Messenger Oracle: First vs Second Edition
Do you have your eye on the second edition of Ravynne Phelan’s Messenger Oracle? Are you hesitant to purchase what is essentially a duplicate deck for the sake of a few tweaks and changes? I hope I can help you with that decision today.
The new version of the Messenger Oracle features 5 additional cards. In my opinion, all but one of these cards fits seamlessly with the original art style, and I think that the messages for all 5 cards are well suited to the deck’s theme.
The cards in the new edition feature only a bottom border. This works nicely for a lot of the images, especially the ones that didn’t match the original green very well. That being said, the bottom border is larger in the second edition, so it cuts into the image a bit more than the first edition border. As you can see, more of the medallion that the owl is holding is obscured.
The cards in the second edition have a matte finish instead of gloss. I tend to prefer matte decks, but it’s a toss up in this instance. Phelan’s art looks great in both finishes and lends itself well to either one. The matte appears to be a higher quality of cardstock (time will tell if appearances are deceiving), and the lack of glare is a plus. I will say that if you are someone with sweaty, clammy, squid fingers like me, you might like to use the glossy deck to avoid getting smudges and dobbers all over the finish on the second edition. It’s one of those decks that I can tell will hold my fingerprints, no matter how much I wash my tentacles, er hands, before using them.
While we are talking about cardstock, I should point out another rather obvious difference – the dimensions of the cards are different in the new edition. First edition cards measure 3×4.50 inches and the second measures 2.75×4.75 inches. Due to the modified sizing, changes to the borders, and perhaps artistic license, some of the images are cropped at different places in the new edition vs. the old one, such as our feline friend in “Know you Belong.”
Aside from cropping and a few other small details, the cards in the first edition are the same as those in the second. So if you really loved the wolf on the “Seek the Lesson” card, don’t worry, he’s still there. Minute differences include the addition of some blood and matching eyeliner on the dragon in “Make the Sacrifice,” different eye colors on a few other dragons, and an altered color tint on the woman’s robe in “Show that you Care.” The latter examples could be attributed to the adjustments in brightness and contrast that can be found throughout the deck. Also, the “flow” of the “Surrender to the Flow” ladybug is moving in another direction. What kind of great cosmic shift this indicates for humanity is an unknown to me at this time.
Overall, the second edition makes the colors a bit bolder, and images in the first edition sometimes seem a bit dark and muddy by comparison. There are times when I think the changes to color do a bit of a disservice to the artwork, however. For example, the “Embrace the Dark” card features a much more noticeable white outline around the figure, and I prefer the soft and sweeping darkness of the original. It’s a small nitpick, but that’s what edition comparisons are all about, right?
The most striking visual alteration to the deck is the change to the card backs. The new edition features an attractive, reversible design. For absolutely no objective or tangible reason, I still prefer the first edition backing. Perhaps it’s just because I’m so accustomed to it? I really can’t say for sure, but I’m surprised at myself since I am almost always partial to reversible card backs.
The booklet is almost exactly the same in both editions. There are a few tweaks to the introduction and an updated artist biography in the second edition, as well as entries for the new cards.
Personally, I am happy that I got the second edition, mostly because I love Phelan’s art and was excited to get a few more cards. For me, the other edits are a nice change of pace, but nothing so groundbreaking that I would feel compelled to buy it without the bonus cards. If you prefer minimal borders, love matte finish decks, or if you really can’t stand the gloss finish on the first edition, these aspects might be selling points for you.
I hope this comparison helps you to decide if the second edition of the Messenger Oracle is a worthwhile purchase. Please feel free to comment if you have any questions, especially pertaining to specific cards in one edition vs the other.
Happy Shuffling!