Dark Matter KK - "Future Primitive" - I Need Your Opinions

[darkmatter]

I am testing out a new deck... ( I am currently working on 4 decks at the moment, waiting for one to feel right) This one would all be based on Sci-Fi comic books from the 50's.

Please give me your thoughts on the bright comic book look vs. the pseudo sepia toning. I can see the browns being really cool across the entire deck. But does it bother you to have brown or orange pips on the diamonds and hearts???

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.
~ Mat

Click image for higher resolution.

[flashcards]

#1 or #4 look equally good to me. Maybe have one as the original and the other as a stretch goal? Brown/orange pips don't bother me. There have been a couple of attempts to do a '50's scifi deck on KS recently and I haven't cared for any of them. I like these a lot. Can't wait to see more.

[Eoghann]

It's between 1 and 4 for me as well. But I guess I'd pick 4.

[shermjack]

I like the look and style so far...how would the black space background on #4 look on #1?

[darkmatter]

Here is colored and sepia version with a better starfield background... the other was temp.

In order for the suit indicators to read well the red in the indices needs to be brighter... normally I'm more into the muted reds but I think in a comic book setting it's ok to go super saturated. I'm still torn between the two. I think the idea of making one of the versions a stretch goal is a great idea.

I'm open to any ideas at this point.

~ Mat

CLICK IMAGE FOR HIGH RES

[BlueToy]

Both look great! Though I suggest you don't use a pure black BG for #5 as that clashes with its faded color scheme a bit, though it still works (black works great for #6 because of the more striking color scheme you used). How about trying maybe something lighter, say, a faded dark grey-blue shade or something.

Good job overall. Hope it gets funded!

[Eoghann]

I vote for #5. But I really like the sepia pips on #6.

[blejanre]

Woah. Don't be torn. #4/6 for sure. Is there a difference between them? Space is amazing. Stars are must. 50s scifi is a great theme. The bright red of #5 is a bit garish to me, but the rest of the colours are great. Sorry. For. This all-over-the-map post. Can't wait to see more.

[MagikFingerz]

If you are indeed going for a comic book setting, then I definitely vote #1/5. There's no doubt, those are comic book colors.

[joeblow]

I'm liking #5 as well. The pips just need to stand out so maybe not the same brown if you go with that scheme. Using sepia on all courts would lose that comic book color palette though. Looking forward to more.

[vasta41]

If you are indeed going for a comic book setting, then I definitely vote #1/5. There's no doubt, those are comic book colors.

Took the words out of my mouth. But I also think it depends a little bit on what each back design would look like. Great job so far!!

[DragonSoul]

I'm a huge fan of 50's sci-fi. LOVE #5. It's definitely the look of both comics and movie posters of the era.
However, I've got to say I find the color palette of #6 really interesting. I'd love to see it explored.
If not used here, perhaps it might fit with one of those other ideas you mentioned.

[darkmatter]

I've decided I won't be able to figure out the best look until I get a few more cards made. Working on the Queen of H at the moment.

[BlueToy]

Looking good. Nice color scheme. How about an off-white/cream stripe between the two colors? (Not sure how it would look - just wanted to see).

[darkmatter]

Looking good. Nice color scheme. How about an off-white/cream stripe between the two colors?

I actually think that's a great idea. Will do.

[blejanre]

I like that you are keeping the composition of the queens roughly the same. I think with custom decks, it really helps playability if you have the shape of the figure semi-consistent throughout a rank so that the player can tell just by looking if they've got a K, Q or J.

[darkmatter]

I've decided to go a totally different direction with this deck. Still the same thing, but I just wasn't digging on the bright colors. I'm really liking these pips and the new look. Are you??

Not sure where this will lead, but I will show you some reworked court cards soon.

[Eoghann]

Have to admit I was very much looking forward to the colorful sci fi version. Love to see what else you're cooking.

[flashcards]

I preferred the other deck as well but will try to keep an open mind with the new one.

[joeblow]

Everything above has great potential. Don't rush it. Looks like you have material for several decks. Let each have its own unique theme.

