hello.
i want to make some sleeved card prototypes (at the moment i have poker cards with lables on). i bought some penny sleeves (i know there are pricier/better options)
my problem is that card sleeves are sized for magic/pokemon cards (at least the ones i have found) and i never got into any of these games, so i dont have a bunch of spares.
my question is where can i get a load of cards cheap. is there a type of "filler" magic card that people tend to throw away (so the sell for pence)? is there a CCG that was over printed/under sold that i can pick up?
what do you use as your backing in card sleeves?
cards for sleeves
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 10:42
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 12:10
#1
Playing Cards
I just use standard playing cards as stiffeners, as I can find them cheap at Thrift Stores. I usually find Goodwill is best for those. You could just use the ones you are using now as your cards as stiffeners.
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 15:48
#2
The Game Crafter "Blanks"
$0.09 each: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/parts/blank-poker-card
Or $0.05 when you order 100 or more.
I like these because when I put them in a plastic sleeve, I can write on "either" side. Otherwise if I want to only use one side, I use Ultimate Guard sleeves which are a bit more expensive, but you can get them in all kinds of different solid card backs. I personally like "Sand".
I bought a 100 of those blank poker cards. About $5 USD... Plus there is nothing on them ... so perfect for prototyping with those 100 for $1 sleeves from Ultra Pro (UP).
Cheers!
Note: I find combining this with standard paper stock while printing out and cutting prototype cards and inserting those into the card sleeves COMBINED with the blank poker cards works very well too!
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 18:51
#3
Magic players throw away
Magic players throw away common cards, yes. They (the even slightly serious players) buy boxes of boosters and quickly sift through them for the few keepers, just accumulating (or just throw away) worthless cards in the process. Ask around and you can probably get as many for free as you can carry.
At a local annual game convention several stores usually have huge piles of common magic cards you can take for free, but I never dared to dig in and grab them in amounts that would be useful for prototypes, especially since I never even played Magic.
Friendly local game store sells them by the kg for next to nothing.
This is why I prefer Magic-sized prototype and pnp cards. Sleeves are cheaper than other sizes as well, and easier to find in nice colors.
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 20:13
#4
Magic Land Cards
It seems like "Land" cards are often receive in multiple copies and are worth very little in terms of both collection and gameplay. Yes ... I know the player requires having "Land" cards to extract Mana from them... But what I am saying is that usually a player has more "Land" cards than needed. A normal deck contains approximately 18 "Land" cards.
It was my assumption that more "Land" cards were a part of Magic "Boosters"... Having done some research it seems like only one (1) "Land" card is a part of the booster pack... Which I find "odd" because I remember reading that some boosters contained MORE "Land" cards like as much as 6 cards. But I could not find this as previously I had found... A memory error no doubt.
Well you can try your hand on getting "free" magic cards (if you are lucky)... But if you "buy" cards... I doubt you'll get them for $0.05 a piece... Which is what The Game Crafter sells their "Blank" Poker Card for...
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 20:41
#5
Another small fact
I did some searching and found a singles "aftermarket" which sells Magic: the Gathering cards individually. So I was right about the *value* of "Land" cards ... I found almost 500 cards all "Land" cards and priced at $0.25 each.
This seems to be the "least expensive" price for cards on their website. So you would be still better off with TGC $0.05 "Blank" Poker cards which are 1/5th of the cost.
Just figured I'd report my investigations to you... No doubt you will do your own researching to determine what is the least expensive option.
Sun, 11/04/2018 - 23:12
#6
Using Playing Cards
I just use standard playing cards as stiffeners, as I can find them cheap at Thrift Stores. I usually find Goodwill is best for those. You could just use the ones you are using now as your cards as stiffeners.
It is correct that you can get CHEAP Playing Cards at the local Dollar Store. I believe I bought two (2) decks for UNDER (<=) $5.00. I believe they were something like $1.50 per deck ... So $3.00 + Taxes. I guess the total was about $3.45 or something like that.
I don't know if you can get AS CHEAP as that in the USA. Because the thrift stores are all owned by individuals. In Montreal our Dollar Stores are Franchises so they carry all the SAME stock. So what you find at one store, if you go to another one... You'll find nearly the SAME inventory and brands.
Bicycle Cards are over $8.00 for two (2) Decks ... When searching online. So it might be more difficult to find CHEAP decks at a lower price. IDK ... You'd have to go to your local thrift store to see if they have playing cards.
