Archetypes Storytelling Cards - Review by Michele Jackson
I generally do not care to write about non-tarot decks. However, this one intrigued me
because it is a variation of the idea used in the Storyteller Tarot.
The idea is that cards can be used to create a story from start to finish including
everything from character development to plot. This 64 card deck is designed to be useful
in many different ways. If you are a writer, you can use his deck to devise and continue
story lines. If you play role-playing games, you can use it to devise characters and
plots. It can even be used in place of the multi-sided dice required by many role-playing
games. The upright and reversed meanings could also be used in divination.
Each card has the following correspondences:
These are provided on an instruction sheet. The card meanings are provided on what
appears to be a poor copy of an original printed sheet. The writing is extremely small.
That is my only "ouch" about this deck. One side of one sheet provides
instructions on use and information on the meanings of the Moon Signs, Elements, and
Numbers. The remaining side and second sheet provide the information listed above for each
card. A better copy of the instructions, as well as images of all of the cards, can be
obtained from the company's website.
The cards measure 4" X 3". The art is good and appears to be a combination of
photography and digital art. Each card is divided into two sections. The large, top
section has a scene, object or character for the card. The smaller bottom section has the
card name on a back
ground that indicates
the element - flames for Fire, water for Water, sand for Earth and clouds in a blue sky
for Air. The number assigned to the card is indicated in this section by a number of small
symbols. There are 16 cards assigned to each suit. The backs are
red and have the deck name and logo.
Many of the cards will be familiar to those who use Tarot: The Fool, The Lovers, The Moon, The Sun, Fortune's Wheel and The World. Others are similar to Tarot cards: The Priest (Hierophant), The Beast (The Devil) and The Govenor (Emperor).
As previously mentioned, the deck comes with a two page handout that provides instructions for using the cards in various ways and correspondences and descriptions of each card. There are also 4 cards that provide the upright keyword meanings. Additionally there are four blank cards that could presumably be used for your own purposes.
I recommend this deck for writers, role playing game enthusiasts and anyone who would like to experiment with using cards as a basis for creating.
See more cards from the Archetypes Storytelling Cards
You can find more information and order this deck here
- The Archetype Storytelling Cards
- Publisher: Lon Koenig Games
- Images Copyright 1997 Lon Koenig Games
