OldSchool player's cards

[Leo Scherfig]

Hello Cardists

I am working on a deck of cards inspired by the island I live on, and generally some of the historical cards I have discovered during the last half year — thanks to this and other playing card enthusiast groups and forums on the internet.

I live on an island in Denmark called Møn. My texan friend Amee once said 'isn't it funny that we live on Moon?', so that became my way of pronunciating Møn in english. Also, the name Moon provides our island and our lives in general with a touch of magic and mystery, which is most fitting! We live surrounded by nature in every aspect, except none of the plants or animals are dangerous. At the same time a lot of us moved here in order to live the lives we want to (and can afford without too much effort), so there is not much stress — but lots of outdoor and communal activities. It's really all very oldschool.

Also, becoming more and more obsessed with playing cards, I have been doing a lot of research, growing an interest in some of the old playing card patterns. One example is the 'Paris' type cards produced by Jean Friedrich Mayer in 1752, but as you can probably see below, I have been influenced by a lot of different old cards. Link: https://www.wopc.co.uk/denmark/index

So now I am designing a deck that I call Oldschool.
My plan is to have it produced as a player's edition, since my own interest in playing cards comes from me loving to play cards (and my love for the card-art). But I am also trying to find a way to make an alternative version, maybe black/white or some other thing monochromatic.

I would very much like to hear your thoughts on this.
Best regards from Leo

[montenzi]

I like everything but the back design! I prefer something less busy and made in a simple retro style.

[Leo Scherfig]

Good point!
Also, I am currently communicating with someone at Cartamundi, trying to figure out all the technicalities regarding production, and one issue is that it seems there has to be a certain size border on the back (as opposed to your beautiful designs), so this one is actually squeezed a little bit. Maybe better to just come up with something different.

[wingedpotato]

Agree with everything Montenzi said. It is a really neat style with a classic feel but not imitating anything else out there. Good job.

[Harvonsgard]

Awesome work Leo. I discovered your account on instagram a couple of days ago and immediately though this needs to be shared here. I'm happy you decided to do so.
Here are some of my thoughts:

The courts are superb. Some of them are a tad too similar for my liking but that is just my personal preference. I wish they would be a bit more distinct. On the positive side, as of now, they really invite to examine them closer for all the details that makes them unique.

Pip placement is always a bit odd for me, if designers choose to randomly switch from left to right and right to left. Hearts is the only suit that is coherent. within your draft. I know that antique cards have that as well so maybe you actively decided to stick with it for the matter of authenticity.

The banner under the heart on the Ace is odd for me. You already have the banner on the back, no need to overuse it imo.

The pip placement on the 10 of diamonds is something I dislike. You have plenty of room on the aces for that moon logo in the middle.

I personally like the back design as is. I would wish for a second colour for games like Rommé, Bridge or Canasta where you have two decks. Maybe that nice sea green from your ad card or a classic blue since, the sea green possibly clashes with your current yellow. An alternate back design would still be good though, simply for the reason that single deck campaigns aren't the most successful kickstarter campaigns out there. If you look at the campaigns that never have an issue to fund they are almost exclusively multiple deck campaigns. Not that I personally don't like single deck campaigns - quite the opposite - but yah, just something you might consider.

Best of success with your cards, I would love to see these fund.

[Leo Scherfig]

Thanks a lot for your comments!
Interesting, that multiple deck campaigns have better success rates — that is definitely something that's worth a thought.

Montenzi's comment on the back design made me go back and think, and I have been spending some time rummaging with it. And if everything works out for me, probably the banner on the back is going to go.
It is early days with a new design — I have to figure out some kind of pattern or decoration that goes with the style of the court cards, still trying to keep it at least slightly simple and not too busy. Also, I am in constant doubt if the back needs more than one colour...
I attach here renderings of the back — the original one and a new version, in both two-colour and monochrome.

[BaconWise]

I love this project. Fantastic court cards. The ad card and jokers are superb as well. I really dig the Moon ambigram/palindrome text in the middle - very clever! Both back designs work for me, though I would remove the banner from the first design. Or, I would replace the text to say Old School as it's a bit over-branded with "Moon" throughout the deck.

I really look forward to this campaign and I want to see the tuck box!

[justplaycards]

Really well designed deck. I like it a lot. As Montenzi said the back is not the strongest part of your deck, but the new one is a little better.
Good luck with it.

[Leo Scherfig]

I am very grateful for your comments!
This beats sitting alone in my room, working and commenting on my own work and taking good advice from myself. I am so happy for this community.

So, now I have been working a little more on those backs — both on the ornamental stuff and the colour.
Here are some mock-ups, both in a two-colour way and a monochromatic one.

I think that maybe this is the first time during this process that it actually makes sense to have two colours on the back.
Hope, you like some of these!

[Harvonsgard]

Not a fan of the pips on the side of the new back - makes it very center heavy. I would ad a tad more of the floral elements to the corners. I like that pattern you choose for the new back. Gives it a vintage engraving vibe.
Definitely two-colours - much more depth than monochrome.
The blue and sea green version is . Red and yellow is cool, too.
Black and yellow maybe as a strech goal gold foil version?

Just a random thought, the floral elements in the corner could be used to hide reader back markings - if one likes marked decks .

[Leo Scherfig]

Haha! One does!

[Leo Scherfig]

Thank you very much for your comments, the artwork is really improving (imho).

Here is the newest version of the back. I've made the bird clearer and I think it's better now. Also adjusted the colours a bit, now I am down to two colour-versions — a blue one and a green.
I have been working on the tuck too and put it in the template from Cartamundi (because I really want them to print the deck). So that is also attached here.

I hope you like it.

[Harvonsgard]

Hmm...
I still don't like the suit symbols on the back design at their current place but I swear it's the last time I mention it, haha.

As for the two colours; I would wish for more contrasting colours. I would have choosen the blue/teal and the red/yellow.
I like that you used the old back on the tuck box.
I'm not a fan of two too different fonts used on the tuck box but maybe that is due to my general despise for most Old English fonts (due to being overused).
I like the typeface you used for Moon.

Cartamundi... well, not my preferred cards since they can't offer C9 anymore but objectively not much speaking against them; top-tier printer.

[Leo Scherfig]

Hi!

So, I've been working some more on these cards.
Harvonsgard pointed at the pips on the court cards, and I have changed those, so that they are all on the same side of the person (left side). I am a little in doubt since that former randomness made the artwork a little more naive — and definitely more oldschool. On the other hand, these cards are meant to play with, so making them easier to read is supposed to be a good thing.
Also I have spent some time with the colouring, mostly for the backs and the the box. I think I will be aiming at two versions, red and blue. Maybe even also a more luxurious version with gold ink on dark green.

I am trying out ways of presenting the deck, these pictures are the newest versions (I used some mock-ups by SoundsGood). They should give some impression of the artwork.
I will be very happy for any comments!

[Harvonsgard]

Glad to hear some news. I just recently thought about your project and messaging you to ask how it comes together.
Nice to see the update.

I am a little in doubt since that former randomness made the artwork a little more naive — and definitely more oldschool.

Go with your guts I'd say. I respect designers go with what pleases them the most and what is their vision of a design.
If you love the randomness, then keep it.
Keep in mind that (at least my) comments are merely suggestions and just another perspective on certain things and details.

[Leo Scherfig]

Keep in mind that (at least my) comments are merely suggestions and just another perspective on certain things and details.

Yes, of course!
But also, you have a good eye for those things and details, so it would be stupid to not listen...