Exploring new territory

The first draft of the map is complete.  Against the better judgment of all the forums, facebook pages and websites I have decided that I need a good looking set of cards for my first play-test. I stand firm on this decision, I needed to cultivate a group of non gamers into play-testers, I think I would not have been able to take that group as far as I have with out real cards, and a nice mounted board. So, off to the internet I went to find a pod publisher.  Not the cheapest in the world, but I did go to The Game Crafter, the set up is so easy and the end product is great (it’s the shipping that will kill ya). Now, that I had the template I needed card format and art.
    (Side note)The cards from the first play-test..are so far from where we are now in-development, the first card set might as well be lining the bottom of a bird cage.
    I was familiar with photoshop before but I would not become intimate with PhotoShop.  It was hours and hours of work learning, formatting and re-formatting, I am not graphic artist I will be the first to admit.  My first set of cards was basic, very basic, even boring. title, pic, black font on a white background. I am still convinced that the $30 I spent on quality cards made a difference in the interest in play testers.
I had my hand made boards, and my shiny new Game Crafter Cards, my game is done.  I may have to do a little playtesting and change a few little things but it will work great! (I have never been so wrong). I had decided to video record the first game, and have my wife (god rest her soul) take notes.
The first game was a grueling 6 hours; I realized that this was not going to really work. My play-testers seemed interested, but I would limit my play ability, and target audience dramatically if I didn'tthe facebook pagefacebook page cut this down.  Even if I could make the most interesting game ever, the average person would only be able to play once or twice a year. This is not what I wanted al all. Now I needed to figure out what was taking so long! Not to mention a movement rule need to be addressed, combat was too complicated, and when a ruler got killed well nothing happened. This just scratches the surface of the challenges to come.