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I designed a new set of ~1000 Pokémon trading cards

BowieZ

BowieZ

Member
Nov 7, 2017
3,972
I personally am obsessed with trading cards, and Pokémon designs too, but I really just don't like the existing Trading Card Game card designs. In my opinion, they're kinda garish, and cluttered. And there's obviously too many to really consider collecting.

So I set out to design my own set, for my two nephews (and also myself of course), with the intent on creating just one card per Pokémon (regional variants separate), while maintaining a clean, simple, consistent but still colorful and detailed set. They each use the official art and 'dex icon, but everything else including the logo is original. (The logo is "Pokémon ULTIMATE Pokédex Trading Card Series".)

This also means we are assured of collecting a full set without spending thousands =p

It's taken about a month so far, with some finishing touches to go, and I need to wait until the rest of Gen VIII is announced before I hit print. I am also going to design rare "shiny" versions that use print with special foil. Thoughts? :)

Comparison of Greninja and Solgaleo cards. (Mine in the middle.)

S6qTtG6.png


Preview of the full pokédeck:

Pjao1YH.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
signal

signal

Member
Oct 28, 2017
40,184
The card layout is cool, though I think on those examples I like the art in the original more.
 
Saturday

Saturday

One Winged Slayer
The Fallen
Oct 27, 2017
6,323
The fuck, dude? This is amazing effort. I know you said you're not printing these out yet but do you have a online album of these to pour over?
 
James3D

James3D

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,000
Respect. I heard about a guy that did this in prison for himself and his fellow inmates to play.
 
WaveBird

WaveBird

Member
Oct 29, 2017
1,768
I've spent a lot of time and money on making my own cards feel like proper TCG cards. I've worked on making a present for my brother for a few years now but never got the feel right. I'm interested in what you've gone with because hell, it took me a chunk of change just to get the proper circular edges correct.
 
Papertoonz

Papertoonz

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 26, 2017
3,256
BowieZ said:
I personally am obsessed with trading cards, and Pokémon designs too, but I really just don't like the existing Trading Card Game card designs. In my opinion, they're kinda garish, and cluttered. And there's obviously too many to really consider collecting.

So I set out to design my own set, for my two nephews (and also myself of course), with the intent on creating just one card per Pokémon (regional variants separate), while maintaining a clean, simple, consistent but still colorful and detailed set. They each use the official art and 'dex icon, but everything else including the logo is original. (The logo is "Pokémon ULTIMATE Pokédex Trading Card Series".)
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

and that's why you won't even make money from this business, listen this is a neat project and all but i can tell you have some things wrong, like i can see you have an icon for Pseudo-legendary pokemon but not all the pseudos have it
 
Mariolee

Mariolee

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
10,307
Holy shit

Sidenote: I remember you from the comments section of GoNintendo like a lifetime ago lol
 
THube

THube

Member
Oct 27, 2017
623
Papertoonz said:
and that's why you won't even make money from this business, listen this is a neat project and all but i can tell you have some things wrong, like i can see you have an icon for Pseudo-legendary pokemon but not all the pseudos have it
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Did OP say they wanted to make money off of this?? Weirdly condescending comment.
 

Deleted member 34873

User-requested account closure
Banned
Nov 29, 2017
1,460
A little too sterile for my tastes but I can absolutely appreciate the dedication and am sure your nephews will love them.
 
milkyway

milkyway

One Winged Slayer
Member
May 17, 2018
3,004
Wow these look like they could be amiibo cards or something, like the Animal Crossing ones. Sell them to Nintendo lol.
 
QisTopTier

QisTopTier

Community Resettler
Member
Oct 25, 2017
13,715
Papertoonz said:
and that's why you won't even make money from this business, listen this is a neat project and all but i can tell you have some things wrong, like i can see you have an icon for Pseudo-legendary pokemon but not all the pseudos have it
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...


