Barclay Mountain Deck in development

[rjtomlinson1977]

I've been working on a self branded (Barclay Mountain deck) for awhile now. I'm still deciding on a few things before I reveal all. I'm leaning towards USPCC as the printer, however I'm open to using others. The deck might utilize UV inks that can only be seen under ultraviolet light. This way I can do a true treasure hunt. In the past, I've toyed around hiding codes and messages in decks but this would be next level stuff. That's if I decide to do it. I might leave it out. Let me know what you think.
This cover design was done by a much more talented artist then me. I was criticized on my last deck which didn't fund, so I hired someone to help with the design. I'm mainly serving as art director and doing some of the inside card designs. The two tracks represent a incline plane that was located on Barclay Mountain. This was used to haul coal from the top of the mountain down to the railroad for transport to NYC. As a loaded coal cart came down the mountain, a pulley system would pull the empty cart back up the mountain on the other side of the track.

[Harvonsgard]

I like experimental and not-within-the-norm-stuff so I would love to see this feature with the UV inks you mentioned. Back looks good for me but be prepared for the comments about one-way back designs, haha.

[rjtomlinson1977]

This is the cover design. The back design might be one way but it won't be as obviously one way as this is. The back will feather two snakes chasing (eating) each others tail. It will also have locomotive train and pickaxes and axes. The back design will still be one way. The artist I'm working with is from Russia so communication is sometimes hard. What he's doing looks good so I'm happy.

[rjtomlinson1977]

Two way or one way back design? The problem with the two way back design is the fact that one snake has two heads... eating a snake body with no heads.
Also, should the blue be there or just solid gold color?

[rousselle]

Regarding blue: love it! That's a keeper!

Regarding two heads and two tails versus two regular snakes: the way other designers get around this is by not having that kind of knot in the middle that gets the snakes turned around, so you either need to figure out a different knot, or you need to have a one-way back, because that snake with two heads eating a snake with two tails is going to drive some of us absolutely crazy.

But, that's just one person's opinion. There may be other folks here who are wrong.

[Entaro]

I like the added color better but two way > one way

[rjtomlinson1977]

Here's the cover with the added blue effect. I like the blue because it gives it a otherworldly vibe. Which (if I do decide to do my international treasure hunt) it will go with my theme.
I'm torn between the two-way and one way. I would prefer two way but the odd snake messes with my OCD.
I'll see what I can do but I also like the infinity symbol in the middle. This also plays into the treasure hunt... if I go that route. I'm still on the fence. All the people I tell the idea to act like I'm speaking Russian (and don't seem to understand).
In a nutshell... I'm getting a 6x6" rigid cardboard box that will contain two decks. This box will be a little over two inches deep so I can include "evidence". This "evidence" will be similar (but better quality) to what you would get from Hunt a Killer or similar detective stories. Following the clues you will be lead on a international treasure hunt. Of course, you won't be expected to leave the comfort of your homes. I'm designing it to be 100% online. The prize will be a challenger coin featuring the biting snake on one side and the infinity snake on the other side (whichever version we decide on).
There will be between 50 to 100 challenger coins awarded.
That's if I go this route. I might just do playing cards and nothing more. I'm certain I'll be printing with USPCC because others have raised their prices. Even WJ is more costly than USPCC now (once you factor in shipping from China).

[rjtomlinson1977]

I might have a way to make it work. I'll try it tomorrow once I'm not so tired.

[Harvonsgard]

+1 for blue - adds depth.

I'd say two-way isn't a huge problem here. I for my part - due to the knot in the middle - can easily unsee the double headed snake. If you change the tools in the corner of the one-way back (same placement as two-way) it's not too obvious at first glance, imo.

[rjtomlinson1977]

Here's what I have for a tuck case so far. Someone on Facebook suggest doing an extra wrap of the bodies in the middle to help make it look like two snakes. Should the text be the same color as the image or white?
There's still some work that needs to be done but this is what I have so far. I did a Bicycle branded version.. which I posted on my Facebook but I don't think it's nearly as nice.

