The Look of the New Cards

[iknowinternet]

I hate to whine. I really do. But I have a huge problem with the look of the new cards (based on the jpgs of the Basher, Harlan, et. al.).
The mockups that one of the forum members did during the field test (of Ol' Rowdy and the Leviathan and whatnot) were truly things of beauty -- elegant, accessible, and featuring a very large, dynamic picture. I'm of the opinion, like many others, that PP should have just hired him or payed him to use his ideas. I don't have a link to the old ones, but I'm sure somebody can post it.
The problem with the new ones is that they look like a step backwards to the overcrowded eyesores that were the first generation color cards, with their elaborate borders infringing on the card space. These current ones, which I realize are probably already printed (so no change will come from this rant), have a confusing background filled with generic steampunk circuitry that adds nothing to the aesthetic and pulls the eye away from the all-important stats. And then there's the issue of the tiny fisheye picture port. PP, we LOVE your art... please let us see it on the cards! I know I'm playing a steampunk game... I don't need it hammered into my head.
I'd be happy even if these cards resembled the second-printing ("Mk II") faction deck cards, which sacrificed unnecessary flash for conveying stats.

I'm sorry for what may seem like a rant. It's not... I just feel like this is a small step backwards in MK2, which I am otherwise ecstatic about.

What do you guys think about the new cards?

[CT GAMER]

No matter how many times or how hard you wack him you can not raise a horse from the dead...

[Whimper]

I agree with just about everything the OP said, except that they should have just dropped everything and hired Bananachuck to produce all their products.

I really don't like the look of the new cards, but it's my understanding that it's been "too late" since way before we even caught a glimpse of them.

[Lexington]

While I agree that Bananachuck's cards were amazing, and superior to the actual Mk2 product visually, I don't get the loathing that the Mk2 cards seem to have generated. They seem fine, if somewhat ho-hum for the comparison.

[DoctorEvil]

No matter how many times or how hard you wack him you can not raise a horse from the dead...

9 out of 10 Cryxians would disagree :)

[CT GAMER]

9 out of 10 Cryxians would disagree :)

Necromancy trumps most things...;)

[iknowinternet]

I want to keep this thread civil, and I appreciate that (4 posts in) it is so far.
I'm just looking for everybody else to voice their opinions because, hey, I CARE what you people think... mostly. I'm not trying to beat any dead horses (besides those stupid Soulhunters).
PP puts out some damn fine products, and I hope they continue to do so. I just worry that they'll have to make Mark II Mk2 faction decks, and that I'll have to buy them because I'm a sucker. That's all.

[althai]

I really liked the superiority-era cards (is that the Mk II faction decks referred to above?), as well as the Hordes cards. I hope they return to a look similar to those.

Perhaps it's too late for Warmachine, but the cards will be replaced eventually, and it may not be too late for the Hordes cards, so I hope PP keeps this in mind: we want the focus to be on the art and the stats, and not on fancy borders.

[iknowinternet]

I really liked the superiority-era cards (is that the Mk II faction decks referred to above?), as well as the Hordes cards. I hope they return to a look similar to those.

Perhaps it's too late for Warmachine, but the cards will be replaced eventually, and it may not be too late for the Hordes cards, so I hope PP keeps this in mind: we want the focus to be on the art and the stats, and not on fancy borders.

Yeah, the post-Superiority cards are the "Mark II" faction decks in question.

[CeltKhan]

Wow, this one took a full 24 hours to resurrect. I was expecting this one to zombify itself on day one. :p

[Snakeman]

I want to keep this thread civil, and I appreciate that (4 posts in) it is so far.
I'm just looking for everybody else to voice their opinions because, hey, I CARE what you people think... mostly. I'm not trying to beat any dead horses (besides those stupid Soulhunters).
PP puts out some damn fine products, and I hope they continue to do so. I just worry that they'll have to make Mark II Mk2 faction decks, and that I'll have to buy them because I'm a sucker. That's all.

I appreciate your desire to keep the discussion civil and I would hope that that would not be difficult. After all, we are just talking about game aids with pretty pictures on them.

