A Deck of Skeletons. Vintage Playing Cards by Mike Willcox (KS)

[Rob Wright]

A Deck of Skeletons. Vintage Playing Cards

I've worked on these for two years, as I had time between work and other projects, so I'm very excited to have a chance to make them. All of the artwork is 100% original. Since I don't have a skeleton to move around, I posed for each card myself and worked from that. I like doing things the old fashioned way when I can help it.

The cards are printed on 310gsm linen.

I have already had a few decks printed to test for print and compare card quality. They came out amazing! I will not be printing through bicycle because of high volume requirements and long production times. I want these to be in your hands before the holiday season.

[ecNate]

I think skulls and skeletons are such a cliche and haven't bought any such themed decks yet.  These though I kind of like. The old and worn look is pretty well done. I'll keep an eye on this one.   Thanks for sharing.

[Don Boyer]

The design isn't bad, though the faux aged look is getting kind of old.  At least there's a little comedy in the court card characters.

I would give the back a border to match the faces (optionally), edit the back design so it isn't a one-way back and switch out the "X" on the indices for the "10" cards with the Arabic numerals.  Few people these days like working with Roman numerals, especially when mixed with Latin letters and other Arabic numerals.

My general rule of thumb for a broad-appeal deck is: if I brought this deck to a typical neighborhood poker game with my buddies, would they use it or toss it back at me and bust out the Rider Backs?  In this case, Rider Backs it is.

[DarkDerp]

I really like the  indices and their layout.  Aces. Are really cool and I actually dig the parchment look for these. I am not a fan of the  little doodads on the back Corners. Look la bit like sparklers, I'm also not a fan of the skeletons. for me the skeletons distract and take away  from the old timey nautical feeling I like about the rest of the design.

[Justin O.]

I really like this deck. I agree skulls and skeletons are a bit... tired.. But I think the design here trumps that. I spoke with the creater through KS to find he is using makeplayingcards.com through virtue of not wanting to use USPCC but wasn't aware of alternatives being an artist, and not a collector. I recommended he look into EPCC or LPCC for production as I would love to own this deck from a quality printer.

I mentioned he come look at the blog and maybe pick our collective brain here about his design and printing options, so hopefully we will see him here soon...

[Justin O.]

switch out the "X" on the indices for the "10" cards with the Arabic numerals.  Few people these days like working with Roman numerals, especially when mixed with Latin letters and other Arabic numerals.

Hey Don, I really like the 'X' as the 10 indice. Was this used traditionally on decks?

[sprouts1115]

There is that damn skinny club again!  His transition from one side of the card to the other below is his worst card.  They could have made it better with one bottle and one map.  Notice the other hand.  What is it holding.  I do like the "X" as the ten card.   

[Don Boyer]

switch out the "X" on the indices for the "10" cards with the Arabic numerals.  Few people these days like working with Roman numerals, especially when mixed with Latin letters and other Arabic numerals.

Hey Don, I really like the 'X' as the 10 indice. Was this used traditionally on decks?

On tarot decks, sure.  International-standard playing cards didn't develop indices until some point in the 1870s, about the same time that round corners came into use.

There is that damn skinny club again!  His transition from one side of the card to the other below is his worst card.  They could have made it better with one bottle and one map.  Notice the other hand.  What is it holding.  I do like the "X" as the ten card.   

Leave the skinny club alone - it's a French-style club.

The other hand appears to be wrapping the index finger around either the collar bone or a rib.

[MrMollusk]

There is that damn skinny club again!  His transition from one side of the card to the other below is his worst card.  They could have made it better with one bottle and one map.  Notice the other hand.  What is it holding.  I do like the "X" as the ten card.

...I'm pretty sure that's a compass.