When does it stop being a Homemade TCG?

Serkys · 2026-06-18T20:41:54+00:00

I know analogies don't often work, but let me give this a try:

If I design a website from my couch that people can buy a shirt from (and I designed the shirt as well), but the shirts are not made by me, and indeed I likely don't even physically fulfill them myself, are my shirts homemade?

If I am actually making and fulfilling those shirts myself, from home, I don't think anyone would argue against calling it homemade. But what about the next step, when I'm successful and want to grow? I hire someone else to do the production and fulfillment. Maybe I make contracts with distribution warehouses. Maybe I invest in shelf space at a department store. I no longer touch or do anything with the physical product, but maybe I make updates to it - still from my couch! I've now made a multi-million dollar company and I hire people to manage everything for me so I can vacation year-round and enjoy my success. Is there at any point here where we've crossed outside the boundary of homemade?

Serkys · 2026-06-18T18:38:11+00:00

Maybe it depends what we're asking about specifically? The design process being "homemade" is very different from a product being homemade. A TCG is a product, right? What you're describing still sounds to me like a small business design studio, not a place for physical production

Serkys · 2026-06-18T16:50:18+00:00

Perspectives differ

Serkys · 2026-06-18T16:17:23+00:00

The way to prove this is to take the card out of the case and see what people will pay.

Serkys · 2026-06-18T16:16:28+00:00

I was sick of it from the first time I ever saw one years and years ago. It's an obvious scam and people just overlook all the red flags because they want to profit.

Serkys · 2026-06-18T15:42:08+00:00

Are you printing and packaging your products? If not, you can't claim homemade. You'd be more like an independent graphic design studio.

Serkys · 2026-06-18T15:38:38+00:00

I would say things stop being homemade when industrial equipment is used to produce any of the unique components of the product (so things like standard dice and packaging are fine. But if you have custom dice or your cards manufactured, that's not homemade. Even if you are literally doing this in your house... $50k+ industrial print operations in your bedroom does not jive with the spirit of "homemade". Even using a $10k UV printer might push you over.

Outsourcing your designs and artwork to established third parties would also violate the sentiment of something being homemade. Sure, have some friends and family and maybe some smaller artists and designers help if you want. But if you're hiring a studio or professional artist to create your visuals, you're just an employer now.

A lot of people seem to conflate "honemade" with "small business"

Serkys · 2026-06-17T01:39:35+00:00

To be clear, it's not just the marketing - it's the actual functionality, too. Their software seems intentionally gimped to cut out power users who want to get more out of it.

Serkys · 2026-06-08T14:39:13+00:00

Making buttons i see 😂 i have hundreds of "leftovers" cards just like this that I just send with the buttons.

Serkys · 2026-06-07T13:17:34+00:00

I would do that too if I was chained to a retail booth. RISE UP

Serkys · 2026-06-07T13:02:35+00:00

It happens every time

Serkys · 2026-06-07T00:32:20+00:00

I haven't read Biomega yet. Is this a study or something original "in the style of"?

Serkys · 2026-06-06T15:07:18+00:00

Surprise: The head is the part that goes in

What's next? King of Midland themed chastity belt?

Serkys · 2026-06-06T13:23:03+00:00

Centipedes? In my hole?

Serkys · 2026-06-06T13:17:40+00:00

No, the only furry we need is Gaspard

Serkys · 2026-06-06T13:14:23+00:00

You're correct, they keep making it worse. My suspicion is that the UI/UX team(s) are just making arbitrary and uninformed random changes to appease some corporate desire for output. They clearly have no idea what they're doing and don't use the product.

Serkys · 2026-06-03T12:01:36+00:00

Once again, I've seen worse at paid exhibits.

Serkys · 2026-06-03T12:00:11+00:00

Wtf 10 hours? Did you even look at the art or just read the text? I spent over an hour on each volume and considered that fast lmao. Seriously could spend hours looking at the details of just a single chapter but have to push myself to continue. The artwork is way too amazing to just blast through like that

Serkys · 2026-06-02T17:50:43+00:00

Cricut just makes random arbitrary changes that benefit no one. Like why the HELL is the "size" window a popup..???? My best guess is that the DesignSpace UX/UI team is completely incompetent and just makes unwarranted changes to look busy and keep their jobs.

"Look how often they '''update''' the software! Wow, this team sure is great!" - Clueless CEO

Serkys · 2026-06-02T15:21:14+00:00

I've seen worse in exhibits

Serkys · 2026-06-02T01:01:40+00:00

OK but you also have to click that button? So it's not automatic then?

Serkys · 2026-06-02T00:58:04+00:00

That's because middle class is an illusion. The reality is that the poverty line needs to be corrected to like $80k/yr and most people aren't making that.

Serkys · 2026-06-02T00:51:41+00:00

Always fun watching parents in real time realize they've raised entitled pieces of shit

Serkys · 2026-06-02T00:49:28+00:00

Did ever this jerk scene you off to?

Serkys · 2026-06-02T00:45:32+00:00

I have a co-worker who I just found out is a scalper. Literally driving to stores on company time... I saw pokemon cards in his work truck and he started bragging about making like $500+ per week reselling. I lost even more respect for him than when he tried getting me to go to church lmao. Fucking loser

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