Trading Cards: Difference between revisions

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Factory sets of all cards in 3 years of production

Trading Cards or Collector Cards were a series of trading cards published by TSR, Inc. between 1991 and 1993. The cards adhere to AD&D 2e rules and were released in three separate yearly series.

Description

The Trading Cards were released in three yearly sets between 1991 and 1993. Each set consists of two different series, and the 1992 and 1993 sets feature additional promotional and rare cards in addition to the main set.

  • 1991 Trading Cards: 750 cards
  • 1992 Trading Cards: 750 + 11 promotional cards
  • 1993 Collector Cards: 495 + 60 rare cards

Packaging

The cards originally came in small foil-wrapper sets of 16 cards each. They contained cards of varying rarity. (pictured at right)
Later, after all cards in a series had been published, a "Factory Set" was issued, containing all the cards (pictured above).

Cards

Example of an individual card front, featuring Seragrimm the Just from the 1991 Greyhawk series.
Example of an individual card back.

Each individual card has the dimensions 63 × 88 mm (2.5 × 3.5 inches), and is printed on cardboard,[1][2] except for uncut sheets of promotional cards included with issues of Dragon magazine.[3]

The front of each card features art, either re-used from other TSR products, or original to the Trading Cards.[4] The art is outlined by a thick, solid-color border,[3] the color of which varies depending on series and/or rarity.[4] The border of each illustration on the card indicated the rarity of each particular version of the card or whether it was from a factory set.

Color Significance
Silver Cards from factory sets[4]
Gold Cards from booster packs[4]
Red Rare version of common cards in the 1993 set[5]
Black 1992 GenCon set[6]

Publishing History

The Trading Cards were first introduced by TSR employee James Ward in issue #160 of Dragon magazine, as an insert of 17 cards. Mostly based on popular characters from various AD&D novels and video games, this insert of "rookie cards" was intended to test the waters for a potential trading card product line. If the Dragon insert proved popular, Ward wanted to release yearly series of cards, featuring both popular TSR artwork and characters, as well as characters and creatures found nowhere else.[3]

The resulting demand resulted in three years' series in 1991, 1992, and 1993 (listed above in Description).

These trading cards were followed by a collectible card game (CCG) announced in the August 1994 issue of Dragon magazine (Dragon #207) called Spellfire: Master the Magic. It included cards based on many of TSR's game worlds, including the Forgotten Realms, Dark Sun, and Greyhawk settings.[7]

Reception

The cards sold very well at the time of their release and were successful for the run of the series. After 1993, TSR (the IP holder at the time) decided to change their model, paralleling the more popular Trading Card Game (TCG) model revolutionized by Wizards of the Coast with their eminently popular Magic: the Gathering game, which had also been introduced in 1993.

Especially in later years, there was rumbling of disapproval of some of the art. In 1991, the first released set used art which previously had graced the covers of TSR products of all types. The design team first worked on the assumption that so many fans had expressed interest in knowing about characters on the covers of books, they'd like information about them in the trading cards. The reuse of art from book covers was criticized, but the interest in book cover characters has always continued. This idea has been reiterated by Wizards of the Coast in more recent products, confirming players' interest in knowing who or what is depicted in art.[8] Though still bought in the tens of millions (39,250,944 were produced in 1992[4] and 50,192,000 were produced in 1994[7]) there were some who expressed discontent with seeing "recycled" art. Despite remarkably successful sales in the first year, the editors decided in subsequent years to concentrate more on custom art for about 95% of the cards.[9]

David M. Ewalt, in his book Of Dice and Men, wrote Spellfire and Dragon Dice "were both expensive to produce, and neither sold very well"[10]:174 However, while both are expensive (and Dragon Dice doubly so) , John Danovich, in the Skrye Checklist and Price Guide, contradicted this claim - Spellfire had high sales[11][12] and sold out every edition of the game from First through fourth editions[13][14] as well as some expansions.[15] Spellfire sale did begin to slide in later years, but it was still doing well enough until the sale of TSR to Wizards of the Coast in May 1997 (when there were still two more expansions on the schedule).[16] Dragon Dice, however, was sold off by TSR picked up and produced by SFR, inc. in 2000[17] and was still being produced in 2021.

