Are playing cards better than dice for RPGs?
Role-playing games (RPGs) thrive on unpredictability, creativity, and strategic decision-making. While polyhedral dice have long been the go-to tool for resolving actions and determining outcomes in RPGs, BattleSauce also uses playing cards to offer a versatile alternative that opens up new dimensions (pun intended) of gameplay and unique advantages to the RPBG table or, as we say, RolePlaying BoardGame.
The House of the Rising Spade playing cards by Stockholm 17.
Dice of any kind provide a random element crucial to RPGs - which is why we also use them -and they're beautiful and fun to collect. We're not lunatics, after all. But with playing cards, we can offer versatility beyond randomness. A standard deck of cards contains four suits, two colors, numbers, art, and jokers, allowing for diverse possibilities and strategic decisions. This diversity enables players and SauceBosses to assign specific meanings or actions to different cards, infusing strategy into gameplay.
Another significant advantage of playing cards in RPGs is the ability to customize characters and their abilities. With dice, character customization often relies on numerical attributes and random chance. However, playing cards introduce a more nuanced approach. Specific cards represent unique abilities, skills, strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits. This customization grants players more control over their characters' development and the evolution of their abilities throughout the game.
Dystopia playing cards by Joker and the Thief
Playing cards also offer a level of control that dice cannot match. In contrast to the inherent randomness of dice rolls, playing cards encourage strategic decision-making, providing players with a sense of agency by strategically managing their deck of cards. Players must make choices based on their cards and the situation, considering when to play certain cards for maximum impact. Do they use their powerful cards now, risking having fewer options later, or do they hold onto them for crucial moments? This strategic element adds depth to the gameplay, challenging players to think tactically and plan their actions ahead of time.
Fantasma playing cards by Thirdway Industries
While polyhedral dice and their click-clackiness remain a staple in RPGs for their simplicity, randomness, and collectability, playing cards offer a dynamic alternative that introduces strategy, customization, greater control over outcomes, and even more collectability; for example, I have over 400 unique, beautifully designed decks - each design providing a distinctive mechanic.
Fae playing cards by Bicycle
The versatility of cards allows for a more refined approach to character development, strategic decision-making, and narrative flexibility. Incorporating playing cards into BattleSauce has elevated the gaming experience, creating richer stories and engaging in more strategic and immersive gameplay.
