A Motley Pack - Transformation Playing Cards

[Bradius]

You know, I am not a fan of transformation decks, but I do like these. Great job. You continue to impress me Guru.

[guru]

You know, I am not a fan of transformation decks, but I do like these. Great job. You continue to impress me Guru.

This is continuing to be a good challenge Bradius. I'm sure once you see the complete decks and the accompanying book, you will be all over it.

[rousselle]

Regarding printers: if WJPC can *guarantee* that it'll be the same card stock / finish as before, then that seems like it'll probably be a safe option.

However, might it not be fun to see what other printers are capable of with your artwork? I think any of those other three printers could do something decent with your artwork.

If WJPC can guarantee similar results to last time, I'd be happy with any of the choices you presented.

There's also MPC's new stock and finish that they used on their Chao decks.

[RichK]

Both are nice. Color QoD really pops.

[guru]

KoS

KoS.png (696.03 KiB) Viewed 2928 times

Mid Jan is looking likely for Kickstarter.

Looking to go with only embossing and no foil on tuck. Even that will be a stretch goal as such features are priced higher by USPCC compared to others out there. What do you think?

[HFMJ]

If the stock and finish will be the same as for Bharata Series 2 I say that WJPC is a good choice. Also, the SFC shipping is a great plus.

[guru]

If the stock and finish will be the same as for Bharata Series 2 I say that WJPC is a good choice. Also, the SFC shipping is a great plus.

Thanks HFMJ. Still favoring USPCC more than WJPC, let's see.

Card back - It is Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne

Not going to be full bleed as I think only Expert or Legends can do this with precise registration. Others will falter in printing this. It will be with white border in the final design.

Cardback_RoyalEdition.png (846.02 KiB) Viewed 2920 times

[guru]

Just placed an order with MPC to print prototype decks. Looking forward to receiving them in the new year.

Thinking to offer prototype deck in my store, let's see.

[guru]

Just received the prototype decks. Shared it on Instagram and will upload it here soon. For now, you can take a look at the link below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsNBBFxBPzr/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[guru]

Thanks to all who posted in this thread till now. I've noted down the following users who commented or liked a response above.

Räpylätassu
PipChick
RichK
Eric Lee
Wizard_of_Os
ecNate
rousselle
CupcakeBaron
flashcards
MagikFingerz
Magic Tapp
Bradius
HFMJ

One of you will receive a special prototype deck with a back design that may or may not be there in the final version. I will update near to KS launch date.

Thanks everyone.

[RichK]

Nice backs. Like the building better than pattern.

[flashcards]

I usually prefer patterns over graphics on the back of cards but the building looks excellent. Beautifully executed. It fits perfectly with the nostalgic feeling of a transformation deck. I've had to cut way back on acquiring new decks but I honestly think I'll have to make an exception for this deck. Check that, I will get it one way or the other.

Also, another vote for USPCC. This design deserves the best. Personally, I'm in favor of a 1000 + print run. I think this deck could have a wide appeal I would like to see this deck widely available. 1,000 is 1/56th of the population of my town so I don't see that as a particulary large print run. I think you could easily sell these. Not quite as good as Watermelon Fontains but what is?

[guru]

I usually prefer patterns over graphics on the back of cards but the building looks excellent. Beautifully executed. It fits perfectly with the nostalgic feeling of a transformation deck. I've had to cut way back on acquiring new decks but I honestly think I'll have to make an exception for this deck. Check that, I will get it one way or the other.

Also, another vote for USPCC. This design deserves the best. Personally, I'm in favor of a 1000 + print run. I think this deck could have a wide appeal I would like to see this deck widely available. 1,000 is 1/56th of the population of my town so I don't see that as a particulary large print run. I think you could easily sell these. Not quite as good as Watermelon Fontains but what is?

