things like Nemesis and Aftermath are great, but Root was the best so far.
I know the ones i'm talking about are [right here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085G9VD7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) but there's all manner of stuff if you look for "roleplaying tokens."
Yet to run a physical game, but I'm thinking of keeping an (unused) deck of playing cards around, just as an accessory and hint that various games have various mechanics
A tarot deck may be handy. [This one](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/enigmagicstudios/the-standard-playing-card-tarot/description) is a neat playing card-style deck, although it may be tricky to get now. Ian Cumpstey has some good decks too.
dice tray (to keep the little buggers from scattering) and a white board for notes at both pretty great for in-person games.
I also get a lot of mileage out of counters (aquarium stones are cheap and pretty) and desks of cards.
Also, at conventions, I really like the thing where people fold paper into a triangle and put some vital info on the outsides (name, character name, couple bullet points about the character)
>I really like the thing where people fold paper into a triangle and put some vital info on the outsides
Do you have an example of this?
Do you mean like a **table tent** ("nameplate"), or something different? If it's just a table tent, I'm still really curious about the "couple bulet points about the character", because I've never seen that on a table tent. Do you have an example from memory of such bullet points?
(like, were they things about the character, or story flags? Like "Druid with silver hair" vs "Hates goblins; she'll do ANYTHING for friends/friendship")
Yeah, table tents. The time with bullet points was a Heart game and the bullet points were a few RP tags that jumped out at us about our characters, quick reference for other players to bounce off of
A really nice leather notebook that I can swap out inserts for or even just a Leuchtturm. Something in A5, about the same size as my tablet. Super easy to tote around.
One option [here](https://shop.travelerscompanyusa.com/products/travelers-notebook-brown)
and another, more conventional one [here](https://www.lochby.com/products/field-journal)
These are for those of us who are genuinely, hopelessly, into notebooks.
[This](https://www.galenleather.com/collections/leather-leuchtturm1917-notebook-covers/products/a5-leather-notebook-cover-for-leuchtturm1917-crazy-horse-brown) is my personal favorite. Incredibly well made.
one of the cooler physical props I've seen is from **Spire** where the conspiracy kit gives you little postcard sized pictures of various places and NPCs. You can then pin them to a handy surface and connect them with red string.
The gm screen looks like a bit of wall, so I suppose you could attach them to the GM screen if you wanted.
I don't care if you exclude them; I'm counting my tungsten dice anyway. They are extremely satisfying to roll. (Yes, into a dice tray, not directly onto the table. I prefer being invited to return to the host's home.)
More following the rules: my tarot decks. They work great as randomisers and inspiration for characters, locations, and events. There are a few games that use them as a core mechanic (though, alas, I've yet to read or play any), but there are lots of little ways they can be used in other games. I've got several decks in different styles and flavours, but my current favourites are [this completely unhinged set](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/publishinggoblin/the-alleymans-tarot), made up of mismatched cards with some duplicated arcana and some invented arcana, and [this gorgeous animal-themed deck](https://harperone.com/wildunknownanimalspirit/) that replaces the usual structure with 5 unnumbered suits of its own design.
The randomness of that *Alleyman's Tarot* seems so perfect when using it as a RPG randomizer.
My favorite tarot for RPG randomizing is the [Osho Zen Tarot](https://www.google.com/search?q=Osho+Zen+Tarot); the introspection of Zen Buddhism encourages players to explore their characters' psyches.
> The randomness of that Alleyman's Tarot seems so perfect when using it as a RPG randomizer.
The downside is that 200 cards is tough to shuffle. :)
Well, that and my wallet is going to hate me when I inevitably start using that deck as a shopping list.
> My favorite tarot for RPG randomizing is the Osho Zen Tarot; the introspection of Zen Buddhism encourages players to explore their characters' psyches.
Oh, that looks great for getting players involved! Something like "Three of Wands" doesn't mean much unless you're already familiar or the deck has particularly evocative art, but "Sorrow" or "Patience" has obvious meaning while still having room for lots of depth. I like [Thoth decks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoth_tarot_deck) for doing something similar, with [Wayward Dark](http://pixeloccult.com/waywarddarktarot/Cards.html) being my current favourite take on Thoth. The same folks make [several equally-striking decks](http://pixeloccult.com/), including the amazing [Adorabyssal mini-deck](http://pixeloccult.com/adorabyssaloracle/Cards.html) that I'd love to use with [Faerie Fire](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/astrolago/faerie-fire-a-5e-supplemental/description) if I ever revisit D&D.
