Move over ragged notecards, and hello rapid prototype copies! Will to Survive is now making the transition from hand-written pieces to easily printed components.
Though there are many rapid prototyping tools available to developers (including XXPaper or nanDECK), we decided to use Google Spreadsheets to create our own cards for internal use.
Creating the correct sized cards has proved time and resource-consuming (why is ink *SO* expensive? Egads!), but we're very close to be able to share a version of the game that friends can just print off and test for us. The card sizes we're using are Poker card, micro deck, and notecard sized. If you'd like to check out an example of what we've made, you can view a copy here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12W4aYGE-mbQrLXhuVNzPawPoBkyoQv8m...
How the spreadsheet is set up is that each card sheet VLOOKUPs its card info from a table in another tab. When you change the wording in the table (example shown in attached picture), any card with that name is updated with the new text.
Now, I 100% won't be using Google Spreadsheets for our final PnP version. It's so finicky to line everything up -- *especially* if you're doing double-sided printing -- but it works well for now. Sure, I have to be more careful with my printing & cuts, but all I need to do is update the correct table and *tah dah* my cards are updated.
Feel free to copy the sheet if you like!
-Keshie
Comments
Silly me... Tricks are for kids!
I thought you found some way to *integrate* Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator with something like Google Spreadsheet! :)
I have seen some such tutorials - but my PSD files require way too much manipulation (layers) to be practical. For now I guess it will have to take 1 WEEK to re-design all the "Tradewars - Homeworld" cards!
Oh yeah! 1 WEEK!!! And that's only 85 cards... (Because there are a TON of layers...)
I guess that your spreadsheet could work - but like you said only for quick prototypes not finished production. Personally I prefer to prototype using Illustrator (In Black & White)...
I guess you can export from
I guess you can export from Google Spreadsheet to CSV, and then you can generate the cards in Inkscape (like this: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/299033/inkscape-extensions-boardgam... (my script)). You can export/import drawings from Illuatrator to Inkscape as well if you must do the graphics in that application instead.
Since I'm working with two
Since I'm working with two other designers, the Sheets is working well for that purpose. We've been thinking of using Scribus for later production -- but we'll honestly want to bring aboard a graphic designer to take care of that kind of stuff.
One week?! Wow. Good luck.