Patreon Trading Cards
The Sun Eater Trading Cards are a Patreon-exclusive collectible series featuring key characters from Christopher Ruocchio's Sun Eater universe. Each card showcases original artwork by commissioned artists and includes character and a QR code on the back. Scanning this code unlocks an exclusive, hidden lore page on the Highmatter Books website.
Release Schedule
Cards ship quarterly, with the first batch released in September 2024. Cards are mailed in bulk to eligible patrons shortly after printing. No cards are sent immediately upon signup, only during the quarterly releases.
Patreon Tiers
Physical cards are available to Tier 4 and higher patrons. The perks for each tier are as follows:
- Tier 4 (Knight Captain, $15/month): 1 random card per shipment.
- Tier 5 (Tribune, $20/month): 2 random cards + a signed bookplate.
- Tier 6 (Royal Knight, $30/month): 2 random cards + 1 guaranteed new card from the latest batch (total of 3) + signed bookplate.
Duplicates are possible, as pulls are randomized from the full pool. This is designed to encourage trading among collectors.
Tier 3 (Commander, $10/month) patrons receive high-resolution digital artwork for all new cards. Lower tiers get previews and writing updates but no cards.
Rarity Levels and Odds
- Common: Widely printed and reprinted as needed. Onyx foil.
- Uncommon: Less frequent, with occassional reprints. Silver foil.
- Rare: Limited to a single print run per batch. Gold foil.
- Ultra Rare: Extremely limited, often one-of-a-kind variants. Rose Gold/Red foil.
Card ID numbers will also include an ending integer (not included in the table below) to designate the print run in which that card was printed. For example, a card with the Card ID # A-001-02 would translate to the second printing of card A-001.
Generally, the odds for trading card pulls follow an 8:4:2:1 ratio for Common:Uncommon:Rare:UltraRare, where Commons and Uncommons are subject to reprints and Rares and Ultra Rares are only printed once. A typical printing distribution that includes all four rarities may look like 1,000 Commons, 500 Uncommons, 250 Rares, and 125 Ultra Rares.
Patron Voting and Lore Notes
Tier 4+ patrons vote quarterly via themed polls to decide the next character to illustrate. Characters can return in variants (different life stages or perspectives), each with a fresh lore entry. For a limited time, these lore entries are only available via the QR code on the physical card or in a link shared by a trading card holder. If you are sent the Lore Link, please avoid sharing the link publicly until it has been made public by Highmatter Books.
Your Patreon support is used to fund a steady stream of new Sun Eater art and hidden stories, with at least one original piece commissioned every three months. For the latest polls or reveals, check Christopher Ruocchio's Patreon.
| Card ID | Character | Image Click to enlarge |
Rarity | Artist | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-001 | Hadrian Marlowe, Willing Conscript |
|
Common | James L. Cook | September 2024 |
| A-002 | Valka Onderra, Xenologist |
|
Common | James L. Cook | September 2024 |
| A-003 | Aranata Otiolo, Inhuman Prince |
|
Uncommon | James L. Cook | September 2024 |
| A-004 | Hadrian Marlowe, Royal Knight |
|
Uncommon | James L. Cook | May 2025 |
| A-005 | Valka Onderra, Witch of Tavros |
|
Uncommon | James L. Cook | February 2025 |
| A-006 | Cassandra Marlowe, Daughter of Swords |
|
Common | James L. Cook | February 2025 |
| A-007 | Lorian Aristedes, Commandant-General |
|
Uncommon | James L. Cook | February 2025 |
| A-008 | Kharn Sagara, Witch-Queen of Vorgossos |
|
Rare | James L. Cook | February 2025 |
| A-009 | Syriani Dorayaica, Abysscrosser |
|
Common | James L. Cook | July 2025 |
| A-010 | Pallino of Trieste, Myrmidon Captain |
|
Common | Kevin Keele | May 2025 |
| A-011 | Siran of Emesh, Warrior |
|
Common | Kevin Keele | May 2025 |
| A-012 | Bassander Lin, Imperial Captain |
|
Common | René Aigner | July 2025 |
| A-013 | Otavia Corvo, Soldier of Fortune |
|
Common | René Aigner | July 2025 |
| A-014 | Crispin Marlowe, The Lesser Devil |
 
|
Common | John Barry Ballaran | October 2025 |
| A-015 | Quentin Sharp, Dragonslayer |
 
|
Common | John Barry Ballaran | October 2025 |
| A-016 | Hadrian Marlowe, The Sun Eater |
|
Rare | René Aigner | Shadows Upon Time Gala, November 2025 |
| A-017 | Alexander Avent, Serpent King |
|
Common | René Aigner | Shadows Upon Time Gala, November 2025 |
| A-018 | Syriani Dorayaica, Bride of Miudanar |
|
Rare | René Aigner | Shadows Upon Time Gala, November 2025 |
| A-019 |
|
December 2025 | |||
| A-020 | Orphan, Child of Columbia |
|
Ultra Rare | James L. Cook | Shadows Upon Time Gala, November 2025 |