International Style German Decks
We have designed simplified international-style versions of the two Germanic patterns, the Austrian and the Swiss. These have come out of our recreations of the Austrian 5-suit bridge deck, which we have already described here.
To recap, in the 1930s, the Marseille 5-suit bridge was facilitated by Piatnik incorporating a silhouetted green leaf pip design that matched the standard Piatnik French patterns.
By way of explanation, there are two distinct Germanic traditions of playing card patterns—the German-suited system (with Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, and Bells) and the Swiss-suited system (with Acorns, Shields, Roses, and Bells), each with a rich iconography.
The familiar simplified French pattern goes back to the first decks printed in France, that made a two-dimensional virtue of the simplicity of their printing, while the other European decks (including the Austrian and Swiss patterns) retained their polychrome three dimensions.
This led us to contemplate what a simplified Austrian pattern—with Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, and Bells—might be like.
In essence, the pips used in French pattern symbols are silhouettes with coloured shadows (conventionally red and black). The outline convention has been already used in Germanic pattern computerised card games, but the two patterns used distinct kinds of bells (Hawk bells and Herding bells), and depicted the acorns from divergent aspect.
Setting differences aside, we can see that we can economise on the symbols, and make the two patterns out of only six symbols. The first set we completed was the Austrian pattern, add the hearts, acorns and bells. We call it the Neo-Austrian deck:
We have a full complement of spot card, and a one-spot ace. This means all international-style card games, multiplayer and solitaire, can be played with the set.
We then took the bells and acorns and made a Swiss pattern set, adding matching roses and shields. We call it the Neo-Helvetian deck:
If you want to play common international games with a national pattern, these cards may be perfect for you. Buy the Neo-Austrian deck printed on demand at Make Playing Cards here, and the Neo-Helvetian deck here.
And remember, you can still play traditional games using fewer cards like Preference or Marriage, you can always set some cards aside and use the simplified cards.
We have combined the two decks to make a Germanic six-suit bridge set, which we discuss here
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