The base starter deck for Talisman Tales is now complete. Due to file load issues and other considerations, I will not be linking it here; you will need to visit FantasticDiversions.com and its downloads page to preview the manual and download the package if it interests you. While you're there, you can check out the introduction post concerning this release and the future of this project.

I know this may be seen by some as somewhat unethical in driving traffic away from the forum, but there it is. There are no logins or other requirements for accessing the files, so enjoy.

If you have questions or comments, you can feel free to post them here or send them in through my secured Contact form at the site. I'll be available either way.

My printer is ready to go JC ! ! !

I was really waiting for this expansion, in my opinion is the first one that really add something completely new to the game experience.

Hope to print it within next two days to experiment it in my next game on friday night...and than report back the results

Thanks again for the great passion you put into this project, i follow it on Fantastic Diversions step by step and the only reason I didn't print it during the past months was the great respect for this hard work.

Greetings from the south of Italy !

Thanks, and let me know how it works out and whether or not you run into any problems. I tried to refine it as much as possible, but sometimes more is needed.

Hi JC, will be downloading it shortly! Thanks.

Ell.

Just as an addition, I would be interested in any issues with printing. This time out, for this project, I'm trying a pre-made PDF for doing this rather than just packaging graphics.

The complexity of which back would go with which card front seemed to be too confusing an approach in having people create their own printable layout. Of course, to maintain quality of image, using PDF bloats the whole package. The manual includes basic recommendations on printing, but since printers vary widely (home or printshop), there's not much that can be offered on this.

I would like to know, on what paper do you print these cards for them to be resistant to stains, water, shuffle friendly while being thick enough to keep sturdy?

Shymova77 said:

Well, there are some different options. The PDF layout I did is something new, so you'll be printing fronts and backs on the same stock. In my old method for homemade cards, I included separate card graphics (and a smaller archive size) with instructions for people to layout the cards in a graphics program and then recommended thick cardstock for backs and photo "paper" for fronts. So... hmm...

If you can get it, use photo "stock"... in other words, stock suitable for actual photographs vs. the photo "paper" people buy to bring home and print stuff. If you have a print shop nearby, it is actually cheaper to have them print this stuff for you. (Yes, for real, as I've done a lot of test printing over the last year on an inkjet and then calculated the cost by ink, paper, and wear... YOUCH!) You will also need to buy some appropriately sized card sleeves.

Not all print/copy shops offer multiple weights of stock for full color printing. You'll have to check it out. Ask them for a sample of the photo paper or stock they have, fold it over once, and see how the double thickness feels to you. REMEMBER: You will also have a card sleeve that adds a bit more thickness. If acceptable (and it will never be perfect), have the shop print just the first page and see how the look of it is. Different printers around the world will print differently. If it is too dark, or light, just ask them to adjust the lightness a little for you. Then print the whole PDF.

Take the sheets home, use the instructions in the manual about crop marks to cut out fronts'n'backs as one unit per card. A front'n'back folded over should fit into the right sized sleeve. [[ OPTION: You can fully cut out the fronts and backs separately, but make sure you keep the front and back of each card together and don't get them mixed up! ]] This is the typical way all homemade cards are done, as there are no POD operations any of us have found that can do Talisman-sized cards. (IF you find one, let all of us know where it is!).

That's about all I can tell you, though there is another option if you're still not sure that Tales is something you and yours will use now and then. Just get some card stock or paper, print them out black and white, and have at it for a night. Then, if you think it would be used now and then, go for the color print option.

Point of note... I have been doing occasional posts of samples for the first coming Tales expansion called "In the Settlements" over at FantasticDiversions.com . You can also go directly to the development gallery to see what's completed so far.