Best "Monster Cards" format?

[Ry]

I know of 4 monster card formats:

The Game Mechanics Initiative Cards,
The Other Game Company's Monster Cards,
Wizards' Mini Cards
Fiery Dragon's Battle Box (I think)

I've only seen the first 3, and prefer the Game Mechanics most but TOGC is a close second because they fit on playing cards (printed with label paper). Any suggestions?

 

[Thunderfoot]

I have the opposite effect - I dislike the Game Mechanics monster cards, I love the size, but feel the info is a little light. I use the blanks and cut little angled 'holders' into them and insert WotC mini cards into them instead.

Of course I love the initive cards by GM, so I may not be the best example of what you're looking for.

 

[Random Axe]

I've bought TOGC monster cards, and was not impressed with the product, because the text is so incredibly tiny, it's impossible to read and reference quickly when I'm at the game. I tend now to write out monster stats onto RPGA Initiative cards because it's easier to read.

 

[Festivus]

I just use blank index cards for tracking initiative and spell effects. For the monster stats I use the MMIV stat block format, typed up on a 8.5x11 sheet so I have plenty of room to take notes and track damage. That sheet is put into a 3 ring binder and kept as a record of the combat (for later XP calculation).

For the players I use the RPGA cards so that I have spot and listen modifiers.

 

[Ry]

I've bought TOGC monster cards, and was not impressed with the product, because the text is so incredibly tiny, it's impossible to read and reference quickly when I'm at the game. I tend now to write out monster stats onto RPGA Initiative cards because it's easier to read.

That's my problem too.

 

[Firebeetle]

I've got the ToGC cards, and the D&D mini cards. The D&D mini cards are easier to read. However, I don't use either as initiative cards. I'm much more likely to take an entry and print it on a page seperately (if possible) and use initiative cards of my own design which show initiative, hit points, and all the different conditions with checkboxes to show number of rounds.

The Battle Box doesn't have monster cards, it has a pad you can track characters on and cards with different rules on them.

 

[Ry]

The Battle Box doesn't have monster cards, it has a pad you can track characters on and cards with different rules on them.

Good to know.

 

[JVisgaitis]

We have a wide format on our website. Damn... I must have lost them when I updated the site to the new version. I'll post a link when I get them back up.

 

[Rel]

I just use 3x5 index cards and write the stat block on them by hand. This way works a lot better for me than pre-printed stuff does because the act of writing the cards helps me remember what I've written. This is especially the case for special traits or abilities that I tend to forget. I'll always forget that the monster "causes fear" if it's pre-printed. I rarely forget if I wrote "CAUSES FEAR" on the card myself, especially if I do it in big letters at the top of the card.

It also lets me customize the cards in terms of writing down magic items that monster has and tactics they might use.

 

[Ry]

I'm hoping to write them myself too, but I want to find the best format for the blanks I can. If I just write everything it will be messy and things like Initiative won't always be in the same place.