Have any of you heard of Artist Trading Cards? The idea of ATCs was that artist would make small artworks of a standard size and then could trade them amongst themselves. Selling ATCs directly contradicts the idea of their founding.

While staring at the ceiling and submersed in total madness during a heatwave in the summer of 2023 I had a goofball idea. What about an oracle deck with the same concept. This is slightly different than decks who have been made with the booster pack model, such as those kickstarted. The Alleyman Tarot and the Arcanaless Tarot Boosters are a similar idea—but with one key difference. I wanted multiple artists all over the world to be able to contribute to this idea. 

But how could I make that happen?

Rule One : Card Backs are Fixed

The biggest rule about the Trading Card Game Oracle is that all cards must use the same back graphic. I wanted all cards to be impossible to tell apart from the back—which means there cannot be deviation in the back graphic. To that end, I decided to distribute cards in three ways. First, I could have my own cards printed. Second, I could have some cards printed with blank ‘fronts’ and keep the back graphic the same. 

But, what about people who work digitally or very large or in medium that aren’t going to do well with being first made on card size? For that, I decided I could freely distribute the TCG Oracle back graphic, such as on my website and blog. I will host the graphic for card backs on this website. My plan is to print my first ‘booster pack’ through this website.

Rule Two : No Bigotry 

All cards are legitimate cards for the TCG Oracle, unless they overtly display any bigotry against race, color, sexuality, or gender presentation. Homophobia, Transphobia, and Racism automatically delegitimize a card for the TCG Oracle. I cannot stop assholes from making whatever they want. But, I can make a firm stance on what I do and do not approve of. 

Rule Three : No Plagiarism or Art Theft

Collage art is allowed. However, I do not approve of the idea of someone stealing someone else’s art and passing it off as their own without any transformation to the work in question. I think that is an easy enough rule to understand. This includes people claiming they created the back graphic. 

Other than those three rules as of August 25, 2023, there are no rules. However, I may amend this statement in the future. Artists are free to make whatever types of cards they want, baring it does not break any of the above three rules. Artists are also allowed to sell their cards. If there is one thing I know about the Trading Card Game aftermarket it’s that some cards get boosted up in price for very goofball reasons. Who am I to say people cannot sell their own work? 

I also wholly support the idea of magicians trading their cards amongst themselves and customizing their decks. Does anyone plan on participating?