The Whale's Belly & The Book of Shadows

[jerichoholic]

Did this ever launch?

[Mike Ratledge]

Sooo... who's solved the first game? (worth is for the artwork alone really)

One person so far, occasionally seen here... It's not that difficult, really. The next one is a little tougher.

The only hint I can give is to read the instructions carefully. There is a clue there. It's a 3 part quest.

(and yes, Victor. It's been live for about 24 hours now and about 20% funded. Several twists and turns over the next week or two...)

I now have two correct entries. Do I need to add you, Joe?

[Mike Ratledge]

The second game for Guardians of the Code, the Knights of the Noble Order started today. See the latest update for links and rules.

[shermjack]

I am a little confused as what to do with the latest update for the second game...are there supposed to be some photographs to review/compare?

[Mike Ratledge]

I am a little confused as what to do with the latest update for the second game...are there supposed to be some photographs to review/compare?

Yes, we have already had a couple of people solve the "what's been stolen" mystery, so I assumed they were easy to find. There should be a "before" and "after" version of the picture of the Magnum Opus in the Asteian Library in London. Something is missing from the "after" version, which is what you are looking for.

If you can't find them, let me know. I can validate whether or not you have solved the first step of the quest ("what's been stolen") and have both the before and after pix, but they're on my laptop, not my phone.

[shermjack]

Thanks Mike...didn't see the link to the photos on my iPad ...got it now...

[Mike Ratledge]

I moved messages having to do with me leaving CL branding in the UC mailing list to Site Announcements. It really should not be here.. Please comment over there.

Back on topic, the campaign is just short of 50% funded with 35+ days remaining. Both challenges / quests are still active, and at least one more is yet to come, as are (likely) a special edition or two.

[Bruno]

10,000
I'll be rapt when this gets funded, 'tis great fun and I love the Art of The Whale's Belly Studio ....
Well done Andrea, clever stuff !
Want that Book !

[Mike Ratledge]

10,000
I'll be rapt when this gets funded, 'tis great fun and I love the Art of The Whale's Belly Studio ....
Well done Andrea, clever stuff !
Want that Book !

Bruno, the deck comes with a full booklet (minibook?), but the add-on Book that looks like the Magnum Opus is outstanding.

[Bruno]

Aye, what a Tome, is it not the best thing ..... ? ! !
It's a Cracker !

If you mean the Corpus Alchemicum Mike, yes I have that beauty pledged, but the Magnum Opus is the Real Thing ! PhWoooar .... ! !

[Mike Ratledge]

Aye, what a Tome, is it not the best thing ..... ? ! !
It's a Cracker !

If you mean the Corpus Alchemicum Mike, yes I have that beauty pledged, but the Magnum Opus is the Real Thing ! PhWoooar .... ! !

'Corpus Alchemicum' = b ody of the Alchemist in Latin... You've got it!

[Mike Ratledge]

Hard fought! With a $400 pledge, the project is funded today.

[Collector]

Nice artworks. Poker/Bridge cards?

[Mike Ratledge]

Nice artworks. Poker/Bridge cards?

Neither. Tarot, using the European standard size. I believe it's closest to 2½"×4" like the deck Uusi designed, but I would have to ask the dimensions in centimeters. I suppose it might be closer to 2¾"×4⅜"

[Bruno]

Well deserved funding after a well run fun campaign ....
Well Done Sir !
Anticipating vast good Karma deliverance to this Creator.

[Mike Ratledge]

Well deserved funding after a well run fun campaign ....
Well Done Sir !
Anticipating vast good Karma deliverance to this Creator.

It was an interesting and challenging campaign, not like any other I have ever watched. Truly strange curves and graphs on kicktraq.com etc.

It's done, successfully!

[Bruno]

DahnUndah ! !
Next Week ! !
Une Grande Expose et Illumination De La Tarot Secrete @ Melbourne ! !
All Revealed ! !
( In Latin )






Check latest update for straight version.

