The Seers Laetus V2

[Seers]

Hello there, we have launched our new deck onto Kickstarter, the Laetus V2. Any feedback would be much appreciated. If you have backed them thanks very much, and if you do back them please mention it below as I would like to thank you. Also, if you have any feedback that you would like to see in any of our future decks that would be much appreciated too!

I will also attach some renders below of the Laetus as well as some info about the cards. I hope I have formatted this okay, I haven't made a post on here in some time...

Fun render I made of the deck in a boat scene I made up. Just a nice shot.

Front fan of the Laetus V2 I think the fanning pattern really makes it pop! I really try and make the fans the focus of our cardistry decks as well as having the decks really stand out.

Back fan and reverse fan (normal on left, reverse on right) I put a lot of effort into the back fans to make sure they look interesting in both a normal and reverse fan. I know the eye in the middle isn't the most popular design feature in our decks, if you don't like it I have good news! I am working on some decks in which the eye is not featured on the back design so keep an eye out for those.

A Jack, and some other cards. The court cards, pips and aces are all designed in a very minimalist way in order to differentiate and improve on the recoloured but standard court cards that were in the first deck of Laetus. The lack of custom court cards was the greatest complaint we had in our first deck of Laetus. So I hope we have fixed that suitably.

The tuck box and the back of the deck in a minimalist scene. I wanted the tuck box to carry on from the Laetus V1's style and I think I have got a good theme going with it, I take influences from the Bauhaus artstyle as well as mixing in some modern minimalism and abstractism.

Thank you for reading and for your time, I hope that you have some interesting feedback for us to look at as well as hopefully having some of you back the deck too, we really enjoy seeing people handle our cards, it is a special sort of feeling to see your work in people's hands.

Thanks,

Jason

[hsbc]

Thanks for posting! The back design is bold and stands out for sure

[Seers]

Thank you for your reply hsbc. Bold is sort of what we were going for I suppose! Do you have any insights into what you like or dislike? Thanks again!

[Eric Lee]

This is good evolution from the V1. Bringing the theme to another level rather than just a color change and minor cosmetic changes. Backs I actually prefer the V1, the face cards are nice customizations which fit the theme well. But that's just my 2 cents

[Seers]

Thank you very much for your feedback Eric, I have just woken up and it is nice to wake up to a pleasant message. I am surprised that you prefer the V1 back but I am glad you have said so! I never want to be a designer that just changes the colour schemes I think that is not really worthy of new releases when a new design can be really fun. Thanks for your 2 cents.

[Eric Lee]

I am surprised that you prefer the V1 back but I am glad you have said so! I never want to be a designer that just changes the colour schemes I think that is not really worthy of new releases when a new design can be really fun. Thanks for your 2 cents.

I believe I've figured what I dislike about the V2 back. In my fanciful imagination (which is the main reason why I can't watch horror movies) the shapes and circles on the backs along with the eye make it look like some pseudopod alien or monster is gazing at me.

Unnverving to be playing the cards and have a feeling that it's looking back at me, judging my weak attempts at cardistry

[Harvonsgard]

Looks a bit like Seers meets Gemini. Not for me, but I'm always happy if people have fun with these.

[Seers]

Eric that made me chuckle! Thanks for your input, I will make sure the next one is less Alien and more comforting.

Harvonsgard thanks for your feedback, I think that your suggestion that it looks like a collab with gemini is a compliment? Either way thanks for commenting, it's appreciated!

[STLBluesNut]

im not sure how people even come up with designs like this. it is so random and doesn't resemble anything specific at all. not random enough to actually be random though. so someone had to actually make conscious decisions to make the design look like... nothing? maybe the edges are designed first for the fan and whatever they can come up with for the middle just to fill it in. i dont know but it is in no way pleasing to me artistically or otherwise.

[Seers]

STLBluesNut thanks for your feedback! As for how it is designed I guess I slap on some music and draft up ideas until I get something I like and then I continue adding and changing bits until it is something I think would work well for a deck. I can completely understand why this wouldn't be in everyone's taste though.

Not really sure if there is much else to say? I am working on a magic deck based on some plants if that is any more your cuppa. Nonetheless thanks for the comment!

[hsbc]

I am working on a magic deck based on some plants if that is any more your cuppa.

Graceful reply This forum in general will probably be a lot more interested in the magic deck!

[shermjack]

I have always been interested in the Seers series and have all the other decks, but this back just isn’t for me. I do appreciate you trying new things as opposed to just recoloring and especially applaud your grace and composure when faced with comments (good and bad) about your designs. Keep up the great work and look forward to your next project!

[Seers]

Thanks, generally I understand negative responses to things so I try to not take it personally. My all time favourite comment on a deck we made was "yikes".