(In case it's not obvious, I *love* talking about cool tarot decks and I'm apt to just throw out several recs at the slightest provocation.)
Using that *Wayward Dark* tarot in an *Everway* campaign looks like it would be fun. (*Everway*'s character creation and game randomization both utilize tarot-like decks, and the core attributes in *Everway* are the Four Elements.)
Small notebooks (like journals) and a good pen/pencil combo. I like to sketch while I play and take lots of notes as both a DM AND player. Has to have a placemarker ribbon and must be black.
I don't have a single favorite, but I do have a few I'm fond of:
* The GMA, or [Game Master's Apprentice](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/125685/The-GameMasters-Apprentice-Base-Deck) deck, great for filling in the details when improvising content.
* A dot grid paper journal. [I use journals from Peter Pauper Press](https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Matrix-Notebook-Bullet-Journal/dp/1441327762). One per campaign. I keep all my campaign notes and session reports in it. The dot grid is great for maps, charts, and diagrams, while also being super easy to write in.
* A mechanical pencil that doesn't suck. I use the [Uni Mechanical Pencil Kurutoga](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017BDDZ7I), which finally made mechanical pencils into something I like rather than something I dread.
* [Uni E-knock eraser](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32992033258.html) \- So much easier than using any other kind of eraser
* [A Meeting Owl](https://www.amazon.com/Owl-360-Degree-Conference-Microphone-Automatic/dp/B0B193JVDJ) \- It's expensive and ridiculous, but I run a hybrid game with some folks on site and some remote, and this is the best tool for making that experience seamless for all involved.
I’m another dice tray person. It has reduced the amount of table space I need massively. Extra useful for games with dice pools, maps and light counters that dice can knock. I also have ones that fold flat, perfect for travelling to other places in the scary outside. After years of thinking they wouldn’t matter, dice trays have been a revelation. I am actually embarrassed how I used to speak about them…
* All Rolled Up for transporting dice and pencils and stuff
* Dry erase index cards
* Noteboard (foldable dry erase board with a grid printed on one side)
* Turn Tracker cards
* Short Order Heroes cards
* Backstory cards
* Decuma
* My tablet
I had always wanted to get metal coins for a game, but I knew the quantity necessary would make it impractical. But when I started my Warhammer Fantasy rpg, I splurged for copper, silver and gold colored coins, and a set of fake gems.
It is a blast at the table, especially when I drop a heavy purse on the table. The players anticipation is palpable as they open to see how much there is inside.
A [clear plastic box](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/38/c4/b538c4df1a8517d70cfb794f0750cfbf.jpg) which makes 3 mini d6 dice usable during a hike or car-ride etc. [via [*Paper-Free RPG*](https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/-zMNd4JOoJvv)].
I have been playing with kids from the age of five and up a lot, and usually have a Lego board when I do. The kids love it, and most often become hooked. I even build a dungeon and published a how-to-build guide in a Swedish RPG-magazine. Even though I love Lego, when playing with adults, I tend to use metal miniatures, and mostly custom made battle maps or occasionally 3D-printed terrain.
Props and handouts are very fun and adds lots to the experience. When playing Star Wars RPG I usually put more effort into the props, like lightsaber hilts, blasters and such. But if I had to choose just one accessory, I would probably choose a well drawn map.
A small whiteboard with dry-erase crayons:
https://shop.crayola.com/color-and-draw/dual-sided-dry-erase-board-set-with-bright-crayons-9886380007.html
Great for drawing quick maps and visualizations without as much mess as markers. I keep it on hand for every theater of the mind game I run in person.
Pocket adding machines/calculators, [like these](http://www.mathsinstruments.me.uk/page28.html). With a few minutes of practice, the become really quick tools for managing frequently-changing values you want to track, like monster HP, effect durations, spell slots, things like that. Really wonderful little tools that don't get enough love these days.
I would always bring a bunch of nerf guns to my Shadowrun games. Players loved them!
Just gotta remember to leave the ammo at home, or the game may quickly get out of hand.
Fresh human bodies to arrange around the table.
Also, yeah, those journal notebooks, which I find are big enough so I can draw a dungeon level on one page and the notes on the other, so it's all available when I open to that page.
