Making your own power cards

[Gnome Stewart]

The Set (core_complete_set.rar)
This set consists of 1018 cards in total, including the powers from classes, paragon paths, epic destinies, feats and races (from the PHB and the MM, as well as Dragon #364, and the artificer powers from Dragon #365), as well as blank cards to fill in for the different item types (though you can also use the template to make finished cards for different items).

Ander00, I'd just like to say that these power cards are one of the best-designed and most fun game aids I've used in a long time. I cut out sets for all the players in my group, and they rock. Perfect.

Not only did you capture the 4e feel, but you accounted for the need to note adjusted totals and even improved on the power listings in the book by including easy-to-reference melee/ranged and action type icons.

This is an absolutely fantastic resource, and it's made my 4e gaming more enjoyable. Thank you!

 

[Mercutio01]

This might look like the same card I mocked up in GIMP, but it's not. I have a semi-working Style file now. After 3 hours of futzing, it's now time to go to bed.

 

[Aridhra]

This might look like the same card I mocked up in GIMP, but it's not. I have a semi-working Style file now. After 3 hours of futzing, it's now time to go to bed.

This is what I was waiting for. I think using cards for items makes them easy to exchange between party members, sell in shops, etc.
Are you also willing to make cards like 'Flaming Longsword', 'Flaming Battleaxe' with the adjusted stats and cards for mundane items like simple torches, ropes, food, ...

Love your work, thanks for the enormous efford.

 

[Grandpa]

Just a quick note: I updated my power and magic item cards with the latest (7/02/08) errata from Wizards. Just late to the game there.

 

[Alphastream]

Guybrush -

Awesome job on the WIKI.

One note, though - it's not entirely necessary for them to put the complete card sets in their own directories. Most of ours can coexist peacefully since we've renamed the .mse-game. Mine, for example, is differentiated by DnD4h.mse-game. Since none of the other sets use that, it can coexist peacefully.

Not that your instructions are incorrect, just thought I would clarify.

-- Hirahito

That parts my doing. I added a bunch to the Wiki of late, including printing and multiple templates.

Its good to know that many of the new templates support being added to the general folder. I had the typical frustrating early experiences, so I now do this every time to keep things clear.

One idea is for authors to make it clear in their zip file (maybe a quick installation note in a readme.txt) that these files can be added right into the main data directory.

If anyone feels a wiki change is needed, please do so. That's what a wiki is all about, and anyone can edit it so what I wrote ends up being better.

 

[eloquentaction]

That parts my doing. I added a bunch to the Wiki of late, including printing and multiple templates.

Its good to know that many of the new templates support being added to the general folder. I had the typical frustrating early experiences, so I now do this every time to keep things clear.

One idea is for authors to make it clear in their zip file (maybe a quick installation note in a readme.txt) that these files can be added right into the main data directory.

If anyone feels a wiki change is needed, please do so. That's what a wiki is all about, and anyone can edit it so what I wrote ends up being better.

Some of your original frustration probably came from my first attempts to make a set.

I changed the game file in the .mse-game without checking for compatibility. A bad no-no on my part.

The newest set of mine doesn't have that problem, and I'm sure Mercutio's doesn't as well.

I'm still halfway in the rewrite of malcolm_n's druid for use in my campaign world or I'd be publishing more card info out here.

My next steps are pretty small in the cards though. I'll announce them when I manage to finish them.

-- Hirahito

P.S. - One of things on my to-do list is to pull out the Level, Class, and PowerSource into their prospective fields. Ander and I are using the SOURCE tag to put where the card originated from (PHB, etc). So I think you're starting to see some of what you asked for. I'll take a look at Mercutio's set and see if he's using any fields I'm not and if I could possibly use them instead of mine.

 

[Alphastream]

Ander00,
[snip]

Not only did you capture the 4e feel, but you accounted for the need to note adjusted totals and even improved on the power listings in the book by including easy-to-reference melee/ranged and action type icons.

It is easy for us to miss this, but most of the recent good MSE additions, such as Mercutio/Plauge, Ander00, and others allow editing in MSE. It is what makes MSE so powerful compared to pdf or PowerPoint, and why I have spent some time on the wiki.

You can take any of the recent sets and edit in exactly your information, such as your to hit and damage bonus, or your own quotes, etc., because the authors have enabled this. It removes a bit of the edge that Ander00 had in being able to write the values in the boxes - now you can choose between Ander00s excellent streamlined look (and type the values into the boxes) or edit a set like Mercutio's/Plauge's which are busier but really aesthetically pleasing.

Also, making a few cards is simple. For example, you can take Mercutio/Plauge's set and save it as your PC name. Then you remove the powers you don't want at the low levels, keeping the higher levels you might take later. Then you click on add new card and in 3 minutes add a multiclass power from another class, then print exactly the cards you want for this character with your custom info on them. That's amazing, and hat's off to the people doing this!

Last night I made magic item cards using the Lord Tirian design (still may fav for items, though that new design looks good, Mercutio/Plauge), placing pictures from the WotC gallery. Can't wait to hand them out at the next game when they are earned/found. Game-changing tool!

 

[Alphastream]

Question: is there an easy way to add in a card from one mse set to another?

What if they belong to the same author, such as a wizard power from Mercutio/Plauge's wizard set into the warlord set?

What if they are across different sets, such as Hirohito into Ander00?

Thanks,

Teos

 

[Mercutio01]

The set files are zips and the zipped info is effectively text, just like game and style. You could conceivably copy and paste info from one set to the other but I know mine uses different info than Ander00's. So, you could easily copy and paste from one of my sets into another of mine, but not into Ander's without rewriting the tags for his style.

 

[eloquentaction]

Question: is there an easy way to add in a card from one mse set to another?

What if they belong to the same author, such as a wizard power from Mercutio/Plauge's wizard set into the warlord set?

What if they are across different sets, such as Hirohito into Ander00?

Thanks,

Teos

I'm fairly certain mine can take Ander's and Mercutio's set information as it currently stands.

You will most likely get an initial 'missing data' or 'unknown field' complaint from MSE when it first loads your new set, but I'm fairly positive it will work.

Teos - do you want me to try it and make a write-up on how to do it?