I think I've mentioned before that I like fictional games-- that is, the games that exist in fictional settings.  As a wee gamer, it always bugged me that my D&D characters played Chess, Poker, or Craps instead of some games developed in their worlds.

(Oddly, it didn't bother me that they wore fashions developed in another world.  I suppose I contain multitudes or something)

Shiftways was one attempt at a fictional game.  I've had a few others that I have chosen not to share just yet.  (because they suck)

Here's another one.  About a year ago, I sketched out a fictional card deck.  Now, with the help of a bunch of folks on RPG.net (in this thread), I've turned my random idea sketched in my notebook at Buck & Loon's into a functional deck of cards, and people far more clever than I are developing unique games for it.

Mark 1 of the deck in PDF form is attached to this post.  It's designed to produce poker-sized playing cards.  The deck has 60 cards, and since I had space, there are three Jokers.

Here's how to read the cards.  There are two Courts, light and dark, roughly analogous to the colors on a deck of standard playing cards.  Within each court, there are three Suits.  The Light Court contains Dawn, Day, and Dusk.  Those are noted by the three sun symbols.  The Dark Court contains Maiden, Mother, and Matron.  Those are represented by the Waxing Crescent, Full Moon Waning Crescent Moon.

(Later versions of the deck might have different symbols)

Where a normal deck would have card pips, my deck has symbols.  1 is a circle, 2 is a line (2 sides).  3 is a triangle.  4 is a square.  5 is a pentagon.  6-10 are doublings of 1-5, so 1 is a ring, 2 is a cross, 3 is a Star of David, 4 is an eight-pointed star, and 5 is a Pentagon and a Star juxtaposed.

I encourage all three or four people who still check my blog to contribute games if they're so inclined.  I think it'd be neat to see.

Goodner Cards v1.pdf (669.33 KB)