Interested in designing a tabletop game with Tabletop Simulator? It'due south one of the best environments for play testing, and there's a secret deck editing programme hidden inside Tabletop Simulator'southward library files. Today we'll learn how to use information technology.

What Is Tabletop Simulator Deck Editor?

If you lot're creating a game for Tabletop Simulator (TTS), importing a card deck typically means carefully stitching the cards together on top of a menu sheet template in a photograph editing program. If you want to skip the difficult work and get more fine-tuned command of your deck, however, there's a tool available to yous in TTS's local folders.

It's called Tabletop Simulator Deck Builder, and it'southward a community-built, Coffee-based program that helps yous slice together your deck and customize information technology with ease.

You'll need to have TTS installed on your device in order to utilize the Deck Architect. Also annotation that in gild to work properly, the Deck Architect requires yous to have the latest version of Java installed.

For a good, high-quality deck, brand sure your bill of fare images are of a decently high resolution before importing. Don't forget to cull your back design and a "hidden" carte confront pattern. With all of those elements in paw, let'due south get started building a custom deck.

Download: Tabletop Simulator on Steam ($19.99)

How to User Tabletop Simulator Deck Builder

If you've built decks with TTS deck templates before, using the Deck Builder is a straightforward process.

Step 1: Launch TSDB

  • Launch Steam and find TTS in your game library.
  • Click Manage, and in the drop-down menu, click Manage > Scan local files.
  • In the Tabletop Simulator folder, open Modding > Deck Architect.
  • Launch TSDB_v2.3.0.jar (your version number might exist different).

For ease of use, create a desktop shortcut to the JAR file once yous find it.

Pace 2: Add Cards

  • Click New Deck and start dragging and dropping card paradigm files into the deck grid. Alternatively, you lot tin click File > Add Cards or hit Ctrl+A to scan for the image files.
  • You can easily create duplicates past copying a card (Ctrl+C) and and so clicking on the slot you want the indistinguishable to appear and pasting information technology (Ctrl+V).
  • You tin add together up to 69 cards in each deck. The last menu slot is for your "subconscious" carte. TTS defaults to using it to represent a carte du jour when information technology's in a "hidden" view (in a role player's hand, for example).

Step 3: Arrange Cards

Click on cards to see information technology enlarged. Yous can click and drag cards to rearrange them.

Tabletop Simulator Deck Builder Card Sheet View

Keep in mind that the order you set the deck sheet in is the guild the deck volition be in when it'southward imported. You don't have to take a card in each slot, but for the number of cards yous do want, you must fill each row one at a fourth dimension, from left-to-right.

Step four: Modify Deck Appearance

  • Resize your cards past clicking Options > Card Size.... Adjusting the size will apply to the entire deck, non but the currently selected bill of fare.
  • Adapt the background color by clicking Options > Background Color.... The Deck Builder will use the background color to any transparency in the image files, then brand sure it's the color you want. The default volition be black.

Pace five: Save and Export

  • Salvage by clicking File > Save Deck or hitting Ctrl+S. Information technology will salve your deck every bit a .TSDB file that you lot can reopen later and fine-tune your deck.
  • Once it's set for gameplay, consign your deck past clicking File > Export Deck or hitting Ctrl+E.
  • Annotation that y'all shouldn't export a deck sail that's whatever larger than 5000x5000px.
Tabletop Simulator Deck Builder Export Dialog

Step 6: Import into TTS

Your deck should now exist ready to import and starting time gaming with. Outset a game in TTS and click the Objects button at the top of the screen. Then click Components > Custom > Deck and observe your card sheet.

Upload it to your Steam Cloud and suit whatsoever settings y'all need to. TTS should, however, automatically predict your settings when it processes your sheet.

Importing a Custom Deck in Tabletop Simulator

Remember that if you want unique backs for the cards in your deck, you'll need to create a mirroring deck with those dorsum designs and and then bank check the Unique Backs option in the import dialog.

Tabletop Simulator Menu Tricks

Every bit a game designer, you now have a few tricks up your sleeve cheers to the TTS Deck Architect. If you're designing a game and need absurd artwork for your cards, consider increasing your ability past learning a new pattern skill.

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About The Author

Jordan Gloor (51 Articles Published)

Hashemite kingdom of jordan is a erstwhile staff writer at MUO who'south passionate about making Linux accessible and stress-free for everyone. He also writes guides on privacy and productivity.

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