4e Power Cards

[Xefas]

I was inspired by a thread over at enworld, wherein someone created several "cards" using a program built to mimic the design of Magic: The Gathering in order to represent class powers for 4th edition characters. The purpose, as I understand it, was simply that printing them out on some cardstock and maybe putting them in a TCG sleeve would allow you to better organize your character's capabilities (and keep track of which ones you had used for that encounter/day; tapping maybe?).

However, their cards were ugly and bland with no spiffy pictures or anything. So, I spent several hours searching the D&D gallery archives dredging up proper illustrations from 3.5 books and replicating every single power that we know of so far: in card form. Well, I don't have one for Sleep, or Passing Attack, but that's only because I can't find good pictures for them out of a D&D book.

Anyway, here are a few of the ones I've made:
Ray of Frost
Cascade of Light
Channel Divinity (Paladin)

So, my questions are threefold. Firstly, do they look good? Secondly, do you know of any good illustrations for Sleep and/or Passing Attack, and if so, will you show them to me? Thirdly, as was ominously hinted at in the preview of Paragon Paths, WotC is releasing "Power Cards" of their own, and what do you speculate those will be?

EDIT: More of my cards are spoilered further down in the thread.

[Bassikpoet]

Those cards are pretty rocking. What program did you use to make them?

[Xefas]

Those cards are pretty rocking. What program did you use to make them?

Thanks

It's called Magic Set Editor 2.

Here is the home page.
Here is the download page.
And here is a screenshot of the program in action.

[AslanCross]

Excellent idea. I hadn't thought of using MSE for these.

[Mr. Friendly]

I really like what you did with Channel Divinity. I really liked those flip cards from Kamigawa.

[Reinboom]

Great idea!
Though, I would recommend creating a custom template as to store more information on the card face.

[RTGoodman]

Those are awesome.

And here I was just going to do what I did for my Crusader's maneuvers, and write out each power on half of an index card, cut 'em out, and put them in a protector (along with a Land, token, or other useless card since index cards aren't quite the right size).


For WotC's cards, I imagine they'll be a lot like the maneuver cards they released online for ToB, but they'll probably actually print them and sell them.

[Trog]

Wow. Nice!

Hmm... I wonder if WotC is making a deck? Seems like a good add-on to the game. Since they have already branched off into miniatures and are making dice now.

I am hesitant to make all my own cards, knowing full well the time commitment something like that would take, but I would certainly buy them if they made all the PHB4.0 powers into a single deck.

[wodan46]

Man, haven't used that software in years.

Good idea, but WOTC is already going to do it. The friday update for 4th edition is going to be power cards.

I hope that they have decks you can buy based level, such as a deck that contains all powers available at level 1 for class and race, buying higher decks as you go along.

For example, currently, its indicated that there are 80 encounter/daily/utility powers total per class, not including at-will abilities, which likely being at least as numerous, are probably around at least 30. Multiply by 8, and you have 880 powers.

Paragon paths have 3 features and 3 powers, assuming that they all count and there are at least 32 paragon paths. Thats another 192 cards.

Races have a small number of powers/features as well, probably at least 5 on average as they develop, so that's another 40 cards.

Going to assume maybe 20 cards for epic destiny.

So that's around 1132 powers, minimum.

[The J Pizzel]

They made Force Power cards for SW:SE. I can't tell you how much it rocked our SW's games. I printed them out, glued them to index cards (so they'd be studier) and keep them rubberbanded together. Now I require any jedi in my games to have a set of these on hand. You can't imagine how much it sped games up.

For WotC's cards, I imagine they'll be a lot like the maneuver cards they released online for ToB, but they'll probably actually print them and sell them

Please tell this is on WotC website. Please link to it. I never knew they did these and I'm thinking of making a ToB character.

jP

[SamTheCleric]

Here ya go... Maneuver Cards

[The J Pizzel]

Here ya go... Maneuver Cards

Gods proof that he loves us and wants us to be happy.

[Keld Denar]

Gods proof that he loves us and wants us to be happy.

Isn't that....beer?

And seriously, is there anything in this world that ToB doesn't make better?

