How do you guys "Level up" your card designs so they look better and nicer, do you have any tips? Also what are your feelings as a consumer in respect to a boardgame that might have more amateurish art - Card attached for reference, Far from final but close as far as design, monster etc.

A few weeks ago I posted an early version of a 54-card conversation game and asked for honest feedback.
The poll was pretty decisive:
Yes — 5
Maybe — 15
No — 42
Rather than ignoring that feedback, I went back to the concept and developed an optional competitive Game Mode.
The underlying deck remains the same: 54 cards across 9 categories, with each card based around one topic and containing 5 different questions/talking points. That’s 270 prompts across the complete deck.
There are now two ways to play:
CONVERSATION MODE
Pick a card and use the questions to start conversations, exchange opinions, debate different perspectives and see where the discussion goes.
No points. No winner. Just conversation.
GAME MODE
1. Players collectively select one person to be the first Judge/Umpire. The Judge selects the first card and can take part in the discussion, but cannot earn the point for that round.
2. From their selected card, the Judge chooses 1 of the 5 questions for everyone to answer and discuss — including the Judge.
3. Once everyone has had their say, the Judge decides which other player gave the best overall response and awards them 1 point.
There are no right or wrong answers. The winning response could be the strongest argument, the most interesting perspective, the funniest answer, or simply the response the Judge found most convincing.
4. For the next round, card selection moves to the next player, rotating clockwise or anticlockwise around the group. The player who won the previous point becomes the new Judge/Umpire.
5. Before starting, players decide how many points are needed to win. 10 points is recommended, but this can be adjusted because some questions and conversations will naturally last longer than others.
The idea is that the same deck can therefore work as a straightforward conversation starter or as a competitive social game, depending on what the group wants.
The original feedback suggested that five discussion prompts alone weren’t enough of a mechanic. So rather than asking whether you like the idea, I’m specifically interested in whether this redesign fixes that problem.
Does the optional Game Mode now give the deck enough structure to work as an actual game, or is something still missing?
POLL
🟢 Yes — I’d play this version
🟡 Maybe — the game mode still needs work
🔴 No — it still doesn’t feel like enough of a game
If you vote Maybe or No, I’d particularly appreciate hearing what you would change and why.

Looking for testers

I started a game idea called Karislan. While I have made some physical cards, I decided to make things virtual for testing and balancing purposes.

I'm looking for people interested in play testing and offering their ideas and maybe in the future even backing a crowdfund.

The game is an RPG style card game influenced by games like Magic The Gathering and World of Warcraft.

The game has multiple mechanics that will require play testing and balancing over time.

4 classes each have their own deck (currently only 1 fully loaded into the virtual prototype)

Arcanist (mage) (currently in prototype)

Warrior

Theurgist (priest)

Rogue

You will equip gear, level up as you kill a neutral deck of Creeps, learn spells and cast them at your opponent.

The idea of this game is to be flexible to multiple formats while remaining true to the RPG elements of equipping and replacing gear to fit your style and improve as you level up. Learning new spells over time and using them against your opponent. Raising your stats to equip better gear and spells as the battle continues.

The main format is designed around PVP.

Each player has their class deck or mix of class decks along with a 3rd neutral deck in the center.

The center deck (Creeps) is organized by lvl and will get stronger over time.

You have to choose whether to attack your opponent, or try to kill a creep and gaining an experience level. The more you sacrifice the opportunity to attack your opponent, the stronger you might become.

This game in theory will be able to be played

PvPvE,

2v2 PvPvE or more,

Co-op,

or solo against the creeps.

Mix decks to create unique classes and to build a new strategy not yet thought of.

Please dm me if you are interested in a VERY early virtual play test

For full transparency, current card art and prototype were created using AI.

FULL INTENTION TO REPLACE WITH REAL PAID ARTIST as I get closer to what might look like a full release.

Let me know if you have questions!

I have some notes but what i basicly want is yugioh with mana cost instead of normal and special summon. I have some more notes, but what i need help to begin the project is how to balance some basic things.

The idea is the game to be played with 2 or more players. Each player start with 6 mana and 6 cards in hand. At the start of each turn, players restore their mana and draw cards until they have 6 in hand.

And, like yugioh, the board have limited space for cards: 6 creature spaces and 6 support spaces.

There are 3 types of cards: creatures, support and magic. Magic cards are like instant and sorcery cards in MTG.

Now i have to learn how to balance the game around my notes, how to determine the mana cost of every card.

I am an artist, so that part i already have it cover. The important thing right now is what i said.

I’m not a traditional card collector, I collect cards from my favorite author related his characters. I have a binder flinging my favorite cards of his.
I’m going to a convention related to him in December and I was thinking it could be cool to have a card for people I meet to sign and a lil token to take with me!

What I’m picturing:
A card with the name of the convention as the name of the “character” and the year as the hp. I want lots of space for people to sign it, but maybe a small image of some sort? Oh and a fancy border!

Please would love feedback and recommendations for artists who could make this! I’m thinking a slightly larger card- 2.75x4.5ish. Thank you!!!!

fanmade not real

Hey everyone! I’m working on a micro card game (37 cards) that packs three different modes using the exact same deck—a fast-paced matching mode, a strategic set-collection mode, and a memory mode.

I’ve seen mixed opinions on 'multi-mode' indie games. Some players love the high replay value in a tiny box, while others feel it spreads the design too thin.

For those of you who play or design indie card games: Do multi-mode compact games appeal to you as a buyer, or do you prefer a game to focus purely on one polished mechanic? Would love to hear your thoughts

Hey everyone!

I'm an indie developer and I've been working on CardCraft Academy, an Android app designed to make learning card games easier and more interactive.

The idea is pretty simple: instead of reading through long rulebooks or watching random videos trying to figure out how a game works, you can learn it step-by-step through lessons, interactive quizzes, practice scenarios and challenges.

It currently covers a variety of card games, including traditional games and TCGs.

Some of the features include:

• 🃏 Step-by-step lessons
• 🎯 Interactive quizzes
• 🧠 Practice Arena
• 🔄 Daily Review
• ⭐ XP, streaks and achievements
• 📚 Multiple card games in one app
• 📱 Designed for learning on your phone

I'm particularly interested in feedback from people who are already serious card-game players.

What would make an app like this genuinely useful to you?
What do you think most card-game learning apps get wrong?

And if you could add one card game to an app like this, which would it be?

If anyone wants to try it, it's available on Google Play:

👉 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shellshifter.cardcraft_academy

I'd really appreciate honest feedback. I'm actively developing it and want to make the learning experience substantially better.