List of cards with pages on this wiki


List of all Trading Cards

The collection of AD&D Trading Cards is over 2,000 items.
To keep the page concise, this article and the tables below only list the cards which are relevant to the World of Greyhawk™.

Greyhawk Other setting

1991 series

# Name Setting Note
64 Quiver of Ehlonna & Bow AD&D second edition
77 Seragrimm Greyhawk Rare-2
78 Drendar Greyhawk
109 Salem Ironring Greyhawk
110 Bartolus Menk Greyhawk
111 Donorow Greyhawk
112 Borak Greyhawk
145 Boccob's Blessed Book AD&D second edition
177 Princess Linea Greyhawk
178 Hettman Dorbin Tsurin Greyhawk
179 Mika Greyhawk
180 Sysania Greyhawk
197 Bucknard's Everfull Purse AD&D second edition
214 Griffon Greyhawk
215 Waldo Greyhawk
223 Zadoc Greyhawk
224 Tyrinon Greyhawk Rare-2
299 Mist Wolf Greyhawk
300 Sea Zombie Greyhawk
301 Swordwraith Greyhawk
304 Quagmiela, Green Dragon Greyhawk
305 Kilian Greyhawk
321 Tysiln San Greyhawk
345 Emerentia, Gold Dragon Greyhawk
346 Anuirin Greyhawk
355 Trystan Greyhawk
356 Miles Greyhawk
357 Thorvid Greyhawk
359 Yara Greyhawk
363 Keoghtom's Ointment AD&D second edition
367 Nolzur's Marvelous Pigments AD&D second edition
409 Trent Greyhawk
482 Azalin Ravenloft
494 Mordenkainen Greyhawk
532 Vampiric Mist Greyhawk
537 Sabrita, Shadow Dragon Greyhawk
539 Crypt Thing Greyhawk
572 Kech Greyhawk
574 Hook Horror Greyhawk
635 Murlynd's Spoon AD&D second edition

