Hi, I'm JK Noble, the author and artist behind the HALE YA Fantasy Series (ages 12+). Today, I’m incredibly excited to introduce something special—the very first trading card in the Extraordinary Collection: Volume 1 featuring my main character, Hale. Isn’t he cute? 🦅✨
What is the Extraordinary Collection?
This trading card collection is a passion project, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with you. Volume 1 features a variety of cards, each representing different characters, locations, and magical elements from the HALE universe. The collection is organized into several categories, which are displayed at the bottom of each card:
Griffin: This category features Hale himself!
Ethnicities from the HALE Series: You’ll find cards representing the Bimmorian people (who have beautiful blue skin) and the Arketchans (a dark-skinned tribe from the southern region of the Extraordinary Division).
Magical Objects, Creatures, & Locations: Cards that showcase the enchanted objects, all creatures from the HALE series, and the places Hale and his companions visit throughout the series.
The Art & Design Process
Creating this collection was an absolute blast. I wanted to accurately represent the characters in my head, while also bringing them to life in a vibrant, epic fantasy style. Each category has its own distinct background and frame, carefully designed to fit the world it represents. It took a lot of trial and error to get things just right, but I’m so happy with the outcome!
One design element that took me forever to perfect were the coin, health, and attack icons, as well as the name plates and description plates. These features help tie the collection together, and I’m really proud of how they turned out. 💫
A Dream Come True
Creating a trading card game has been a dream of mine since I first began working on the HALE series. In fact, I started this project when I was around 18 or 19 years old—still developing my artwork (and often frustrated with it!). At the time, I was obsessed with playing Hearthstone, and I’ve always been a huge fan of TCGs like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh. Even as an adult, I love discovering new trading card games to play with family and friends. The strategy, art, and immersion in these games always inspired me to create my own.
And now, after years of work, I’ve finally done it! My very own HALE Trading Card Game is here, and I can’t wait for you to experience it.
How to Play the Cards
One of the things I love most about trading card games is how they immerse you in the world of fantasy. The cards in the Extraordinary Collection are playable, and some of them come with special abilities. If you see blue text and a magic book icon, that means the card has an extra ability when played—super fun, right?
Some cards also feature a skull icon in the top-right corner. These cards represent characters who have passed on and don’t have health or attack numbers. However, they can still be played when paired with a Resurrection card, which grants them life and restores their health and attack stats. ⚡
Collectible Cards & Rarities
As with any great trading card game, the Extraordinary Collection is collectible! Each pack contains one rare or ultra-rare card:
Rare Cards: These feature holographic designs that make them stand out in any collection.
Ultra-Rare Cards: These are lenticular, meaning you’ll see a Griffin’s transformation between their human and Griffin forms—one of my favorite features of the game!
It was really important to me to include this feature because it showcases the magical transformation in such a unique way.
Final Thoughts
I’m incredibly proud of how the Extraordinary Collection: Volume 1 Trading Cards turned out, and I can’t wait for you to dive into the world of HALE. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or new to the world of trading cards, I hope you enjoy collecting and playing these cards as much as I’ve enjoyed creating them.
Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for supporting my work! 💫
Comentários