Anyway! Back to the feedback. Shermjack I get that you may not be interested in my designs for some of the cardistry decks, I have to ask do you like the Laetus V1 or either of our Aspectu decks? If you like the Aspectus then I have good news (that I probably shouldn't go too into detail about). I may or may not be nearly finished with a V3 Aspectu design. I also have some other magic decks I am working on but generally speaking our followers on Instagram appear to prefer cardistry decks. Did you look at our Magus deck from last year? Just wondering if that was more of a palatable design for you?

Thanks for the comments again! Look forward to seeing some more!

[STLBluesNut]

... our followers on Instagram appear to prefer cardistry decks.

i think the demography for instagram is probably a bit younger which i think means at least 2 things. one, more inclined to be into cardistry in general. more susceptible to the fancy videos and hype which cardistry certainly promotes. two, again, hype. this crowd is more likely to follow trends and hype. Buying items and brands for no other reason than a group of others seem to like them or because they a brand or item is popular with others (supreme, off white, etc). they have definitely bought into the idea that these chunky, abstract designs, or even no design at all (fontaine, noc, anyone), look better while doing their cardistry moves. they are willing to pay more, in some cases MUCH more, for so called "minimalistic" designs for the sake of having the popular item or brand to feel like part of the in crowd.

this is certainly not limited to cardistry. see below. $1900 for a white sweatshirt the has a tiny rectangle that says Supreme? not much less for a t-shirt.

[Seers]

Hey again STLBluesNut I know what you are saying, and in fairness I do put effort into coming up with designs that will enhance fans and some cuts. Which I would say provides slightly more substance than the decks from fontaine or noc. But I do agree than minimalism is a currently "in" thing for now. I am sure that design trends will change over time. So I will look forward to hearing what you think of our future decks, mainly those with a focus on being used for magic or normal card games, I have quite a few designs I am working on with that as the intended use case.

Also, those hoodies are ridiculous! At least our decks are affordable lol.

Thanks for your comment I think a healthy discourse and critique is good so I thank you for your input.

[STLBluesNut]

... and in fairness I do put effort into coming up with designs that will enhance fans and some cuts. Which I would say provides slightly more substance than the decks from fontaine or noc... Below I will attach a deck ... I would be interested to hear your feedback on it.

Thanks for your comment I think a healthy discourse and critique is good so I thank you for your input.

the most recent post above yours wasn't necessarily directed at your deck but at the culture in general, specifically why a following on a platform like instagram would be more inclined towards cardistry and following trends and hype. from my perspective of course. i do realize that your designs likely have much more effort and thought put into them than the brands listed (fontaine, noc, anyone). design elements going to the edge of the card certainly do make for some interesting patterns when fanning.

while the design you show here is probably not for me overall, it is interesting how ones mind even comes up with something like this. more intricate and colorful but at the same time resembling nothing really. it is abstract but definitely not random in the sense that each line and shape are where they are on purpose even though i may not know how or why. i do prefer this design over the laetus v2.

i also have appreciated the discussion we have had here and on reddit. my views can be harsh i suppose and not something many others agree on. not usually intended to be harsh in the way of being mean but in the sense of open honesty. i am not the best at describing and laying out what i am trying to convey much of the time and probably would be hypocritical in some of my preferences and what ends up appealing to me if you were to look at my P52 collection. art is highly subjective after all. even i forget that when someone truly likes some of the designs out there for reasons only God knows why.

[Seers]

I have always tried to be sensible when it comes to criticism if you don't like something I don't think you should have to cover over it and I respect your opinion that the Laetus are not your thing. I am glad that you prefer the other design shown. It isn't random its more controlled chaos with that style, I have some other decks I am working on which are directly more thematical and may suit your tastes more, but best to not to show off loads of stuff that may or may not end up being done.

The fanning pattern stuff is the main reason we choose to render rather than ordering prototypes, Saxon and I are both 3d artists and making renders to do mock ups and promotional material makes the most sense for us. But yeah it is very helpful for coming up with effective fanning patterns, I usually draft the back design up multiple times and then start to refine the fanning pattern and making sure it looks okay at different degrees of fanning and make sure the reverse fan doesn't look too bad, etc. But in terms of designing with purpose the Magus was the hardest deck for me to design but after doing it I want to do many more decks with intricacies instead of pure minimalism.

I have really enjoyed the chat if you wish to talk more send me a message on here anytime!

Thanks.

[Harvonsgard]

I see an abstract frog eating a fly now - lol. Now I kinda like it.

[Seers]

Thanks very much Harvonshard!

[hsbc]

[hsbc]

[rousselle]

Why am I reminded of the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys with these two decks?

[Harvonsgard]

Err... the colours I'd say, haha.