Game Artwork: Resource Cards

This week’s artwork reveal is about one of the most important elements in Life Out West, Resources. Designed by our incredibly talented and insightful Graphic Designer, Karen Snyder, Resource Cards represent getting work done in Life Out West. In the base game, there are three Resources; Wheat, Cattle, and Horses. These Resource Cards are used as people, The Rancher (you) and your two Hired Hands, or they can be used to construct Buildings (as barter when played to the Homestead).

I knew when we decided to bring Life Out West to market and start a publishing company, that we would need a graphic designer. While my amateur skills were enough to get a prototype created and playtested, it was not professional quality. What I didn’t realize is HOW MUCH BETTER a talented professional would make our game!

Karen’s card designs (above) bring color and life to the game. Starting with the back (the green one labeled “Resource”), you quickly understand there are three Resources while introducing a cool pattern and filagree. Similar to an Old West style poker card, her Resource Card design has a color and pattern scheme that differentiates them from the Gunslinger and Building Decks (very important when your Outlaw is Raiding Towns!). This poker card theme is continued to the face of the cards as well where we see the iconography in the center and two corners. We then get this cool background pattern with even more filagree that I find relaxing and mesmerizing. Who knows, maybe one day we will release out own Life Out West themed poker cards just to further share this cool design Karen created! She has also done exceptional work classing up our four other card decks, the rulebook, Shootout Token, Rancher Boards, and game box but you will have to wait another for those reveals…

My old designs (above) leave much to be desired. While I did try to use fun and bright images, I could never find a cattle image I liked. So, I went with the traditional cow skull. And while it does look cool (thank you), players regularly pointed out that if the purpose of the game is to barter Resources to construct Buildings, why are we using dead cattle? Point taken, and now that we have an illustrator and graphic designer, they also love reminding me of this. Regularly. In fact, cattle skulls have become one of Steven’s favorite Easter Eggs to add in his drawings. Especially, Life Out West Cards.

One more thing to look forward to when our game drops Spring 2027!