Bloodlines: Custom Playing Cards

[bfrench]

Hey guys!

I hope this is the right place for this - apologies if it isn't. I just released my first deck on Kickstarter. My day to day job is a designer for the web, but I've always wanted to make my own deck of cards - I had a blast working on this project. If you dig it, I'd love your support on kickstarter. I'd also love to hear your thoughts (positive or negative!) as I hope to do more sets in the future, and feedback is always appreciated. Let me know if I can answer any questions!

You can check the campaign out here - with lots more photos:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/billyfrench/bloodlines-custom-playing-cards








Cheers,
Billy

[Justin O.]

Really love this deck! Backed right away! Just a couple questions, or points, both about the card back: I'm curious about the amount of negative space on the card backs, the face of the tuck is so well fleshed out, the negative space, specifically to the laft and right of the center, around what looks like a bouquet to me, on the back of the cards really stands out. The only other thing is how dark the card backs are, what went into the decision not to match the rich vibrant red of the tuck?

[bfrench]

Thanks for the kind words Justin!

The negative space was a last minute design choice - if you notice, there is similar negative space on the tuck box sides - I wanted to connect that. Another design detail that (admittedly) is hard to pick up on is that the back design is inspired by an hourglass - the negative space helped to get that feeling/shape.

As for the back design color - personal choice! I've just always loved darker backed decks, but I really wanted the tuck to be vibrant in contrast. It's actually the same color as the dark red on the diamonds/hearts.

Thanks for your support and questions!

[Paul Ruccio]

Love the look of this deck! Is the one-way back design intentional?

[bfrench]

Love the look of this deck! Is the one-way back design intentional?

Thanks Paul! It wasn't entirely intentional. I wanted some symmetry but I also wanted to embrace the nature of the texture and how that would look. I would be love to hear if that detail is 1.) noticeable enough to most people, and 2.) would be something that would hinder someone from using this deck - I'd certainly consider adjusting it so it wasn't one way if there were strong feelings about it.

[Don Boyer]

Love the look of this deck! Is the one-way back design intentional?

Thanks Paul! It wasn't entirely intentional. I wanted some symmetry but I also wanted to embrace the nature of the texture and how that would look. I would be love to hear if that detail is 1.) noticeable enough to most people, and 2.) would be something that would hinder someone from using this deck - I'd certainly consider adjusting it so it wasn't one way if there were strong feelings about it.

I could write you a dissertation on one-way and two-way back designs!  Here's how it shakes down:

Two-way backs: the most popular, the only thing many diehard card players (especially serious poker players) will use.

One-way back (obvious): Least popular.  It still sells fine in decks with a more artistic bent.  For more standard designs, however, you'll see it won't sell as well.  Caveat - if the deck has a specific design purpose (for example, its pattern is designed for creating unique fans and spreads for cardistry, or if the deck's theme is a famous artist and the back is his or her most famous painting), that can boost sales within that specific segment to whom it's meant to appeal.

One-way back (subtle or hidden): magicians will sometimes take advantage of such a design feature, as will some card cheats.  A serious card player will avoid it IF he or she knows it's one-way; anyone else will simply assume it's two-way and go about their merry way.

[bfrench]

Don - I appreciate the in-depth response on the topic! I can see and understand the importance of that decision.Thanks for taking the time to explain!

[Don Boyer]

Don - I appreciate the in-depth response on the topic! I can see and understand the importance of that decision.Thanks for taking the time to explain!

The way a magician or an advantage player would take advantage of a subtle or hidden one-way design is by orienting the cards in the deck in a specific manner.  For example, if you "pick a card, any card" and all the card are faced in one direction, the magician can reinsert your card faced the opposite direction and find your card anywhere in the deck without having to see the face.  A card cheat can organize a deck so that the more valued cards are turned one way and the rest turned the other.  In fact, a notable poker player is was recently sued by two casinos over "edge sorting" - the casinos were (foolishly) using a deck at the table that had an edge design that gave the card an overall one-way pattern because of the cards being cut slightly off-center.  At least one of the casinos suing him is also suing the card manufacturer, which in this case was Gemāco.  I'm not sure who owned the company at the time - USPC had purchased it, but was forced to sell it by the Justice Department due to antitrust regulations and it's now owned by Gaming Partners International (GPI), which also owns Paulson.

[Justin O.]

In fact, a notable poker player is was recently sued by two casinos over "edge sorting" - the casinos were (foolishly) using a deck at the table that had an edge design that gave the card an overall one-way pattern because of the cards being cut slightly off-center.

Sued? Not arrested for cheating?