That said, I feel it's important to point out to you that this same discussion has been had at least a few dozen times over the past six months. What it all boils down to is:
1. Some people like the new cards, some people don't, and some don't care
2. The new cards are the way they are because it's a much more 'universal' template that allows PP to add and drop components of stat cards without having to custom design each card for each model
3. The decision to make this design trade-off was apparently made by PP some months ago and it has probably been 'too late' to have fan input since GenCon

Lastly, there should be no reason for PP to put out a new printing of cards except for corrections for major printing errors or sweeping rules changes. Granted, if they think there's enough of a market for stat cards that are nothing but pictures or completely blank except for the rules text, they'd make a poor business decision not to print such.

[bouncymischa]

Eh, I don't really mind the new cards.

It does rather amuse me that people talk about the aesthetics of the new cards, particularly comparing them to other designs that were "beautiful". On the other hand, I'm fairly certain that Privateer's intent was to create functional cards -- in particularly, a highly modular template that they could use.

It hadn't really sunk in for me until I looked at the new cards for Dannon Blythe & Bull vs. the Basher. Suddenly I realized that now warcasters and multi-wound solos have their damage boxes in the same place. Multi-wound units and warjacks have their boxes in the same place. I didn't really understand the empty space that the fluff text usually filled up, until I saw how it accomodated units with two different sets of weapons (mostly applying to two-man units, like Blythe and Bull).

So yeah. They could probably have increased the size of the art in the pane, but it's not a big issue for me. Maybe instead of a random steampunk background they could've done something simpler. But I can understand why they made the changes they did, so I'm willing to accept it.

[ar2]

I for one dislike the new cards very much, but they won't detract one bit from my enjoyment of the game. For me, the long and short of it is that even though I much prefer the player designed mockups, the look of the cards is pretty much a non-issue.
That being said, I can't believe I'm even responding to this thread! :p

[azaminkor]

I still have hope that there will be a different layout for the "gold" cards.

[frozenwastes]

I can't stand the new cards and won't be buying them. I'll be making my own. Nice, minimalist cards that value usability first and foremost.

[Von Quixote]

On the other hand, I'm fairly certain that Privateer's intent was to create functional cards -- in particularly, a highly modular template that they could use.

It hadn't really sunk in for me until I looked at the new cards for Dannon Blythe & Bull vs. the Basher. Suddenly I realized that now warcasters and multi-wound solos have their damage boxes in the same place. Multi-wound units and warjacks have their boxes in the same place. I didn't really understand the empty space that the fluff text usually filled up, until I saw how it accomodated units with two different sets of weapons (mostly applying to two-man units, like Blythe and Bull).

This is a point I hadn't considered in my previous rantings about form and function (I really don't care whether or not other sets are 'beautiful'; my concerns were with presence of dead space and natural flow of information), and goes a long way toward validating the design choices for me. Consistency and ease of construction are good things. SHOCKINGLY, it would seem to be a design choice made with the designers' benefit in mind, and I for one occasionally forget that there's actually a person at both ends of the process.

[saxondog]

I don't mind the new cards. They do what they were intend for: distribute information.
Like dice, tape measure, and any other gaming aid. I just want it to be functional.

SFK

[Skarburn]

I think I'm one of the few people who still like the black and white cards.

[Solo]

I like the new cards. More than the old ones.

And I wouldn't be playing against anyone in a tournament that made their own. A friendly - yeah fair enough. Not a tourney.

[CT GAMER]

Having been playing with the big B&W pages for MKII that take up tons of space, etc. for weeks now, ANY card no matter what it look like will be a welcome improvement at this point...

[Marius]

Having been playing with the big B&W pages for MKII that take up tons of space, etc. for weeks now, ANY card no matter what it look like will be a welcome improvement at this point...

That's so true. I'm sick of having to flip through pages to find stats. We're really spoiled with the card system compared to most other miniature games.

[ricefrisbeetreats]

I'm all for anything other than these paper sheets now.

Only complaint anymore is that I want my abilities on the front and back. I hate flipping my cards every few seconds to look at the back just in case I missed something.

It's easy, convenient, and the quotes were unnecessary.

