Fullmetal Alchemist Alternate Versions

Last but not least.  There's not too many of these, I didn't do a lot of debating.  I don't think I'm gonna bother with suit headings, there's only five of them.

 Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=5455348#_=_
This card is supposed to mean nostalgia, or childhood friends.  Which I do feel and Nina and Alexander represent well.  However, it's also supposed to be a positive card, and these two always make me so sad...

Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=5470957#_=_
Artwork debates. Liked the other better.

Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=43384254
I made this one to give Ed his own Major Arcana card.  But then he got the Tower, and I kinda wanted to have the Truth in there somewhere anyways.

Source: Removed from Pixiv
I made this because there is an absolutely criminal lack of Pinako in my deck, and it upsets me.  But the problem is, Sig fits better.  So I went with Sig. I did print this anyways, though.

Source: http://mcnicoxo.deviantart.com/art/Roy-Mustang-DeviantID-MCnicoxo-195975076
Just artwork debates. Did I want the smiling badass or the glaring badass? I went for the smile. Wouldn't you?

There. That was nice and easy.

The Legend of Zelda Alternate Versions

Oh my god. Okay.  So when I made this deck, my brain went, "I WANT ALL THE THINGS." I was so indecisive, it was insane.  And then I had the idea that it would be cool if the king and queen of each suit were different incarnations of Link and Zelda, which was a neat idea, but it made it difficult to make room for other important characters.  I have almost enough alternates to print a whole second deck.  Here goes.

Major Arcana

 Source: http://kichisu.deviantart.com/art/the-good-Oldman-430649823
So, I thought this guy made a very good magician, and it was kinda fun to reference back to older games. But then.  I was making this deck for myself, and my love of Zelda.  And I don't know the game this guy is from. (For the record, yes, I am working to play all the other Zelda games. But I'm not there yet.) And I really thought the Happy Mask Salesman would go well here too.  So I changed it.

 Source: http://hadece.deviantart.com/art/Zelda-Daphnes-Nohansen-Hyrule-259484399
 Again with the unfamiliar characters. I believe he's from Windwaker?  Which I am working on currently, but I don't have any attachment to him.  And while he certainly looks very emperor-y, I want a character I care about.

Source: http://digitalgil.deviantart.com/art/Midna-and-Link-452778291
I really liked the idea of true form Midna and Wold Link for this card. This was the only good image I found. It had a white background which I spend forever cleaning off so I could put it on a different background, and in the end, I just really didn't like how it looked. So I changed.  I needed an imp version of Midna in here anyways.

 Source: http://lewmus.deviantart.com/art/Fi-274931597
Fi is a perfect choice for this card. I knew that so clearly it was never an issue.  Until I spend several hours trying to find something, anything, for the Hanged Man. In the end, Fi got moved to that card based on the fact that she was the only character besides Shiek (who I had other plans for) who was able to look good hanging upside down.  Which meant she had to move from this card. Ah well.

Cups

Oh lord. I did warn you about my indecision issue with this deck. Remember that.

Sources:  http://ocean-rabbit.tumblr.com/post/63819776606
                http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=22518660

And this isn't even including a 4th option I considered for this card of Zelda and Link.  That one didn't get made into a card cuz I felt this deck had plenty of Zelda and Link.  Anyways, I decided against the first one because I came up with a better idea for Lulu and Mikau, and as for the other, there is plenty of Link in this deck, and I'm honestly not a huge fan of the LinkxIlia ship.  If I'm shipping Link with anybody but Zelda, it's Malon. Plus the one I went with was two characters I didn't have in there anywhere else.

 Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=22949476
Changed this one because both Malon and Epona were on other cards.  Colin and Ilia, however, were not. Well, Ilia was, but not Colin. So I liked the one I went with better.

 Source: http://yagaminoue.deviantart.com/art/Hilda-430938510
Just another character I don't know.  Hilda, from A Link Between Worlds.  From what I gather, her story's pretty good, I just don't know the game.

 Source: http://vanevil.deviantart.com/art/Ruto-s-favourite-toy-156288406
I dunno, I just felt like this didn't really get the point of the card across very well.

Sources: Queen: http://imgur.com/kvESZ
               King: http://thouy1.deviantart.com/art/Lazy-days-324584487

These were just my Zelda and Link versions when I was doing the Link/Zelda royalty thing.

Pentacles

 Source: http://sui-yumeshima.deviantart.com/art/Attention-Sheik-is-stricken-78972720
Simply changed because of the overwhelming amount of Link and Zelda I already had.