@Flashcards- Yes. The Royal edition will be printed by USPCC (with Royal Exhibition building Melbourne in the card back) while another printer prints the second classic/heritage edition deck potentially with foil on card back. I have approached both Expert and WJ Printers to see if they can print either of these 2 card back designs in foil (full bleed) which is a classic patterned back. Let's see.

card back - 5A.png (367.91 KiB) Viewed 2936 times

Card Back - 5b.png (413.37 KiB) Viewed 2936 times

[PipChick]

Thanks to all who posted in this thread till now. I've noted down the following users who commented or liked a response above.

...

One of you will receive a special prototype deck with a back design that may or may not be there in the final version. I will update near to KS launch date.

Thanks everyone.

HOW FREAKIN' AWESOME IS THIS?!?!



Thanks Sunish! You rock!

I can't wait to find out who'll be the lucky recipient! so cool!

.

Also, just to clarify; the 'Royal' edition will be the colored version of the deck and the 'Classic/Heritage' edition will the black & white version of the deck... is that right?

Either way, they both look great but I'll admit that like Flashcards, I'm surprised how much I actually really like the building design on the back - sight unseen and based only on concept, I would've probably have said that I'd prefer a classic pattern on the backs, but the design of the Royal Exhibition building has been done really, really well! beautifully executed for sure - great job!

[RichK]

I like the red and white back better if you need opinions and if they can do 2 foil.

The Royal Exhibition building is very elegant and classy.

[Bradius]

I like the red and white back better if you need opinions and if they can do 2 foil.

The Royal Exhibition building is very elegant and classy.

What he said +1

[guru]

I like the red and white back better if you need opinions and if they can do 2 foil.

The Royal Exhibition building is very elegant and classy.

Okies....Red and white is the one then...

Anyways, how does this compare with that one...

Card back-5c.png (429.99 KiB) Viewed 2879 times

Also, just to clarify; the 'Royal' edition will be colored version of the deck and the 'Classic/Heritage' edition will the black & white version of the deck... is that right?

Yes.

[CupcakeBaron]

This last back is my least favorite of what you've presented, it reminds me of a really intense game of minesweeper rofl. I favor the all red back the most but even the previous red+white version is better than the latest one.

[guru]

This last back is my least favorite of what you've presented, it reminds me of a really intense game of minesweeper rofl. I favor the all red back the most but even the previous red+white version is better than the latest one.

Thanks...I got influenced by Minesweeper as has been playing a lot lately.

[guru]

So, as the title has been updated, here you go with the tucks:

(Heritage Edition is likely to be printed by another printer & not USPCC)

Based on one of the rarest & forgotten books (or a Pantomime) - "On the Cards; Or; A Motley Pack" authored by Garnet Walch in 1875 in Melbourne, these 2 transformation decks took 1 year in making but these are almost ready now to be shared with the world. Got the original book in my possession from State Library Melbourne while seeking permission to reproduce the work took time but the staff at State Library was very helpful.

The book consisted of a dramatic fiction or a pantomime based on 40 transformed cards, and each card has been redrawn from the book while I took liberty in making the whole deck, and so additional 14 cards have been created as well.

The illustrations in the Original book were never drawn into a separate deck and this is the first time, you will get to see those cards in the form of a deck & apart from the two decks, I plan to re-publish the book as well, currently working on the quotes from book printers.

KS Launch: 12th January - 7:00 AM AEDT.

Enjoy the below from the original book:

otc_pg.png (500.21 KiB) Viewed 2846 times

[JuFiN]

I feel this would benefit greatly if the tuck boxes made more of an effort to replicate the style of the book cover itself, that vintage feel is very cool. The current itteration feels a bit more souvenir / commercial.

[guru]

I feel this would benefit greatly if the tuck boxes made more of an effort to replicate the style of the book cover itself, that vintage feel is very cool. The current itteration feels a bit more souvenir / commercial.

I hear you @JuFiN. Plan is to have a book shaped box as a further stretch goal, while the cover for the book's reprint will take more elements from the original.