On topic, very nice cards! I'm SOOOOO stoked for 4e since I got my first sample at DDXP. I'm jonesin to take the system out of a real spin, not just the teaser taste I've already tried.

Anyone wanna put money(monopoly of course!) on how long it'll take people to come up with the first "gish" type build?

[RTGoodman]

Anyone wanna put money(monopoly of course!) on how long it'll take people to come up with the first "gish" type build?

4E comes out officially on 6 June, right? I'd say by noon or so on that day, there'll be a gish somewhere. From what I've heard, multiclassing will be mostly feat-based (though that might not be true), so a gish could very well be among the first characters made. (I, for one, am going with a Human or Dwarf Warlord as my first character, I think.)

Also, Swordmage is supposed to be out in one of the first supplements, I believe, so gish-in-a-can isn't too far off either.

[Keld Denar]

(I, for one, am going with a Human or Dwarf Warlord as my first character, I think.)

I'm going Gnome Wanderer Warlord for my first RPGA character. I got a card at DDXP to play one. VIVA LA SHORT PEOPLE!

That said, I played a paladin at the DDXP preview, and it was a lot of fun. Might have to make one of those too.....

[Kurald Galain]

Looks nice, but I think you could improve the layout. For instance, you could use the power/toughness box for range, and "standard action" and "at will power" and "target one creature" would be better as a symbol rather than spelled out on each card. Imho.

[Human Paragon 3]

Your cards are awesome. Please make more. All 1100 if possible.

[Xefas]

Looks nice, but I think you could improve the layout. For instance, you could use the power/toughness box for range, and "standard action" and "at will power" and "target one creature" would be better as a symbol rather than spelled out on each card. Imho.

I tried using the Power/Toughness box for various things, and it always looked...unbalanced. Also, what would you suggest in terms of symbols for those things?

Oh, and here is my complete (current) collection. Many of the pictures are kind of bland or not oriented the way I want, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm having to use a computer at the moment that couldn't even hope to come close to being able to run a decent art program, so I'll have to make them better in a couple weeks when my real computer gets fixed.

Spoiler

Show

[Kurald Galain]

I tried using the Power/Toughness box for various things, and it always looked...unbalanced. Also, what would you suggest in terms of symbols for those things?

I believe the magic set generator allows you to create your own symbols, is that correct?

I would suggest the following:
* In the upper right corner, where a magic card would have its mana cost, put a letter in a circle: D for Daily, E for encounter, W for at will, or a dash for a passive power.
* Most powers use a standard action; since this is the default, it arguably doesn't need indication. For the powers that aren't, in the upper right corner, add an arrow (for movement powers) or a similar symbol for minor-action powers, or interrupt powers.
* Now you can see in one place when you can use a power, and if you hold them in your hand you can still see all that.
* The other thing that's useful is seeing in one glance where you can use the power. You can put on one line, "one creature, range 10". You might not even need the word "target" any more, depending.
* Then there's also "when you can take it" (e.g. wizard 11), which is not apparently relevant in actual play; perhaps this could be placed in the power/toughness box ("W/11"). Keywords like "fire implement" are best kept in the keyword line.
* Italicize the standard words, like "hit:" and so forth.

Overall, nice work!

[RTGoodman]

After you so kindly provided the link to the MSE, I played around with it for a bit and came up with some of these of my own. The format is slightly different - what do you think it?

Crimson Edge
Eldritch Blast (which, oddly, ended up being nearly the same as your version)
Lead the Attack (I didn't see that one in your list)
Tumble

I also couldn't figure out a way to use the Power/Toughness area effectively, so I just left it out. same for the mana cost area.

[Kurald Galain]

After you so kindly provided the link to the MSE, I played around with it for a bit and came up with some of these of my own. The format is slightly different - what do you think it?

As above, you're not taking full advantage of the medium. The cards would be clearer by omitting or symbolizing the default. For instance, the class and level are not required in actual play (only in char generation or levelup) so needn't be part of the title bar; "at will" and "standard action" are the default so needn't be spelled out (symbols are good for this); and "ranged" is redundant to "range 10".