So, with power and creature cards essentially done, all that remains to the complete representation of a character with cards is a set of item cards. So, has anyone got any ideas as to what format those cards should take?
We need to represent the items Name, level, description, category, price, enhancement, critical, and properties. An item’s powers, in my opinion, would go on a set of power cards. This means that much like a character, an item is represented by a set of cards.
There has to be a way to indicate what powers the item has - much like the feats and skills block on the character cards. Having the powers be separate is something I’m still debating over in general, but at the very least you have to have what the powers are named. Right now I think I’d rather avoid 10 different cards for an item and try to keep it to one. I’ve yet to see an item that I don’t think could fit on one card.
There has to be a way to indicate what powers the item has - much like the feats and skills block on the character cards.
I agree, and to that end I was thinking of introducing an “Item” keyword into the power cards set. That, combined with the fact that most item powers don’t have their own name and would thus have to use the item name on the card, would be enough (IMHO) to tie the power to the item.
Personally I’d prefer only having a single card to deal with. Although, if the power changes that is a potential maintenance nightmare (with multiple copied of the same data to change), so having a power keyword would simplify things that way. What I’d probably do is not print the back of the item card and just print the power card on the back of it.
Only 3 times - Flaming Weapon, Frost Weapon, and Lightning weapon.
The at-will power is to turn all the damage into the fire, cold, and lightning damage (respectively) and the daily is to add 1d8 damage of that type on a hit.
I’m sure they’ll be more as splat books hit with over-powered items too.
For something like a wand, it makes perfect sense have too cards, as it is a class power too. For something like what Cameron pointed out they are really just powers created for the item to function. With that in mind I purpose this (though I’m not convinced it is a good idea myself); items powers that are class powers as well are on a different card but all other powers are on the card.
I’ve been lurking for a bit and finally joined. I really like what you have done of late with the other two types of cards.
I too like the idea of just one card for an item.
I liked the Lord Tirian design for weapons (that’s what I am using now in MSE). It is one of the ones you first looked at with PCs/Monsters. It looked really archaic to me - very much in line with the idea of uncovering treasure. One of the things I like to do in 4E is to hand out item cards when the PCs uncover treasure during the game. It gives the PCs the stats, and it is a tangible shiny new toy.
In line with that thinking, this is a card where I would really like to be able to place artwork. There are tons of images of items, and placing a cool item (sword, potion bottle, whatever) would really make handing these out fun.
In line with that thinking, this is a card where I would really like to be able to place artwork. There are tons of images of items, and placing a cool item (sword, potion bottle, whatever) would really make handing these out fun.
Teos
I was thinking the same thing, but I was also thinking about maybe having the art on the card back.
Given that there are only three items with more than one power, and that one of their powers simply converts the damage to another type, I’m going to cave to the suggestion that an item needs only one card.
Now, to the next question: Should all items have the same colored card (the gold from the PHB) or should their colors be coordinated to their power type (i.e. items with a daily power would have a black card, items with an encounter power would have a red card, etc.)? If it’s the former, then how do we indicate on the card what the frequency of the power is?
I was thinking the same thing, but I was also thinking about maybe having the art on the card back.
I could see myself being very evil, and give my players the card face down with only the image until they identify it (one way or another) and only then are they allowed to turn it over. Create some good tension that way!
I could see myself being very evil, and give my players the card face down with only the image until they identify it (one way or another) and only then are they allowed to turn it over. Create some good tension that way!
That is an excellent idea.
BP - I think I would stay with the standard orange for the items. Is there a way to make a block of text fill in black with white letters or anything like that in MSE? Or is that just dumb and we should rely on players to be able to read…
BP - I think I would stay with the standard orange for the items. Is there a way to make a block of text fill in black with white letters or anything like that in MSE? Or is that just dumb and we should rely on players to be able to read…
Yeah, I should be able to make that happen. Right off the bat I can think of at least two ways to do it. Why? What do you have in mind?
