The Next Jocu Playing Cards Project

[Jocu]

... made you look.

Hey guys! Nothing to see here but I'd like some input.

Our next project will be something different to our previous two as we look to expand our decks into different worlds and themes as well as different styles and appeal to different people.

This next project will be a theme I think you'll all love, and we're looking at doing things on the campaign side a little differently.

We've come up with two standard decks, and two awesome premium versions that we would like to do from the start but will likely have to be stretch goals as they come with a lot of features that we can't compromise on and will cost a little more than usual.

This means, however, that the standard variants will be much cheaper than our usual decks - probably 11-12€ as standard rather than €14. They will have nice matte tucks with opaque foil rather than printing, whereas the premium ones will be stretch goals and come with all the bells and whistles.

My main question at this point is how many standard variants is too many? The theme lends itself to two particular colours, but I feel that while individually they look great they may not contrast as much as say, the classic Red and Blue decks would. For this I'm thinking of offering three variants that have more contrast together.

This would mean 3 initial variants and at least one main stretch goal premium version.

Would 3 standard variants be a turnoff? Or should we go for it?

Really excited about this one...!

[Harvonsgard]

... made you look.

LOL... jester.

Will the three decks be as different as Fillide Acqua and Terra or are we talking about real design differences as well?

If the second is the case I would say go for it. The first scenario - not so much but still depends.

[Jocu]

... made you look.

LOL... jester.

Will the three decks be as different as Fillide Acqua and Terra or are we talking about real design differences as well?

If the second is the case I would say go for it. The first scenario - not so much but still depends.

For the standard editions it would be a colour variant apart from some changes to the jokers and/or ad cards. I'm thinking from a magic/cardistry perspective as this deck will be much more 'standard' than our previous ones with custom but standard courts and larger numbers. They're really made for playing and using.

The premium editions will likely break the mould with the internal design, foiling and so on but also the tucks will have a different design.

So I'm thinking unless the standard variants are significantly different apart from just colour, 2 is enough and 3 is too many?

EDIT Apparently I know nothing - Ale was already planning colour palette differences between the courts of all standard decks to match the palette of the backs, plus completely different Ace of Spades in all decks.

[Harvonsgard]

Hmm... I'd love to pick so having different options (and more thereof) is always nice, but I most likely wouldn't get all versions. For example from Fillide I just backed the Acqua edition. But maybe it's just me... .

[hsbc]

For example from Fillide I just backed the Acqua edition. But maybe it's just me... .

Ha, I did the same thing I'll pick up a Terra deck if I ever see one for cheap though

[kem-collector]

Well, most don't like having TOO many variants, especially when claims of "limited editions" are mentioned. Two is where I usually like to see it, which a stretch goal for an Exclusive. That being said, I could get behind three standard editions - but I think the best way to do it is to not lock the exclusive deck behind a requirement to pledge for all three standards as well as have a means to allow people to pledge for just the colors they want. Say your SE decks come in red, blue and orange. I hate orange..don't want it. But your Exclusive deck will be Purple and Green (and I love purple and green). Don't make me pledge for the orange deck to get the Exclusive one. This can easily be done with Backerkit, where you just choose which decks you want at the end...otherwise, your tiers can get messy.

Also, some will frown if you use the same card faces/courts/pips/etc. on 3 or more standard editions - basically just a color swap.

[Jocu]

Thanks for the input so far - looking at some of my favourite campaigns and the most successful campaigns I'd agree with you. Two decks and a special edition seems to be the best way to go. Perhaps in future if people like it we can consider new variants but maybe outside of Kickstarter.

Thanks guys!

[STLBluesNut]

I think if you take a look at Gio's (Thirdway Industries) campaigns, he knows how to do it. He generally has 2 Standard versions and 1 deluxe. However, all 3 decks are different, not just color swap standards.

It sounds like you are offering more on the standard editions, matte and foil, so that is a plus.

Where it takes the most downturn for me, as a collector, is standard courts. I do not back or buy many decks with standard courts. I know, I know. Some tweak the standard a little. A line here and there. Change a face. Add a book instead of a flower, etc. And call them custom. The best is when they "customize" them to look standard.

To me, if they look standard at a glance, they are standard even if they are "custom standard".

If you are going to use the same courts for 2 different standard versions but the tucks and backs are different colors, then the courts should be recolored as well, again imo.

If you are selling more than one deck in a campaign, I would always rather they be treated as separate decks. Just color and tuck differences are generally not enough for me to buy all decks offered. If the decks are the same then generally I will buy only the premium deck and if I cannot get that by itself without getting the standard deck I usually just pass on both.

Sent from my S10+ using Tapatalk

[Jocu]

I think if you take a look at Gio's (Thirdway Industries) campaigns, he knows how to do it. He generally has 2 Standard versions and 1 deluxe. However, all 3 decks are different, not just color swap standards.

It sounds like you are offering more on the standard editions, matte and foil, so that is a plus.

Where it takes the most downturn for me, as a collector, is standard courts. I do not back or buy many decks with standard courts. I know, I know. Some tweak the standard a little. A line here and there. Change a face. Add a book instead of a flower, etc. And call them custom. The best is when they "customize" them to look standard.

To me, if they look standard at a glance, they are standard even if they are "custom standard".

If you are going to use the same courts for 2 different standard versions but the tucks and backs are different colors, then the courts should be recolored as well, again imo.

If you are selling more than one deck in a campaign, I would always rather they be treated as separate decks. Just color and tuck differences are generally not enough for me to buy all decks offered. If the decks are the same then generally I will buy only the premium deck and if I cannot get that by itself without getting the standard deck I usually just pass on both.

Sent from my S10+ using Tapatalk

Thanks for the input!

Yeah we would never use 'standard' courts as in literally using the file that the printer sends you. Ale is redrawing them all from scratch but they are done in a way that will be familiar to casual card users. I guess along the lines of Lorenzos's 'standard' courts that are in fact completely redone but in the form of the classics.

Ale isn't too comfortable keeping all the central details the same and wants to play with the colours anyway, so our standard may be a little less 'standard' than expected but it's nothing like what we've done before with creating unique characters for every court.

This deck will be all about the theme, the colours, the materials and creating practical, affordable cards to use. That's why we want a 'Jocu Standard' courts that we can use for such decks in future.

EDIT - Just actually looked at Lorenzo's standard courts and I'd say what we're working on is actually quite significantly different to them as they keep similar faces, colours and patterns as well. I will post some examples when I can to get some feedback.

I guess it's hard for us collectors to really see. One friend of ours asked upon seeing even Fillide's courts 'did you not want to change the court cards at all?'. Laymen see the positioning and the facial structure and think 'king' or 'queen'. We scrutinise every detail so I'm not sure what the reaction will be

Good points about not restricting the premium decks to those with the standards - duly noted!