New Deck Looking for feedback

[PRM19XX]

Hello, I'm producing a new deck and I would like to send a couple people a link to get some feedback. I'm about three weeks away from launching my project as a Kickstarter campaign so I have time to make any big changes I need to. But I'm not quite ready to release the theme info so that's why there's no pictures here.
I'm a writer and illustrator with three successful kickstarter projects funded. I'm in the process of shipping the third, that's why I have to wait to launch my new deck. I'm really excited about it and I think it's a very unique deck. But I'll let you guys decide!
So if you're interested let me know and I'll private message you a link.
-PRM

[dazzleguts]

Welcome to UC PRM19XX. (that name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue )
You will have to make a few posts as a member before the PM function will be available to you. For some reason I can't remember the exact number right now, anyone have that?

[MagikFingerz]

I think it's 3.

Welcome PRM! Maybe you could show us your completed projects so we at least see the art you've done before

[PRM19XX]

Thanks Dazzle, that's probably a good policy. I'm sure we could figure something else out. I've learned a lot just reading the forums here.

[PRM19XX]

Here's a link to the project I'm shipping right now. It's a card based tabletop game. I did all the artwork and rules myself.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/13 ... =discovery

[Mike Ratledge]

Nice stuff, Paul! I'd love to preview some of the deck when you're ready, of course. We're always looking for the next best thing, and it seems to be coming around often these days as new things are tried.

Are you the designer/artist, I have to assume? (we have a special group for "Deck designers and artists" that shows up on your profile as "Verified Designer")

[PRM19XX]

Yup, I'm the designer/artist and everything else, Mike! I'll send you a link. I've gotten some great feedback from MagicFingerz already.

[Mike Ratledge]

Yup, I'm the designer/artist and everything else, Mike! I'll send you a link. I've gotten some great feedback from MagicFingerz already.

Cool, I looked - nice! I'll add you to the "Verified Designers" group. Enjoy the forums!

I got it, you're in the "Verified Designers" group now.

[volantangel]

I wouldnt mind giving you feedback if you dont mind harsh comments =D

[Eoghann]

I wouldnt mind giving you feedback if you dont mind harsh comments =D

The Singaporean Ivan Drago.

[lolo]

If you accept a psychorigid beta tester, i'm with you (all is in details and harmonization )

[montecarlojoe]

Happy to throw my tuppence into the hat too if you need another opinion

[th4mo]

Please let it not be another steampunk deck....
Please let it not be another steampunk deck....
Please let it not be another steampunk deck....
Please let it not be another steampunk deck...

[MagikFingerz]

Please let it not be another steampunk deck....
Please let it not be another steampunk deck....
Please let it not be another steampunk deck....
Please let it not be another steampunk deck...

It's not And there's no pirates, cthulhu, zombies or skulls either.

PRM, you're new here but let me assure you; the above is a good thing

[PRM19XX]

Ha ha ha, well I'm glad I didn't do a steampunk deck! Maybe next time, ha ha.
I'll send a few more links out to you guys who wanted to take a look.

[montecarlojoe]

It looks great - I think it''ll do well

[th4mo]

Wheeeeee! No Steampunk! and only one skull as far as i can see...

Thanks for sending me the link. I usually don't go in for much constructive criticism. I prefer to make snarky comments and flame Svinger and the Walrus (stick around for a while and you'll understand why... )

However, since you asked so nicely... I'll give it a shot.

And i'll do it right here without giving away your theme, to tease all the people who haven't seen it yet...

Speaking of which, you have a great theme, very consistent throughout and well executed. In general i'd say your deck is already in the top tier of KS playing cards projects... though there are more and more brilliant artists swelling the ranks of KS every day. But I expect you to do well, as long as you stay clear of the superstar projects coming down the pipeline soon.

But if i have to look for some areas to improve on, these would be them:

-I REALLY like the design of your card backs. However they hint at a non-rectangular shape, and i think they could be better if you allowed them that. Maybe make the curved lines at the top and bottom form the edge of the borders?

