Magic Item Cards and the Economy: Why They're More Than Just a Game

Magic item cards are an essential tool for players and Game Masters alike in tabletop role-playing games. These cards serve as physical representations of magical items that characters can possess and use throughout their adventures. They provide a convenient way to keep track of important details and stats about each item, making it easier for players to reference and remember their effects. Magic item cards typically include information such as the name of the item, its type, and a brief description of its appearance or function. They also often list the item's properties, such as its rarity, attunement requirements, and any special abilities or effects it grants. Some cards may even include artwork or illustrations to help visualize the item.

March is not made for screwball—he spends most of the movie looking vaguely confused, as if he’s just been struck over the head, and not all of that can be purely character. Being compared to Cary Grant as a screwball male lead is rough business for just about anyone, but Grant (and Joel McCrea and William Powell…) bring out the humor in their situations by becoming stridently indignant, as if they can’t believe that this latest jape has affected them, of all people; of course, this only gets funnier as they continue to act in much the same affronted way even after sixty or seventy minutes of silliness. March doesn’t have silly in him, and the replacement for it—humility—is not funny. Bashfulness is its own species of funny, as proven by Henry Fonda in The Lady Eve, but the general self-effacing charm of Wallace Wooley is not the same at all. There are some moments in this movie (and in other ones, obviously) where he gets a laugh. One of Wallace Wooley’s forbears, who bears a marvelous resemblance to Abraham Lincoln, decides there’s no other way to get away from his wife short of the Civil War. He grabs someone’s attention. Where’s the nearest recruiting office! he yells, and he pulls it off. But there are lines in there which cry out for a McCrea or a Grant or a Gable. In their first scene together, Jennifer (Lake) lures Wally into a burning building as a memorable way for the two of them to meet. Wally thinks that he’s part of a desperate rescue attempt, and so he is not adequately distracted by the nude woman asking him if she isn’t pretty. “Who cares?” he cries, and the movie crumples at the edges a little bit.

There is a prurience in Lake s screen presence which would have made her a pleasure to dub in an Italian movie two decades later, or which wouldn t have been out of place in America s miraculous seventies. Prior to the film s release, Lake was one of Paramount s newest starlets, with her instantly iconic blonde hair styled in a peek-a-boo part, and her leading roles in dramas like I Wanted Wings and Preston Sturges s comedy Sullivan s Travels.

Some cards may even include artwork or illustrations to help visualize the item. Using magic item cards during play can greatly streamline the game experience. Instead of needing to constantly reference a rulebook or ask the Game Master for details about an item, players can simply look at the card in front of them.

Long before Bewitched, Veronica Lake brought witchcraft to the rom-com

Every day, Watch This offers staff recommendations inspired by the week’s new releases or premieres. This week: The Witch has us staring deeply into our bubbling cauldron, in search of other superb movies about witchcraft.

I Married A Witch (1942)

The long-running television series Bewitched is probably the best-known use of witches in romantic comedy, but a film about a beautiful witch attracted to an uptight dope actually beat Bewitched to production by over two decades (and may have inspired its more popular TV counterpart). I Married A Witch stars Veronica Lake as Jennifer, a witch with an origin story more appropriate for a horror film: She and her father (Cecil Kellaway) were both burned to ash during the Salem witch trials. In revenge, the still-sentient pair places a spell on the family of the man who exposed them. Hundreds of years later, Jennifer and her father return to corporeal form to further torment descendant Wallace Wooley (Frederic March).

Specifically, she aims to help along her curse that dooms every Wooley male to marry the wrong woman. Wallace, a candidate for governor, is already well on his way, engaged to Estelle (Susan Hayward), but Jennifer endeavors to seduce and abandon him anyway. She only further complicates matters by actually developing feelings for her prey, much to the chagrin of her vengeful father. Various transmogrifications, revelations, and general shenanigans ensue. I Married A Witch is fairly heavy on incident for a 77-minute movie; it has the bones of a screwball comedy, but with a more whimsical soul.