Cheers!
Mon, 11/05/2018 - 02:38
#7
Barely got any Land cards.
Barely got any Land cards. Not sure if most of them are even Common? There are many other useless cards, or just cards that are way too common and no reason for players to keep adding more to their collection.
Look for someone selling in bulk not singles. A few thousand cards will be used up in no time if you make some prorotypes and also playtest games for others and/or print some pnp games.
Mon, 11/05/2018 - 03:51
#8
Free
I did some searching and found a singles "aftermarket" which sells Magic: the Gathering cards individually. So I was right about the *value* of "Land" cards ... I found almost 500 cards all "Land" cards and priced at $0.25 each.
This seems to be the "least expensive" price for cards on their website. So you would be still better off with TGC $0.05 "Blank" Poker cards which are 1/5th of the cost.
$0.25 is a silly price for land. Buying single commons or lands online is never going to be cost effective due to shipping and handling.
As Pelle says, many players or stores give commons away for free, or for a nominal sum, so if you want a load, your best bet is probably to find a shop that specialises in Magic and ask them how much they want for a job lot of common cards. If you can find a serious local player they would probably give you hundreds if you bought them a coffee.
All that said, I just had a quick look on eBay and there are plenty of people selling things like bundles of 100 magic cards for £2-£3, including postage. Not quite as good as free, but convenient.
Tue, 11/06/2018 - 02:19
#9
Is $0.25 a lot???
$0.25 is a silly price for land. Buying single commons or lands online is never going to be cost effective due to shipping and handling...
Are you saying that is much too expensive??? I checked the Land cards and they go as inexpensive as $0.16 if they are in "Good" Quality. "Near Mint" is $0.25 each.
Of course the stupid site doesn't allow me to search by "Quality" (go figure)...
And you need to check each card ... and for the Land cards I did look at... They had like a dozen or so cards but ONLY "Near Mint", nothing less expensive.
I didn't look into COMMON cards... Just the Land cards and I found about 500 of them (from my Search results).
From the price $0.25 seems like a CHEAP price. Yeah I know if you want 100 cards it's like $25 ... So it's the priciest example of the various cards in this thread ... unless you can get a whole bunch for the price of a coffee or that a store gives you a discount price on a coffer of them...
IDK - We have a Magic store in Montreal. But I've never seen anyone give away their common cards and while everyone walks around with their "decks", I've never seen someone with a whole bunch of "useless" cards UNLESS they keep those at home...
Wed, 11/07/2018 - 01:13
#11
questccg wrote:
It is correct
It is correct that you can get CHEAP Playing Cards at the local Dollar Store. I believe I bought two (2) decks for UNDER (<=) $5.00. I believe they were something like $1.50 per deck ... So $3.00 + Taxes. I guess the total was about $3.45 or something like that.
I don't know if you can get AS CHEAP as that in the USA. Because the thrift stores are all owned by individuals.
We must have different thrift store systems where I live because we have thrift stores that will carry many decks of cards that I can get for <= $1, and over time I will find multiple decks with the same back. If I go often enough, I can get 3 decks with the same back in a week, I find it better than a dollar store, but then again, I don't know where you live, so you could be in the same boat as @questccg, so none of this helps, but I hope it does.
Wed, 11/07/2018 - 11:20
#13
Yes, too much
Are you saying that is much too expensive??? I checked the Land cards and they go as inexpensive as $0.16 if they are in "Good" Quality. "Near Mint" is $0.25 each.
Yes, WAY too expensive. I did a quick search on eBay and found multiple sellers who will sell 100 land cards for less than £4 (so not much more that $5), delivered. You can get bigger batches cheaper. Common cards are a similar price or less.
A website selling singles will charge over the odds for commons or lands, because it really isn't worth their while to even have them otherwise.
IDK - We have a Magic store in Montreal. But I've never seen anyone give away their common cards and while everyone walks around with their "decks", I've never seen someone with a whole bunch of "useless" cards UNLESS they keep those at home...
Of course they aren't carrying useless cards. A player might be carrying around a couple (or a few more) decks, and maybe some more valuable/useful cards for trade, sale, or as a sideboard, but they won't be carrying around thousands of unneeded cards -- they'll either be in a big box (or several) at home, or in the trash. Why not ask a Magic player how many unwanted cards they have at home?