1992 series

# Name Setting Note
12 Beastman Greyhawk
13 Bonesnapper Greyhawk
16 Dragonnel Greyhawk
21 Anton's Vorpal Blade Greyhawk
24 The Fisher's Trident of Fish Command Greyhawk
26 Tulen's Plate Mail of Etherealness Greyhawk
28 The Modified Talisman of Zagy Greyhawk
29 Gax's Sphere of Annihilation AD&D second edition
30 Quaal's Mystical Feather Token Greyhawk
57 Vordraz Greyhawk
59 Wulgar Harrowsun Greyhawk
71 Grey Agathena Greyhawk
77 Pandaro (The Fox) Greyhawk
83 Jennak Firehand Greyhawk
91 Terilonilae Tai-Koris Greyhawk
94 Aeshallara Corwin Greyhawk
104 Pyn Trillos Greyhawk
106 Dohnibor Greyhawk
109 Brogan Steele Greyhawk
120 Checklist: 81–120 Greyhawk
145 Louie Dulama's Alchemy Jug Greyhawk
150 Theodolus's Cloak of Arachnida Greyhawk
155 Korr's Book of Infinite Spells Greyhawk
165 Mordenkainen Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
166 Bigby Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
167 Nystul Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
168 Otto Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
169 Drawmij Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
170 Otiluke Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
171 Rary the Traitor Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
172 Tenser Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
173 Jallarzi Sallavarian Greyhawk Mini-series: Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight
175 Tasup Greyhawk
192 Joshua DeSaville Greyhawk
194 Kiara of Chendl Greyhawk
198 Belladonna Glasei Greyhawk
201 Fizbot Soulhammer Greyhawk
202 Grott Whakdit Greyhawk
207 Fedorana Greyhawk
213 Ray-el Greyhawk
215 Sir Tolam Greyhawk
220 Raz Greyhawk
224 The Resplendent Crynar Randal Greyhawk
225 Denderorn Greyhawk
263 Phandore's Wand of Fire Greyhawk
264 Osmal's Staff of the Woodlands Greyhawk
302 Lyssa Kuballa Greyhawk
308 Forsythe Greyhawk
314 Korr Breakstone Greyhawk
329 Kamal the Quiet Greyhawk Rare
330 Faelirith Greyhawk Rare
331 Stormsmith Greyhawk Rare
332 Osmal Havendish Greyhawk Rare
333 Theodolus Greyhawk Rare
339 Vigir Jarlsson Greyhawk Rare
342 Nikelti Greyhawk Rare
343 Twissa the Bent Greyhawk Rare
348 Khareef Greyhawk Rare
354 Grendena Greyhawk Rare
355 Phandore Oaktree Greyhawk Rare
356 Cain Blizzard Greyhawk Rare
357 Glenola Oaktree Greyhawk Rare
359 Checklist: 401–440 Greyhawk
372 Mist Dragon - Great Wyrm Greyhawk
373 Skulk Greyhawk
375 Grung Greyhawk
379 Mite Greyhawk
380 Necrophidius Greyhawk
383 Wethilion's Time Bomb Greyhawk
405 Eye of Vecna AD&D second edition Mini-series: Artifacts
406 Hand of Vecna AD&D second edition Mini-series: Artifacts
414 Garril Sotman Greyhawk
417 Willara Greyhawk
432 Stephie Greyhawk
439 Snythe Clobertin Greyhawk
447 Irongrod Greyhawk
515 Hwesta's Talisman of Memorization Greyhawk
526 Greyhawk Dragon Greyhawk Mini-series: Dragons
527 Cloud Dragon Greyhawk Mini-series: Dragons
543 Pyros Silverbane Greyhawk
545 Saskan Greyhawk
550 Stobon Greyhawk
556 Wethilion Greyhawk
562 Kekond Greyhawk
563 Lecitalma Greyhawk
564 Snorpocis Greyhawk
568 Ginsese Greyhawk
569 Dovanalo Greyhawk
574 Logan Greyhawk
580 Amuro Greyhawk
585 Thalessa Greyhawk
596 Solus of the Dim Forest Greyhawk
599 Checklist: 521–560 Greyhawk
618 Hook Horror Greyhawk
619 Taer Greyhawk
620 Sea Zombie Greyhawk
623 Pax's Medallion of Spell Exchange Greyhawk
664 Barnabas Greyhawk
668 Gratillonius Greyhawk
671 Kramer Haldus Greyhawk Rare
672 Malfea Magekiller Greyhawk
683 Jallin / Teela Greyhawk
709 Hwesta "Breeze" Greyhawk
712 Louie Dulama Greyhawk
713 Gordon Shumer Greyhawk
735 Thalios (Maltus Vindir) Greyhawk Promo only
743 Abbolt Nebbathra Greyhawk Promo only

1992 GenCon promo set

# Name Setting Note
9 Gh'alar Greyhawk Adventures

1993 series

# Name Setting Note
11 Green Lady Nenioc Greyhawk Mini-series: Women of Fantasy
48 Dural of the Iron Hills Ravenloft [notes 1]
49 Vadarin Ravenloft [notes 2]
54 Marska Armstrong Greyhawk
93 De'Naire Pruhl Greyhawk
96 Allaranzal Greyhawk
99 Golgomere Greyhawk [notes 3]
102 Trehuger of Gnarley Wood Greyhawk
116 Kyuss, Son of Greyhawk
160 Zander of the Iron Hills Greyhawk [notes 4]
161 Kelth of the Iron Hills Greyhawk [notes 4]
182 Scarecrow Greyhawk
183 Spanner Greyhawk
186 Ashley's Net of Entrapment Greyhawk
217 Tara Armstrong Greyhawk
246 Kyrie's Mask of Disguises Greyhawk
249 Helena Armstrong Greyhawk
260 Kyrie Greyhawk
269 Marissa Octavia Tancred Greyhawk
270 Janus "Bad Penny" Winthwil Greyhawk
272 Flynn Oakplume Greyhawk
295 Morgan's Half Plate Horse Barding +1 Greyhawk
307 Morgan Ravenstar Greyhawk
315 Ashley the Grey Greyhawk
328 Killian Greyhawk
352 Bradlie's Leather Armor +1 Greyhawk
355 Gnaash's Hat of Stupidity Greyhawk
366 Lythia Elaewyn Greyhawk
367 Chubbukoku Greyhawk
369 Vilarus the Showman Greyhawk
370 Jarnia "Nimblefingers" Greyhawk
377 Otter Greyhawk
385 Checklist: 331–385 Greyhawk
388 Sir Duane Govindana Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
389 Ahlaege Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
390 Shadow Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
391 Sheerah Nissassa Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
392 Captain Gahalatine Bascher Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
393 Dorian Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
394 Draga Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
395 Arant Quovant Garday Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
396 Charissa Greyhawk Mini-series: Alliance of Defiance
398 Giant-kin, Voadkyn Greyhawk
400 Needleman Greyhawk
406 Karelia's Wand of Illusion Greyhawk
415 Bradlie Tagart Greyhawk
424 Ferret Greyhawk
437 Noland Tagart Greyhawk
440 Checklist: 386–440 Greyhawk
451 Kingdom of Furyondy Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
452 The Great Kingdom Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
453 Horned Society Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
454 Lands of Iuz Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
455 The Kingdom of Nyrond Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
456 The Shield Lands Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
457 Archclericy of Veluna Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
458 The Free City of Greyhawk Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
459 Viscounty of Verbobonc Greyhawk Mini-series: Arms of Greyhawk
473 Karelia Cogrinder Greyhawk
481 Phil Krisp Greyhawk
486 Gnaash Greyhawk

