When it comes to props that perform a specific function in the rules of a larp, it’s currently common for the game organisers to buy/make those props and provide them to the players on an as-needed basis (e.g. some games provide currency props, others provide special ability cards). However, if the phys-rep can be bought/made by the players with ease, this is usually left to the players to invest in for themselves (e.g. larp weapons, spell packets, etc.).
The example of such purchasable props are padlocks I had designed and made for larp; which can be opened by a key, or can be “picked” by undoing three screws down one side of the padlock to release the bolt. The locks allow characters to seal containers or lock doors, as well as providing a physical representation for a Pick Locks skill (where the screwdrivers represent the lock picks).
Players purchasing such props would introduce the desired rules mechanic on a potentially wider scale than what the game’s budget would allow, and by doing so the buyers would also potentially free up a portion of the props budget to be spent on more or better props, or possibly reduce the attendance fee.
If you had to buy the phys-rep for a specific rules mechanic to be able to use that rules mechanic in a campaign larp, and the prop was of good quality and could be easily reused as a prop in other larps, would you be willing to buy said phys-rep in order to use that particular rules mechanic?