Nice effort OP reminds me of the old trading cards from Topps
 
THube

THube

Member
Oct 27, 2017
623
These look awesome, OP! I've never considered the idea of these cards getting a redesign-- it's such a classic design --but you've done an amazing job. I love how the evolutionary line is included : )
 
chrominance

chrominance

Sky Van Gogh
Member
Oct 25, 2017
13,581
That's neat! But aren't you missing the text that explains how the moves and abilities work, or did I miss where that's listed on the card? Or is this intended to be just a set of trading cards, i.e. you can't use these cards to play? If so, then never mind.

I enjoy the retro baseball card look to some of the elements like the banners in the top left!
 

Deleted member 33533

Banned
Nov 17, 2017
12,864
I think the graphic design elements are better in some ways. It's less cluttered but I think it loses all its appeal when you just put the stock character art there. Interesting illustrations are what make trading cards worth collecting in my opinion. Without them, the cards feel lifeless and sterile.
 
Pau

Pau

Self-Appointed Godmother of Bruce Wayne's Children
Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,838
Damn, your nephews are lucky to have such a dedicated uncle!

Are the cards meant for just collecting or is there a game attached as well? The text at the bottom is too small for me to read, but it seems like it's a small blurb about the Pokemon?
 
Servbot24

Servbot24

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
43,065
The layout is really nice, definitely an improvement. The only thing I don't like is the background. I would rather have unique illustrations for each card (which is obviously not possible for a regular person to do)
 
nib95

nib95

Contains No Misinformation on Philly Cheesesteaks
Banned
Oct 28, 2017
18,498
Dude, you should be getting paid for this!
 
Phendrana

Phendrana

Member
Oct 26, 2017
7,048
Melbourne, Australia
They're definitely well made and I like all of the extra details you've included about the Pokemon.

The main reason I like trading cards is FOR the unique art, though. I'll deal with the cluttered layout for that.
 
Ryuelli

Ryuelli

Member
Oct 26, 2017
15,209
I like the layout, but unless I'm missing something did you just completely get rid of the actual game part of the cards? I'm not seeing the abilities on them. I also don't really like the font used for the names. Obviously the art itself is better on the originals, but as placeholders yours aren't bad.

Yours seem less Trading Card Game and more Trading Cards/more in line with the old Topps series.

91Cn8v0qYHL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 
OP
OP
BowieZ

BowieZ

Member
Nov 7, 2017
3,972
Papertoonz said:
and that's why you won't even make money from this business, listen this is a neat project and all but i can tell you have some things wrong, like i can see you have an icon for Pseudo-legendary pokemon but not all the pseudos have it
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
It's presumably illegal to sell them lol.

I do intend to make the finished version 100% accurate though. As I said this is just a preview and finishing touches are to come.

Which pseudos should have the icon? I was going by as strict a definition as I could find but it seems some are contested or fan-designated.

Ryuelli said:
I like the layout, but unless I'm missing something did you just completely get rid of the actual game part of the cards? I'm not seeing the abilities on them. I also don't really like the font used for the names. Obviously the art itself is better on the originals, but as placeholders yours aren't bad.

Yours seem less Trading Card Game and more Trading Cards and more in line with the old Topps series.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Pau said:
Damn, your nephews are lucky to have such a dedicated uncle!

Are the cards meant for just collecting or is there a game attached as well? The text at the bottom is too small for me to read, but it seems like it's a small blurb about the Pokemon?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah it's not intended to be a game. Just trading cards. :)

The text is currently there to explain the evolution chain with some notes about how special items would work to change forms etc. It's all about economizing space. I am not 100% on what text to include if any. But I like the idea of promoting reading to my nephews.
 
PickledCucumber

PickledCucumber

Member
Sep 14, 2019
3,028
BowieZ said:
I personally am obsessed with trading cards, and Pokémon designs too, but I really just don't like the existing Trading Card Game card designs. In my opinion, they're kinda garish, and cluttered. And there's obviously too many to really consider collecting.

