Power Cards - Do you use them?

[Chris Knapp]

I use the CB cards too. But I also add a few lines to each as I learn the new power or when a new feat is gained. Lasting Threat, for example:
AP Attack: +15 vs. AC
(brutal 2)
Miss: reliable
Crit: 1d12 + 2d6 + 43

I used to always forget my reliable dailies and the fact that my E-Axe is brutal. Now I often forget that my action point grants +3, so I added a line for that too.

I was never a magic player so the novelty of using cards hasn't worn off and I find them really helpful. One of the players at our table even slaps them down like dominoes, yelling "Pow!". Kinda funny til he scattered the minis once.

 

[Jack99]

If I could I would, but I'm not willing to subscribe to DDI, and I don't want to pay for preprinted ones. I'm also not a super-fast typist, so hand-typing them isn't much of an option.

My players would probably really benefit from having access to the Character Builder, but for some reason I'm really bothered by not getting a physical product for my cash.

You do not need to subscribe to get the CB. You just need to pay once. Just FYI, in case you didn't know.

@OP

I (personally) only use cards. I have all the powers on cards, and then an extra 3 cards which holds all the rest information about my character. Works quite well actually.

In my campaign, all but 2 players use power cards. But no one use the CB power cards. Most use the same custom made power cards as I do, and one "writes" his own cards.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

You do not need to subscribe to get the CB. You just need to pay once. Just FYI, in case you didn't know.

@OP

I (personally) only use cards. I have all the powers on cards, and then an extra 3 cards which holds all the rest information about my character. Works quite well actually.

In my campaign, all but 2 players use power cards. But no one use the CB power cards. Most use the same custom made power cards as I do, and one "writes" his own cards.

Well, it's a one-month subscription.

---

I use power cards in that I print them out. I don't use them in that I don't cut them up and use them as cards. One of our players still makes his own character sheets that are considerably smaller than the results of the CB. Of course, he abbreviates a lot, but he does it well.

 

[Jhaelen]

I use power cards in that I print them out. I don't use them in that I don't cut them up and use them as cards.

This.
My only complaint is that there is no way to print cards for the rituals (that include the ritual description).

 

[mach1.9pants]

We used to use PCards but they kept getting mixed up. Now we (lazily) use the CharBuilder print out. I just wish we could swap the order the cards appear in the print out and we'd be sorted. We could cut and paste/use card holder but it works OK.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

This.
My only complaint is that there is no way to print cards for the rituals (that include the ritual description).

I think there actually is one. There is a feature that allows you to add item cards for non-magic items or something like that, and that also creates ritual power cards.

But I am afraid that this would be useless. There are just too many rituals. I just wish the ritual list on the character sheet would not cut off after a Fifth or so of my 20th level Warlocks ritual list _and_ would give the source book containing the ritual.

I am perfectly fine pulling out a source book for a ritual. Rituals happen in-between events and referencing rulebooks is okay then. In combat it's awkward.

 

[BruntFCA]

I like the CB Cards

I cut mine out for our game last night, and it was a lot better than scanning over the sheet.

I had them, including the "item" powers all sorted. Also rather than print them to your own printer, you can print to Postcript File (convert to PDF online if you want too), and just send it over the internet to a professional Printer.

He can then print you out a decent deck. My supermarket (tesco) can make nice print outs via the internet, you then pick them up when you do your shopping.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Hello Everyone,

Just a simple poll here for those playing 4E. Does your group use power cards during gameplay for most/all combat encounters?

If not, how do you manage powers and their use?

Yes, and consider them essential.

 

[CapnZapp]

Hello Everyone,

Just a simple poll here for those playing 4E. Does your group use power cards during gameplay for most/all combat encounters?

Most my players seem to enjoy them.

Mind you, I'm talking about free ones, not the WotC merchandize.

 

[Storminator]

Most of us use them. One player doesn't cut them out, just uses the CB sheet for reference. One player doesn't use cards at all. 3 of us use the CB cards. One of us has an awesome deck of everything, so skill tricks, bullrush, etc all have cards.

One of our card uses didn't use them in the beginning, but he kept botching his power management. Fortunately, he's the kind of guy you can just yell at, so eventually he got the hint and started using cards.

I find I end up using my sheet for very little. If I had a card with defenses, hit points, surges and skill mods, I might not need a sheet at the table at all. I might have to try that. I've already shifted to an index card for treasure and XP, since I don't like transferring it to the CB.

PS