sozin |
Here's how I use 'em:
- Prior to running an AP (doing CoTs now), I go through and pick out interesting items from my item cards
- I cut out two pieces of notecards. On the first piece, I write down what the item is, and on the second piece I write down its magic aura and spellcraft (identify) DC.
- I tape the item description piece on the card. (I don't write on the card itself, as I hate erasing stuff.)
- I tape the identify piece on top of the description piece, making it easy to remove.
- For NPCs with lots of items, I bind all the item cards together with a paper clip.
- When the time comes to greyhawk the body, I drop the item stack onto the table and watch as the players clamor over it.
Pros:
- Players love it!
- It helps control the magic item economy - if they want to buy or sell an item, they get a card; no questions about who has what items.
Cons:
- A fair amount of work to prep the cards.
- You need a fair amount of cards to get a good mix. (I've been collecting the cards since the beginning of the Runelords, and now have about 5 small boxes filled with cards, broken out by card type [weapons, gear, armor, potions, etc]).
As an addendum, I also use campaign coins for wealth management. This also helps manage campaign economy.
Vic Wertz Chief Technical Officer |
How exactly are these implemented in a game? Do you give them out when loot is found and they divide things up by holding a card? Do you write properties on the cards when they are ID'd? I am going to be starting a Carrion Crown adventure and am curious if I should use these.
You can use them in whatever way works best for you. Some folks use them for just their big-ticket items; other use them to track every last little thing in their inventory. There is a writable space on the back for whatever notes you'd like—stats, quantities, prices, page references, notes about where you bought/found/stole the item... they're very flexible.