Personally I favour the Hadar version of the Marseille, a no nonsense, traditional Tarot.

I like pip cards featuring simply the number of objects of that suit arranged in a pattern for the Minor Arcana.

I find that modern decks which use scenic imagery to try and express the meaning of the Minor Arcana, while designed to help the beginner to find interpretation, can in fact help stifle the richness of interpretation possible with each card, taking ones attention away from the simple but terribly rich abstract symbolism of a number within the context of the symbolism of the suit.

The Two of Cups, for example, has some association with love relationships, but yet it can represent breasts, a mirror, or a river, for example, and we wouldn't be able to completely exhaust all of the symbolism in imagery associated with any one particular card, and yet to narrow the symbolism to one or two areas of meaning via allegorical illustration, reduces our scope, so ultimately, the simple qualities of the number two and the drinking vessel in collusion, lead us to wherever we need to go in the context of that particular reading at that particular time, without interference from artistic interpretation of that card leading our minds into a cubby-holes and blind-alleys, or into 'stereotyping' what a card might mean, which can be as great a hindrance to those on an intermediate path, as it may be a help to those just beginning.

If I was to begin teaching the Tarot tomorrow, the student would be banned from using decks with scenic Minors, until they have got to grips with working with the breadth and depth of the abstract symbolism of number and how they combine with the symbolism of suits, so as to gain a more thorough understanding of the potential that each cartoglyph holds, before getting into the habit of, '..this one means love and relationships...'. I also find that the less elaborate the Minor Arcana is in a Tarot, the Majors will always appear more pronounced and shout out for attention in a reading, which is of course what the Major cards are required to do, so a differentiation seems appropriate.

www.aeclectic.net/tarot/car...ndex.shtml

Having said this, I think my favourite Tarot is yet to exist, until I create it myself.

Im still using my Waite Deck,,,, i own the Thoth, but it intimidates...Draco's post about him liking to read the Pip cards with just the number of objects. this is something that is hard for me as a beginner, but reading his post really got my mind thinking and more curious to have a go at opening up to them.... thanks Draco...