Finis Vitae

Team: Team 40

Role : Game Designer & Art Lead

Genre: Card Game

Project Summary

This is a cute Eldritch horror-themed card game. In this project, I explored card game design, iterating on the mechanics through multiple playtests and adjustments to refine the gameplay.

This was my first experience illustrating card artwork, which allowed me to develop my skills in character and card design. Through this process, I gained valuable insights into balancing game mechanics with visual storytelling, making this a highly educational and rewarding experience.

Tool

Paper
Miro
Jira
Discord
Printer

Procees Work

Pre-production:

At the beginning, our team used a whiteboard and a bubble diagram to brainstorm different card game ideas. We first wrote down several card game types we were interested in, and then expanded on each type by branching out into smaller, more specific ideas. This method helped us explore a wide range of possibilities and visualize potential mechanics and themes efficiently.

After our brainstorming session, we decided to explore ideas individually before regrouping.

For my part, I focused on art style exploration, researching several common visual styles for card games. This research would help inform our later group discussions by providing concrete artistic directions to consider.

Additionally, I experimented with different card face designs, exploring various layout and stylistic approaches. This helped generate inspiration for the final card aesthetics, ensuring that our card designs would be both visually appealing and functional.

We decided to use a cute Eldritch horror style as our main aesthetic. To ensure a cohesive visual direction, we gathered references with a similar art style, using them as inspiration for our designs.

This approach allowed us to balance the mystical and eerie elements of Eldritch horror with a charming and approachable visual style, making the game more engaging while maintaining a sense of mystery and intrigue.

Art Process:

Later, our team members provided me with a list of card character names, and based on these names, I created several concept sketches for the characters.

For example, for "Shadow Stalker", I imagined a character that hides in the darkness, which led me to explore the following design elements:

A cloak that allows him to blend into the shadows.
A non-human form concealed beneath the cloak, hinting at something unsettling and otherworldly.

These sketches helped define the visual identity of the characters while ensuring they aligned with our cute Eldritch horror aesthetic.

More sketch

In our card game, we decided to include functional cards, so based on the established setting, I designed two mystical swords.

To visually convey their hidden powers, I used bright glowing effects, emphasizing their mysterious and supernatural energy. These effects not only make the swords stand out but also enhance the Eldritch horror aesthetic, reinforcing the idea that these weapons possess otherworldly abilities.

final verison

After submitting my sketches to the team for feedback and finalizing the designs, I proceeded to transform them into fully rendered artwork.

For the art style, I used a cute yet painterly approach, incorporating soft, blended brushstrokes to maintain the adorable yet eerie tone of our Eldritch horror theme.

For the backgrounds, I carefully selected colors and brushwork that complemented the overall aesthetic. To enhance depth and focus, I applied a blur effect, making the foreground elements stand out while maintaining a sense of mystery.

To help differentiate the card types, we assigned unique background designs for each category, ensuring that players could easily distinguish between different card functions at a glance.

As the art lead, I refined the card layouts based on our previous draft sketches, further developing their visual and functional clarity.

To enhance readability and emphasis:

I darkened the background, making the card description area more prominent.
I used a bloodstained parchment texture for the text box, reinforcing the Eldritch horror aesthetic while maintaining a sense of mystery and intrigue.

For gameplay clarity, I assigned distinct colors to key mechanics:

Red for attack symbols, emphasizing aggression and danger.
Blue for defense symbols, aligning with the intuitive logic of protection and stability.

These design choices ensure that the cards are visually engaging while remaining easy for players to read and understand at a glance.

For one of the unused card back designs, I initially created a cross planted upside down, symbolizing an eerie and unsettling presence. Surrounding the cross, I incorporated coffin-like shapes and bloodstains, reinforcing the dark, ominous tone of the design.

However, after team discussions, we decided that this style felt too mature and serious, which did not fully align with our intended "cute Eldritch horror" aesthetic. As a result, we opted for a different design that better balanced the adorable yet eerie tone we were aiming for.

Print Out:

For the final paint-out, we were all very satisfied with the end result. The completed designs successfully captured the balance between cute and eerie, staying true to our Eldritch horror theme while maintaining a visually appealing and cohesive style. The combination of refined card layouts, distinct mechanics, and polished illustrations made the final product feel both engaging and immersive.