Dev Blog : Major Arcana
Hello again! In this weeks dev blog we’re sharing some of the information surrounding the dark mystery of the tarot and the representation of tarot cards in the game!
There are many elements in play with Martha’s story, from the tragic murder and following investigation and the oppressive presence of war, to the mysticism around dark arts and age old folklore, with the shattering impact this all has on the family and those around them.
Before we dive into the cards themselves, let’s have a little history lesson on the origin of tarot, and why it fits with Marthas authentic Italian themes.
The History of Tarot
Tarot decks were invented in Italy in the 1430s by adding to the existing four-suited pack a fifth suit of 21 specially illustrated cards called trionfi (“triumphs”) and an odd card called il matto (“the fool”).
these early tarot cards—tarocchi cards, in Italian—had suits, trump cards, and even pips.
The widespread use of tarot cards for divination only took off in the late 1700s, when Frenchman Jean-Baptise Alliette published the first definitive guide to tarot card reading.
Pseudonymed Etteilla, he wrote a guide to using the cards and released his own deck alongside it. He gave meaning to each of the cards, incorporating beliefs about astronomy and the four elements. He claimed to have borrowed heavily from the Book of Thoth, an Egyptian text supposedly written by Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom.
The Tarot Cards In Martha
Fancy your hand at being a Tarot reader? As you progress through the game the player will come across the Tarot cards and be able to use them once per in game day.
The player will choose 3 of them at random each day and then a set reading based on the results is given, hinting to things that have happened in the past, that may happen in the future, or potentially even evoking spirits and communicating with them.
Each card has two different meanings, depending on how the image appears when the card is turned over: upright or reversed.
In the first case the card normally has a positive meaning, in the second case a negative one (in some cases, which will be specified, the opposite is true).
The meaning of each card is also profoundly influenced by the other cards that accompany it. For this reason the interpretation of the tarot is neither easy, immediate nor unambiguous.
Let us analyse each card with its possible and contrasting meanings.
The Fool
It represents an individual who is about to face something new.
Positive
It encourages one to face life lightly, without fearing what will come and without giving weight to the judgement of others.
Negative
Indicates insecurity and depression, a preamble to bad results.
The Magician
Represents energy.
Positive
Indicates an important encounter in love or friendship and the ability to get what you want.
Negative
The end of a relationship, difficulties in friendships or work.
Indicates deception, seduction leading to mistakes.
The High Priestess
Represents feminine knowledge, endowed with great spiritual power.
Positive
Indicates a female person who will help with the wisdom of her advice.
Negative
Announces clashes with the males.
May indicate a period when one faces life passively, suffering problems rather than facing them.
The Empress
It represents love and prosperity.
Positive
Successful completion of an undertaking, happiness and stability.
Could indicate a close engagement or marriage.
Represents a practical, strong, successful person.
Negative
Betrayal and gossip. Could represent the approaching end of a relationship.
Represents a superficial and unreliable person as they lack feelings.
The Emperor
Represents a man of power, material power as opposed to the The High Priestess.
Positive
Great experience, ability to control oneself and influence others.
Negative
Powerful, selfishness.
The Hierophant
Represents spiritual strength.
Positive
Ability to teach others, may indicate that the person is protected by a higher good.
Negative
Inability to take responsibility.
The Lovers
Represent a contrast between good and evil, between vices and virtues.
It normally concerns the emotional and love sphere.
Positive
Heralds an active and satisfying social life as well as a positive love life.
Negative
Dangerous temptations lead to negative consequences in the emotional and sentimental sphere. Consequences that can only be resolved through suffering.
The Chariot
Represents the victory that can be achieved through self-discipline and commitment.
Positive
Success is on the way, you can overcome some difficult moments.
Negative
Difficulty in getting what you want, failure.
Difficulty in making decisions and loss of control
Strength
Represents two opposing forces.
Positive
Ability to master one’s instincts, self-control.
Problems will be solved with determination.
Negative
Dominance of insecurity and brutal force.
Aggression and violence undermine relationships with others.
The Hermit
Represents wisdom and thoughtfulness
Positive
Invites reflection, patience and making decisions on one’s own.
Indicates capacity for reflection and prudence.
Negative
Indicates regression or loss.
It may represent an inability to make decisions for oneself, but also a situation of excessive isolation.
Wheels of Fortune
Represents destiny
Positive
Luck is on us side. There will be positive changes.
Negative
Fate is adverse and will put us to the test.
There may be negative changes.
Justice
Represents balance and the consequences of actions.
Positive
We can get what we deserve, be successful.
Indicates an impartial, honest and moral person.
Negative
Our actions will not take us where we want to go.
Major quarrels and possible relationship breakdowns.
The Hanged Man
It represents sacrifice and its acceptance. Very ambiguous card.
Positive
There are important changes in sight. It indicates rebirth to a new life.
Negative
Many doubts are the preamble to difficult times.
May represent unrequited love.
Death
It represents the inevitable end, destruction and subsequent regeneration.
Positive
We end something that will bring something better. We overcome something that was not right. It is necessary to destroy something in order to build something better.
Negative
Something ends that leaves a great void and brings suffering, despair. You go through a difficult period to overcome.
Temperance
Represents harmony.
Positive
Harmony and balance help to avoid mistakes and accompany us towards serenity.
Negative
We lack the right balance and harmony to face life’s challenges.
The Devil
Represents the vices that imprison the human being.
Positive (if drawn upside down)
Negative values are mitigated. May represent the ability to be master of one’s own destiny and to influence others. Magnetic force.
Negative (if drawn upright)
Laziness, fear of responsibility, weakness.
Announces external, but also internal obstacles that are the incarnations of our fears.
The Tower
Represents a sudden and shocking change.
Positive
For the strong ones, there is an opportunity to overturn the destiny, to be able to pursue great goals.
Negative
A mental breakdown or physical accident from which it is very difficult to recover.
Psychological distress and physical suffering.
The Star
It represents the ideals to which we must aspire.
Positive
Favourable events and possibilities that must be grasped and that will bring us happiness.
Negative
Bad luck, contrary fate and difficulty in pursuing our goals.
The Moon
It represents illusion and night. A light that does not make you see things clearly.
Positive (if drawn backwards)
One needs to see things beyond their outward appearance.
Represents a naive, dreamy and creative person.
Negative (if drawn upright)
Reality is only apparently serene, but hides much negativity.
It indicates a materialistic and false person who moves in the shadows without ever showing his true nature.
The Sun
It represents victory, success and, in general, joyful events in life.
Positive
The undertakings we are carrying out and our projects will be successful.
May indicate deep regeneration and happiness.
Negative
The rays of the sun are dazzling reality and creating illusions.
We are also in the dark in our relationships with others. Deep misunderstandings will not have positive consequences.
Judgement
It represents consciousness and the possibility of a new beginning.
Positive
Positive and unexpected surprises.
Indicates a patient and eccentric person.
Negative
The impossibility of changing what we don’t like makes us suffer and leads to great disappointment.
The World
It represents joy, beauty and prosperity.
Positive
Success, positive conclusion of a project or path.
Negative
Failure to complete a project or path that we thought was within our reach.
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We can’t wait to see what the cards hold for you on Feb 24th…