Stage two, launch date, and reward system of my next deck.

[Aaron]

That looks pretty good, I like the new back and the King looks really good.

[ReaganM]

Well here is another I took off the dots because I think they were kinda lame what you guys think is better?

[AceGambit]

I am sufficiently impressed with how this deck is improving.  I love what you've done with the faces, and the new back is pretty astounding.  I actually like the dots on the back, I think it gives it a very majestic look.  As far as the king is concerned, try using some darker greys on the ape, I think the contrast isn't strong enough.  For the ape on the back, he reminds me a little of a bad photoshop with low color resolution, but it think that's really just the yellow outline around it.  If the thin yellow outline around the ape on the back were gone, I think he would look less like a cutout and more like a really cool poster child for badass class.

[ReaganM]

What if I just added some gold lines like so. These are sketch lines the artist left over on the psd file... I think but I thought they looked cool.

[dcell59]

I like the first two more than the original, but I like the first back better. Maybe it's just that the style of the apes was more consistent.

[ReaganM]

I like the first two more than the original, but I like the first back better. Maybe it's just that the style of the apes was more consistent.

Sorry but your going to have to clarify this post a little bit. When you say you like the first two better than the original, the first two being the first two backs ever, or the first two out of the ones I posted? Then you make it more confusing by saying you like the first one better lol.

[NathanCanadas]

I like this everything here much better just a couple points:
1) Will the printer be able to make the lines with enough detail?
2) Can you center the pips on the non-court cards more (they seem too close to the wiggly border design)?
3) I love the King.
4) For the back design I think everything is better except for the two ape faces in the center. I liked the old faces better.
5) Wow. This is making a lot of progress! Good luck!

[ReaganM]

I like this everything here much better just a couple points:
1) Will the printer be able to make the lines with enough detail?
2) Can you center the pips on the non-court cards more (they seem too close to the wiggly border design)?
3) I love the King.
4) For the back design I think everything is better except for the two ape faces in the center. I liked the old faces better.
5) Wow. This is making a lot of progress! Good luck!

Just talked to Rajas
1) Their state of the art equipment would have no trouble with the fine details
2) Well think about it
3)Thanks lol
4) Not many people liked the previous faces, I think these are just as good if not better. However we will be making it so they look a bit less "photoshoped" in.
5) Thanks again.

[Don Boyer]

I like this everything here much better just a couple points:
1) Will the printer be able to make the lines with enough detail?
2) Can you center the pips on the non-court cards more (they seem too close to the wiggly border design)?
3) I love the King.
4) For the back design I think everything is better except for the two ape faces in the center. I liked the old faces better.
5) Wow. This is making a lot of progress! Good luck!

Just talked to Rajas
1) Their state of the art equipment would have no trouble with the fine details
2) Well think about it
3)Thanks lol
4) Not many people liked the previous faces, I think these are just as good if not better. However we will be making it so they look a bit less "photoshoped" in.
5) Thanks again.

I think the head of the drawn King would be an excellent compromise between the two.  The 3D ape on the back was a little off-putting to some, and this new ape barely looks like an ape.  I noticed the whole new back is two colors, yellow and black - can you create a drawn ape in four colors?

[ReaganM]

Hmm interesting Idea Don. Using the kings head might make a good back.

[Don Boyer]

Hmm interesting Idea Don. Using the kings head might make a good back.

Remember, I get a design consultant credit on the deck now!

[ReaganM]

Hmm interesting Idea Don. Using the kings head might make a good back.

Remember, I get a design consultant credit on the deck now!

Of course, when I get back from work ill put it on kickstarter somewhere, and Itll find a more permanant place on my website as well. I could even put it on an ad card or something but I think maybe thats a bit over the top. I will also give credit to these forums.

[ReaganM]

Lets just continue the discussion here. Here is the joker

[Aaron]

That joker looks pretty badass, Are you going to work a reveal into it with the card it is chewing on? Also if I pledge for 2 decks can I get 2 gold? I dont really like the silver but really like the gold.

[Don Boyer]

That joker is hysterical, and in the best possible way!  I love it!  ROTFLMAO...

[Kanped]

The jokr looks really great but is the perspective a bit off on the box he's holding?  It seems sunken into the hand to me...

[ReaganM]

That joker looks pretty badass, Are you going to work a reveal into it with the card it is chewing on? Also if I pledge for 2 decks can I get 2 gold? I dont really like the silver but really like the gold.

Yup you can certainly do that.

[moonexe]

Dude, I actually thought this project was hopeless back when you first started, but I have to take back everything negative I said then. I actually REALLY like where it's going now. If that design is final, count me in.

[Don Boyer]

Reagan's biggest plus, besides some artistic talent, is that he listens to people, takes their suggestions, sifts through them and incorporates what he feels are the best ones into his work.  I don't always agree with every choice he makes, but I do see a definite trend of improvement with every new version of his decks.  (It's easy to say that about someone's artistic choices when I'm not even an artist, isn't it?  )

[NathanCanadas]

Reagan's biggest plus, besides some artistic talent, is that he listens to people, takes their suggestions, sifts through them and incorporates what he feels are the best ones into his work.  I don't always agree with every choice he makes, but I do see a definite trend of improvement with every new version of his decks.  (It's easy to say that about someone's artistic choices when I'm not even an artist, isn't it?  )

At first I thought "Oh god... another hideous deck", and now I see you are talking all our feedback into consideration and this is making considerable progress. Are you going to reveal the court cards as time goes by or what...?

[ReaganM]

Reagan's biggest plus, besides some artistic talent, is that he listens to people, takes their suggestions, sifts through them and incorporates what he feels are the best ones into his work.  I don't always agree with every choice he makes, but I do see a definite trend of improvement with every new version of his decks.  (It's easy to say that about someone's artistic choices when I'm not even an artist, isn't it?  )

At first I thought "Oh god... another hideous deck", and now I see you are talking all our feedback into consideration and this is making considerable progress. Are you going to reveal the court cards as time goes by or what...?

Yup, although the other court cards will be tough, right now we are working on the queen.
@Don Boyer & Moon.exe : thanks for the kind comments, it means a lot to me. Especially now, the deck is struggling and from what people have told me its because of the subject ( who cares about apes as to steampunk ), and not really because of the art.
I think Ill try posting on some forums related to cigars etc. Maybe places that are obssesed with monkies? Im sure they exist on the internet somewhere.

[ReaganM]

Well here is what is possibly the jack, I thought the queen would get done first but oh well. Also If you havnt noticed there is no red line around the border that lets the pips stary closer to the edge.

[NathanCanadas]

Well here is what is possibly the jack, I thought the queen would get done first but oh well. Also If you havnt noticed there is no red line around the border that lets the pips stary closer to the edge.

While im not too keen on weapons are war, this court card really fits the ape and aggressive theme of the deck. But then you might have to make the ape heads on the back of the cards look a bit madder.

[moonexe]

I actually really liked the red borders you had, it gave the faces a unique feel and made the red pattern in the middle look a little more consistent.
As for the jack, I think the belly looks too big. I mean, imagine the ape drawn completely, behind the line of the gun - it would be ridiculously huge if you continued that curve. And as I remember Don mentioning in the first thread, it's not very soldier-like. Those guys are as hard as rock.
You might also wanna work more on the gun, it looks a little too vague if you know what I mean.
One more thing, the pips look like they need more work too. I can see signs of cropping or whatever you did to it.

Besides that, it's looking great so far.

[NathanCanadas]

I saw you mentioned a "leather box" on your kickstarter. Any details?