SpiralngCadavr Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 So, this is a pretty big shift from most of what I've been doing. I thought I'd share here, what with Malifaux being card/fate-based. (Also, I'd wanted to do a Malifaux-themed deck some time ago, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who's wanted to.) For the record, Tarot decks are 78 cards, which include 4 suits (1-10, 4 face cards) and 22 trump cards (0-21), so would be useable with Malifaux (which is definitely what I plan to do once I get these printed) If you want to leave feedback, I'd greatly appreciate it (either here, or on my blog) The title pages to chapters of a graphic novel I've been illustrating are tarot cards. I did some very basic research when initially illustrating these, but, as I did more, I became more invested in the process, and refined my vision of the cards. At a certain point, I realized I wanted to actually create a whole tarot deck, and put more research into the aesthetics of the cards. These cards are based on the most popular illustrations of the Marseille imagery, and I tried to keep the sensibility of the original designs, while modernizing some of the graphics for consistency and legibility. Design Other than the illustration style itself, some of the notable design choices I made: -The numbered cards (1-10) have their numbers marked in the corners, per regular playing cards, for ease scanning. Numerals have been replaced with the more common variants (for instance, 9 is "IX" instead of "VIIII"). -All shading is from the upper-left corner, making it easier to quickly determine orientation -Each of the basic numbered cards' bottom number is gold, to make the orientation doubly clear -The swords and wands (clubs, etc.) were based on the least similar historical variations I could find within the aesthetic sense: Instead of the more traditional flared ends on both, the wands have rounded tips while the swords are partially unsheathed. -The suits have more heavily consistent colors, with the swords & wands emphasizing blue, and the cups & coins emphasizing red, both in the dominant colors and in the shading hue. These match the respective regular suits of spades & clubs (blue instead of black) and hearts & diamonds. -The face cards in each suit feature matching details (such as the capes in the above set) to repeat visual notes without limiting palate. -A number of proportions on the illustrated cards and ornamentations on the numbered cards have been altered remove some of the more distracting proportion issues and open up the graphic space on some of the number cards, while attempting to remain faithful to the style and content of the originals.Feedback So, these are a draft that I consider quite close to done, and I'll be putting up the other suits as they're completed, but I'm looking for feedback. (Note: these include bleed for printing, so the margins will be smaller once printed) I recognize that there are details I may have missed or ignored, regarding some of the more specific or historical connotations. I'm okay with this (and hope you are, too): The focus on this deck is aesthetics and legibility. However, details are important for functionality (as a factor of being able to read the cards' meanings), too, so, my first feedback question (if you happen to know your tarot): -Are there details I've gotten wrong that are absolutely essential to the cards? ex: Did I misinterpret water as ground or elide some detail all iterations contain? (This is opposed to details I missed, that aid in certain interpretations or are in many versions.) Also, the other aspect of functionality yields another feedback request: -Are there ways I could improve legibility? Are there choices I've made which make cards harder to read? More generally, I'd gladly welcome constructive criticism on content or style, though obviously it's a bit late to change any major stylistic elements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 I've done quite a few more cards, and fine-tuned the ones I've completed further. The biggest addition you'll notice is the addition of trim color. Having spent a while studying my tarot deck, I realized how important it was to be able to quickly scan suits. (more design notes and images here I've added the 2nd draft of the Swords, and the current Cups below. Again, if you've got any constructive criticism, I'd appreciate it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectrehorseman Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 It's a lot better than I could do but I'm not really into the art style all that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Sorry, I'm, ah, not sure how to respond to that? Is there something in particular you'd want to see changed? The next two suits, with a few notes via link. Most notable was the removal of the "stains," as they were feeling artificial. Note 2: the 2 of coins will be getting new text due to a different translation 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectrehorseman Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 No, don't change anything. I was just saying it's a damn good job. I'm just not into the art. I can tell you've spent a good amount of planning and time on it. I just wanted to give you props rather than have your work just go unnoticed at all with no replies. Nobody had replied so I thought I'd give you something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2014 Oh, thanks One of those things where pure text doesn't convey tone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cy Dudley Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 Will you also be doing the major arcana? I like the older feel of the set so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Yep, it's definitely containing the full deck, just saving the showiest ones for last And thanks on the style, I really like the weird sense of style and character from back then: I tried to keep the sensibility with most changes just being about legibility and removing the clutter (plus adding a bit of my own art style). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 The deck design (squarer than the box, PS. a preview of the Trumps/Arcana), and the back of the cards: (Also, notes on illustration and testing materials, here) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 So, we just launched the deck through Kickstarter yesterday (very excited to see it starting smoothly). A little more info on the deck: Unlike most modern tarot decks, this one is based on one that was preceded the fortune-telling aspect of things. It was for the game called French Tarot (originally the Italian "Tarrochi"), a type of trick-taking game invented in the 15th century, which is the basis for a lot of different European games. Our deck is largely designed with the tarot family of card games in mind, and we tested our deck design on these games to be sure it worked well for the playing card side of things. An interesting note, the Marseille style of deck is a predecessor to both modern "poker" style cards and tarot cards (it eventually became the standard deck used for divination, before more modern ones were developed), so it occupies a similar place to the sensibility of Malifaux, existing at the crossroads between a game and fate. (Personally, I'm looking forward to playing TTB and a Zoraida crew with this deck) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 So, we're officially funded and into stretch goal territory! We've improved the cards to linen coating, replaced the tuck flap boxes with heavier land & top ones, and illustrated the honorary 79th tarot card, of Simpsons fame: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted July 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 We've hit quite a few more stretch goals since yesterday! Our bags will be nicer and we're now offering prints. Also, probably more important to gamers, we're now able to print a booklet of game rules to go with our deck, and have dramatically expanded our PDF of additional games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted August 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 A heads-up, the kickstarter's closing tonight (pacific time time) with just a couple stretch goals left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted June 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Hi, thought I'd give a little nudge to this old thread. First, thanks to everyone who helped with the last KS, couldn't have done it without you (well, I guess that's kinda' the point). Second, my newest project is Tightrope: The Illusion of Height, a circus-noir set just before the American Depression. We've got the requisite link to the KS, but the comic is also free on our site (Thanks in advance for checking us out ) I've also written an article on how interrelated my illustration and minis are, with an emphasis on Malifaux, since it's inspired me to do much of my most experimental and narrative work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clockwork Top Hat Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 I'm not such a big fan of these style of cards (personal taste) but the art is amazing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted June 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Thanks! The comic is really how I love to draw, while the cards were quite the artistic exercise, trying to essentially work with someone else's material in my own style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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