FAQs - About the cards
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1871: A Time Before will launch initially as a beautifully designed digital experience, giving you instant access to all seven decks and accompanying guides and tools.
You’ll be able to use them on-screen for self-reflection, client work, or team sessions - in-person or online.
The physical card sets are in development and will be available at a later stage. If you're on the waitlist, you'll be the first to know when pre-orders open - and as an existing customer you’ll get exclusive offers once they are available.
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Digital means instant access - no waiting, no shipping, no limits.
You can combine decks, draw cards at random, and regardless of location, use them in 1:1 sessions, group workshops, or personal reflection.
There’s no cap on participant numbers, making it ideal for teams, classrooms, or large-scale events.
It’s flexible, intuitive, and designed to help you go deep from the very first click.
The physical version is coming - but the magic of 1871 starts here.
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After purchase, you’ll have access to the member area that you have signed up to, where all files (PDFs & PNGs) will be waiting for you in zipped folders. Here can you access and download what you need, whenever you need it.
Everything you need, ready to explore.
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You’ll receive 130 cards divided across 7 beautifully illustrated decks:
- Voices (Characters of SageBrush Crossing)
- Animals & Spiritual Guides
- Locations
- Echoes & Artefacts (Objects)
- Moments in Time
- Skies & Seasons
- Campfire Conversation prompts
You’ll also get a companion booklet, a digital toolkit for online use, and guides for individuals, practitioners, and facilitators.
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Not quite. While it can spark story and imagination, 1871 is a reflection tool rooted in personal insight, emotional awareness, and growth - not gameplay or competition.
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Not at all. You can use a single deck for a focused reflection, or combine two, three, or more for layered depth.
The magic of 1871 lies in the combinations - for example, a Voice paired with an Artefact might uncover a new perspective, while adding a Moment in Time can create a powerful narrative arc.
There's no one way to use them... just your way.
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Absolutely. You don’t need to be creative or experienced - the cards do the inviting for you.
Each one offers a starting point for thought, emotion, or story.
Whether you’re a deep thinker or someone just looking to pause and check in, 1871 meets you with gentle curiosity, not pressure.
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1871: A Time Before is designed for adults and mature teens (16+), especially those interested in self-awareness, storytelling, or growth.
It can be used by individuals, coaches, therapists, educators, and facilitators. While the tone is reflective and poetic, the cards are accessible to a wide range of users.
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The 1871: A Time Before experience was designed with adults in mind, due to the emotional depth and reflective nature of the content.
However, some older children or teens (around 12+) may enjoy using selected cards - especially with a parent, teacher, therapist, or coach to guide the process.
If you're working with younger people, we recommend using the cards selectively, keeping the focus on gentle storytelling and imagination rather than deeper emotional exploration.
A youth-friendly guide may be developed in the future based on demand so please let us know if this something you'd be interested in.
FAQs About the memberships
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We offer two membership options - all detailed on our Memberships page, but here’s a quick breakdown to help you choose:
Saloon Backroom
£29.99 one-time payment
✔ Lifetime access to the full Founders Collection (130+ cards across 7 decks)
✔ All core resources, including digital backgrounds and guidebooks
✔ No subscription, no ongoing cost
Best for:
Individuals who want to explore 1871: A Time Before at their own pace. A great starting point for personal reflection, 1:1 coaching, and small group use.
The Private Reserve
£29.99 + £10/month (cancel anytime)
Everything in the Saloon Backroom, plus:
✔ Monthly content updates to deepen your experience
✔ Access to all expansion packs as they’re released
✔ Exclusive creative prompts, character insights & bonus materials
✔ Grows with you over time - Something new to explore every month.
Best for:
Coaches, creatives, reflective individuals, and practitioners who want fresh material each month, and a richer, ongoing relationship with the world of 1871.
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Absolutely. The trail keeps growing. Expansion packs, Immersion Experiences, Story Seeds, prompts, tools, and reflective practices will be added regularly - especially in the Private Reserve. It’s a living, breathing world we’re building together.
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Great news - you can upgrade at any time! For folks who already have Saloon Backroom or Prospectors' Cabin (early-bird members) access, we offer add-on membership to the Private Reserve.
This is a monthly subscription with no extra upfront cost, perfect if you’re ready to keep walking the trail a little further.
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That one-time £29.99 fee unlocks the full Founders Collection - a rich set of 7 digital card decks and essential resources that form the heart of your journey.
It’s your gateway into the world of 1871: A Time Before, and ensures that every member, no matter where they start, begins with the same compass and map in hand.
After that, your monthly subscription fee of £10 keeps you connected to the exclusive extras, new releases, and evolving paths found in the Private Reserve Members area.
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If you’ve already purchased the Founders Collection and gained lifetime access to the Saloon Backroom or Prospectors Cabin (early-bird members), the add-on subscription is your key to unlocking more of SageBrush Crossing.
The Private Reserve add-on (£10/month) opens the doors to extra monthly resources, exclusive character insights, creative prompts, and bonus materials to deepen your reflection and practice. And that's not all - you'll get access to advanced resources, themed expansions, behind-the-scenes content, and early access to new releases, and all expansion packs for free. It’s for those who want to journey even further.
