Palatinus' OverPower Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Onslaught on July 18, 2011, 11:35:43 PM

Title: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Onslaught on July 18, 2011, 11:35:43 PM
Here's two Overpower cards.

(http://i.imgur.com/itvMn.jpg)

They're the same size and a bit waxy, so they're both probably from the X-Men expansion.

(http://i.imgur.com/BAJTK.jpg)

Matching text at the top. Hm, Thor got a card in X-Men? It must not have been very good, I can't remember what it does.

(http://i.imgur.com/UxoCr.jpg)

Matching text for the special code and card name. Wait a minute...Unfettered Might?

(http://i.imgur.com/wgH7K.jpg)

It's a card from The Marvels!

(http://i.imgur.com/kODe1.jpg)

This is the result of untold hours of work, including painstaking print template alignment, Photoshopping a suitable high resolution border for the set layout, font research (major props to Jack on this), finding suitable artwork, and so on. No offense to any homemade makers out there, but it has always bugged me that most Marvels playsets have card art that does not match the name of the card, or uses art that is from Marvel Masterpieces or some other trading card that doesn't really flow with the feel of OP art. After a long search for artwork to use for Marvels cards, I can totally sympathize - there just isn't a ton of high resolution art out there that matches up properly with Overpower's tone. The solution to this was to start tracking down black and white work that was similar to existing Overpower cards (or in some cases, illustrations done by actual Overpower artists), and then digitally color them myself. This is how the actual coloring process worked for the real cards, so it seemed fitting to follow the same path. Unfortunately, I had no real background in digital coloring, so I was just sort of making stuff up as I went along.

So this:

(http://i.imgur.com/JYgUM.png)

With some base coloring:

(http://i.imgur.com/5UATM.png)

And then shading...:

(http://i.imgur.com/Xf5rF.png)

Becomes this:

(http://i.imgur.com/Zc3Br.jpg)

Our group doesn't actually play with Marvels really, but we figured that if we were ever going to dabble in it that we might as well go all out and make some proper cards. After Comic Con I'll probably upload a video or some photos showing the whole set, and hopefully some of them will pop up in a game or two of match videos. Aside from making the Marvels, we took the opportunity of using a professional printing press to also go ahead and make some high quality proxies of stuff like Beyonder, 5 multipower (with different art), and so on. Aside from rare stuff, I also took the liberty of redesigning a few cards to have some fun modified versions of them. For example, I scanned an original sketch of Onslaught that I got at a convention, and incorporated it into an alternate art Team Overpower.

(http://i.imgur.com/I6WaS.jpg)
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Jack on July 18, 2011, 11:53:16 PM
Awesome work.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: plenau on July 19, 2011, 12:05:43 AM
Fantastic.  Looking forward to the rest of them.....you ARE doing the rest right?  ;)
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Oscorp on July 19, 2011, 12:48:13 AM
That's some fine looking stuff.  Keep up the great work.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Onslaught on July 19, 2011, 12:53:01 AM
Quote from: plenau on July 19, 2011, 12:05:43 AM
Fantastic.  Looking forward to the rest of them.....you ARE doing the rest right?  ;)

They're actually all done completely, it will just take a while to get a nice recording or photo of them all. Here's a few more of them:

(http://i.imgur.com/3GrWn.jpg)
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Kal-el on July 19, 2011, 12:58:17 AM
Those are gorgeous. Well done.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Jack on July 19, 2011, 01:09:31 AM
For those who might not know, Marvel did have plans to reprint the 5M and all Any Powers in the Marvels expansion. It would have been a ~300 card set with a lot of reprints of promos.

@Onslaught: What kind of paper stock are these cards printed on? What's the cost/card? I wouldn't mind paying for a set of these.

Oh, and can I get permission to post these on the Facebook page to get some discussion going?
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Onslaught on July 19, 2011, 02:44:30 AM
The cardstock is identical to X-men, I put a bunch face down with actual X-Men cards and closed my eyes to see if I could tell the difference. I got them printed by an actual company that prints CCGs, so they are pretty much indistinguishable from X-Men cards. You are more than welcome to post these pics to Facebook or anywhere else, especially the future ones that will show each card individually.

The cost was substantial, it was about 200 dollars for three playsets. By playset I mean, x1 of every OPD, x1 of every crummy card that you only want for completion's sake (like Scarlet Witch's card), and x3 of all playable non-OPDs. It came out to about 130 cards per playset, so each person paid about 50 cents per card. The cost goes down the more you print, so for example a single 130 card playset costs almost 1 dollar per card. If you are able to get it up to like 10+ playsets (around 1500 cards being printed), the costs become much lower.