Wed, 11/07/2018 - 16:07
#14
https://www.amazon.com/Apostr
https://www.amazon.com/Apostrophe-Games-Blank-Playing-Finish/dp/B07CKM27GX
and this is a little weird, but also maybe awesome in a sleeve:
https://www.amazon.com/Apostrophe-Games-Erase-Blank-Cards/dp/B073JYZPWS
Wed, 11/07/2018 - 17:05
#15
questccg wrote:It is correct
It is correct that you can get CHEAP Playing Cards at the local Dollar Store. I believe I bought two (2) decks for UNDER (<=) $5.00. I believe they were something like $1.50 per deck ...
You Canadians have WEIRD dollar stores.
I don't know if you can get AS CHEAP as that in the USA.
Yeah, you could get a deck for a dollar pretty easily in a dollar store.
Or, if you need a lot
https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Playing-Cards-Pack-12/dp/B005JE10S8
$9 for a 12-pack, shipped. Bicycle brand $16 for a 12-pack, shipped.
(as far as I know, MtG cards are standard "poker size" cards, 2.5" x 3.5")
Wed, 11/07/2018 - 17:14
#16
I agree 100%
...You Canadians have WEIRD dollar stores...
Yes you are correct... They're more like a Dollar PLUS stores. Some things are $1.00 others are $1.50 and I believe the HIGHEST item I've seen was like $3.00. It's still relatively inexpensive. But at the same time, it's not all priced at a dollar (so it's a bit WEIRD...)
Cheers!
Note: The chain/franchise is called Dollarama. And they are virtually everywhere in Montreal. I have no clue outside of Montreal like in Quebec City (North Shore) or Saint Bruno (South Shore), etc.
Mon, 11/19/2018 - 03:27
#17
Check out
Check out Sleeve Kings on Kickstarter.
Seth Hiat and a video blogger named Cory Goff have personally tested the stress test on the Sleeve Kings plastic sleeves on live video.
Sleeve Kings card sleeve are cheaper than most sleeves out on the market today but also have a higher grade of ripping strength. It took both persons about 20 or more seconds to tear apart the sleeves. Mr. Goff did two stress tests this past Tuesday and he and I the viewers were impressed by how strong these sleeves were.
Sleeve Kings has many different size sleeves. Go check them out on Kickstarter. I am not paid for this , I am just sharing information of what I have been following for game related materials.
Stormyknight1976
Mon, 11/19/2018 - 10:53
#18
That's a good deal. I just
That's a good deal. I just bought a 500-box of black-back sleeves for like $20. But I wanted them this week :)
Mon, 11/19/2018 - 23:49
#19
Hmm... something's not right!
Check out Sleeve Kings on Kickstarter...
I did and these people haven't included STANDARD Card Size of 66mm x 91mm. This is the SUPER TIGHT fit for STANDARD Poker Cards!!! There must be some kind of "mistake"??? Why would they make all kinds of sizes and NOT include standard Poker Cards?? I'm just not understanding this I guess...?
Standard Poker cards are 64mm x 89mm.
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 00:52
#20
Okay
Then check out this page and company who sought me out on Facebook;
Guangzhou Yuhua playing cards Co. Ltd.
Their based in China. Check out the videos and services. Pretty impressive card stock from what I saw on their videos and demonstration.
But that’s just me.
Stormyknight1976
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 01:15
#21
Seems a bit strange to me
Like everyone is making Poker Card sizes and everyone has different specs for them (Go figure?!)
The site you gave says: 63 * 88mm, inches 2 1/2" L x 3 1/2" W
The Game Crafter says: 64 * 89mm, inches 2 1/2" L x 3 1/2" W
NUMERIC CONVERSION from INCHES to MILIMETERS gives: 63.5 * 88.9mm
So my guess is TGC is more accurate in the size department. Those Chinese sizes are "knock-offs" and not exactly the correct Poker card sizes.
The other thing is you need your sleeves to be a BIT BIGGER. Why? So that the cards can FIT in them. The BEST sleeves I've found are:
66 * 91mm
They are ultra tight... hardly any room and when you insert your Poker cards in them, they are VERY snug.
You should be very careful when dealing with Chinese manufacturers for all kinds of "exceptions" to what is STANDARD in stock. They cut all kinds of corners here and there and everywhere.
Their "standards" do not meet US Poker standards. BE CAREFUL!
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 01:39
#22
Different options for different projects
Then go to Bicycle USA then for the standard poker cards.
Seems like no matter the help from other sources from other companies it’s not good enough. I’m just sharing what I know and what I found. My apologies for not knowing everything in the game production industry.
