While this is not a tarot deck, this deck of 64 beautiful cards (plus four blank cards) is somewhat closer to a tarot deck's Minor Arcana than might be expected.  The purpose of this deck is multi-functional: one can use it to create characters and scenarios for role-playing games (just about any game, this is not specific to any one game); likewise, one could use it to invent or modify characters in a novel or any type of creative writing project.  The website for these cards further delineates uses for them in divination, similar to the tarot; because they tap into basic human experience in the form of archetypes, there's no reason to think they can't work in the divination forum.

The deck is split up into four "suits" of sixteen cards each.  There is no suit name particularly but each suit has an elemental theme to it; Earth, Air, Fire and Water are themselves the four "ace" cards in each suit.  The cards are rendered in a beautiful photographic-and-computer-graphic format, with a square image area for the main card image, underneath which is a rectangular image area showing clouds in the sky for the Air cards, ripples on a pond for the Water cards, flames for the Fire cards, and desert sands for the Earth cards.  The cards don't have any sort of numbering system in place, because they are not technically numbered higher or lower than previous cards; however, each card has at the bottom of the lower image area, a series of symbols indicating the level of strength the character or archetypal figure has that is featured on the card.  The title of the card appears above this in the lower image area.

Aside from the obvious "ace" type cards of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, there are some other cards which have a direct, or nearly direct, correlation to tarot cards.  There is a Fool, a Guide (who reminds me of the Hermit), the Moon, the Lovers, the Madonna (reminds me of the Empress), the Sun, the Oracle (reminds me of the High Priestess), Fortune's Wheel, and the World..... just to name a few.  Deeper study of these cards shows a lot more concurrence under the surface.  Four blank cards are also supplied for the player to use in creating a new character, or for notes, etc.

The cards themselves are short and square like many other role-playing game cards.  If you are familiar with Magic: The Gathering and other card games, these cards are smaller, but of a similar nature.  The edges are buffed to a silky smooth finish, and the corners are sharply squared.  They are printed on a really nice thin flexible stock, so they handle and shuffle *very* nicely.  The back design is a dark red color with a Greek column design on it and the logo for the Archetypes Storytelling Cards at the top and "Creation" underneath, with the copyright notice.  If I understand correctly, this "Creation" is the first set of cards in what will eventually be a series.  This back design is not reversible.

This is an ultra-neat deck for anyone who collects cards to have.  I know many people who are tarot collectors who also collect all the gaming cards like Magic: The Gathering and the Wyvern card game and so on; this card set will also appeal to them.  The deck comes with simplified instructions for the use of the cards; however, I definitely recommend checking out their website as well if you are interested in purchasing the cards.  More directions are given here for using the cards in divination, as well.  Four cards accompany the deck with brief meanings for each card, as well.

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Archetypes Storytelling Cards

Review Copyright 2000 by Gina M. Pace

Archetypes Storytelling Cards by Lon Koenig Games, 1997
published by Lon Koenig Games, Minneapolis, MN