The main problem is finding a printing press that you can deal with face to face that understands you are using them for an out of print game/personal use only. Most companies won't even dream of printing licensed stuff like this, so I was fortunate that there was a professional printer in Los Angeles that I sorta met through a friend of a friend.

I would have offered to allow extra people to piggyback onto our order to get their own playsets, but the legality seemed fishy (even if I wasn't selling them at a profit) and I didn't wanna push my luck by placing a bigger order with the printer. Since I only printed 350 cards, it was pretty evident that it was for personal use.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: drdeath25 on July 19, 2011, 02:51:36 AM
Can't wait to get my set of these in my hands in real life this weekend  ;) Badass.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Onslaught on July 19, 2011, 03:16:36 AM
DRDEATH25 opted for two copies of the Carnage 5M, while Overtime wanted one Carnage and one She Hulk. He chose She Hulk due to her appearance in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, so in honor of that I used her MvC3 character art (which makes it stand out a bit from the other cards). I already have a few 5m, so I went with just one copy of it (with Onslaught themed art) and used my other open slot on an 8 anypower.

(http://i.imgur.com/mFz7e.jpg)
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Overtime on July 19, 2011, 04:04:52 AM
Thanks again for including me in this project and taking my request for a She-Hulk 5m =).
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: DiceK on July 19, 2011, 09:44:39 AM
What is the possibility of getting a complete set? 
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Demacus on July 19, 2011, 10:17:39 AM
That's straight insane! Nice work all the way around! Beautiful cards.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: BigBadHarve on July 19, 2011, 10:49:58 AM
I have to agree with the masses, that's some quality work.

We had the same idea - printing up a batch of Marvels on Actual card stock and splitting the cost. One of our crew has a brother-in-law who owns a printing company. Still waiting to hear back on a quote, though. But certainly the work you've done in creating the artwork etc is to be commended.

Cheers!

-BBH
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: gameplan.exe on July 19, 2011, 12:42:58 PM
This is, indeed, excellent work. Have you considered contacting Marvel (or Fleer; do they have any rights?) and asking for permission of some sort to produce these on a larger scale?
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Kal-el on July 19, 2011, 01:32:16 PM
If someone ever wanted to pool together to do a few sets of these I would absolutely be good for a set.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: DiceK on July 19, 2011, 01:42:27 PM
I feel like I did when I saw the powersurge preview ads in the comics.  It's like Overpower has been brought back to life. 

I seriously doubt that Marvel would support any production of these cards on a large scale; however, for some hardcore fans to invest their own time, effort, and money says a lot about the importance of the game to some of us.

Well Done.  And if you are able to produce larger quantities, I would definitely get a set from you.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Jack on July 19, 2011, 02:10:52 PM
Quote from: ncannelora on July 19, 2011, 12:42:58 PM
This is, indeed, excellent work. Have you considered contacting Marvel (or Fleer; do they have any rights?) and asking for permission of some sort to produce these on a larger scale?
I recommend to hold back for now, Pass The Gestalt is working on something very soon regarding contact with Marvel. He's probably one of the few on this board that can actually arrange a sit down.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: gameplan.exe on July 19, 2011, 02:17:30 PM
Quote from: Jack on July 19, 2011, 02:10:52 PM
Quote from: ncannelora on July 19, 2011, 12:42:58 PM
This is, indeed, excellent work. Have you considered contacting Marvel (or Fleer; do they have any rights?) and asking for permission of some sort to produce these on a larger scale?
I recommend to hold back for now, Pass The Gestalt is working on something very soon regarding contact with Marvel. He's probably one of the few on this board that can actually arrange a sit down.

That's amazing to me. It's surreal to think about some of my fellow members actually having been involved in the early stages of this game, on such an intimate level. It's even more surreal to think about some one actually being able to contact Marvel about Overpower... it kinda freaks me out to think too much about it!  :o
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Jack on July 19, 2011, 02:20:30 PM
Quote from: ncannelora on July 19, 2011, 02:17:30 PM
Quote from: Jack on July 19, 2011, 02:10:52 PM
Quote from: ncannelora on July 19, 2011, 12:42:58 PM
This is, indeed, excellent work. Have you considered contacting Marvel (or Fleer; do they have any rights?) and asking for permission of some sort to produce these on a larger scale?
I recommend to hold back for now, Pass The Gestalt is working on something very soon regarding contact with Marvel. He's probably one of the few on this board that can actually arrange a sit down.