Putting my 2 nope. 1 half cent option out there for others to look for themselves.
I say half a cent because it’s half a thought process by helping out.
Actually. Give me back my half cent back.
I am impressed that you did check out the GuangZhou yuhua company though.
Have a great week Kris.
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 12:14
#23
questccg
Check out Sleeve Kings on Kickstarter...
I did and these people haven't included STANDARD Card Size of 66mm x 91mm. This is the SUPER TIGHT fit for STANDARD Poker Cards!!! There must be some kind of "mistake"??? Why would they make all kinds of sizes and NOT include standard Poker Cards?? I'm just not understanding this I guess...?
Standard Poker cards are 64mm x 89mm.
It's #10. 63.5 x 88 is the listed size.
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 17:28
#24
Not sure either
Standard Poker cards are 64mm x 89mm.
It's #10. 63.5 x 88 is the listed size.
The numeric conversions yield 63.5mm x 88.9mm. That means that #10 is NOT the correct size. They are off by 1mm at the top. Does that mean that my card won't fit exactly??? And the sleeves in question are 66mm x 91mm. Those are the correct sleeve sizes for Standard Poker sized card.
IDK - maybe Bicycle Cards has a Utility Patent for the USA that says their Poker Cards are 63.5 x 88.9mm in size. And nobody else can sell that size of card in the USA... Just a hypothesis. Could be true.
But if TGC cards are 64 x 89mm ... And they FIT 66 x 91mm sleeves... A little tight (no room to move). These #10 seem like they will be a TIGHT fit and short at the top... I could be wrong?!
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 18:29
#25
I'm just gonna assume that
I'm just gonna assume that they tried a card in it :)
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 18:52
#26
The question is...
I'm just gonna assume that they tried a card in it :)
Whose card did they try??? Their OWN, TGC, Bicycle, etc. Believe it or not there are all kinds of sizes of sleeves. I went to a Magic store and did a 15 minute search before finding the right SIZED sleeves... And then I spent another 5 to 10 minutes trying to find ones with a transparent back too.
Had I not known that the perfect fit was 66 x 91mm ... I would have been screwed. But #1 I'm positive none of the others fit Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! or Magic: the Gathering cards. So what are they there for??? I have no clue.
Like I said it's a Chinese Manufacturer ... So my guess is that there are size restrictions for sleeves in the USA. What I mean is that Chinese companies cannot make the exact size, so they modify the specs just a little. And you know this kind of sh!t happens in China. Ways of getting around product restrictions or fair market compete clauses (in the USA).
Bottom line, something doesn't FEEL right about that KS... and those sleeves. I'll personally stick to the UP (Ultra Pros) which I know are 66 x 91mm and can hold 64 x 89 mm Poker sized cards.
Note: It may be a "design" patent... Because the Ultimate Guard "sleeves" quote the size of the sleeve and not the actual size of the cards supported by them. Instead they say something like: "The supreme way to protect your standard sized gaming cards, like Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and others..."
So there must be "something" prohibiting these companies from saying: "Supports 63.5mm x 88.9mm Standard Poker cards"... IDK ... it's a bit strange to me. Patents only last 14 years (20 years from filing). I'm not an expert in this area (US patents) and I've never heard anyone claim that a "design patent" is what the real issue is...
It's just odd...
Tue, 11/20/2018 - 22:54
#27
Draft Chaff is what you're looking for
If you go to any magic draft, players leave what is called chaff (which are the worthless cards) at the ends of the tables for others. It's totally free and you could get a lot of cards.
I'm a big Magic player.
Wed, 11/21/2018 - 19:10
#28
Why?
Why don't you just take a normal playing card and slide it in the back?
Wed, 11/21/2018 - 19:49
#29
Exactly!
Why don't you just take a normal playing card and slide it in the back?
This^^^ (But that assumes that you have the correct sleeves for Poker Cards). And that spawned the whole where do you get sleeves, what sizes, and what brands, etc. Never-ending-story...
thanks everyone. poker cards are cheap (pound shops sell the in packs of 2) unfortunately they are just too small for pennysleeves (making shuffling a pain). i think ebay might be my best bet (i live in the arse end of nowhere so i would have to make a long journey to a game store in the big smoke).
i am not sure weather to invest in smaller sleeves (pricier but will be cheaper on cards) or bigger cards (easier to replace cheaper sleeves)