On Kickstarter, Secret Tale Blackbeard Playing Cards

Dutch Card House Company returns to Kickstarter with the fifth chapter of its Secret Tale playing card series, this time turning to the legend of Blackbeard and a fictional mystery surrounding Edward Teach, Anne Bonny, and the Bermuda Triangle.

The story begins with a supposedly recovered parchment attributed to Anne Bonny, revealing an alternate history in which Blackbeard’s fearsome reputation was deliberately created to protect a mysterious portal hidden within the Bermuda Triangle. At the center of the legend is Nerovare, a colossal sea creature said to guard the portal and drive intruders away.

The project features three main editions. Black Guardian represents the legendary Blackbeard persona, with a dark oceanic design accented by gold, hidden anchors, compass roses, and Nerovare’s tentacles. White Guardian, a Kickstarter-exclusive edition with a minimum production of 150 decks, reverses the palette with a white background and numbered closure seals. Green Nerovare features a deep emerald-green tuck and is reserved for special Guardian Trio sets and the Triangle Wooden Display Box.

All three editions share fully custom artwork, including 12 court cards portraying figures from the story, custom Aces, geometric number cards, and Jokers contrasting an idyllic maritime “Mirage” with the supernatural reality beneath the Bermuda Triangle. The decks feature premium foil-stamped and embossed tuck boxes, with cold, nautical-inspired artwork throughout.

Also, during the campaign, updates and comments contain clues and puzzles that backers can solve together, culminating in a final challenge. A collector’s Booklet expands the lore, while gilded editions of the Black and White Guardian decks add metallic gold and emerald-green edges respectively.

With its combination of historical figures, pirate folklore, fictional mythology, and interactive storytelling, Secret Tale Blackbeard continues Dutch Card House Company’s approach of making the deck part of a much larger narrative.

Pledge starts from $23 on Kickstarter.

On Kickstarter, Draconian Aurelion Playing Cards

Inspired by the legendary dragons of folklore, Draconian Aurelion playing cards are the latest addition to Midnight Cards' Draconian series and bring a striking combination of fantasy artwork, metallic finishes, and luxury craftsmanship to the table.

Designed by Randy Butterfield, the deck features a mesmerizing borderless dragon-scale back design, classic courts framed by swirling scales, and fire-like fissures woven throughout the faces, pips, Aces, and Jokers.

The deck comes in a matte black tuck box with gold foil and spot-white detailing, while a limited White Gold edition, restricted to just 500 decks, was offered as a Kickstarter exclusive.

The cards are printed by Legends Playing Card Co. on double-sided gold holographic foil, creating a rich metallic appearance while maintaining playability. 

The deck also introduces Ultra Gold dyed paper edges, designed to give the cards a distinctive gold appearance and greater durability.

Pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Ashik Playing Cards by MAINTEREST

MAINTEREST’s Ashik Playing Cards brings the story of Ashik Kerib to life on Kickstarter through a richly decorated deck inspired by Caucasian art, music, and Sergei Parajanov’s visually distinctive adaptation of the tale. The story follows a wandering musician who leaves his love behind for seven years, carrying his saz as he travels in search of fortune.

The design draws heavily on the visual language of the Caucasus, combining geometric patterns, vines, palmettes, pomegranate branches, and recurring saz motifs. The 12 custom court cards portray characters and figures inspired by the story, with subtly different details on each half of the traditionally mirrored designs. Custom ornamental pips, illustrated Aces, and Ashik-themed Jokers extend the narrative throughout the deck.

Four editions are offered, each representing a chapter of the story: Turquoise, Dune, Pomegranate, and the limited Sapphire. All feature 56 fully customized cards with double-sided cold foil, while the foil color and edge treatment vary by edition. The Sapphire edition adds silver holographic gilded edges and 10 randomly arranged gemstones, making every one of its 777 numbered decks unique.

The standout feature is the gem-set tuck boxes, with hand-set gemstones embedded among the decorative patterns. Pomegranate includes eight gemstones and gold cold foil, while Dune and Turquoise each feature seven. The Sapphire edition is the most limited and collectible, available only through the Artist Box Set and limited add-ons.

The Artist Box Set brings all four editions together with foil detailing, four story cards, and a custom metal bookmark visible through a cut-out window. A separate wooden collector’s box also provides a display-focused way to house the complete collection, making Ashik as much a storytelling object as a set of playing cards.

Printed by WJPC on 300gsm German black‑core paper, finished with a linen texture. Pledge starts at $18 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: White Reserve Note Playing Cards

Vintage. Refined. Elegant.

The White Reserve Note Playing Cards by Kings Wild Project are the fourth deck in the currency-inspired series released in 2021. Designed by Jackson Robinson, the deck draws inspiration from U.S. Reserve Notes of the early 1900s and builds on the artwork of the original Bicycle White Reserve Note.

The deck retains the intricate vintage banknote-inspired artwork while introducing a more refined presentation. The most noticeable upgrade is the use of foil throughout the deck, with metallic detailing applied to both the front and back of every card. This treatment adds depth and highlights the elaborate engraved-style artwork.

The minimalist tuck case provides a modern contrast to the historical card designs, featuring a clean white presentation accented with striking red foil. Printed by the Expert Playing Card Company, White Reserve Note combines classic currency imagery with an elegant contemporary finish.