How to produce decent prototype cards?

I use nandeck for my prototypes. I print them with an inkjet printer on 110 lb cardstock and cut them out with scissors. This is "good enough" for prototyping/playtesting. The cards won't last years or even months, and with heavy play the ink will smear. But they will last long enough to see if your game works, and they are easy to change if you spot and fix problems.

Yes, I sometimes miss the feel of a (real) poker deck. But I don't miss the expense and the hassles of making changes.

Good luck. And let us know which approach you take and how it works for you.

Jim

Hi there

I print in home the cards (in paper) and use sleeves or cover them in plastic to protect them and test the game.

This result in a lot of time and money for my part. I switch to electronic "cards".

I use two software tools: MtG Editor and OCGTN (ogtagon)

The first tool is a card editor based in the style of Magic the Gathering cards; I use the same layout to my cards because don't have much skills with design or art work. If you have you must try Magic Set Editor 2, I use to create other cards because is easier to work with layouts and different designs here.
The requirement for this tool is java in the system.

Once you have the cards then you need to create a new game and the components around it to have OCGTN to interpret and help with the test. This tool is a virtual table that can simulate card games
The requirement for this tools is dotnet ver 4.0

In order to create a game in OCGTN need additional tools: winrar and some XML editor (I use XML Maker)
With the first you can open the "packages" and then edit them with the XML editor.
In the packages you store the images of the cards and then the virtual table do the rest.

I have all the components in my PC, a CD and a USB drive this to install the game in other machines and then test it.

Good game
Roy

My solution is pretty low-tech, but here it is...

I design the prototype cards at 2.373" x 3.373" and print them out on full-sheet label paper. I can get 8 cards per page.

Then I cut out the cards, peel off the label backing, and stick the labels to regular playing cards that I buy at The Dollar Tree (2-Decks for $1).

If the square corners of the cut labels stick out a little from the rounded corners of the playing cards I just put the cards in a stack on their sides and use an emery board to buff off the corners.

The resulting prototype cards are a bit thicker than normal but they shuffle fine and are "good enough" for play testing.

To set up a game in OCTGN I think is not much work, I spend more making the cards and reviewing the mechanics and rules than in OCTGN, but you need to have a good idea about the game (Zones of the game for discard, types of actions you can do with cards or decks, etc) All of this can be implemented (Only thing must be do manually is "put cards on bottom of your deck") . The software simulates a table then much rules must be "enforced" by the players as in a real table. I implement some changes in the original table, to my own benefit 3 different discard piles, 3 different decks and two counters (one for life one for gold) and a removed from the game zone.

You can create tokens or add counters on cards.

You need to know some XML to edit the game, on difficulty I experience editing is with a "key" OCTGN uses to relate the image card with the OCGTN code (rules of the card) but I took the codes of other games (MtG, WoW) implemented and with that I resolve the issue.
And as advice To open the package in OCTGN you need winrar or similar software but when is open make sure the box "always open with..." is NOT checked because then OCTGN don't recognize anymore the file...

In home have two machines (PC, laptop) and can connect with this to try the game. I not have yet try with more than two but is one of my priorities once I finish the review I'm doing to have all the associated files of the game with the last version.

You need my files to be able to play the game (I'm implementing only one in OCTGN at the moment) and I'm changing all the cards in the components deck

OCTGN
http://www.octgn.net/

MtG Editor
I don't find a site to download this anymore because the original owner of the project got a email from WotC about trademark violation. I can send you the installer if you want it, I replace a lot of the symbols in my cards to not have the same problem (and don't have it for download).

magic set editor 2
http://magicseteditor.sourceforge.net/
I really love this program but don't have the time or skills to make my own layouts. And use the MtG Editor for simplicity and because I create all the cards of one of my games there before know about MSE.

Any other help you need can contact me at:
roydnd@gmail.com
Skype: royalfa13 (from Mexico)

Hi there Chris

What kind of glue you use?? I did that for a type of cards in my game and do not like the result very much.

Only was for a prototype to test the game but would be good to know.

Thanks
Roy