Variables Distribution
Turn a list of values into every combination, cross several lists, or balance groups by weight, then export cards as CSV, PNG or a print-and-play PDF.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026
Variables Distribution builds groups from the values in your game. Give it the resources, victory points or symbols that can appear on a card, and it lists every combination, or every group that adds up to a target weight, so your deck covers the design space without gaps or duplicates.
What this page helps you do
- List every way to pick N values from a set.
- Combine one value from each of several lists (resource × cost × bonus).
- Build groups that add up to a chosen weight.
- Download the result as a CSV, as one PNG per group, or as a print-and-play PDF.
You'll start from Tools, under the Designing chip.
Open the tool
In the sidebar, open Tools, click Designing, then click Variables Distribution.
Helpful details
- Key areas: three tabs on the left (List of Variables, Cross Distribution, Weighted Distribution), each with a Distribute button, and the results on the right.
- What you can do: values can be words, numbers or emoji ("🪵, 🐑, 🧱, 🌾").
- Good to know: the card is listed under Designing only. What you type is saved to your account and is still there next time.
List of Variables: every combination
Type your values, separated by commas, and set Variables per Group.
Helpful details
- Key areas: the field counts what you entered ("6 Variable(s)").
- What you can do: with values A, B, C, D and 2 per group you get AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD. That is six cards, each pair exactly once.
- Good to know: order does not matter here; AB and BA are the same group.
Cross Distribution: one from each list
Set Number of Groups, then fill each Group N Variables list.
Helpful details
- Key areas: one comma-separated list per group, with example placeholders such as "1 VP, 2VP, 3 VP" or "$5, $10".
- What you can do: list 1 holds resources, list 2 holds costs, list 3 holds bonuses. The tool produces every combination with one value from each list.
- Good to know: every list needs at least one value, or the tool asks you to fill it in.
Weighted Distribution: groups that add up
Type Variables, their matching Weights, and a Target Weight per Group.
Helpful details
- Key areas: the two lists must have the same number of entries ("A, B, C" with "1, 2, 1"). Two switches: Allow variables to repeat in groups and Treat groups with the same variables in different order as identical.
- What you can do: find every set of symbols whose weights sum to, say, 4, to make cards of equal strength.
- Good to know: turning repeats on lets a value appear more than once in one group (A, A, B).
Read and export the results
Click Distribute. The right side shows "Total Groups: N" and one card per group.
Helpful details
- Key areas: Download as CSV (one row per group), Download as PNGs (one image per
group, named
variable-cards-group-1.pngand so on) and Download PNP (an A4 print-and-play PDF namedvariable-cards.pdf). - What you can do: open the CSV in a spreadsheet to add names and flavour text, or print the PDF for a quick playtest.
- Good to know: the PNP file is made by the same engine as P&P Cards Layout, without its layout options.
Tips & common questions
Does the tool show statistics or a histogram? No. It generates groups. For the odds of a dice roll, use the Dice Roller and a bit of arithmetic.
Can I import a spreadsheet? No. Paste the values as a comma-separated line into the tab you need.
How do I avoid near-duplicate cards? Use List of Variables or Cross Distribution: each combination appears exactly once.
Why are there so many groups? Combinations grow fast. Three lists of five values give 125 groups. Trim a list, or raise the target weight in Weighted Distribution.