ACTIVE playing cards

[Fud]

Hi Guys,

While I wait for the Prism cards prototype to arrive (which will launch shortly after), I have started work on my next idea. These are 'ACTIVE' playing cards; my first transformation deck. I have a plan for 90% of the faces, including courts, but would like some comments before I go ahead with creating them all:

The card back design concept is done, I am just fiddling around with making it look good. Ideally I am wanting the colour scheme of the deck to be black and white, with splashes of red (and 1 or 2 multicolours).

Please have a look and let me know if this has potential

Thanks,
Fud.

[Eoghann]

You've definitely got my attention!

[Fud]

That's good to know!

Any thoughts on if it is a concept worth pursuing? If so, anything that needs changing at this early stage? Any focus worth pushing towards?

[volantangel]

I think its an interesting idea, not sure how commercial it can be. But i think you definitely need to stick with traditional pip conventions for your theme.

[ecNate]

Any (semi) transformation deck will get my attention. I do like how you have tiny "pip people" (that's what I will forever call them ) interacting with the pips. I would agree to stick with conventional layout and lose the frames.

[NCarter]

The idea is pretty solid but the colour palette and design style needs some work.

A style similar to the Mustache Playing Cards would work wonders with this idea.

[Eoghann]

I fail to understand why the two of clubs has seven pips.

[Fud]

Good comments all.

I agree about the conventional pip layout - the 7 of clubs was a test one to see how the face looked with a full scene on it. I will definately be reverting to the traditional layout.

I was also tossing up between the black and white with red theme and a red and blue solid block colour theme. When I checked the mustache cards you mentioned they are similar to my other idea, so I'll give that a try without the border and see how it looks.

And clearly the 7 of clubs has the wrong number assigned. These were test ones after all.

Thanks for the comments, I'll put up some adjusted pictures once I've tested these ideas

[Fud]

I've changed up the colours to be mainly red and blue with black pips and characters. I'm undecided on the border though - what do you think?

[Eoghann]

Definitely prefer the white version.

[Cbkimble]

Agree, white border looks best with the white lettering. The non border looks good as well but I think the border just adds character to the card.

[volantangel]

Please no background colours, especially one with gradients..

[ecNate]

Backwards 10 steps, no background colors! Agree on gradients, it really cheapens the look (it's like using animated 'under construction' gifs on a website in 2015). CONFIRMED that it looks 3x better withOUT the borders, I could tell that even with the errant new background colors.

Keep it white, no borders and focus on simply being creative using standard pip arrangements and the transformation style. Keep in mind, if you remove the borders you can push the indices out more which makes them more usable for play-ability. I'm hoping I like this enough to get a few decks and uncut...

Also, don't forget about focusing on the back and tuck, any plans there yet?

[Eoghann]

This would be an uncut I'd definitely get if you play the design right. And I don't say that often.

[Fud]

Thanks for the comments! Frank and fearless feedback is very useful.

I totally agree that the colour isn’t the best – ‘tacky’ is the word I would probably use. I agree with removing the borders and keeping it simple – black, white, red and a few splashes of colour here and there. With no border I’ll push out the pips a bit, keep the traditional layout and go ahead on that basis. Once I have a few more faces done I’ll touch base again to see if it is on the right track, but I think I have a good picture of what’s required in mind now.

I have an idea for the back design which should be good and in keeping with the theme. The tuckbox I also have in mind but will take a bit more time in putting it together. Once I finish them I’ll put up some pictures with some new designs.

Thanks for the feedback, I am glad this is an idea worth pursuing and I wouldn’t want to ruin it for lack of good advice!

[Fud]

Last one before I can knuckle down and get some designs done...

Widely spaced pips or closely spaced pips?
Utilize the space or concentrate?

(the black is not a border - it's just the cut line of the card)

[Eoghann]

I vote for widely spaced. Love that two of spades!

[jaytayo2212]

I vote for widely spaced. Love that two of spades!

I am completely in agreement with Eoghann! Also amazing work with each card so far

[ecNate]

I vote for widely spaced. Love that two of spades!

I am completely in agreement with Eoghann! Also amazing work with each card so far

Agree and this is also because while you have a semi-transformation style deck and not a full transformation, you should still stick to standard layouts when possible. Alter some of the shapes, angles and occasional placement when it needs to fit the art, but generally it should look like the "Pip People" (TM) are interacting with a standard playing card and not one pre-modified to fit their world.