- The courts are what really sell a deck for me, and i think you did a pretty nice job on these. However, I share the opinion with several others here that it is much better to have courts that don't have a hard border at the line of symmetry. I'm not sure if that design element is supposed to represent something related to your theme, but to me it looks kind of random and interrupts the flow of the court figures. Also, I would be much happier with your courts if the background wasn't the same on all of them. Having only seen one suit, I REALLY hope that the background at least varies from suit to suit. And I can't quite decide whether i like the vertical elements on the right and left side of the courts or not.

- I like your pips, and what you've done in the non-indexed corners of the Aces and number cards. I'm thinking that the Font is maybe a touch too heavy, not the style, but the line weight... but i can live with it.

- Jokers: I don't usually care too much about jokers, but for what it's worth, I'm feeling that yours don't really match the feel of the rest of the deck. The text and the "text box" are out of sync with the other cards in the deck, and the art is too monochrome compared to the rest. I like the idea behind the choices for the figures though.

- That's all i have for critiques. I REALLY like your aces and tuck boxes, especially the LE versions. Four decks right off the bat might be challenging, but you seem to have a well established track record on KS, so I'd have no problem hopping on the "2 of every deck" EB deal, even if you launched it just as it is right now.

Good Luck!

[PRM19XX]

Thanks for the review, and for not revealing the theme!
-Non-rectangular frame, one other person said something similar so it's probably worth taking a pass at that.
-Heavy font-I definitely went for a heavy font. Someone else mentioned this but I really like it. I might have to put my foot down on that one!
-The Courts-I've gotten this comment before also. The background is totally different across the suits so don't worry. But the hard lines on the boarders might be worth a second look. I'll take another pass at that and see if I like the result.
-Jokers-I was kind of going for something different, Jokers seemed like a great place to bring in some different elements. I'll probably keep them that way but I'll keep my ears open.
-"In general i'd say your deck is already in the top tier of KS playing cards projects" <-------I'd say that's a pretty great compliment, thanks!

[PRM19XX]

So I'm thinking of dropping the two LE variant decks and just having the two main decks. Any thoughts? It would certainly make the pledge levels more streamlined.

[dazzleguts]

Since there are so many Bicycle branded decks I like seeing the alternate offered and personally would choose that deck over the branded one. USPCC may print the deck but that is just a service you pay for and doesn't have to be part of the look. But, there are a lot of Bike fans so I can see why you would want the branding. You may get people arguing both sides but it really comes down to what will work best for you in getting the project done to your own satisfaction.

[th4mo]

Since there are so many Bicycle branded decks I like seeing the alternate offered and personally would choose that deck over the branded one. USPCC may print the deck but that is just a service you pay for and doesn't have to be part of the look. But, there are a lot of Bike fans so I can see why you would want the branding. You may get people arguing both sides but it really comes down to what will work best for you in getting the project done to your own satisfaction.

I concur with Dazz! The LE tucks are more unique and interesting, and I would choose those over the Bikes if I had to.

[MagikFingerz]

Agreed on non-branded > branded.

th4mo: I touched on all of the same points as you apart from the jokers

PRM: I don't think you'd have to do radical changes to the font to make it work a lot better. Something you should do anyway is to have it as close to the edge as possible, USPCC's standard on this is no good and will make fans look horrible. The next thing I would do is to just "squeeze" them slightly (don't know the technical term for this, basically what happens with a picture in paint when you shorten the width of it).

[th4mo]

th4mo: I touched on all of the same points as you apart from the jokers

I know "great minds think alike" and all...

But don't you think you should ask before "touching my points..."?

[dazzleguts]

He does have those magik fingerz.

[PRM19XX]

Ok, I've added some embellishments to the upper 1/4th edge on each card and did a mockup of a fan in photoshop. I think they look great! Thanks for all your help guys. I'll be launching this project in about two weeks. You'll be able to see the rest of the changes then.

[th4mo]

He does have those magik fingerz.

...ahem...

didn't you see my last post in the "last person" thread???

http://unitedcardists.com/viewtopic.php ... 319#p37319" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dazzleguts]

Exactly!

[lolo]

Definitively, I'm fan of those decks !

[Yashi]

All the conversation has me curious and interested. Is it too late to sneak a peek?

[CBJ]

A thread has now been started for this deck.


http://www.unitedcardists.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4386" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



CBJ