From Comic Pages to Trading Cards: My Journey Creating a Custom TCG
I’m super excited to finally unveil some aspects of my new trading card game, which is connected to my comic book series, The Academy. To celebrate my birthday and the upcoming release of Volume 1 of the comic, I’m sending out free starter decks to those who requested them through various ads and messages.
Drawing the comic pages has been a mixed feeling for me. While working digitally, zooming in and out, the art sometimes doesn’t look as good on screen as I hope. But when it’s blown up in print, I feel it really shows well. With chapters one through five and bonus stories included, this volume is something I’m proud to share, and the art makes the physical book look great.
The early versions of my comic were a learning curve. The very first oneshot was handmade with no references, and I struggled with basics like inking and character design. The next oneshot I attempted digitally showed improvement, though there were still challenges in settling on designs, especially for some characters like one key female lead.
My trading card game started as an homage to classics like Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon TCG. I still enjoy those games and recently downloaded some official apps to play casually. The idea was to create something collectible, tangible, and fun that would also tie into my comic, giving fans an immersive way to enjoy the world I built.
I’ve put serious thought and effort into the entire production and fulfillment process for the starter decks. The decks are preassembled, with 60 cards in each (even though the game plays with 40) to give players flexibility in building their own decks. Along with the cards, each package will include a detailed manual and a personal thank-you note from me.
Packaging and presentation are important to me because I want this deck to feel special. Drawing from the nostalgia of classic card games, I’m customizing the card boxes by applying printed adhesive paper with original art to them, aiming for a clean, polished look despite the handmade elements. It’s a learning process, and early boxes might have some imperfections, but I’m aiming for quality.
I’m even considering the logistics and costs involved in making this happen. Buying and producing the decks cost around $239 including shipping – certainly not cheap, but affordable enough for a creative project like this. If scaled up or sold in bulk, the cost per deck would be significantly lower, though my main goal right now isn’t commercial profit but sharing my passion with others.
Opening the first shipment was nerve-wracking because production can sometimes fall short of expectations, but these decks looked really good. Over several iterations, I refined the card designs, including adjusting borders and improving clarity so no details get cut off. With thicker card stock and upgraded printing, these decks feel almost perfect to me.
The artwork on the cards is my creation, mostly generated and enhanced using AI tools to speed up production while maintaining my creative vision and style. For me, AI is just another tool, akin to Photoshop, helping with coloring and details. I continuously tweak colors, clarity, and text so that the cards are as clear and visually engaging as possible.
Some cards required redesigning the cost symbols from generic white dots to more intuitive numbered circles for clarity during play. Due to time constraints, some of these changes were manually done, others with AI assistance to maintain visual consistency. These tweaks are meant to reduce confusion and improve gameplay experience.
Beyond the physical cards, I’m also developing a digital game version that includes multiplayer functionality, missions, a points system, and no microtransactions. This allows players to experience the same universe interactively, with features to earn cards through gameplay and booster packs, enhancing the overall engagement.
To those who receive the starter deck, I ask that you share videos or photos of your unboxing and gameplay experiences. Your feedback is invaluable to me for refining the game and growing the community, and helping get more people interested in both the card game and The Academy comic.
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