[Magic Tapp]

Sunish

Thanks for continuing to share the details with us. I really like how the deck is coming along but there are two things that look somewhat out of place for me.

Firstly, it may be the render of the back with the building but there is something slightly off with the building being in colour and the frame/pattern around it being in monochrome.

Secondly, the font on the red and black tuck looks too large for the tuck itself. I can also see that the font reflects one on the book cover but I am not fond of it either.

Other than that, the deck looks great to me and I am definitely going to be on board.

[guru]

Sunish

Thanks for continuing to share the details with us. I really like how the deck is coming along but there are two things that look somewhat out of place for me.

Firstly, it may be the render of the back with the building but there is something slightly off with the building being in colour and the frame/pattern around it being in monochrome.

Secondly, the font on the red and black tuck looks too large for the tuck itself. I can also see that the font reflects one on the book cover but I am not fond of it either.

Other than that, the deck looks great to me and I am definitely going to be on board.

Hi @Magic Tapp - Thanks for the feedback. I just printed the tucks on a glossy photo paper. The font looks fine, & yes, the heritage edition tuck is inspired from the book cover but not in its entirety. Those elements are going to be embossed on Heritage Edition tuck and I am sure even without any foil, both tucks will be able to stand on their own.

Now, I am even thinking if I should go for glossy or matte tuck this time. All previous decks used matte finish on the tuckbox but here in the above example,
I am liking how the Royal edition tuck looks on a glossy paper. I will discuss it with USPCC as well.

Edit: Forgot to answer your second query/feedback. The art on card back is made to resemble 18th-19th century chromolithographic print & I rechecked the card back again, the frame/pattern & the art goes hand in hand unifying the whole card back design. It is different than other backs that you see today because one of the references & inspiration taken was the work of Owen Jones. Simon Wintle had given the inputs on that.

[Magic Tapp]

Sunish - as always, thanks for a very detailed answer. I can see why you are trying to keep close to the source of your inspiration.

As for glossy v matte, I am firmly in the matte camp as it leaves less fingerprints when handling the deck. That said, having a glossy tuck for the colourful variant probably makes sense.

[guru]

Sunish - as always, thanks for a very detailed answer. I can see why you are trying to keep close to the source of your inspiration.

As for glossy v matte, I am firmly in the matte camp as it leaves less fingerprints when handling the deck. That said, having a glossy tuck for the colourful variant probably makes sense.

I am also wary of fingerprint smudge on the box too. Let's see.

[macstrat]

Depending how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, Nat Iwata made one of the best book tucks I've ever seen for the Bicycle Neverland deck. Link to photos below.

https://imgur.com/a/6v6MKIV

[guru]

Depending how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, Nat Iwata made one of the best book tucks I've ever seen for the Bicycle Neverland deck. Link to photos below.

https://imgur.com/a/6v6MKIV

Yes, Neverland tuck is one of my reference inspiration too

Thank you.

[Eric Lee]

Is is just me , but the Royal Exhibition building pic you showed, looks like it's skewed. it doesn't seem to fit seamlessly with the mirror image. For the semi-OCD in me, it's really distracting to have the images off center and not align nicely.

I'm wondering if you can consider putting the Royal Exhibition building on the all red back image, rather than the black pattern back.. That one looks to be the best for me as the Red will make the image and frame pop. Maybe use 1 red back and the other red back with the building image on it?

[guru]

Is is just me , but the Royal Exhibition building pic you showed, looks like it's skewed. it doesn't seem to fit seamlessly with the mirror image. For the semi-OCD in me, it's really distracting to have the images off center and not align nicely.

I'm wondering if you can consider putting the Royal Exhibition building on the all red back image, rather than the black pattern back.. That one looks to be the best for me as the Red will make the image and frame pop. Maybe use 1 red back and the other red back with the building image on it?

Hey @Eric - It is not skewed. May be, it is due to how I shot that picture. Otherwise, the semi-OCD in me would have picked it already