EXP. The Trading Card Game

EXP (Experience) is an in development card game started by Liam Milne in his 4th and last year at Emily Carr University. The game started as a project to create game cards for already established artists like Marcel Duchamp, Kazimir Malevich and Yayoi Kusama and evolved into including my own art with encouragement from my peers. Following that I branched out and began asking other local artists and students at Emily Carr if they would like to be a part of this project and have them and or their art, characters and creatures featured in this pixel art card form.

This Project exploded from 8 cards of already established artists to about 60 cards representing my own work and as well adapting several other artists into my style and format. The process of this project when it came to other artist allowed me to take on different roles; artist, negotiator, curator, concept artist, installer.

Each card is of a creator’s original character, creature, item or what ever else may join the game’s deck. With each addition the universe of this game expands. There are currently a few separate factions and a handful of worlds that exists in this game all connected thanks to the crumbling walls of reality. Factions will be discussed later on and cards involved in factions (Lore or Function wise).

Card Gallery

Pieces of artists in this order (top left to right, bottom left to right)

Rene Magritte, Vincent Van Gogh, Yayoi Kusama, Kiki Smith, Marcel Duchamp, Kazimir Malevich

Lore and Factions

With many Trading card games there is lore or some form of story behind the cards if looked a little deeper. Exp’s story is that the walls of reality is crumbling. Worlds, parallel universes and multiverses are becoming connected in void space as people, places and things fall into this new found space. Those who fall into the space now struggle to find their place in this abstract place out side of time and space. Some world’s have multiple “tears” allowing more of its world’s occupants and features fall through. Factions arise from like minded individuals while some already existing try to find their place in this realm.

The Eldridge Foundation has been found to be an organization that has existed within a section of the void known as “Elsewhere” for either a unmeasurable amount of time or very limited time. The Foundation resides within a large black tower or skyscraper type building suspended in this sector of the void. Little is known about the foundations inner workings but it is known that the Foundation has one figure head known only as “The Operator” and has a council or high ranking individuals who can be referred to as “The Conductor”, “The Lore keeper”, “The Curator” and “DJMJ”.

The Foundations scientific research breaks multiple known Scientific laws. The technologies and knowledge of the Foundation come from many different worlds and universes meaning that this foundation has the capabilities to travel across space and time. The Eldridge Foundation is known by few for its unexplained and occasionally leaked live feed of what is called, “The Eldridge Experience”. This experience takes place on board a colorful trans-dimensional, time traveling train that carries unsuspecting and usually unwilling persons. These people are then sent to multiple locations of varying origins across the multiverse. Those who are on board this train refer to as “The Eldridge” are known as “the passengers”. Could the Foundation being situated in the void be a key factor to this? Does the void act as a central hub for their travel?
While its not confirmed, some who have walked through these tears of reality believe the Eldridge Foundation is at fault for the colliding of worlds due to their militaristic super weapons and bombs designed to misplace all in their destruction to the void.

• The Passengers

The current passengers of the Eldridge are eight people from a variety of places and times. Brought unwillingly these 8 now endure and experience all that the Foundation and the Eldridge throws their way as they make their way further down the infinite track. (Currently only 4 of the 8 passengers have cards)

• The Switz (Red Coats)

The Switz, are military police, peace keepers and government officials belonging to or directly working with the Daeyron of the Aorian empire. The Switz at different times and universes are seen as good and well regarded but the most common occurrence of the Switz is directly involved with the Eldridge Foundation. This version of the Switz formed a pact with the Foundation bringing the Eldridge Foundation a powerful ally sheltering their members and offering their services to serve the Eldridge for knowledge, power and conquest. The Switz’s top serving members and agents are known as “The Red Coats”. Members wearing red coats and tagged with both the Switz insignia and their code name on their person. Each member is offered or chosen depending on their resourcefulness and loyalty to the Aorian Empire and the Eldridge foundation.

• The Supermissives/Cult of the Black Square

Spawned from the whispers of the Void King, Kazimire. This following believes that reality is made by entities far above their own understanding. The Void King Kazirmire imprisoned in the void after trying to reach the realm these fate writing entities lie. Now he dwells in a void of white and black, an abstract corner of the void whispering into other worlds through cracks constructing armies across worlds to release him from his prison so he may find these entities once more and claim his place in their realms of fate writing.

• The Wild Cards!

A small band of characters, drifted, stolen or misplaced from their homes now banding together to protect the sanctity of the Void from those who misuse or act immorally in its realm. The Group is comprised of 4 members who, for their own reasons wish to see the Eldridge Foundation taken down. Leading this group is the tech guru, “Mr. Holst” and his three hand picked students.

Process and Development

The Process for my practice requires research into the artists I want to represent in my game and for many local artists I reach out for consent to represent them and their works before I do anything. Once I have a piece in mind to adapt I create sketches in my sketch book and ink them to bold the lines. After coming up with a sketch I like and if the artist is in collaboration likes it as well I take a photo of the sketch and put it into my pixel art program, “Aseprite”. During the process of Pixelating my sketch I keep in contact with the artist to make sure they are fine with any adaptations I may make when it comes to pixel art.

When reaching out I acquired the interest and consent of 10 local artists yet for the time I had my final semester only 5 got some of their cards complete. Another five are in the process of being added and other artists out side the original 10 have voiced their want to be involved.

Currently the rules for the game are being tested and it is playable but will require updates to cards a rules as development continues.

Featuring Artist: Ar2nk

Artist: Ar2nk on instagram

Featuring Artist: Radi0_Tower

Artist: Radi0_Tower on all major platforms

Featuring Artist: Quietly_Bad

Artist: Quietly_Bad

Featuring Artist: Deinerian