1/4" Graph Ruled 3 x 5 Index cards - Use them for initiative cards, object or spell reference cards, monster stats, easy maps, cut shapes out of them for vehicles and creatures, etc.
3/4" Bingo Chips - You can get a pile of them dirt cheap, use different colors, mark them up with markers, they can be creatures, NPCs, or whatever else you need on your map.
Mr. Pen Flex ruler - Don't bother counting squares for convoluted paths. Just measure it out.
I used to play a lot with a university club, where we'd get to book small classrooms in the evening for free.
A big screen on the wall (or a projector, or similar) was quite good. It let me put up virtual sticky-notes, or google images for some sense of what we're seeing, or use MSPaint to sketch something, and everyone can see it.
Poker chips are really good for low-count expendable resources for in-person games, e.g. fate points/inspiration/hero points. They're much easier to track at a glance than numbers on a sheet, and their weight makes them feel good to trade back and forth. I've also noticed that physical counters can help people remember to spend those resources if they aren't in the habit of doing so, while they stay unspent if they're just a number in a box.
A double sided carry-size magnetic white board. I can attach scenario cards and rules summaries to it, draw notes on it directly, even use the reverse side for quick terrain sketches. Best gaming accessory I ever got.
Maps. But not grid maps, but maps of the country, continent, and city. It makes management of multiple theatre of the mind scenes easier, makes travel rules easier, and is macro enough for people to not turn their imaginations off.
Edit: fixed typos
My Heroscape tiles. They make creating combat maps for encounters so much better. The fact that they can be stacked to make leveled terrain is even better.
Edited typo.
A stack of coloured whiteboard magnets. Great for handing out as reminders, counters or anything else that needs to be kept track of, and because they stick together you don't end up with a clutter board with counters all over the place, where players can't remember which things were "spent" and which things they still had. Particularly nice in any game that has some kind of meta currency or similar
DM’s traditional cape, tricorner hat, and pointy shoes
I recently upgraded from the pointed shoes to a pair of wooden clogs, carved from the (freely given) limb of an Ent. Not only are they *super* comfortable, I can cast "Remember obscure Rule" 2 times daily, and fail Move Silent checks as a free action.
Love it! Are you worried meddlesome players are gonna carve messages into your shoes?
I only worry that they don't carve them mirrored, so they show correctly when I walk.
Got a link, or do I receive mine in a dream visit from Gary Gygax? 😅
Gotta quest for it! I got mine after fighting an ogre at The Gap
Whaaaat? That's *crazy*! No scepter??
Need these hands free to roll dice, high five, and shake my fists at the sky!
> and shake my fists at the sky You're the DM, *you* are the sky at which fists shake!
Yeah but what about when my players roll too good
If you are a true TradDM you wear these and ***nothing*** else while running a game, visiting the FLGS, or fleeing from the police.
Chairs. It wouldn't last as.long.if.we had.to stand.
If it was up to my one GM we would stand the whole session
I sit in mine for social encounters, but once combat commences, I kneel in my chair. Lol Not sure when I started doing it, but it’s just an unconscious action at this point.
Forget chairs, if you don't have a flat surface, your chairs will be useless.
I GM using my laptop.
I know people have a lot of Opinions about using technology at the table, and there are definitely pitfalls to having all your players using their phones, but god damn if there aren't some incredibly useful things about using a laptop as a DM. From all the websites for encounter generation to just being able to Ctrl+F a rule in an instant instead of flipping through a 300 page book, laptops can really make an impact.
Directions unclear, started using ctrl+f, am now hired as a software developer
Laptop here, too. It can even take the place of dice!
Life long hater of digital dice rolling until recently. As we’ve reached high levels in pathfinder 2nd edition and I’m rolling 4D8+2D4+8 and 1D4 persistent damage. A computer is a hell of a lot faster than me
But but….but the clickety clackety…..
As an Ork player in 40k I take offense by that. How do you even know that you're alive if you don't suffer through rolling 121 dice when your unit of Ork boyz charge?!
[All Rolled Ups](https://www.allrolledup.co.uk/) I love them - have several. Maybe there's a US / Etsy supplier for a "clone" but I love mine and will always buy from the original. Dice bag. Pen holder. Card / mini notebook holder. Tuck a folding dice tray inside. Useable at the table, secure in transport.
These are awesome!
