I'm sure this has been discussed many times in the past, so please accept my apologies in advance. Can anyone offer up a recommendation for the best paper to use for printing up cards and expansion boards?

FYI:

I am overwhelmed at the creativity on this forum as well as on Talismanisland! Outstanding work. What a fun way to channel artistic talent.

I use semi-gloss photo paper for card fronts, and then photo stock for card backs. For extra backs to place behind commerical cards (to make all backs look the same) I use the photo paper. You could also use just plain card stock/paper for the card backs to save a little. But since you'll be printing and assembling them once only, I suggest the photostock with printer resolution set to match ppi. It's worth it.

Homemade fronts and backs, and the extra (thin) backs and commerical cards, are then slipped into card 40 micron card sleeves found at MayDayGames.com, the best price around, especially if you order up multiple packs of 100 sleeves.

Search for "talisman" and you'll be recommended two kinds of card sleeve that are of the appropriate dimensions. One is slightly large than the other. I prefer the tight fit ones, but most people like the others with a hair more room. If you can't find them, let me know by private message and I'll point them out. I buy all my sleeves for all of may games at this sight.

I know all of this can sound like a bit of an expenditure, but again it is worth it. You'll get 16 card fronts or backs on a sheet, so even doing a full 104 cards, per se, is going to leave you plenty of extra stock for future use.

You could also lay them out in a graphics program, print to 300 or 600 dpi in a PDF, and take it to a print shop. At a Staples business supply store, I've gotten a sheet printed on photoshop for about a buck.

Thanks so much! What about making an expansion board? What's the best material for that?

I think I've found the answer to my own question. It appears that black chipboard is what is used for boards...

There is also bookbinder's board, though it may be difficult to find in the right sizes... and then thickness. As example, 0.167 gauge is perfect for Dungeon quest tiles. I would recommend 0.125 for game boards. Binder board usually comes in manageable sizes for creating folding boards and surpasses chipboard in durability, gauge for gauge.

I see that Maydaygames has dimensions for Talisman cards: Width: 41mm; Length 63mm.

But, I was wondering, does anyone know the recommended Maydaygames sleeves for characters?

Thanks!

There are no sleeves for character sized cards available commmercially... yet. Jon New of TalismanIsland.com did find some obscure place that made him some as a test. I don't know if he still has any spares to sell, or if that company would / will make any more.

You can look around for some "photo" sleeves. You won't find the exact dimensions needed, but you may find something close.