The unforced sense of whimsy helps along a romantic comedy that’s more charming than uproariously funny. Lake wasn’t necessarily a comedian by trade, but she’s winning here as she makes mischief, then surprises herself with real human emotion. Her iconic look also contributes to I Married A Witch’s visual lushness. Though the film’s witches aren’t horror-movie villains, director René Clair nonetheless uses the witchcraft conceit to conjure some gorgeous black-and-white images, most memorably the process by which Jennifer morphs from a plume of smoke with voiceover to full Veronica Lake knockout status. The spell her father uses to summon her new human body requires a large amount of fire, so Lake emerges naked from inside a burning building—her modesty protected by an unsuspecting Wallace, of course. The movie is a trifle, but a good one; even small doses of magic can be intoxicating.

Availability: I Married A Witch is available on Criterion Blu-ray and DVD from Netflix or your local video store/library. It’s also streaming on Hulu Plus.

This allows for quicker decision-making and keeps the game flowing smoothly. In addition to being useful during gameplay, magic item cards can also serve as great resources for inspiration and storytelling. Players can draw a sense of excitement and anticipation from physically holding and examining these cards, imagining the possibilities that await their characters. Game Masters can also use magic item cards to spark ideas for new adventures or plot hooks, as the cards often provide hints or lore about the item's origins or history. Overall, magic item cards are a useful and engaging addition to any tabletop RPG. They enhance gameplay by providing a tangible representation of magical items and help players and Game Masters alike keep track of important details. Whether used for convenience, inspiration, or both, magic item cards are a valuable tool in the world of role-playing games..

Reviews for "The Magic Item Card Market: How to Buy and Sell with Confidence"

1. Sarah - 1/5 stars: Magic item cards are a complete waste of money. I bought a pack hoping to add some fun and variety to my role-playing game, but they turned out to be nothing more than glorified cheat sheets. The cards are poorly designed, with small font sizes and confusing layouts. Instead of enhancing gameplay, they made it more frustrating and time-consuming. Save your money and stick to the traditional method of writing down item descriptions on pencil and paper.

2. John - 2/5 stars: I was disappointed with the Magic item cards. While they seemed like a convenient way to have quick access to in-game items, the execution fell short. The cards I received were flimsy and easily damaged, not to mention the artwork was lackluster. Additionally, the selection of cards included in the set was limited and did not provide enough variety for my gameplay needs. I ended up resorting to using online resources and printable item sheets instead. Overall, I wouldn't recommend investing in these cards unless significant improvements are made.

3. Emily - 1/5 stars: Magic item cards were a letdown. The quality was subpar, with cheap cardstock that turned bent easily. The descriptions provided on the cards were also lacking crucial information, leaving me confused during gameplay. The artwork on the cards was underwhelming, lacking the detail and creativity I was expecting. Considering the price of these cards, I expected a much better product. I wouldn't recommend wasting your money on them.

4. Mark - 2/5 stars: Magic item cards were a disappointment for me. The selection of cards included in the pack was limited and did not cover a wide range of item types. I found myself needing to create my own cards manually, defeating the purpose of purchasing the product in the first place. Additionally, the layout of the cards was not intuitive, making it difficult to quickly find the information I needed during gameplay. Overall, the concept of magic item cards is great, but the execution needs improvement for it to be a worthwhile investment.

5. Laura - 2/5 stars: I was not impressed with the Magic item cards. The cards themselves were flimsy and prone to getting damaged easily. The information provided on the cards was insufficient and often left me needing to consult additional resources to fully understand the items and their effects. The artwork on the cards was also mediocre, lacking the attention to detail that would have added immersion to the game. In my opinion, these cards need a complete overhaul to be considered a valuable addition to any role-playing game.

Exploring the World of Magic Item Card Artists: A Look at Their Work