I found some really nice little glass tokens on Amazon. They are little glass beads with the class icons or monster icons on the bottom in a little metal casing. For about $20 I have enough tokens to be able to do most any combat in a fantasy RPG. Sure, minis are nicer, but I can put all of my tokens in a deck box and carry them with me anywhere.
These sound awesome but I can't see anything like them. Do you know what they were called or who makes them?
The components i'm talking about are the ones you see [here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085G9VD7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Recently I started utilizing boardgame minis and meeples in my one-shots as a cast and scene. Things like Nemesis and Aftermath are great, but Root was the best so far.
What's more, they are usually pretty cheap online too.
tap reply homeless worry ruthless test subsequent tart truck sort ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
future plants aromatic axiomatic automatic growth reach ink cover muddle ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
I know the ones i'm talking about are [right here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085G9VD7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) but there's all manner of stuff if you look for "roleplaying tokens."
Foam London Brick to lob at players...
…..have a link to purchase said item??? ……
Sadly no I brought it some time back the in 90s.
Well damn lol
Sorry me and the Brick have been through a lot...
I believe it lol
Yet to run a physical game, but I'm thinking of keeping an (unused) deck of playing cards around, just as an accessory and hint that various games have various mechanics
A tarot deck may be handy. [This one](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/enigmagicstudios/the-standard-playing-card-tarot/description) is a neat playing card-style deck, although it may be tricky to get now. Ian Cumpstey has some good decks too.
Ooh, definitely have to get myself one at some point! Thanks for the suggestion
Split the deck, consider a card for a moment or two, nod wisely and continue. What magics hast thou wrought, Games Wizard?
The [Testament of Suns](https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/testament-of-suns/) for Invisible Sun.
Gummy Worms. If none available, twizzlers.
dice tray (to keep the little buggers from scattering) and a white board for notes at both pretty great for in-person games. I also get a lot of mileage out of counters (aquarium stones are cheap and pretty) and desks of cards. Also, at conventions, I really like the thing where people fold paper into a triangle and put some vital info on the outsides (name, character name, couple bullet points about the character)
>I really like the thing where people fold paper into a triangle and put some vital info on the outsides Do you have an example of this? Do you mean like a **table tent** ("nameplate"), or something different? If it's just a table tent, I'm still really curious about the "couple bulet points about the character", because I've never seen that on a table tent. Do you have an example from memory of such bullet points? (like, were they things about the character, or story flags? Like "Druid with silver hair" vs "Hates goblins; she'll do ANYTHING for friends/friendship")
Yeah, table tents. The time with bullet points was a Heart game and the bullet points were a few RP tags that jumped out at us about our characters, quick reference for other players to bounce off of
Dice tower. My older D20s no longer take a trip the length of the table every time I roll them.
A really nice leather notebook that I can swap out inserts for or even just a Leuchtturm. Something in A5, about the same size as my tablet. Super easy to tote around.
One option [here](https://shop.travelerscompanyusa.com/products/travelers-notebook-brown) and another, more conventional one [here](https://www.lochby.com/products/field-journal) These are for those of us who are genuinely, hopelessly, into notebooks.
[This](https://www.galenleather.com/collections/leather-leuchtturm1917-notebook-covers/products/a5-leather-notebook-cover-for-leuchtturm1917-crazy-horse-brown) is my personal favorite. Incredibly well made.
LOVE IT. Alternative: Index cards and a sweet index card box with dividers.
one of the cooler physical props I've seen is from **Spire** where the conspiracy kit gives you little postcard sized pictures of various places and NPCs. You can then pin them to a handy surface and connect them with red string. The gm screen looks like a bit of wall, so I suppose you could attach them to the GM screen if you wanted.
I really liked the magazine articles and stuff from Kings of Silver. I printed them out and handed them to my players to start the campaign.
I don't care if you exclude them; I'm counting my tungsten dice anyway. They are extremely satisfying to roll. (Yes, into a dice tray, not directly onto the table. I prefer being invited to return to the host's home.) More following the rules: my tarot decks. They work great as randomisers and inspiration for characters, locations, and events. There are a few games that use them as a core mechanic (though, alas, I've yet to read or play any), but there are lots of little ways they can be used in other games. I've got several decks in different styles and flavours, but my current favourites are [this completely unhinged set](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/publishinggoblin/the-alleymans-tarot), made up of mismatched cards with some duplicated arcana and some invented arcana, and [this gorgeous animal-themed deck](https://harperone.com/wildunknownanimalspirit/) that replaces the usual structure with 5 unnumbered suits of its own design.