That's amazing to me. It's surreal to think about some of my fellow members actually having been involved in the early stages of this game, on such an intimate level. It's even more surreal to think about some one actually being able to contact Marvel about Overpower... it kinda freaks me out to think too much about it!  :o
Don't know how much I can say, but he did file a lawsuit against them.. Plus he's the one that created the OP Ranking system GRS.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: gameplan.exe on July 19, 2011, 02:22:52 PM
wow! can you say if the lawsuit is active? also, I don't know what GRS is...
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Jack on July 19, 2011, 02:29:29 PM
It ended recently (few years perhaps) I think. GRS was the ranking system used in OP. I probably can't tell you much about it either. Maybe Hot Rod?
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: gameplan.exe on July 19, 2011, 02:33:23 PM
Quote from: Jack on July 19, 2011, 02:29:29 PM
It ended recently (few years perhaps) I think. GRS was the ranking system used in OP. I probably can't tell you much about it either. Maybe Hot Rod?

Very intriguing! Thanks for the tip. I'll ask Hot Rod and Pass The Gestalt both  :)
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Jack on July 19, 2011, 02:41:00 PM
Just FYI, Hot Rod is Pass the Gestalt's son.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Palatinus on July 19, 2011, 03:03:55 PM
The work done here is amazing.  It puts to shame any attempt I've made at making a Marvels set.  I'm so impressed.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Ranerdar on July 19, 2011, 04:16:32 PM
Wow, those look rediculous. Amazing work. I just had a couple questions. What size card stock was used and how do they feel when compared to an "official" card?
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: JohnL on July 19, 2011, 06:00:28 PM
Great job! These look really nice.
Ahh, GRS. That takes me back. I'm not going to side-track this thread though...
John
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: DaGreatNameless on July 19, 2011, 07:24:49 PM
I'm with everyone eles wanting a set I always thought the pictures people used for the marvels never felt like overpower as well I love how you tackled the problem goin as far as to color the cards yourself. I was also wanting to suggest since upperdeck owns overpower we should all (from all over north america) make a trip and meet up at the upperdeck offices and play  and send letters and stuff even to get their attension. Hell if i were you i'd print up another set and send it to them to show thats how deadicated their fans are.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Onslaught on July 19, 2011, 07:58:56 PM
I'll be out of town for basically the next two weeks, but at the beginning of August I might be able to do another run of these. Nothing certain yet, but PM me if you are interested in this somewhere down the line. 
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Nate Grey on July 20, 2011, 01:08:19 AM
Beautiful! Those cards are beautiful! Kudos to your hard work and dedication. I'd be more than happy to chip in any funds to make these available.  :)
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: drdeath25 on July 20, 2011, 11:05:24 AM
I would be willing to part with my COMPLETE set of THE MARVELS that Onslaught made for me for a mere $300. Anyone interested? That's less than a dollar a card, since I have 3 copies of all non-opd specials, for playability.

Throw these cards into a stack with x-men cards and you can't tell the difference between them. All of the art is great, and throughout the entire set the art is extremely consistent, so it really feels like a REAL set that would of came out over 10 years ago, had it been completed back then. Onslaught only used original art from people that actually did art for overpower in the past, digitally colored and shaded them the way Marvel really did it back in the day... these are so beautiful... and dare i say 'fierce and fabulous'.

Now maybe 10 years from now, Onslaught can take the OFFICIAL original art from DC3 that was released, color and shade those, and release that set also. Only hard part about that is we don't know what those cards actually do, we only know what the names of the cards in DC3 were, and have the art for them.... But we can come up with educated guesses at what the cards did, based on the names of the card. At least the original art was released for that set, though... we didn't have that for THE MARVELS, and still made it work, extremely effectively I may add.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Jack on July 21, 2011, 11:58:55 PM
Just wanted to pass on some info about the Marvels I dug up:

"There will be one new Special for all the reprinted Characters, a new Mission, and two new Characters. The reprinted cards will not be identical to the originals. The entire set will be approximately 275-300 cards."
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Kal-el on July 22, 2011, 12:29:08 AM
Every time I see the description of Marvels, it makes me sad that it never happened.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: mattkoz on July 22, 2011, 09:19:32 AM
I too would have interest in purchasing a set.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: garose74 on September 28, 2011, 03:08:51 PM
Loving these cards.

Will we get to see high quality scans of these customs?
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: DiceK on September 28, 2011, 09:09:35 PM
Any word on another printing of these?
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: teesaw on November 06, 2014, 02:46:40 PM
I just wanted to bump this post in case anyone hadn't looked at it in a while - stumbled across it randomly today on google...
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: Tussin on November 06, 2014, 09:13:14 PM
i never saw this before. amazing work. i love the text used for the hero names :)
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: drdeath25 on November 07, 2014, 02:31:17 AM
Thanks, I love my set, still easily the highest quality Marvels set I have seen by far.
Title: Re: Sneak Preview of a Project 10 Years in the Making...
Post by: teesaw on November 07, 2014, 10:07:18 AM
It's truly fantastic - I can't get over these...puts any customs I've cobbled together to shame..