Source: http://caffeineandcarpaltunnel.tumblr.com/post/60850425131
Changed this when I found that adorable picture of Fledge. I wanted very much for him to be in here, and Saria shows up in several other spots.

 

 Source: http://thelaserhawk.deviantart.com/art/Busy-at-Lon-Lon-Ranch-18658419
 This is a little mean, maybe, but I changed this one because of the quality of the art.  Yes, I know it is still very good, and no, I can't do better. But it just bothered me.

Source: Removed from Pixiv
artwork debates. For a while this was the best one of Ilia I could find, but I was never happy with the stark white background. I was very pleased when I found the other.

Sources: Queen: http://imgur.com/kvESZ
               King: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=29030804
The Pentacles variations of Link/Zelda. The second time I tried to use that art of Zelda. It didn't stick though.

Swords

 Source: http://r-sraven.deviantart.com/art/Conquer-yourself-362819836
I always have trouble finding something that accurately represents the "stalemate" meaning of this card.  Changed this when I found the one of Impa with the knife that I used.

Source: http://jeredulevenin.deviantart.com/art/Murder-Skyward-Sword-213198305
Well, I knew this one was gonna be Link getting stabbed in the back. I just had a little trouble deciding by who. Turned out I liked the Dark Link one better.

Source: http://onichan-xd.deviantart.com/art/Ganondorf-321931938
I really liked Ganondorf for this one, "cutthroat ambition", but I had a good picture of Ingo as well, and I wanted to get him in there.  Plus, Ganondorf was gonna be in the royalty of this suit anyways.

Source: http://yamoshi.deviantart.com/art/MM-zero-hours-remain-165571583
The despair in this one certainly fits the card. but it really bothered me the way the sun thingy in the frame blocked out the moon.

Source: Queen: http://emeraldus.deviantart.com/art/Sheik-373857431
              King: http://alleycreek.deviantart.com/art/SS2012-goldcucco-344287592
The Link/Zelda variations for this suit.  I was sad to lose Fierce Deity Link when I changed my mind about the royalty.  He looks so badass.

Wands

Okay. we're almost there. 

 Source: http://thehumminginker.deviantart.com/art/Midna-Sunset-436940720
Changed this one because true form Midna was going to be in the royalty of this suit, and I really wanted another Sheik card.

Source: http://onichild-art.tumblr.com/post/86510650270/were-pirates-you-know-pirates-the-terror-of 
Another character I'm just not familiar with.  Well, I am now, since I've been playing Windwaker, and even though I know Tetra is Zelda, still, I'm just not attached to her yet. So it changed.

Source: http://www.pixiv.com/works/37651970
Changed because GOD THERE'S SO MUCH LINK AND ZELDA IN THIS DECK. And I know, if you look, this one was changed to the one with all of Link's forms from Majora's Mask, but I hadn't gotten those in anywhere yet, and Deku, Goron, Zora, and Fierce Deity Link are important.

Source: http://tiuanarui.deviantart.com/art/SKYDIVING-FAIL-273424707
Hahaha, oh my god. This is my favorite alternate card, and of course, I got it printed.  I needed something to show fast travel. I think this nailed it.  But I did do the other, because I really liked that one as well.  Just one of those "I can't choose!" moments.

 Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=23041009
Haha. another one that makes me laugh. This card means "overburdened". I love it.  But I also love the iconic (and irritating) part of Ocarina where Ruto makes you carry her.  Snobby little pain in the ass. I printed this one too.

Sources: Queen: http://twilit-arawen.deviantart.com/art/Brawling-Princess-168738813
               King: http://kathy100.deviantart.com/art/Link-Through-Fire-170786341
The Link/Zelda variations for Wands.  This was the version of Zelda I was sad to lose. Warrior Princess Zelda is amazing.


There. Whew. We did it. Done with that one.

Final Fantasy Alternate Versions

Soooo... I had a hell of a time with the Final Fantasy deck. I don't know why, but I couldn't make up my mind on anything.  There are lots of alternates here.

The Major Arcana

 Sources:  http://crimsonsun.deviantart.com/art/She-s-my-home-203539679
                 http://robasarel.deviantart.com/art/Lightning-314258509

I had some debated on who should be Empress. Since I was excluding FF VII, VIII, IX, and X it made the choice difficult. I adore the first one, but that's Tseng and Aerith from FFVII, so that wasn't going to work. (The TsengxAerith ship is a favorite of mine. Not in a happily ever after way, in an unrequited he wants her but can never have her kind of way. It's tragic and beautiful.)  I decided on Lightning because of her protective almost motherly attitude towards Serah, and as pretty as that other picture is, the one I went with was just better.  This picture's always bothered me anyways. It's gorgeous, but Lightning would never wear a flower crown.