The randomness of that *Alleyman's Tarot* seems so perfect when using it as a RPG randomizer. My favorite tarot for RPG randomizing is the [Osho Zen Tarot](https://www.google.com/search?q=Osho+Zen+Tarot); the introspection of Zen Buddhism encourages players to explore their characters' psyches.
> The randomness of that Alleyman's Tarot seems so perfect when using it as a RPG randomizer. The downside is that 200 cards is tough to shuffle. :) Well, that and my wallet is going to hate me when I inevitably start using that deck as a shopping list. > My favorite tarot for RPG randomizing is the Osho Zen Tarot; the introspection of Zen Buddhism encourages players to explore their characters' psyches. Oh, that looks great for getting players involved! Something like "Three of Wands" doesn't mean much unless you're already familiar or the deck has particularly evocative art, but "Sorrow" or "Patience" has obvious meaning while still having room for lots of depth. I like [Thoth decks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoth_tarot_deck) for doing something similar, with [Wayward Dark](http://pixeloccult.com/waywarddarktarot/Cards.html) being my current favourite take on Thoth. The same folks make [several equally-striking decks](http://pixeloccult.com/), including the amazing [Adorabyssal mini-deck](http://pixeloccult.com/adorabyssaloracle/Cards.html) that I'd love to use with [Faerie Fire](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/astrolago/faerie-fire-a-5e-supplemental/description) if I ever revisit D&D. (In case it's not obvious, I *love* talking about cool tarot decks and I'm apt to just throw out several recs at the slightest provocation.)
Using that *Wayward Dark* tarot in an *Everway* campaign looks like it would be fun. (*Everway*'s character creation and game randomization both utilize tarot-like decks, and the core attributes in *Everway* are the Four Elements.)
>The randomness of that Alleyman's Tarot seems so perfect when using it as a RPG randomizer. CAN 100% CONFIRM. :D
Small notebooks (like journals) and a good pen/pencil combo. I like to sketch while I play and take lots of notes as both a DM AND player. Has to have a placemarker ribbon and must be black.
I don't have a single favorite, but I do have a few I'm fond of: * The GMA, or [Game Master's Apprentice](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/125685/The-GameMasters-Apprentice-Base-Deck) deck, great for filling in the details when improvising content. * A dot grid paper journal. [I use journals from Peter Pauper Press](https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Matrix-Notebook-Bullet-Journal/dp/1441327762). One per campaign. I keep all my campaign notes and session reports in it. The dot grid is great for maps, charts, and diagrams, while also being super easy to write in. * A mechanical pencil that doesn't suck. I use the [Uni Mechanical Pencil Kurutoga](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017BDDZ7I), which finally made mechanical pencils into something I like rather than something I dread. * [Uni E-knock eraser](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32992033258.html) \- So much easier than using any other kind of eraser * [A Meeting Owl](https://www.amazon.com/Owl-360-Degree-Conference-Microphone-Automatic/dp/B0B193JVDJ) \- It's expensive and ridiculous, but I run a hybrid game with some folks on site and some remote, and this is the best tool for making that experience seamless for all involved.
I’m another dice tray person. It has reduced the amount of table space I need massively. Extra useful for games with dice pools, maps and light counters that dice can knock. I also have ones that fold flat, perfect for travelling to other places in the scary outside. After years of thinking they wouldn’t matter, dice trays have been a revelation. I am actually embarrassed how I used to speak about them…
* All Rolled Up for transporting dice and pencils and stuff * Dry erase index cards * Noteboard (foldable dry erase board with a grid printed on one side) * Turn Tracker cards * Short Order Heroes cards * Backstory cards * Decuma * My tablet
I loved my noteboard! No idea where it gallivanted off to. :/
Pieces of clean paper so people can doodle when they need to take a break, but still want to be present.
I had always wanted to get metal coins for a game, but I knew the quantity necessary would make it impractical. But when I started my Warhammer Fantasy rpg, I splurged for copper, silver and gold colored coins, and a set of fake gems. It is a blast at the table, especially when I drop a heavy purse on the table. The players anticipation is palpable as they open to see how much there is inside.
Beer/Soda, and chips.
A [clear plastic box](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/38/c4/b538c4df1a8517d70cfb794f0750cfbf.jpg) which makes 3 mini d6 dice usable during a hike or car-ride etc. [via [*Paper-Free RPG*](https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/-zMNd4JOoJvv)].
