Gamemastery Item Cards
images from Paizo.com
We’ve had a few posts talking about using props in your game. Some people have commented that they like the idea of props, but lack the time to find or make them. That got me thinking; Paizo offers a line of item cards that each depicts (in full color) an item either mundane or magical which could be used as a sort of meta prop.
Along with magic items, they offer two sets of mundane gear. This could be useful for those “ok who has the rope” scenario, or the similar “Oh I wouldn’t have been carrying the ancient artifact of doom on me, I left that in the inn”.
The cards (54 to a pack) have artwork by some the industries best artists, and the back of each card is left blank so the DM or player can write notes about the item, along with a detailed description of the item. The cards are not random, the contents of each deck (along with several previews) can be found at Paizo’s website. At ten dollars a pack they are relatively inexpensive and offer a nice visual effect to enhance your game.
Check them out, and if you have a cool use for the cards, let us know.
Example of actual cards from “Elements of Power” deck (images from Paizo.com)
Boccob's Blessed Blog 
April 25, 2011 at 12:42 pm
The Paizo goodies, especially for Pathfinder, are always tempting. The decks of items have the great Paizo artwork, too.
I played Pathfinder only a few times, but its revised 3.5-based system is not bad. The first printing of the Rulebook, errors and all, sits with the rest of my gaming goodies.
April 25, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Agreed. It is one of my favorite sites. They have some cool products. I own almost all of their mats.
April 25, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Cards are really easy to make on your own, use blank index cards and search for Pics on the internet. I started using them all the time, but discovered that within a few sessions they actually produce the opposite affect. Assuming that cards are used to keep players remembering what they have, it works when you might have one or two cards per session. However, when each player has more than one or two per session and the few from previous sessions; along with dice, character sheets, miniatures, maps and what not; suddenly, you see the forest and none of the trees. There is just too much stuff on the table. Bottom line, players need to learn to keep track of their own stuff, it’s a difficult concept to accept, but once realized hard to forget.
Pete
April 25, 2011 at 7:17 pm
That is very true. I try and do cards for major items only. Also, I used to make player’s folders that had an extensive character record sheet, a few pieces of graph paper, note paper, and a nine-slot card holder page (like you would store Magic cards in) where they could keep their item cards.
April 25, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Nine-slot card holder, good idea.
April 25, 2011 at 9:15 pm
I used the folders that have the three prongs to hold sheets. They were pretty fancy character sheets.