What´s ahead!
10 months ago
– Sat, Oct 04, 2025 at 05:40:30 PM
Hi everyone!
I wanted to share some updates about the next steps:
Pledge Manager Timeline
The Pledge Manager is planned to launch at the beginning of November. Instead of rushing it out sooner, I believe there’s real value in waiting until I can show you as many photos of the final prototypes as possible.
This way, you’ll have a clearer picture of what you’re getting before locking in your choices.
Exploration Book Vote: Final Reminder!
The vote on which games to include in the "Tarok Exploration Book" will also wrap up at the start of November as well. If you haven’t voted yet, here’s your friendly reminder to do so here. Every vote helps shape the book!
Decision on the 78-Card Version
After reviewing the comments and doing even more digging, I’ve decided there will not be a 78-card version. With this smaller print run, I just can’t make the numbers work. I know some of you were excited about this idea, and I really appreciate all the feedback. I am sorry :(
However, to soften the news, I will add a 78-card Dal Negro deck (which is sometimes tricky to get in the US) to the pledge manager as an option for anyone who’d still like to explore that format.
Thank you all again for your support and thoughtful feedback!
Best,
Greg
78 Cards? Let’s Talk About It.
11 months ago
– Fri, Sep 05, 2025 at 09:54:27 AM
TL;DR: Kickstarter has processed everything and I’ve started talking to producers. Below I’ll share my thoughts about a 78-card version, since many have requested it.
If that’s not your thing, feel free to skip this update!
The 54-card version remains the most accessible way to explore Tarok.
Why is 78 cards so much harder?
On paper, it sounds simple: just add a few more cards. But in practice, it’s not so straightforward. A 78-card deck is about 30% more material, which changes production and transport costs every step of the way. It also needs a non-standard tuck box, which drives up the per-unit price, especially at the low volumens we are working with. Alpine Tarok itself is only a small run of 500 decks, just as a reference.
A small, non-standard run becomes not only expensive but also difficult to find a manufacturer for. Many printers who happily take on 500 decks at 54 cards will refuse a 78 card order at that quantity, let alone the actually required, much lower, one. And the few who do quote prices that are three to five times higher than the 54 card version.
And here’s the thing: I love my cards, but I know they’re not gilded luxury items. The mission of Alpine Tarok is to make the game more accessible than the fancy cards, not be a fancy deck.
What could we do instead?
Option 1: A separate 78-card campaign
One path I’d love to explore is running a dedicated, all-or-nothing campaign for a 78-card edition. I imagine it with a Marguerite instead of an Edelweiss, in a standardized game box rather than a custom tuck box. That box would also include some helpful extras like tokens and cheat sheets.
Yes, it would still cost more than most tarot decks on the market, but at least the money would go into things that actually improve the playing experience, not just covering the penalty of small print runs.
Option 2: An expansion deck
Another idea is to create a 54-card expansion deck that adds the missing cards, plus some extra face cards with indices in different languages. This is much easier to produce and a smaller extra cost for backers who already pledged for a 54-card deck. Still, even this workaround would end up costing more than most standard Tarot decks, because the run volume would probably only be 25 to 50 decks.
What are your thoughts?
So here’s where I need your input: how much more would you consider reasonable for a 78-card version? Would paying around double the 54-card price still feel fair? Or is there interest even if it’s closer to triple?
I’m genuinely curious what you think. This project is mission-driven, and keeping things accessible has always been at the heart of it. This includes listening to you about what feels worth it.
Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your take!
The End of the Campaign, the Start of the Journey!
12 months ago
– Fri, Aug 08, 2025 at 11:38:39 AM
Thank you so much for backing this project!
I’m thrilled to see how many of you joined this little adventure and how many share the mission of reviving the magic of old games through functional, beginner-friendly design.
So… what’s next? Kickstarter will take about two weeks to process everything. After that, I’ll receive the final counts and will start talking to the manufacturers. I’ll also be looking into the requested 78-card version.
In the meantime, the vote for the two slots in the Tarok Exploration Book is still open! If you haven’t already, leave a comment to support the games you’d like to see get illustrated rules here.
Thank you again!
– Greg
From Launch to Now: Small Upgrades and Still Time to Vote
12 months ago
– Thu, Aug 07, 2025 at 04:40:42 AM
Thank you so much for your support!
As the campaign nears its end, I wanted to take a moment to look back on what’s changed since launch.
The Limited Edition has received a small upgrade: it will now include cheat sheets player aids for three games, not just one!
You can still vote for the games you’d like to see included in the Tarok Exploration Book here. Since the campaign began, we’ve even added an extra slot for games chosen by the community.
At the time of writing, Hungarian Tarokk and Zwanzigerrufen are leading the popular vote to receive illustrated rules and beginner-friendly resources. Two fantastic games, I’m excited!
Best,
Greg
