TGN: What part of Germany were you born in?
DS: I was born in North Rhine-Westphalia and still live here today. I grew up in a very rural area – in the summer, I can basically look out the window and see cows grazing in the meadow.
TGN: Growing up in Germany, what games were popular during your childhood, and what games did you enjoy playing?
DS: One of my favorite childhood games was a card game called “Trumpf Quartett” where each card had stats like speed or strength. Players would choose a category and compare values to win cards from each other – kind of like a fun little battle of numbers. One day, I would love to create my own version of that game.
TGN: When did you first get interested in playing cards?
DS: My interest in poker playing cards was sparked by magic. I was already 19, which is relative late I guess, when I discovered the whole world of magic. I basically also experienced the beginnings of custom playing cards at that age.
TGN: What card games do you enjoy?
DS: Surprisingly, I don’t play that many card games. Partly because I’m so bad at memorizing the rules. But I like Texas Hold’em and Chinese Poker – even if I don’t play often anymore. And it’s always fun to play Mau Mau – which is similar to UNO but with a regular deck.
TGN: What made you choose the name Black Roses as your brand?
DS: I always struggle when it comes to finding names. So this story is also relatively unspectacular. My first Black Roses back design was created overnight. The only detail that was missing, which I made up for after a few hours of sleep, were the 2 roses in the middle of the back. The back design was black and roses were the theme – Black Roses.
TGN: What aspect of creating your own card designs, is your favorite part?
DS: I love working on the details of the court cards. It makes the hours fly by. What I love most about it is that I can incorporate subtle, small details into the courts that perhaps hardly anyone notices, or at least not at first glance. The aha effect is then all the greater when you do discover it.
TGN: Do you ever plan on releasing a deck of cards using the traditional German suit?
DS: I actually really like the German court cards, but the traditional suits are a bit too fancy for me. But you should never say never.
TGN: What is your favorite brand of playing cards, that are not your own?
DS: That’s like asking McDonald’s what their favorite fast food chain is. But honestly, I do admire what some brands are doing – I just try not to look around too much to keep my own ideas as original as possible.
TGN: Have you played any games lately, if so, what games?
DS: Lately, I always find a little time to play a bit of Sudoku before I go to sleep. I kind of need it to wind down.
TGN: What deck of cards was your favorite to design?
DS: It’s hard to say if I really enjoyed the design process that much, but I’m all the more proud of the result of my Innocence Playing Cards. I always call this deck my Mona Lisa – because deep down, I know I may never top it.
TGN: I want to thank Daniel for this interview, and I would like to direct people to his website, found in my ‘Links’ section.
Danke schön Daniel!
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