Font Selection

I would argue that the script, hand written typeface, is more legible. At worst it's not worse than the sans-serif and it makes the game feel more personal and, dare I say, cozy. I have to side with the hand written typeface.

So I looked at the cards and read your post afterwards. I was focused on reading what the card did and after seeing they both said the same thing, went back to read the rest of the post. I didn't actually notice they had different fonts.

I'd say that suggests they are both equally legible. (Though apparently my brain has a tendency to hone in on certain details and ignore others)

Looking at them again, the aesthetic of the right font seems to fit better with the rest of the card's name text and images.

Anthony,

I <3 fonts.

A "Font-o-phile" if you will. Luckily the people who design boardgames (along with web and graphic designers) are, I think, some of the MOST knowladgeable people about fonts in all the world.

I even used to hang out in font forums Althought, now I have written it, and as my backspace key is broken - I am ashamed of having hung out in font forums Anthony...very ashamed.

Eitherway:

1. Your card looks lovely
2. The art made me chuckle
3. I don't really like the four leaf clover as it reminds me of mock-Irishness too much (but I suppose: what else are you going to do? Horseshoe?)
4. I think your game is going to do very well as it seems like (from this card alone) it is a Munchkin-plus type game - which will have a massive fan base already
5. I love the little comical thick-outline dice logo
6. I would suggest some kind of border (you probably have this under control already!)
7. The font on the right bestows a little TOO much humour to the game. It makes it feel like it is poking fun at itself, and as such, I have no way of taking the game seriously as I am instructed (via the font) to laugh with the game, at itself. The images look brilliant and they look like they will bestow exactly the right attitude towards the game, but of course UNDER the images and the flavor text there should be a - good - game that I want to take seriously as a game in its own right. The rules is the important bit. The text IS the rules. Therefore the text is the important bit. You can make the important bit fun, but do not make it mock it - it detracts. And as such, I would reccomend the left one, or seeking out a different semi-serif font with a few cute letters that does itself a world of justice while still being fun. Fun doesn't mean stupid remember. Fun means likeable.

p.s. I read the rules again and it made me laugh again ^^

hope i've helped

sam

I choose you, San-serif.

The art is awesome. No doubt. But the one thing I did to look at them was cover up the right one, close my eyes for 5 seconds, and then open them. This allowed me to find out where my eyes "directed" to go on your card. for the one of the left, it was a little above the directions. This allowed me to skim the directions, look up to see a die, the art, "Bucket-Head," and then trace back down. When I covered the left card (with san-serif), closed and open my eyes, I was lead straight to the dice. This is because the only thing bolded on the card is the dice. This lead to a problem, there was no natural way for my eyes to scan the card as I did in the first card with san-serif lettering. I looked at the bolded dice, then ran my eyes across the the dust line, and came back to the dice. I didn't take in the whole card's design. This is probably due to the lack of importance put on the "instructional" text on the bottomhalf. Bold, san-serif sticks out as it greatly differs from the title font. The handwritten font is similar to the title front and therefore balances out the card on top of bottom, just another reason why my eye was forced along a horizantal line along the bolded dice. While I understand the "handwritten" font "fits" in because it's similar to the font of the "Bucket-head" title, I found it not as interesting as a design due to its lack of direction for my eye to follow and take in the entire card to admire its cute art and silly title. Also, while I have no experience printing cards, I was curious as to how well will the final product show up with the incredibly thin lines of the handwritten font. I like the card with san-serif as it gives the eye a direction on the card and distinctly shows that this text is not only different from "Bucket-Head", but its important and allows it to stand out more.

I wouldn't worry about the borders too much, however I'd say that if you need to make font rather small you may have to use Serif Fonts. Sometimes when you get to 6pt or lower script will just turn into squigles. Serif in the other hand because of its points will let you still read the word, it wont be easy but its better than san-serif (unless you are working with pixel font). Either way. When big use san-serif when small use serifs.

Are the cards going to be standard size? If that means you are working on a 3.25x2.25. I'm not certain how complicated you will make abilities, just remember that sometimes you might have to increase the DPI in order to make sure your font can go small enough and still be legible.

In the creative field they have a saying, 3 typefaces are too much, 1 is too little.

Fonts are files that computers use to display text in typeface styles. Typically you stay away from sans-serif fonts for bodies of text because serif fonts have been shown to be more legible. Sans serif are very well used for headers where attention needs to be grabbed in short bursts. In this case, either will do.

I have found, personally, handwritten and sans serif to be more readable, but maybe because I have younger eyes than some people. The handwritten, not to be confused with over-used "comic" typefaces, also gives it a more crafted look, especially if its a more custom and obscure handwritten typeface.

I guess the point is, too much consideration could be put into how readable it is, when more should be placed into how pleasing to the eye it looks.