Source:  http://sypri.deviantart.com/art/My-Sexy-BUnny-Fran-57538551

This was simply artwork debates. Either was good, I went with the other. I may not have liked FFXII very much, but Fran was far and away the best thing about that game and there is a lot of pretty, sexy art of her.

 Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=20386268
I was trying SO HARD to get Kain in here.  I love FFIV and Kain is a facinating character. But obviously Gau makes a better hermit.  So it got changed.

 Source: http://mochikko.deviantart.com/art/Castle-Baron-288700938
changed this when I found the other picture of Celes and Kefka's tower. I needed to get Celes in somewhere, so that where she went.

Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=17277415
Another attempt to find a place for Celes.  But when I found the Kefka's tower picture I was able to change this one to a picture of Kain. So I got almost everybody I wanted in.

The Cups Suit

Good god. Final Fantasy VIII is my all time favorite Final Fantasy, and it's popular enough that there's lots of art, but for some reason, this suit was just. so. hard. By the end of this one I was so pissed off I wanted to quit.  Which is sad for my favorite game.

 Sources:  http://fyeahff.tumblr.com/post/15940515054/library-girl-zell-ffviii
                 http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=21245684

I had some difficulty with the ace.  The Zell one I made because I was struggling to find a place for Zell. The other... well look at it.  They're so happy that my eyes water whenever I look at it.  But for the meaning of the card, the one of Squall and Rinoa at the ball was really better.  I did get this one printed too, though.  I just- I just couldn't not.

  

Source: Unknown

I knew for sure that the ace and the 2 were gonna be SquallxRinoa and LagunaxRaine.  But with all the art I had for them, I just couldn't decided which would be which.  This was my SquallxRinoa version of the 2. And yes, I printed this one too.

 

 

 Source: Deleted from Pixiv

Basically I made two versions of this, one of the boys and one of the girls, and then planned to pick based on which characters needed more representation. It ended up being pretty even, so I went with the girls since I like them more. :)

Pentacles

This one wasn't too hard.  And I had plenty to choose from. Good lord there's a lot of FFVII art out there.

 Source: http://yazisthegreatest.tumblr.com/post/85011034662
I changed this when I found the other picture of Barrett and Marlene that I used for the 6. I needed to open up a slot for Cait Sith/Reeve anyways.

 

Source: Unknown

Just artwork debates. Two pretty pics of Cloud and Aerith living happily ever after, went with the other.

 Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=12266873

Artwork debates again.  There is an ungodly amount of gorgeous art of Aerith.  Just Aerith alone. It's overwhelming.

Swords

This one was pretty hard too. I really, really, really didn't want to put Quina in it. I never used that character, don't care for it, and found hardly any art for it. But in the end I felt bad. I felt like I should make sure that each playable character gets is.  Especially since I feel the same about Amarant, but I managed to find a place for him.

Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=29533652
This was where I made room for Quina.  I liked the starting out feel of this picture for an ace, but in the end, this was the only place where I could stretch the meaning of the card to at least somewhat fit with one of the pictures I had of Quina.

 Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=15745292

This was my first choice for the 4.  I love how sweet they look.  But I changed it because otherwise I didn't have a cute picture of Zidane and Garnet together.  I printed this anyways, though, because I think I still like this one better.

 Sources: unknown

               http://xnaxox.deviantart.com/art/Freya-crescent-308418300

the 6 changed a lot.  These were mostly just because of trying to get different characters in.  This just ended up being Eiko's spot.

 Source: Yoshitaka Amano

I wanted to use Queen Brahne, but other than screenshots, there are about four pieces of art that exist of her: This one, which is the concept art, two that are badly drawn illustrations of fanfic, and one piece with Quina that proves you can find porn of anything. I decided I'd rather have a place for Amarant.

 Source: http://puruco.deviantart.com/art/Eiko-202535436
I originally wanted Eiko to be my page, but I also knew that I wanted Beatrix to be my queen. Which left no royalty spot for Garnet, since I didn't feel like she fit in at the Knight spot, and Steiner was DEFINITELY my king.  So I changed it.  I just couldn't stand to not have Garnet in the royalty. She's a princess, dammit.

Source: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=30282627
Artwork debates.  Beatrix was easily my queen, and easily my favorite character, so picking just the right picture was the issue.

Wands

well, I thought I had some alternates for Wands, but I guess I don't. That suit wasn't as hard as the others.  Nevermind. Nothing to see here.