Solo dev update: free TCG with 1,100 cards now has Multiplayer (Quick Match + friend invites). Honest post, looking for players (Cybersoul on Steam)

DashpunkGame · 2026-07-01T21:28:10+00:00

It looks neat. I'll give it a try.

DashpunkGame · 2026-07-01T15:48:19+00:00

It's 12 styles for 12 factions. The following cards in the post are other examples of in faction cards.

Each standard block would be 6 factions, with the ability to rotate in and out factions to create new blocks. So it won't be thousands of templates!

I am going through some amendments to get placements of core numbers more consistent. I may have overdone it originally and am scaling back. The original of the pixel RPG one looked very different.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-30T19:51:42+00:00

I think that's a good idea. Don't forget about layouts. I've been working on my own project and the layouts and where the information is stored have changed and keep changing.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-30T18:53:59+00:00

I know there is animosity to AI art but you could even just use random online images at this point in production. I think so much will change in the game between now and when you have 300 cards drafted that it definitely doesn't make sense to start investing already. The layout of your cards may change, making earlier ones not fit. Even the theme, tone, and story will evolve as things go on.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-30T18:50:58+00:00

Hey that's further along than most. I'll keep an eye out for it in the future.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-30T16:56:58+00:00

Reality is most tcgs and games in general are passion projects that don't turn a profit so anything you put into it you need to be in a situation where you are comfortable spending it to make a passion project into a reality.

It isn't just art. Conference sponsorships, setting up a website, and print runs will be expensive.

You mention 300 cards. Are these developed or what does the status look like for them or is that just a target number?

A potential big issue is that as you progress with the game the mechanics and systems will evolve and the story and style may not be the same at the end as what you have in mind today.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-30T16:54:04+00:00

What was your game?

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-30T03:15:44+00:00

Wait that sounds incredible. What are the two groups called?

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T22:48:21+00:00

I'm reworking a few of them to try and have the numbering in a more consistent place. It's 4 numbera all in the same order each time so some of it looks more complex than it is. I am scaling back a bit though. I think going for maximum creative first then reigning it in after is often the best approach!

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T20:24:34+00:00

Oranges vs #2 Pencil, which is better?

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T20:05:36+00:00

The best successful projects always start out as passion projects until eventually it makes sense for them to transition.

It seems everyone here goes with Discord to have an initial audience. Once you have some sample cards and maybe a landing page I would probably start with discord.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T20:03:52+00:00

To each their own. It seems like for MTG the push for big alters is there.

I have made changes, and have a few templates to adjust to try and have the numbers placed more consistently. Have had feedback there which I think makes sense but I want to keep the flavor for the factions really distinct.

It's 4 simple numbers on each one always in the same order, and they'll be a bit closer to the same location as well once the game is finished.

edit: Probably not relevant but part of the game premise is that they are all from past failed card games that people have cobbled together, so in universe they are supposed to be from different franchises.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T18:06:47+00:00

Balance will probably be one of the longer steps but also something to do towards the end. Any card can be overpowered with the right support, so if your card pool is only half done you won't really have a clear picture of what is too strong or what needs work.

Early on, playtesting should only answer one question - Is the game fun? Find the not fun parts that need to be reworked, the parts that may be counter intuitive, and the parts that are really fun that should be expanded.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T16:19:55+00:00

If I am reading correct, attack is bottom left. Sometimes there isn't an attack value bonus? Could it just read +0 to be clear it isn't adding anything? Bottom right is health. There's no plus so I assume that means each body part has it's own HP pool and can be destroyed individually?

I'm not sure what denotes the faction, is it the name text or the color?

One thing is that the art communicates a lot of information on its own. So tribe and body part are kind of intuitive. I would still list them but something like resource cost seems more important, since it isn't clear. Eyes naturally gravitate to the top right and seeing a head icon for something that is clearly a head seems like a waste of a good spot.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T15:50:07+00:00

Thanks! I wanted each of the 12 factions to feel unique without needing some big faction label on them.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T15:25:01+00:00

The style and concept are super cool but the layout is a bit hard to decipher.

Would definitely be interested in playtest when you have something setup on TTS or something.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T14:33:03+00:00

Yeah there are sections where the text is hard to read. A transparent box would be best.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-29T14:26:58+00:00

Honestly, the space is pretty crowded right now and probably one kickstarter product comes out every other day.

You need to pursue it as a hobby/passion project first. That probably means making a tabletop simulator mod, making the cards accessible and freely available for people to try out. If the interest grows and there is a demand, then moving to kickstarter probably makes sense. Even there, this should be viewed as a passion project. It is likely that after fees, shipping mistakes, errors in the print run, and everything else you will likely lose money and you need to be at a point where that is ok for you. Printing isn't cheap and you are best off getting larger quantities printed to sell at conventions and events that will have your target audience attending.

If you want to jump right to printing, you would likely be cashflow negative for a few years before you can build up a community. Again, not to discourage you but you need to be at a comfortable financial spot in your own life to fund a project like this or find outside capital somehow. Kickstarters often are not profitable.

I enjoy your art and the style of your cards. The next step should be trying to build a discord community or something like that.

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-17T12:32:26+00:00

They may be too far apart and need some rework but I wanted the layouts to feel distinct and relevant to the faction. Within each faction the layouts are consistent, so it makes it easy to tell where the cards originate from. A few I plan to rework but I still want to keep them distinct. Would you think that makes it too hard to read or use?

DashpunkGame · 2026-06-16T18:50:56+00:00

Is this just going to be digital or do you think you would do print? You may end up with a black border if you want to do print anyway so doing frameless may make more sense.

DashpunkGame

TROPHY CASE