[shermjack]

I really liked where you were going with the colorful Sci-Fi deck and am bummed that you have put it on the side , but also think the new one has potential too...look forward to seeing your ideas!

[blejanre]

I agree with the rest, the sci fi deck with bright colours was looking prime. And the logo-ish diamond pip fit perfectly. That being said, the new concept look a-okay.

I'm not against fancy pips, but I hate when they are included in the suit index. In my opinion the indices should be plain and legible. Go crazy with the rank pips (is that the right term?) though, fancy is fine for them. Again, that's just me.

I'm with joeblow, make two decks!

[volantangel]

I was all for the coloured comic version as well. The new AoC just doesn't do it for me, why the women on the cards?

[darkmatter]

I agree with you guys. I have gone and created 2 decks with a clearly different vision but the same theme. I believe they will be different enough that both are worth making.

That being said, I'm not sure which I'll push on first... looks like the comic theme is the overall favorite. This is where I was going with the numbered cards for the comic theme. Please tell me what you think of the pip placement... either highlighted in Yellow or in Red. I personally like the closer grouping as it is a little more interesting to me than the wider pip spread of the yellow column... that's where I'm leaning.

Any comments are welcome and appreciated.

[darkmatter]

I was all for the coloured comic version as well. The new AoC just doesn't do it for me, why the women on the cards?

The women on the cards have spherical space helmets on like the silhouette in the A of D above... I just turned that layer off somehow.

[blejanre]

The yellow placements feel more balanced to me. The large amount of white space sort of references the vastness of space (and the distance between stars in the case of diamonds). That makes me think though, would it be possible to design spades clubs and hearts that somehow also resembles celestial objects.

Hearts- planet with rings? "V" shaped logo? (I feel like that's a popular scifi emblem)

Spades- hmm, maybe this is a dumb idea.

On the topic of women though, personally I don't want to see an all woman deck. I think style of illustration would make it seem like a "oh, women are sexy, look at these 12 sexy space women I put on my cards!" kind of situation. Where if there were some funky 50s spacemen thrown in, it would seem more tasteful to me. Robots for jacks could be cool?

And I hate to say it, but there's just something about a silhouetted, tiny, curvy woman that makes me go "ugh" (in a bad way)... I just feel like it needlessly objectifies their bodies.

sorry for the slight rant

[dazzleguts]

On the topic of women though, personally I don't want to see an all woman deck. I think style of illustration would make it seem like a "oh, women are sexy, look at these 12 sexy space women I put on my cards!" kind of situation. Where if there were some funky 50s spacemen thrown in, it would seem more tasteful to me. Robots for jacks could be cool?

+1
Especially for the robots

[darkmatter]

On the topic of women though, personally I don't want to see an all woman deck. I

I assure you there will be 4 women in this deck (queens) The rest will be men aliens and robots. The aces will all have a silhouette (unless I change my mind or it just doesn't work) but 2 will be female and 2 will be male.

Not sure what to do with the pips.. I'd like to keep them very close to their familiar shape... and for me the spade and heart are the hardest to get into a space theme... the solution will present itself somehow.

Keep your opinions coming.

[darkmatter]

The queen of hearts is finally taking shape.... still messing with the colors around her waist... I think the horizontal striping is a bit much but I'm tired as hell.

Thanks @ BlueToy for the stripes between colors suggestion.

[BlueToy]

How about something like this? (sorry I played with your work a bit! ) I "aged" the red and blue a bit to give them a more retro feel. The belt's just a suggestion, you don't have to follow it, but try to add something to break the monotony of the midsection (adding stripes leads to a different kind of monotony).

I like the other style you posted too, though that might work for a totally different deck. I have to agree that the silhouettes don't really add anything to them. I like the visual style you developed for it, though. Kinda like space age Deco. I like the ace of clubs - you made it look like the front view of a three-engine craft. I don't like the "tail" you put in the suits, though. It's off with the Deco feel (looks more like Victorian wrought iron).