Any plans of date of release or method (Kickstarter or direct)? I'm all in.

[Eoghann]

Hate to be that guy ( who am I kidding? )

But the pirate is looking back. Opposite the direction the ship is navigating. Less adventurous, more nostalgic I guess. Not sure if flipping the pirate will unbalance the design?
Not a huge issue mind you. I still love what you're doing with the pip people (nice one, Nate.)

[Fud]

Thanks for the feedback, I’m glad it’s looking good! I’ll stick to the traditional layout, except for 7-10, where I will shift the pips up to a fourth row instead of squeezing them into 3 rows with a central column. With the larger pips there is no space that way!

I wanted the pirate ship sail to be facing frontwards, but with the close pips (how it was originally) there was no space. The sail clashed with the top pip. But now the pips have pushed out I’ll flip it round so the ‘piprate’ is looking forward, not back.

As to release; I’ll be kickstarting it when it’s done, probably with LPCC. However, that will take a while unfortunately. I only have around a dozen designs done, and haven’t finished the back or tuck. I posted the start of this deck now because I was waiting for the Prism deck prototype to come in and wanted to nail down the design on the Active cards. I received the Prism prototype this morning (looks awesome!), so I’ll be focusing on getting that out first, then go back to the pipmen during that campaign. All going well I’ll have most of the designs done in a month or so I’ll put up the back and the tuck when they are done because they are important to get right, but I’ll try to put up either a whole suit or sets of 4 numbers at a time going foreward.

Love the enthusiasm though, I really didn’t expect it to be so well received! Keep the excitement running, and I’ll post up teasers as it gets closer to completion!

PS – should I change it from ‘Active’ cards to ‘pipmen’ cards? ‘pip people’ cards? Do I have to give royalty to Nate for coming up with it?

[Eoghann]

Hmm, good question. A name change is in order.

Pipolous?
Piple?
Pipland?



Looking forward to more!

[ecNate]

Adventures in Pipland
Pip People
The Pip People of Pipland

No royalty, lol. Just do this!

[jsantafe]

One thing, on behalf of international backers, please check the Fuego project on KS. It's being produced and fulfilled by LPCC and has free shipping for all pledges. That would help us quite a lot!

[DragonSoul]

I really like what you've done so far. Can't wait to see more!

[Fud]

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to have 2 active 'developing' threads at one time, but the Prism deck is almost ready to be moved from 'developing' to 'new and custom'. So I feel it's OK to give an update on "Pipmen" (?).

I'm working my way through the black suits. I'm constantly second guessing myself and going back to change designs, but here are some ones which are getting closer to the final form:

Looking at them now, I think I need to take a figure or 2 out of the 4 of clubs...

I'll try and hold off on posting more pictures of this deck until the Prism campaign gets underway. Though some of these are looking so good I'm really excited to show them off! Hope you like the direction so far

[LouCipherr]

Really liking the direction of the design! Eagerly awaiting updates as they appear...

[ecNate]

First, I LOVE the transformation style and how the pip people (pipmen?) are interacting with the card and pip environment.

However, I need to repeat this again - do not alter the pip arrangement, position or style unless critical to the activity happening in it. The 4 of clubs looks off because of the movement of the one chasing the person, but because it's integral to the design (the pip came to life and is being controlled) it can work. Although I still would rather have all the pips be the claw machines and be chasing in regular position. Another example might be if a pip person punched a pip and knocked it over, perfectly acceptable. What doesn't work as well here is the 4 of spades, it looks forced and needlessly so. I understand you wanted to show the puppeteers so the top row is shifted down, but they don't fit in the frame and I don't see a reason for them to be that large or have such long strings. Have them come off the side instead or otherwise try and tighten things up. You could also position the fighters under the pips or move this to 2 value so you have more white space.

Overall though, I fear I'll need 2 decks and an uncut the way this is looking!

[Eoghann]

The pips can be the puppet masters!

[variantventures]

I am not really a fan of transformation decks but this is very good stuff. I think I like the crisp feel of the visuals, that really stands out from what I usually find to be a blurry feel from transformation decks.