Anonym: The other side of playing cards.

[Eric Lee]

Here's something novel. Playing cards with the courts' backs instead of the faces. Interesting concept, but wish they could have done a bit more in terms of the backs court clothes and tuck along that theme. (Example would be how they did it for the Moonphases flipbook deck also recently launched.) USPCC printed. On the fence for this.

Queen

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Joker

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king

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Tuck

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[guru]

Not for me but it is creative definitely. It reminded me of another deck btw...

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[Eric Lee]

Which deck is that KoH from? I recall seeing it, but can't remember the deck. That was cool.

[shimmering]

It's a very interesting idea and project. A couple of things leap out at me though: I am surprised to see that the queen's headdress is not covering her hair, as that is surely what it is for? and also some of the court card figures are actually already in their usual stance supposed to be standing with their backs to the viewer (incl. the J of hearts).

I know something similar was done with the Rider Waite tarot deck to very good effect ... of course there you have full figure courts and scenery and things so it's a bit easier to see what is actually what in the pictures than with these typical playing card court figures.

[PipChick]

Which deck is that KoH from? I recall seeing it, but can't remember the deck. That was cool.

It's from the Heads Off! Revolutionary Deck - as in a morbid reference to the French Revolution in which all the courts in the deck have been beheaded, just as many nobles were during that time; I'm just a tad disappointed that the designer didn't take the opportunity to illustrate the Joker (the only one in the deck that has kept his head) to be the guillotine executioner

A couple of things leap out at me though: I am surprised to see that the queen's headdress is not covering her hair, as that is surely what it is for?

I agree, this also sorta confused me too

[theCapraAegagrus]

Regular price of $15 for, basically, a standard deck with a bad back design? No chance.

[JuFiN]

interesting idea OK execution awful back design.

[Vilhelmkruse]

Thank you for sharing the project Eric Lee and for your support. My name is Vilhelm and I am one half of the team behind the project.

It has been so much fun creating this project and we are excited to see it go

I would like to share a few words about the unique design. Though out the design phase it has gone through a number of iterations. Different backs and tucks and what not… I am very grateful that we don't all have to agree on that - the two-person team we were was quite enough, I am sure you can imagine

Anyway, one thing that never changed was the very DNA of the project. The core idea was to flip the card around and to see it from the back. Nothing more and nothing less. We did not want to change anything but that. We wanted to create the sensation you know from when your mind sees something - you feel something is off, but you can't tell what it is. To create that effect we've stayed very true to a regular playing card as most people know it without any additional distractions. In effect trying to cut away any clutter that might fight for attention.

To illustrate the point I would like to invite you all in on a little exclusive reveal just for you here at United Cardists. I would like to share with you the earliest conceptual illustration from the project:

I couldn't but fall in love with the project when I saw that illustration and that is how I got involved with the Kickstarter

[JacksonRobinson]

This is just a theory of mine I don't have any real proof, but I think the hand behind the King of Hearts (stabbing his head) is the hand of the queen of spades' hand. Only in traditional courts of course, but if you look at the cuff of the hand stabbing the head the costume is the same as the queen of spades costume...

This is a fun Idea and I like the execution of the courts. Would like to see a little more in the tuck.

[Vilhelmkruse]

@JacksonRobinson - I love your comment. To me, this is exactly what ANONYM is about. It sparks our imagination. Why is the hair not covered? Who is killing who? And where are they all going

[JuFiN]

I think he is saying you should alter the art so the arm is coming from the side off the card as opposed to from his own body.

[Vilhelmkruse]

@ JuFIN I think what JacksonRobinson is doing is sharing a wonderful idea from his vivid imagination. The Suicide King is done and committed to the project, and on this project, we do not change that which has been committed to the project. That would be bad karma in Kickstarter land.

But there are a lot of more court cards to come. Feel free to join in with your ideas. What do you imagine that the court cards a hiding from the back?

[theCapraAegagrus]

@ JuFIN I think what JacksonRobinson is doing is sharing a wonderful idea from his vivid imagination. The Suicide King is done and committed to the project, and on this project, we do not change that which has been committed to the project. That would be bad karma in Kickstarter land.

But there are a lot of more court cards to come. Feel free to join in with your ideas. What do you imagine that the court cards a hiding from the back?

This just isn't true.

Many creators have taken potential supporters' advice, specifically here, to increase the likelihood of project funding. Giovanni Meroni, in particular, removed outside-border color on Odissea at our collective suggestion.

You can choose to be stubborn and keep the project as-is, but it doesn't like like you're going to fund as-is. Just a history lesson for ya.

[Vilhelmkruse]

@TwoPiece I really did not hear JackonRobinson make the suggestion to change the design of the Suicide King. I heard him share the theory, that the Suicide King may not in fact be that suicidal. I find that very interesting and his claim that is supported by others.

Russell Common shared an interesting theory on facebook. "If you looked at the first suicide king, you would notice it was a dagger not a sword. You would also notice the king wore red and the arm with the dagger is gold. The king's other arm is also red. Back then, they liked using circle seals on the clothes. The king showed a half seal and the gold arm had another half seal showing symbolizing different pieces of clothing. Finally, the king is looking away from the dagger. The suicide king is actually the Murdered King. The real meaning got lost through time."

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So what do you think about that theory? Are there more evidence to support it?

[theCapraAegagrus]

@TwoPiece I really did not hear JackonRobinson make the suggestion to change the design of the Suicide King. I heard him share the theory, that the Suicide King may not in fact be that suicidal. I find that very interesting and his claim that is supported by others.

I'm not invested in the theory. I just wanted to correct your assumption that changes corrupt the integrity of the campaign. Considering the lack of support for your project, I would carefully consider all suggestions, and not brush them off without another thought (if I was you). Good luck to you for the rest of the funding period.

[Vilhelmkruse]

@TwoPiece - Your advice is appreciated and welcome. And thank you for the good wishes with the campaign.

Anybody else on the theory of the Suicide King? I'd be really interesting to hear from some experts in the field...

[ICantShuffle]

I always thought that the Suicide King was the result of centuries of "corruption" from the original continental patterns. Originally the KoH was holding an axe above and behind his head so it was slightly obscured. Then after about 4 centuries of artists reproducing and interpreting each other's work for the courts it eventually turned into a sword raised in the same fashion behind the head.

Then again, I always thought it would be cool to make it a reference to Hamlet.

A Bloody Deed, indeed.

[shimmering]

Anybody else on the theory of the Suicide King? I'd be really interesting to hear from some experts in the field...

In terms of the actual history of the design of the card, this is right:

I always thought that the Suicide King was the result of centuries of "corruption" from the original continental patterns. Originally the KoH was holding an axe above and behind his head so it was slightly obscured. Then after about 4 centuries of artists reproducing and interpreting each other's work for the courts it eventually turned into a sword raised in the same fashion behind the head.

You can see a montage with various old versions of this figure with his axe on this page here (note different suits, including one with a spanish style suit ...)

[rousselle]

Russell Common is a very knowledgeable person when it comes to playing card history. I wish we saw him more often around here; he used to be a regular contributor.

That said, I'm dubious of this interpretation of the murdered king, if only because at the time these courts were in production, England and France were monarchies. Representing the murder of a king without a context that makes it clear that it's not threatening the current king -- or monarchy in general -- could, well, cause one to lose one's head. Literally.

That doesn't mean Russell's interpretation is wrong. It simply suggests that if it's true, there must also be some other component of the context of the card that we are still missing.

[ICantShuffle]

England and France were also at each other's throats. Maybe it was one of the Kings' sly innuendo.

I seen Game of Thrones, I know how this royalty thing works.