[BlackSheep]

Originally Posted by Darklord

How many of those games use poker-sized cards instead of bridge sized cards, have a UV gloss coat for protection (instead of just printing on vanilla coated stock), and are printed on 300 GSM stock?

Based on a quick check with a ruler, looks like a half-and-half split between poker-sized and bridge-sized. Honestly, until you mentioned it I wasn't even aware there were two different standard sizes for playing cards. I certainly wouldn't pay significantly more for a difference of a few millimetres.

I don't know much about card finishes or stock, and I don't have any Powerstorm cards to compare, so you'd have to ask Shannon about that. He pays quite close attention to components. I can say that in my experience the cards from standalone games hold up better than CCG cards, which is why everyone uses deck protectors. Glossy cards just don't seem to hold up against textured or regular ones.

A notable example is Bang. We've had a copy for years, it regularly gets played with half a dozen people, often at the pub or during a snack break, and it's still perfect. 110 hard-wearing linen-textured cards for an RRP of $10.

Originally Posted by Darklord

May depend on the circles you travel in.

Obviously. Over here even the people who buy boxes still drop a tenner for a handful of booster packs from time to time.