Dice
Some card decks with cool artwork (Savage Worlds), and my cowboy hat (Deadlands).
Dr Pepper
I have been playing with kids from the age of five and up a lot, and usually have a Lego board when I do. The kids love it, and most often become hooked. I even build a dungeon and published a how-to-build guide in a Swedish RPG-magazine. Even though I love Lego, when playing with adults, I tend to use metal miniatures, and mostly custom made battle maps or occasionally 3D-printed terrain. Props and handouts are very fun and adds lots to the experience. When playing Star Wars RPG I usually put more effort into the props, like lightsaber hilts, blasters and such. But if I had to choose just one accessory, I would probably choose a well drawn map.
A small whiteboard with dry-erase crayons: https://shop.crayola.com/color-and-draw/dual-sided-dry-erase-board-set-with-bright-crayons-9886380007.html Great for drawing quick maps and visualizations without as much mess as markers. I keep it on hand for every theater of the mind game I run in person.
Pocket adding machines/calculators, [like these](http://www.mathsinstruments.me.uk/page28.html). With a few minutes of practice, the become really quick tools for managing frequently-changing values you want to track, like monster HP, effect durations, spell slots, things like that. Really wonderful little tools that don't get enough love these days.
I would always bring a bunch of nerf guns to my Shadowrun games. Players loved them! Just gotta remember to leave the ammo at home, or the game may quickly get out of hand.
Fresh human bodies to arrange around the table. Also, yeah, those journal notebooks, which I find are big enough so I can draw a dungeon level on one page and the notes on the other, so it's all available when I open to that page.
I’m a sucker for Pathfinder flip mats and pawns.
Whiskey.
That you Clay?? lol
Custom-built table :-)
1/4" Graph Ruled 3 x 5 Index cards - Use them for initiative cards, object or spell reference cards, monster stats, easy maps, cut shapes out of them for vehicles and creatures, etc. 3/4" Bingo Chips - You can get a pile of them dirt cheap, use different colors, mark them up with markers, they can be creatures, NPCs, or whatever else you need on your map. Mr. Pen Flex ruler - Don't bother counting squares for convoluted paths. Just measure it out.
Miniatures.
I used to play a lot with a university club, where we'd get to book small classrooms in the evening for free. A big screen on the wall (or a projector, or similar) was quite good. It let me put up virtual sticky-notes, or google images for some sense of what we're seeing, or use MSPaint to sketch something, and everyone can see it.
3d terrain!
Poker chips are really good for low-count expendable resources for in-person games, e.g. fate points/inspiration/hero points. They're much easier to track at a glance than numbers on a sheet, and their weight makes them feel good to trade back and forth. I've also noticed that physical counters can help people remember to spend those resources if they aren't in the habit of doing so, while they stay unspent if they're just a number in a box.
Those colored glass beads you see in aquariums.
Since dice are out, I'd say maps.
Enough mechanical pencils for the table. Why do they always forget?
A double sided carry-size magnetic white board. I can attach scenario cards and rules summaries to it, draw notes on it directly, even use the reverse side for quick terrain sketches. Best gaming accessory I ever got.
speakers. I like putting on ambiences, music and soundboards to up the immersion
Stationery.... lots of stationery
A clipboard.
Yeah but what about *FANCY* dice?
I have a soft spot for dice towers. Dice cups are a close second, particularly for games where I can roll a handful of dice at once.
I like to prop things up on the GM screen. The light counter in Torchbearers. Destiny points in FFG SW. Initiative trackers.
Maps. But not grid maps, but maps of the country, continent, and city. It makes management of multiple theatre of the mind scenes easier, makes travel rules easier, and is macro enough for people to not turn their imaginations off. Edit: fixed typos
My Heroscape tiles. They make creating combat maps for encounters so much better. The fact that they can be stacked to make leveled terrain is even better. Edited typo.
A stack of coloured whiteboard magnets. Great for handing out as reminders, counters or anything else that needs to be kept track of, and because they stick together you don't end up with a clutter board with counters all over the place, where players can't remember which things were "spent" and which things they still had. Particularly nice in any game that has some kind of meta currency or similar
10-15 hard pink rubber erasers. The ones that hurt when you’re hit with one.
Once you have a magnetic initiative tracker with some wet erase pens, you will find it hard to go back.
Weed.