[greenlock]

I kind of like the new cards. They look nice, I can read what they say, they all look the same so my eyes quickly find what informatin I need on them,

[Cambeul]

http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/215197303_5Bxpu-L-2.jpg

[maxxev]

Another pointless vote for Bananchuck's cards.

If I had the skills i'd do my own, but I don't so i'll put up with PPs cards, but it is a shame.

Nuff said though, there is nothing that can be done about it now anyway.

[CT GAMER]

I think I'm one of the few people who still like the black and white cards.

yet you insist on using colored text in your posts.

You are an enigma wrapped inside a riddle Mr. Skarburn...

[Allan255]

Sometimes you have to make a choice and stick to it to have a better game, even if a significant number of players don't agree to it.

I respect PP for being able to make some hard choice.

I'm just unlucky it happen for some things that matter to me (cards, to stay on subject, and mercenary contract, to add some troll power to this thread). But never loose hope : like jack that turns plastic, everything can change :D

[necronomitron]

I don't mind the new cards. They do what they were intend for: distribute information.
Like dice, tape measure, and any other gaming aid. I just want it to be functional.


This. I'm using, and plan to keep using the cards I printed of the early release of the MkII info (outside of the ones with typos anyhow). My cards are black printing on white cardstock. They do me just fine.

[bassman]

I think I'm one of the few people who still like the black and white cards.

I couldn't agree more. The sample cards that were released and take up the whole page are much easier to use and read from. I'll be keeping them

[Karyle]

I couldn't agree more. The sample cards that were released and take up the whole page are much easier to use and read from. I'll be keeping them

I'm pretty sure he was talking about the old black and white cards from back when Warmachine first came out in '03 through Escalation.

And no, he's not the only person. I loved those cards. Color cards are nice and pretty, but those cards were so easy and quick to read while standing at the table playing.

[saxondog]

Having been playing with the big B&W pages for MKII that take up tons of space, etc. for weeks now, ANY card no matter what it look like will be a welcome improvement at this point...

Having to play from the big pages has actually stopped me from playing lately.
The new card decks can't arrive soon enough. At least I'm getting a lot of painting done.

[jack frost]

they should release MK2 art cards that cost like 40$ for those of us who don't like the current ones.

that'll pay for all the work they'll have to put into them.

and in other news...the other day I played against a ret player and I could not once glean any information from his cards (blue/white art with blue/white boarders and white damage boxes with his blue pen for damage) from across the table. I mean, I knew which ones were jacks and which were infantry but that's all I could figure out...I couldn't even tell which ones were light or heavies or which were casters or solos or infantry.

PP made it easy for them to make new cards but at the cost of our gaming functionality. this is the only criticism i have with PP right now actually.

[megatron0]

I as a ret player love the new cards for their sleek design!

[Raven Abaddon]

Having to play from the big pages has actually stopped me from playing lately.
The new card decks can't arrive soon enough. At least I'm getting a lot of painting done.

I will have to agree on this one.
Dear God it really clutters the tabletop.

[Skarburn]

yet you insist on using colored text in your posts.

You are an enigma wrapped inside a riddle Mr. Skarburn...
Irony is my middle name.

[Defenstrator]

The new cards are ok. Bananachucks cards were awesome and I wish PP used them because they were better in every single way.

[PPS_Simon]

The new cards are ok. Bananachucks cards were awesome and I wish PP used them because they were better in every single way.

Except that they did not meet any of our criteria for functionality or aesthetics.

[frozenwastes]

They are better in every single way.

Attention PP Graphic Designer, please go to your boss, get humble and admit that Bananachuck's cards are better and that the company should go with them instead. Just man up and admit his work is better. If that means changing your criteria, then do it.

[megatron0]

I didnt like Bananachuck's cards. Saying "they are better in every single way" is forcing your opinion down our throat.
The new ones are lovely thank you PP's graphic designer for making fantastic and easy to read cards

[PPS_Simon]

They are better in every single way.

Attention PP Graphic Designer, please go to your boss, get humble and admit that Bananachuck's cards are better and that the company should go with them instead. Just man up and admit his work is better. If that means changing your criteria, then do it.

I don't think our designers are likely to perjure themselves on your behalf.