So I set out to design my own set, for my two nephews (and also myself of course), with the intent on creating just one card per Pokémon (regional variants separate), while maintaining a clean, simple, consistent but still colorful and detailed set. They each use the official art and 'dex icon, but everything else including the logo is original. (The logo is "Pokémon ULTIMATE Pokédex Trading Card Series".)

This also means we are assured of collecting a full set without spending thousands =p

It's taken about a month so far, with some finishing touches to go, and I need to wait until the rest of Gen VIII is announced before I hit print. I am also going to design rare "shiny" versions that use print with special foil. Thoughts? :)

Comparison of Greninja and Solgaleo cards. (Mine in the middle.)

S6qTtG6.png


Preview of the full pokédeck:
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

OP, I'm curious...

Would you ever be interested in designing trading cards for an expandable card game?

Asking for a friend 😅
 
Papertoonz

Papertoonz

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 26, 2017
3,256
BowieZ said:
It's presumably illegal to sell them lol.

I do intend to make the finished version 100% accurate though. As I said this is just a preview and finishing touches are to come.

Which pseudos should have the icon? I was going by as strict a definition as I could find but it seems some are contested or fan-designated.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

i was just joking and all, TCGs need to make money and to make money they have to make more cards no matter what so giving a hard limit would go against that

anyway the pseudos lines are Dragonite, Tyranitar, Salamance, Metagross, Garchomp, Hydreigon, Goodra, Komm-o and Dragapult

and those aren't from fan terms cause TPC put out a merch line awhile back with them all in it called Late Bloomers

Gen_VII_Pseudo_Legendary_Artwork.png


Sword and Shield weren't out yet so Dragapult wasn't included in it
 
OP
OP
BowieZ

BowieZ

Member
Nov 7, 2017
3,972
Papertoonz said:
the pseudos lines are Dragonite, Tyranitar, Salamance, Metagross, Garchomp, Hydreigon, Goodra, Komm-o and Dragapult

and those aren't from fan terms cause TPC put out a merch line awhile back with them all in it called Late Bloomers

Gen_VII_Pseudo_Legendary_Artwork.png


Sword and Shield weren't out yet so Dragapult wasn't included in it
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah, I did see that. And it was a tough call, but the best compromise I could make is just calling it "Dragon" and excluding the Tyranitar and Metagross lines, giving company to other late-dex three-tier lines like Flygon and Haxorus.

dkZrpXL.png
 
eonden

eonden

Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,078
The cards look great but...

They have the same problem as the full art Magic cards have where their looks superseeded the act of being actual usable cards. Pokemon CG tends to have more than 1 version of each pokemon with different attacks, and abilities. Even then, it would be impossible to ask any pro player (or even worse, new players) to remember all 700+ of each.

They would be great as collectable Pokedex cards tho.
 

Vector

Member
Feb 28, 2018
6,641
This is incredible! Nice job, OP! I can't imagine how many hours you put into this.
 
Another

Another

Banned
Oct 23, 2019
1,684
Portugal
Honest question... why not just design a new card game from scratch instead?

Edit: nevermind, didn't realize you meant design in a strictly cosmetic sense.
 
Last edited:
Lynd

Lynd

Member
Oct 29, 2017
2,438
SuperiorTrashTalk said:
I think the graphic design elements are better in some ways. It's less cluttered but I think it loses all its appeal when you just put the stock character art there. Interesting illustrations are what make trading cards worth collecting in my opinion. Without them, the cards feel lifeless and sterile.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Absolutely. Im sorry, but the normal cards look more interesting and nicer overall.
 
Skyfireblaze

Skyfireblaze

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,257
Wow this is dedication and awesome work! :D I really like the overall look and design-language but I agree with the others saying the only thing that isn't as great are the simplistic backgrounds. But I suppose that's a matter of taste and of course also workload and doesn't diminish your work at all! :)
 
Mars People

Mars People

Comics Council 2020
Member
Oct 25, 2017
18,181
I didn't realise how awful the official cards were from an aesthetic design position.
They are a cluttered mess.
 
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