I print "test cards". Basic layouts with thin borders and no colour or images, just text and divider lines. If you feel fancy, add a box for art but leave it empty so you can scribble some in it at your leisure once it's printed. Same result for a fraction of the ink.

Me in India searching for a library printer:

2:32 those cards look great! the artwork is so good! cant wait to see more.

@DragonsTCG

5 ай бұрын

Thank you! I think I'll make a video about how I make my card art.

I am creating my own TCG, but I know how to code, so I will be using tabletop simulator for the playtesting instead, and once I am happy with the results, I will consider turning it into a physical game.

so this is actually why I invested in an ink tank printer - and I recognize for many that's not a viable option, but if it is, it's 100% worth it! truly been a lifesaver

@DragonsTCG

3 ай бұрын

Does purchasing one of those printers and manufacturing cards at your house beat the cost of purchasing cards through a service like the game crafter?

@ryderthefirst5023

3 ай бұрын

@DragonsTCG I would still mark that a no - the ink tank printer's capabilities are still mostly limited to paper and thin cardstock. The primary advantage of the tank is the number of proxies I can make (which I tend to just slide into a sleeve with a blank card) for playtesting with. In the couple years I've had the printer, I've never once run out of ink

Here's an obvious one, use less black ink per-card.

Man, I remember printing out card from my school's printer, or simply stealing their paper XD Good times, good times.

Another option: used b&w laser printer with remanufactured toner cartridges. I spent a total of US$80 ten years ago and my only cost since then has been power and paper.

When you try printing 100+ cards out at home. THE PAIN! But seriously I can totally relate to a lot of points made in this video keep it up!

Also if you do the math you can figure out which printers cost the least over time. When I did this years ago it was a brother laserjet. One cartridge lasts ages, and it is a fraction of the cost per print to an ink jet. Print on card stock instead of paper, and your prototypes are so much better

@DragonsTCG

15 күн бұрын

Thanks for the tips!

I wonder if one could use Tabletop Simulator for the same purpose (i.e. create easily adjustable digital cards to test with)?

@DragonsTCG

17 күн бұрын

I have no clue cause it costs money, but untap is working just fine for me

Great video! I recently just finished Set 1 of my own TCG!

I had similar issues with my tcg. Ended up buying some blank trading cards which are fairly cheap on Amazon

@DragonsTCG

3 ай бұрын

Oh wow, I hadn't even considered that as an option. Thanks for the input.

Playing online is an option. You don't have to pay any money then, other than the cost of Tabletop Simulator if you wanna go that route

i am also high school student making a tcg and i would recomend using images on a word doc to simulate gameplay, your way works better as it feals nicer but if you do it on word you only print the final version. hope you hit 500 subs good content

@DragonsTCG

Ай бұрын

Thanks for the tips! And thanks for the support!

I print cards for play testing all the time for my family game nights. You’d be better off going to FedEx /office depot copy center and printing out cards on 8.5 x 11 card stock. It is not expensive at all. Definitely less than $60 ink cartridges. That was insane to try to do at home lol big mistake indeed!

@DragonsTCG

3 ай бұрын

Yeah I can't believe I did that. Thanks for the suggestion!

I just print pure text images, so my cards are mostly white with only necessary text on them. I've printed 300+ cards and I don't think I've run out of ink yet, and that's not even the only thing that's printed on that printer. You don't have to go fancy in early testing.

@DragonsTCG

2 ай бұрын

Yeah I've learned that that is a better method. I wish I would've known that sooner 😅

Thank you for making this video! I am also working on my own TCG and I was trying to think of the best way to make my cards physical without spending too much money. I completely forgot my library has a printer!

@DragonsTCG

2 ай бұрын

Your welcome! There are special types of printers (the massive tower ones) that basically print for free. Those would be your best option. Glad I could help!

Get a laser printer for testing if you can get one. Sure it's monochrome, but you'll spend way less overall until you're ready to order real cards.

Nice video dude!! Keep it up!(:

Get an Epson. HP and Canon soak the edges of the printer sponge in ink and charge you 60. Just fill an Epson tank with ink.

Keep going, ya' doin' gud

this works also if you are an office worker.

Tip, art is the last thing to worry about (and that includes the frame and everything. If you want to print out play test cards (I wouldn't), make them have all the information on them but that's it. Much much easier to print out. Though what I recommend is (neatly) hand writing them on half of an index card and then sticking that in a sleeve. Much easier and cheaper to adjust effects/stats that way.

@DragonsTCG

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Thats really helpfull. I only wish I thought of that sooner 😬

@user-nm1si5xk7o

2 ай бұрын

I did the same. All of my test decks are text only to this day. Makes the 40+ decks way more manageable. I also used color pencils over color ink to add the cards color but this can be time consuming.

US Letter? I use regular DIN A4

Love the personality in this video.

@DragonsTCG

4 ай бұрын

Thanks! :)

Good content

How to print affordably: Step one: never use inkjet ever Step two: set you lazer printer to black-white mode if its a colour one Step three: set the speed of the lazer as far as it'll go so that less toner is used each swipe. Step four: collect your trash quality playtest cards. You dont need them to look good, its playtesting. Step five: invest in Tabletop Simulator

@DragonsTCG

3 ай бұрын

Thanks lol, I used an ink jet for this and it was the worst decision ever. Thanks for the tips!

cool

Em why not use table top simulator? Nice video thou

I'd make digital copies online

or get yourself an epson inkjet tank. But those cards won't shuffle. Get an office job. stay there late and when nobody's watching print stuff. Just be mindful that when the printer doesn't print - it will print after a few hours. so you need to get back early next morning as well. Your colleagues might consider it theft, but it's not - companies pay ridiculous amounts of money for a hassle free printing service. Your cartridge usage is negligible. But do read the contract for not getting fired at inopportune moments.

@DragonsTCG

23 күн бұрын

Thanks for tip!

peak

use tabletop simulator and make your cards textures so you can test them. Did it. The game still suck tho lol.

artwork is solvable with ai, testing could be made digitally, mabye?

@DragonsTCG

23 күн бұрын

Yeah I uploaded a set of cards to untap for people to test with. Check out my most recent video for info.

@blockyuniverseproductions6587

17 күн бұрын

Maybe avoid AI artwork, given the unethical nature of its creation (i.e. stealing)

@DragonsTCG

17 күн бұрын

@@blockyuniverseproductions6587 I see your concern but I don't consider ai art to be created unethicaly, and it is definitely not stealing in any sense of the word. Once I get comfortable with my art I will do all the cards myself dw