1993 rare set

# Name Setting Note
25 Loran Greyhawk

References

Notes

  1. Dural is the Father of Zander(#160) and Kelth(#161), and pursued Vadarin(#49) from Greyhawk into Ravenloft
  2. Vadarin was pursued by Dural(#48) from Greyhawk into Ravenloft.
  3. Although Golgomere himself is a Greyhawk character, his hammer(#240) is labeled Forgotten Realms.
  4. a b Zander(#160) and Kelth(#161) search for their missing father, Dural(#48).

Citations

  1. 1991 Trading Cards, card #1
  2. 1993 Trading Cards, card #495
  3. a b c "Trading Cards!".  Dragon #160 (Aug 1990), p.(pullout insert).
  4. a b c d e ""The Game Wizards:Secrets of a Trading Card Guru", David Wise".  Dragon #184 (Aug 1992), p.66-70.
  5. "The Game Wizards: Oh, no—it's the 1993 TSR collector cards!".  Dragon #193 (May 1993), p.71-73.
  6. 1992 Trading Cards, card #1, Gh'alar
  7. a b "The Game Wizards: The Spellfire™ Card Game".  Dragon #207 (Jul 1994), p.56-57.
  8. "Creature Feature: Thessalar". Dragon+, October 2019. Accessed October 2019. Available online: [1] "Earlier editions did not always carry this information. For the reader, this often led to a small mystery as to what these covers were portraying ..."
  9. ""The Game Wizards:Secrets of a Trading Card Guru", David Wise".  Dragon #184 (Aug 1992), p.67. "... a 750-card art order ... Therefore, we contacted a dozen free-lance illustrators and put them to work drawing over 700 separate pieces of art for an all-new collection
  10. Ewalt, David M. (2013) Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It, Scribner ISBN: 978-1-4516-4052-6.
  11. Danovich, John (2001) Skrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide, Krause Publications, p. 409 ISBN: 0-87349-254-4. "... [the "Artifacts"] set, which sold very well and is still sought after ..."
  12. Danovich, John (2001) Skrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide, Krause Publications, p. 396 ISBN: 0-87349-254-4. "No other game achieved such high sales ..."
  13. Danovich, John (2001) Skrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide, Krause Publications, p. 403 ISBN: 0-87349-254-4. "they had sold out from TSR, First Edition through third edition"
  14. Danovich, John (2001) Skrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide, Krause Publications, p. 414 ISBN: 0-87349-254-4. "... with the complete sell-out of the fourth edition/Draconomicon release and the subsequent sellout of Night Stalkers ..."
  15. Danovich, John (2001) Skrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide, Krause Publications, p. 403 ISBN: 0-87349-254-4. "sold-out booster expansions"
  16. Danovich, John (2001) Skrye Collectible Card Game Checklist and Price Guide, Krause Publications, p. 415 ISBN: 0-87349-254-4. "Spellfire was slower .... when TSR, in late 1996, hit the financial wall and the May 1997 sale of the company ... for late 1997, TSR had scheduled Fiends and Incantiontion"
  17. Dragon Dice. Board Game Geek. Retrieved on 14 November 2021.

Bibliography

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Trading Cards on the Forgotten Realms Wiki (view authors.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image