Advice on back of new deck

[Albendon]

Hi all,
Your feedback on my last deck had a huge influence - I was wondering if I could call on your guidance again?

It's based on Christian symbology, so based around a monstrance, with Glory, Cupid and Dove. Two main concerns - is there too much empty space? and mental block on the colour, could you give an opinion?

Images: - edit: Updated image 3 for Red cross.

[Räpylätassu]

I like both the first and the second!

[Bradius]

I would like Two with some red color in the middle instead of black and I would like #3 with blue in the middle instead of white/cream. I guess cherubs and such could work, but it depends on the theme. The back needs to fit whatever theme you are going for on the entire deck. It should tie it together.

[Albendon]

Thank you, both, for your comments.

Very true - the deck needs to match the back. I may have been a bit premature asking for advice on the back before the courts.

The court cards are very much at concept stage, but they are based on biblical characters. It is being designed for my family and daughters, but I still want it to be perfect - and hoping you can all help!

As an example - and this is just a concept, not the finished article, these are the kind of cards I am going for. Possibly with a faint bakground and/or gold boarder. Also font is default, I plan to use illuminated letters as they would be in the bible.

[RichK]

I like back #2 but with Bradius's changes.

The cards look good as two way but better as one way if you're telling a story. I don't like the curve to sharp corner line you have on one way courts though. Looks odd.

[Albendon]

Thanks again,

I've changed the first image to include a red cross on the teal background. How does it look?

I'm also slightly concerned about empty space, but also about over-complicating the back. Does it need more?

The royals - they are really just concepts, I've not put much time into them. Definitely not the finished article.

Is there a market for bible characters?

[CupcakeBaron]

Thanks again,

I've changed the first image to include a red cross on the teal background. How does it look?

I'm also slightly concerned about empty space, but also about over-complicating the back. Does it need more?

The royals - they are really just concepts, I've not put much time into them. Definitely not the finished article.

Is there a market for bible characters?

I like the new back and I like the idea of making a deck based on Christian iconography but for me the court cards as is aren't quite doing it. The art style of the courts currently is too contemporary and doesn't fit the back in my opinion. Something that pays homage to more classical/byzantine/orthodox iconography would be awesome. You don't have to go straight up classical but perhaps somewhere in the middle?

[Albendon]

Thank you cupcake, I had considered a deck such as this. But I ended up discarding the idea as it wouldn’t really suit my target audience. If younger players are to understand the characters they need to be able to relate to them. The classical images and especially Byzantine are harder to distinguish.

[shimmering]

One thing that really sticks out for me is that the rose in the middle of the cross is slightly cockeyed. Maybe it is supposed to be like that I don't know. But it looks a bit odd to me.

[Albendon]

aha! You noticed my deliberate mistake! (had been bugging me too but not gotten around to changing!)