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I'm still committed to completing the Hazbin deck! However, a recent series of events gave me a new inspiration as well.

Story is as follows.

Recently, I was on vacation in a relatively remote location in Canada, a cabin on a lake far from any real roads, serviced by a crappy access 'road'. I fell down and injured my head (I'm okay now). My family called 911 and an ambulance actually made it out there and picked me up. I was really impressed with the paramedics. On the (lengthy) ride to the hospital, I got to talking with the young woman who was helping me out, and among other things, talked about my hobby of making cards. I suspect she was just keeping me talking to keep me conscious.

Anyway, I was kept in hospital overnight, brain scanned, sewed up, etc. and released to my family the next day. I thought it may be a nice gesture to draw a card for the paramedics, a one-off. So I did - the one below.

Then, I posted it on Reddit, on a sub dedicated to EMS. There it got lots of attention, with many comments along the line of "please make this a real deck I can buy". Apparently there is a big thirst for EMS themed art. One person even PM'd me asking permission to get this card tattooed on their body! (I said sure).

Anyway, the upshot is that I am thinking of doing a "first responders" themed deck - EMS, Fire, Police, Medical and Social Workers. The upsides: all the other cards I've done have been fan art, which always made me somewhat uneasy - its someone else's intellectual property. These won't have that issue. There is a built-in interest base, as there are lots and lots of first responders who will want them, apparently, in addition to card collectors. It's an interesting topic to me with lots of potential for interesting art.

Anyway, here's the card:

Great idea but depressing AoS.

I'm pleased to hear your injury healed and you're now well. About this one off card, I love it. The pip hiding in the syringe-o-cure is fantastic. The pip on our valiant heroins uniform is wonderful.

I think this subject is something difficult to do well, but I feel like you're up to the task and have a unique style that would do quite well with it. The personal touch to this one off card shows that.

RichK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:57 am Great idea but depressing AoS.

It is the death card, after all. I also think it would be a disservice to the theme not to include death at all.

Malthus: Your art is great as always, and I can't wait to see the rest of this deck! But perhaps this one could have a different color scheme than the same gold/black? I mean, it doesn't look bad, but I feel like the gold doesn't quite fit the theme. In any case, I hope this is one you're planning on actually printing, because your art deserves to be in our collections (and vice versa)

MagikFingerz wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:32 am

RichK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:57 am Great idea but depressing AoS.

It is the death card, after all. I also think it would be a disservice to the theme not to include death at all.

Never knew it was the death card. And yes there has been too much death from Covid.

MagikFingerz wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:32 am

RichK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:57 am Great idea but depressing AoS.

It is the death card, after all. I also think it would be a disservice to the theme not to include death at all.

Malthus: Your art is great as always, and I can't wait to see the rest of this deck! But perhaps this one could have a different color scheme than the same gold/black? I mean, it doesn't look bad, but I feel like the gold doesn't quite fit the theme. In any case, I hope this is one you're planning on actually printing, because your art deserves to be in our collections (and vice versa)

I'm thinking, if I do this, of going about it in a whole new way, which will involve learning some new skills!

Basically, I'd want to start my cards off as usual with black and white (leaving room for a third colour - I like the simplicity of a three-colour system), then import the physical drawing into a digital platform of a file type suitable for printing cards, then add the third colour. I would play around with what colour or colours to add - maybe I'd do with a red/blue for hearts, diamonds/spades, clubs, not really sure yet.

RichK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:37 am

MagikFingerz wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:32 am

RichK wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:57 am Great idea but depressing AoS.

It is the death card, after all. I also think it would be a disservice to the theme not to include death at all.

Never knew it was the death card. And yes there has been too much death from Covid.

The "patient" in this card is injured but not dead - hence the EKG showing a pulse!

Initially I considered she was sad too. I kept on looking around the image and I noticed that it was not a flat line on the EKG an that changed everything. She's sighing in my eye, showing relief. It was a rough battle and she went through hell, but her patient is gonna make it. It's a strong image.

Glad to see you back on UC and hear that you are well, despite your recent accident. Your artwork is amazing as always and I truly look forward to seeing the rest of the deck! I’m ready to purchase at least a brick sight unseen

All the other pandemic decks out there pale in comparison to the style, sophistication, and polished imagery of that one-off AoS. Not a lot of playing cards are worthy of framing, but that one sure is. I’m eager to see, and jump on board, your Kickstarter campaign.

I love the theme! I hope this becomes a reality. I agree with MagikFingerz that a different color scheme would be better, perhaps some of the brighter colors that are used by first responders in various places in the world?