[Entaro]

Yea I'm not a fan of making things bike just to make them bike and adding the logo reduces the size on the front image which takes away from the details there

[Harvonsgard]

+1

[rjtomlinson1977]

Here's the prototype wood box for the project.
I'm still on the fence about the hunt style game. I need your opinion of whether I should do it or just do the cards. If I do the hunt, I'll be using a rigid two piece cardboard box (similar to a board game box). This wood box is just a add-on. The two piece rigid box would be 6x6 inches square and a little over 2 inches deep. Inside the box would be a insert for two decks of cards. The cards would look relatively normal to the naked eye but under ultraviolet light they would reveal things (clues and messages). The box would also include a field journal (also with clues and the story from the perspective of the missing person). Included with the playing cards and field journal would be other items as well... all designed to help solve the case.
The case involves a missing magician from Denmark. Her name is August Jansen, the great granddaughter to Harry August Jansen (Dante the Magician). Through the story we find out that August was a magician herself and was following a family legend where her great grandfather (and other notable magicians) would meet occasionally on Barclay Mountain. Of course there's more details but I don't want to spill all the beans. I just want to know if I should go this direction or just worry about the playing cards themselves.
The hunt would have facebook pages, youtube channels and webpages that would be setup to help build out the narrative. This link has a news clip to give you a idea of what it would be like.... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zpXoYA ... sp=sharing

[bethsobel]

The one with the snake with two heads is one way, not two way. The other one is two way. Symmetry needs to be when rotated 180, not symmetrical in halves folded vertically. So your snake with one head each is the standard symmetry for card backs?

[rjtomlinson1977]

The one with the snake with two heads is one way, not two way. The other one is two way. Symmetry needs to be when rotated 180, not symmetrical in halves folded vertically. So your snake with one head each is the standard symmetry for card backs?

None of these cards will be two way. Some may have a two way appearance but in truth none of them are but that's a long story. Whether I do the hunt style game or not, this deck will have hidden messages just like most of my previous work. It's what I do and what I have been doing since the unrest series. For this deck I'm doing my best to make it obvious that there's a hidden meaning behind what I'm doing. Yet at the same time I'm making the clues less obvious.
Even the snakes that appear symmetrical aren't. Nothing is what it seems with this project. Lost of misdirection and hidden truths.
The design is final as it is other than doing a Bicycle branded version. Just trying to decide if I should do the hunt style game or not. Trying to get feedback on that but unsuccessfully.

[RichK]

Not a fan of using playing cards to do a hunt game personally.

[rjtomlinson1977]

Not a fan of using playing cards to do a hunt game personally.

Okay. Thanks for the input.

[rjtomlinson1977]

A mockup of some of the inside cards.

[Harvonsgard]

Not a fan of those non-transitions at all. Illustrations itself are very good.

[rjtomlinson1977]

Not a fan of those non-transitions at all. Illustrations itself are very good.

You mean the middle part? I tried several options. One was to have the bodies connect but often times you got weird arm configurations.
These are some earlier examples I worked on.

[Harvonsgard]

Yup, exactly what I meant. I do 100% understand that two-way court transitions are one of the hardest things to manage/master (one of the reasons I don't mind one-way courts at all) when designing a deck of cards. Without the circle element in the middle I think it looks better but that might just be me. I personally would (if no other solution available) go with a simple, thin gold line.

[rjtomlinson1977]

I personally would (if no other solution available) go with a simple, thin gold line.

I thin gold line in the middle? Or should I just do a one way court card? This is a quick example without adding any color.

[MagikFingerz]

I think those earlier transitions work well, certainly better than a line or one-way courts. Just my opinion, of course.

[Harvonsgard]

While I personally say yes, I wouldn't advice to do one-way courts as I'm under the impressions that the mayority of collectors dislikes them.

earlier transitions

I'm not a native English speaker but isn't a break/line/border exactly the opposite of transition?

[MagikFingerz]

While I personally say yes, I wouldn't advice to do one-way courts as I'm under the impressions that the mayority of collectors dislikes them.

earlier transitions

I'm not a native English speaker but isn't a break/line/border exactly the opposite of transition?

I was referring to the "earlier examples" RJ showed, ie the only transitions we've seen in this thread

[Harvonsgard]

That was what confused me, I took "earlier" as in the first pics (with the black thing in the middle).

[rjtomlinson1977]

The prototype boxes arrived. This will be a two deck box set that will come with a booklet. The box is also designed to be used for our belts. We’re in the process of turning Barclay Mountain into a lifestyle brand. We’ll have belts, wallets, clothing, soap and other personal hygiene products.