UnitedCardists.com - The forum for Cardistry, Magic, Custom Decks and All Things Playing Cards. Sponsored by Mike Ratledge and 'Friends of UC'

Hi everyone

Just wanted to get some opinions on the redesign of my deck ‘The Ritual’. After the initial Kickstarter project fell over for obvious reasons, I want to make sure the design is as good as it can be.

I think the biggest issue was pricing. It was way off! But as I’m in the UK, delivery, import tax and value added tax was mounting up the production cost, leaving me with not a lot of room to play with. BUT, with card projects become more popular on Kickstarter, distribution companies based in the US are a great way round this for creators like me. This should make a single deck delivered to the US around the $12 mark.

I’ve taken on board a lot of the comments I received and have changed a fair amount without loosing too much of the original look and feel. (I hope)

The biggest think is the colour change, I think the texture paper works better than the black and white, do you agree?

The backs have changed to give more room to the star and to tone down the ravens

All of the Aces will be enlarged with a design placed within.

The court cards have been simplified, I’m sure another deck has done something similar to this but I can’t track anything down. But with the star in the background I’m hoping that it gives it its own feel.

The pips are the same and in the standard formation, I still think this is the best way to go so the card is easily recognisable, do you agree?

Does the top right and bottom left need a faded ‘something’?

I appreciate all your feedback and honest opinions

Many thanks

Kirk

Personally I think the overall design is pretty solid - I like the back and the aces. the pips have been done before like that - but that's not necessarily a bad thing, and the background of the cards is nice.

Where the deign let's itself down is the courts - when there is such nice design and customisation havinc cut and paste courts is a little disappointing. You come up with 12 decent original designs using the Ritual/Raven themes and you'll have a surefire winner here.

montecarlojoe wrote:Personally I think the overall design is pretty solid - I like the back and the aces. the pips have been done before like that - but that's not necessarily a bad thing, and the background of the cards is nice.

Where the deign let's itself down is the courts - when there is such nice design and customisation havinc cut and paste courts is a little disappointing. You come up with 12 decent original designs using the Ritual/Raven themes and you'll have a surefire winner here.

^What he said.

MagikFingerz wrote:

montecarlojoe wrote:Personally I think the overall design is pretty solid - I like the back and the aces. the pips have been done before like that - but that's not necessarily a bad thing, and the background of the cards is nice.

Where the deign let's itself down is the courts - when there is such nice design and customisation havinc cut and paste courts is a little disappointing. You come up with 12 decent original designs using the Ritual/Raven themes and you'll have a surefire winner here.

^What he said.

Indeed the courts are the weakest link of the deck, the other elements are definitely up to par.

Hur hur, this is why we are gonna make a great team

I'd like to see more from the court cards. Don't be afraid to do custom pip layouts either.

Thanks the the advice, I'll have a look at some court ideas, I keep thinking symbols but I know it's not going to be enough of an impact. I'll post some ideas soon, and try out an alternative to the pips layout to see how it fits. Thanks again

You could try weaving the symbols into the court clothes. Good luck.

Hi, I've had a go at the custom design for the Queen of Hearts. She has come from the idea that the court cards are all the casters of the Ritual. The resulting design is below, let me know what you think.

Should the rest of the court cards follow this style?

Do you have any ideas to go from here?

I was thinking of having all the court cards female, thought it would be different but what do you think?

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it

That queen is beautiful. Very nice work. A marked improvement over the previous IMO. I would recommend against all females but that's just my take.

She looks brilliant! Love the new direction!

Freakin' amazing - if the others match this then I think you will do really well with this deck!

I'm all for all female courts, quite interesting. I see a bit of Venexiana and Heretic influence in the design. Which is definitely not a bad thing. Really loving the new court card design!

Thanks for the feedback guys, means a lot.

Finished the Jack of Clubs and thought I'd show both side by side. (Finally worked out how you display images!)

I think I'll go with all female court cards but for the Jacks and Kings they will wear masks. Good idea? Bad idea?

More coming tomorrow hopefully

Eoghann wrote:I'm all for all female courts, quite interesting. I see a bit of Venexiana and Heretic influence in the design. Which is definitely not a bad thing. Really loving the new court card design!

Yeah, a little guilty of Venexiana and Heretic influences for design inspiration. Heretic is amazing, can't wait to get my hands on this deck!

Love the way it looks, but I'd like to see some male spellcasters. If you don't go that route I think masks is a nice sort of compromise.

Even better! Nice touch with the mask. Just a little nitpick: the queen of hearts' hairline seems a little high going towards where her right ear should be. Just disappears up there. Maybe add a lock of hair or something there?

I wouldn't mind all female courts, but I would expect other playing card traditions to be upheld (one-eyed jacks, suicide king etc).

Looking good so far

MagikFingerz wrote:I wouldn't mind all female courts, but I would expect other playing card traditions to be upheld (one-eyed jacks, suicide king etc).

Looking good so far

I'm liking that idea, so there is:
1) King of hearts with sword to the head, King of diamonds is one eye with the axe at his back and the other two kings have swords
2) Jack of hearts and spades are one eye
3) All the queens hold flowers

Did I miss anything major?

Thanks

Eoghann wrote:Even better! Nice touch with the mask. Just a little nitpick: the queen of hearts' hairline seems a little high going towards where her right ear should be. Just disappears up there. Maybe add a lock of hair or something there?

Thanks Eoghann, I need the nitpicking, let me know if you spot anything with the others that I post

Oh wow, the courts are looking great.

cherrynukacola wrote:Oh wow, the courts are looking great.

I agree. I dont mind all female courts, and I think the mask idea is a good one.

Todays offering is the king of spades and the king of hearts

Looking better and better!

What the fudge!? Last time I came to this thread, the only courts I saw were the plain & simple decapitated head ones. These new courts look AMAZING. I'm a secret crow lover. I didn't back these last time because of the price point & the courts. But now, I'll definitely be in for some.

All female courts? Whoooo! Kings & Jacks wearing masks is a cool idea too.

+1+1+1+1!

I'm liking this deck more and more. My current favorite is the king of hearts.

Shouldn't the tip of the KoH's sword be visible on the left? Would probably have to be behind the pip, but still. Looks like it just disappears.

Queen of Diamonds to look at today. Let me know what you think

MagikFingerz wrote:Shouldn't the tip of the KoH's sword be visible on the left? Would probably have to be behind the pip, but still. Looks like it just disappears.

I did notice this but the standard design is like this. I never noticed it before now. I think I'm going to keep it as it is for now as I don't really want the tip coming our the other side and crashing with the pip. Really appreciate the feedback though

Looking awesome!

Yeah - very cool stuff here - the monochrome, the ravens, and the all female courts are unique - all brilliant. I'll definitely be after a deck or two!