New Treasure Cards

[pdzoch]

I've redesigned my treasure card template using the magic set editor. The new template makes use of the data fields in magic set editor to better sort and organize treasures and rewards. The new template include fields for rarity, treasure type, value, and weight in addition to title, description, source and image. The new template has a standard design format, but the card background has over 30 choices, 20 of which can be custom colored. Each reward type could have its own color or you can chose a standard background for the entire set. Additionally, the frame and corners of the card fields can be changed also. These could represent rarity of the items, or simply chose the style you prefer for your set. There are a lot of options in the design. The image field is a little larger than the original design, but the description box is a little smaller. The description box is not intended to provided all the rules for a reward or treasure -- just provide enough to inform the player what they reward is. I've provided a hide option for the value and weight fields, so the DM can still manage the treasure set without giving the information away to the players.

These designs are just a sample of the cards that can be created using the template. I'm in the finishing touches of the design but I want to offer them up for review and critique before posting the template to the downloads section. If you have used my templates in the past, or are thinking about using these templates as soon as I publish them, this is the time to provide me your comments to make the template better.

One aspect still not sorted out is how to indicate an attunement requirement. Is it necessary to show on the card? If so, what is the best or preferred way: text or image/graphic? And if a graphic, what type of graphic? I've considered adding a glow around the frame for attunement requirements, and I've also toyed with a graphic in one of the corners. What are your thoughts? Attunement is already part of the card fields in the game file (database), but it is just not on the card yet.

I did not include sentience as a data item as it is so rarely used. However, should I add it and in what way? Should it be shown on the card in some way?

Comments welcomed and encouraged.

 

[aco175]

These are awesome, I wish I had the time to make things like this for my players. Any chance they are showing up on DMsGuild.

 

[pdzoch]

These are awesome, I wish I had the time to make things like this for my players. Any chance they are showing up on DMsGuild.

My intent is to provide theme on the downloads page. I've been sharing my templates for free for years. Though ENWorld has now offered a donation button to show appreciation.

 

[Rils]

These are great, nice work! I've been using MSE to make treasure cards for years. Usually I just use a simple full-text template, although on occasion I'll use a full art/text template or a standard MTG template. I'll often put the rules on the card, or at least a brief version of them, so the players can reference it without having to look it up elsewhere. (For what it's worth, I also made cards this way in 4e for my character's powers.)

My personal preference would be to mark Attunement on the card by a simple graphic, like a little A somewhere in the corner, or on the middle info bar or something, that you can turn on or off as needed.

I wouldn't probably worry about Sentience - it's so rarely used, and when it is, its more of a role-play thing.

Regarding rarity, do you just enter it by hand on the middle bar, or is there a setting for that? When I do these using the MTG template, I just use the color-coded symbol to indicate rarity exactly like a MTG card - common is black, uncommon is silver, rare is gold, etc. Rather than entering it by hand, if there was a simpler way to either make it a drop-down or check-box field, or to just graphically show it by an icon (say, differently colored stars or something), that would be rad.

Keep up the good work, I'll definitely be downloading this when you release it to the wild!

 

[pdzoch]

These are great, nice work! I've been using MSE to make treasure cards for years. Usually I just use a simple full-text template, although on occasion I'll use a full art/text template or a standard MTG template. I'll often put the rules on the card, or at least a brief version of them, so the players can reference it without having to look it up elsewhere. (For what it's worth, I also made cards this way in 4e for my character's powers.)

My personal preference would be to mark Attunement on the card by a simple graphic, like a little A somewhere in the corner, or on the middle info bar or something, that you can turn on or off as needed.

I wouldn't probably worry about Sentience - it's so rarely used, and when it is, its more of a role-play thing.

Regarding rarity, do you just enter it by hand on the middle bar, or is there a setting for that? When I do these using the MTG template, I just use the color-coded symbol to indicate rarity exactly like a MTG card - common is black, uncommon is silver, rare is gold, etc. Rather than entering it by hand, if there was a simpler way to either make it a drop-down or check-box field, or to just graphically show it by an icon (say, differently colored stars or something), that would be rad.

Keep up the good work, I'll definitely be downloading this when you release it to the wild!

Thanks for the feedback. The rarity can be done several ways. There is a drop down menu in the center bar to list rarity. However, the first option is a blank space, so it doesn't have to portray the rarity, but if it is not in the drop down, it is also not on the database. I can add an option to hide that data field, like I have done for value and weight.

The frames have several color options, mostly in jewel and precious metal tones. These are ideal for indicating rarity also.

And lastly, the color of the card can be customized (I've provided 12 or so colors, but you can customize it still), and that can support the card color rarity system you have used in the past.

 

[Rils]

That sounds great! These look wonderful, can't wait for the finished product.

 

[pdzoch]

So I finished the new treasure card template. I've added the "attunement" feature. Graphically, it is a text/image addition to the image section, but it is small enough to be non-intrusive. I've also added a option to not show attunement on the card while still keeping track of it in the card database. I'll get these uploaded to the download section later today.

 

[evil homer]

is there a preferred print method for these? Just card stock and cut?

 

[pdzoch]

is there a preferred print method for these? Just card stock and cut?

Cardstock is what I use. Generally 110lbs paper I get in bulk at a warehousr store. To cut evenly, I use Fiskars paper trimmer. Useing the MSE software this template supports, I just select the cards I need for the upcoming adventure. Cards print 9 to a page, so I will add extra heal potions or common items to ensure I do not waste cardstock.

Sent via magic sending while journeying on a quest.