No need to pay for the Founders Collection again - upgrade, and keep walking the trail.
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There’s a whole frontier still to explore!
We’re already mapping out a series of themed expansion packs and mini-packs to add fresh stories, deeper insights, and new layers of reflection to your journey through 1871: A Time Before.
Every pack will be carefully created to stay true to the heart of SageBrush Crossing: slow, soulful reflection with a touch of frontier magic. These include:
Myth & Magic Pack: Folklore, symbols, and the mystical woven into SageBrush’s dusty paths.
Pilgrimage Pack: For times of transition, soul-searching, and purpose-seeking.
Travelling Through Series: Guided by global philosophies like Ikigai, Ubuntu, and more.
The Shadows of 1871: A deeper dive into hidden truths, uncomfortable questions, and the parts we often leave unspoken.
Generations Pack: Exploring legacy, ancestry, and the stories we carry (or choose to release).
Forgotten Stories Pack: Unearthing overlooked voices, silenced tales, and quiet wisdom from the edges.
And this is just for starters. A new expansion pack (or mini-pack) will be released every month - available to purchase individually- or included free with the Private Reserve membership.
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Yes - and there are generous discounts if you do!
Whether you're a coach, educator, or leader supporting a team or peer group, you're welcome to buy multiple individual memberships. Each person gets their own access, making it ideal for coaching circles, learning cohorts, or small teams who want to reflect together while exploring at their own pace.
Here’s how the group discount works:
- Buy 10 or more – get 10% off
- Buy 20 or more – get 20% off
- Buy 30 or more – get 30% off
- Buy 40 or more – get 40% off
- Buy 50 or more – get 50% off
If you’d like to buy in bulk, just drop us a message and we’ll get you set up with a custom code.
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Sure can. You’re free to leave anytime - but we sure hope you’ll stay awhile. Just remember: once you cancel, you’ll lose access to the deeper content unless you resubscribe.
For Individuals
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Not at all. 1871: A Time Before is designed for anyone curious about self-reflection. Whether you journal, meditate, write, or simply want a new way to explore your inner world, the cards meet you where you are.
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You can draw one card and use it as your guide for the day, or create a spread of two, three, or more across different decks (e.g., a Voice, an Artefact, and a Moment in Time). Then reflect: What do they evoke? What do they remind me of? What story are they trying to tell me?
Extra prompts and guidance are included in the pack to help you get started.
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Never. These cards are designed to prompt meaning, not prescribe it. Trust your intuition and allow the story to guide you.
There's no right or wrong way to use the cards - just your way.
For Coaches, Therapists & Educators
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The cards are rich in metaphor and story - perfect for use in coaching, therapy, group facilitation, or teaching.
Use them to open, close or guide complete sessions, to explore identity, values, challenges, and aspirations and encourage reflective practice.
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Absolutely. Our 1871 card decks are perfect for team-building, creative workshops, problem -solving, conflict resolution, brainstorming or therapeutic groups.
Prompts are included in the pack for individual and shared storytelling, creative pair work, and group reflection activities.
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Ethical use starts with consent, context, and care. Always introduce the cards as an invitation, not a requirement - and be clear that clients can engage at their own pace or decline.
Encourage them to choose card combinations that match their emotional readiness, and avoid interpreting cards for them. Instead, ask open questions that allow the client to assign their own meaning.
If you're working with trauma, stay within your competence and always prioritise psychological safety.
A practitioner guide with ethical considerations is included with your deck.
For Teams & Organisations
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1871 goes beyond surface-level icebreakers to help teams explore values, roles, identity, and connection through story.
Whether in relationship building exercises, development programmes, DEI work, or reflective practice, it creates safe, meaningful conversations.
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Absolutely. The 1871: A Time Before cards are well-suited for corporate settings.
They offer a creative, non-threatening way to open up conversations, build empathy, and encourage fresh perspectives -making them ideal for team development, training environments, coaching sessions, and wellbeing workshops. By inviting users to step into the voice or viewpoint of a character, object, or moment in time, the cards gently bypass typical resistance and allow deeper reflection, storytelling, and insight.
Organisations can use them to spark dialogue, unlock team creativity, explore values, and support psychological safety in group settings. Whether in-person or virtual, they’re a powerful tool for personal and professional growth
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Yes. You'll receive PDF and PNG versions of the cards and digital backgrounds, making the online/remote experience inclusive and immersive for all involved. Perfect for use on Zoom / Teams etc, for remote coaching, team meetings, or online workshops.
About me
Hi there, I'm Steve Nestor.
Professional coach, speaker and author... and creator of 1871: A Time Before.
Believer in people, spreader of kindness & inspiration, and a bit of dreamer ( I'm sure I'm not the only one).
Everything I create is designed to spark reflection, deepen conversations, and unlock fresh perspectives, and these cards are no different - whether you’re coaching, writing, teaching, or simply exploring your own story.
© 2025 Steve Nestor | 1871: A Time Before™ |
All content is protected under copyright law.
Do not copy, reproduce, or distribute without permission.