[Don Boyer]

In fact, a notable poker player is was recently sued by two casinos over "edge sorting" - the casinos were (foolishly) using a deck at the table that had an edge design that gave the card an overall one-way pattern because of the cards being cut slightly off-center.

Sued? Not arrested for cheating?

They were "cheating" using the casinos own deck, taking advantage of the casino's own faulty procedures...  All the casinos needed to do was to have dealers split the deck and rotate the halves before shuffling them together - easy peasy, edge sorting foiled.  And the edge sorting would not have been possible, were it not for their own faulty decks.  So yes, arresting someone for cheating under those circumstances would have been problematic at best, hysterically embarrassing at worst.

Plus, I'm not sure it's technically illegal to cheat without using any cheating devices of any kind.  Two different jurisdictions are involved as well, on different continents - London, England, GB and Atlantic City, NJ, USA.  A possible cheater could be banned and blacklisted, for sure, but arrested is another matter.

[Worst Bower]

In fact, a notable poker player is was recently sued by two casinos over "edge sorting" - the casinos were (foolishly) using a deck at the table that had an edge design that gave the card an overall one-way pattern because of the cards being cut slightly off-center.

Sued? Not arrested for cheating?

He "cheated" using the casino's own equipment! The casino basically bought marked cards. There used to be players that went from casino to casino looking for roulette tables that showed a bias to certain numbers and exploit it. One could also accuse casinos of cheating because they have the house edge. Casinos won't survive if they don't have some statistical advantage against their customers.

[Don Boyer]

In fact, a notable poker player is was recently sued by two casinos over "edge sorting" - the casinos were (foolishly) using a deck at the table that had an edge design that gave the card an overall one-way pattern because of the cards being cut slightly off-center.

Sued? Not arrested for cheating?

He "cheated" using the casino's own equipment! The casino basically bought marked cards. There used to be players that went from casino to casino looking for roulette tables that showed a bias to certain numbers and exploit it. One could also accuse casinos of cheating because they have the house edge. Casinos won't survive if they don't have some statistical advantage against their customers.

You're right.  The major difference being that casinos have a house edge that's practically built into the laws that allow them to exist.  Players aren't supposed to have that edge - it's bad for casino business!    But seriously, it's a screwed-up situation and the casinos would have been wiser to just shut up, eat the loss and fix the problems rather than airing their dirty laundry in front of the rest of the world.  Despite the large sums taken, it was entirely 100% preventable, losses created by their own bad practices more than anything else.  Without the bad cards and bad shuffling procedures (and bowing to the famous card player's wishes in such a servile manner), they would have lost nothing.

If I was the GM of either casino, no one would have ever known of the loss and the elements that allowed the loss would have been eliminated.  Lesson learned, no one else is the wiser.

[bfrench]

In fact, a notable poker player is was recently sued by two casinos over "edge sorting" - the casinos were (foolishly) using a deck at the table that had an edge design that gave the card an overall one-way pattern because of the cards being cut slightly off-center.

Sued? Not arrested for cheating?

He "cheated" using the casino's own equipment! The casino basically bought marked cards. There used to be players that went from casino to casino looking for roulette tables that showed a bias to certain numbers and exploit it. One could also accuse casinos of cheating because they have the house edge. Casinos won't survive if they don't have some statistical advantage against their customers.

You're right.  The major difference being that casinos have a house edge that's practically built into the laws that allow them to exist.  Players aren't supposed to have that edge - it's bad for casino business!    But seriously, it's a screwed-up situation and the casinos would have been wiser to just shut up, eat the loss and fix the problems rather than airing their dirty laundry in front of the rest of the world.  Despite the large sums taken, it was entirely 100% preventable, losses created by their own bad practices more than anything else.  Without the bad cards and bad shuffling procedures (and bowing to the famous card player's wishes in such a servile manner), they would have lost nothing.

If I was the GM of either casino, no one would have ever known of the loss and the elements that allowed the loss would have been eliminated.  Lesson learned, no one else is the wiser.

All of this is fascinating  I don't think we will be seeing custom kickstarted cards in casinos anytime soon, eh? ha!

[Don Boyer]

All of this is fascinating  I don't think we will be seeing custom kickstarted cards in casinos anytime soon, eh? ha!

I think it's actually illegal in some states for casinos to use an over-the-counter deck instead of one they've custom-ordered with their branding on it.  It deters cheating when they're using decks only they can have.

[Snowy]

OMG Will back you soon

[bfrench]

OMG Will back you soon

Thank you Snowy!

[bfrench]

Just wanted to let everyone here know that:

1. This deck is super close to being funded! So if you've been waiting to see if it had a chance... 
2. Add-Ons are now available
3. NEW reward - screen printed posters are now available (and include a deck)

Cheers!
Billy