[Bruno]

Aaand there is more ....

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/17 ... ts/1386813" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What a Hoot !
Thanks AA .... !

[cherrynukacola]

In the end, I wasn't able to back this, but I was interested to see today that it has popped up in Lo Scarebo's 2016 catalogue. I guess decks will be available for anyone who didn't pledge.

[Mike Ratledge]

In the end, I wasn't able to back this, but I was interested to see today that it has popped up in Lo Scarebo's 2016 catalogue. I guess decks will be available for anyone who didn't pledge.

They are printing it, makes sense.

[Mike Ratledge]

As noted elsewhere, those of you who didn't back The Book of Shadows Tarot and multimedia project are likely going to kick yourselves square in the arse.

Here's the finished product:

Basic Philosopher's Stone edition

Limited Edition in a replica of the Magnum Opus

Closeup of the limited edition "box"

And if you pledge for the "Guardian of the Code", your Knight (or Dame) papers

[Mike Ratledge]

Just so everyone knows, Andrea is VERY upset now that he found out La Scarabeo breached their contact which required them not to sell these until after 8-June, but they are already shipping them, even though it's still a week or two before Andrea can ship the ones he got to his backers. I was not "in" on the agreements, so I don't know specifics, but he is getting hammered on the KS project by people who have seen it available for sale with "Pre-order available starting June 8" and now they started shipping them Wednesday - even Amazon has them and I found at least 7 other sellers who have completely ignored the contract that - assuming it was worded as I specified - required that it not even be advertised for sale until 90% backer fulfillment had been achieved. I got a deck myself, and they are absolutely WAY beyond anything we had hoped even after we funded, but - this is a mess and there's no way to "put the genie back in the bottle" at this point.

I don't remember the name of the US distributor, although I should, but they started shipping Monday, and those resellers who ordered them began shipping them the day they arrived, which apparently for most of them was Wednesday. Truly sux, because I know for certain from talking to Andrea by phone (he is here in the US now) about the problem that he did make the contract that specified the earliest delivery available date was to be 8-June, so he had _plenty_ of time to get the backer fulfillment completed first. We are working on a solution to get La Scarabeo to send the required "Philosopher's Stone" decks to Gambler's Warehouse fulfillment center as soon as possible, so those of you who are waiting for the backer fulfillment decks - and absolutely not only SHOULD but were guaranteed by the contract with La Scarabeo to get your decks BEFORE they were available for sale anywhere will get them as soon as possible.

The fact is that they showed up on Amazon.com for "pre-order available beginning June 8" this past Monday, but on Wednesday - when the decks actually got to Amazon.com (they get their initial allocation of 250 units) on Wednesday, they started shipping them despite the fact that they are under contract (La Scarabeo is) not to allow them to be sold until June 8th. I know because I actually got one on Friday afternoon, because I am an Amazon "Prime" member.

As SOON as I know more I will post it here, but actually members here on UC are getting the "straight skinny" from me before even those looking for an explanation on Kickstarter have. I suspect that Riccardo will post an update for Andrea (who, as I noted is still here in the US and has been showing the video "Book of Shadows" to Tarot groups here in the states, last that I am certain he did was in Portland Oregon, although to be perfectly honest I have been a bit distracted with the wife, and haven't been keeping up with Facebook like I usually do. (yes, my eBay auctions are getting posted at 3 in the morning when I can't sleep, but otherwise it's just been a horror show here. The Grotesque Signature Edition platinum deck #1 of 10 was purchased outright for cash right before the auction went live, so I cancelled that one, also. I'll post something else tomorrow when I calm down a bit.

Poor Andrea is just about despondent, because he did exactly what he should have done with the contract with La Scarabeo to preclude this happening, and apparently - the almighty dollar has ruled once again. Check out the invoice below - they aren't calling it "The Book of Shadows Tarot" - it's something they pretty much made up adding to the sub-title (it's a "kit")...

My own invoice. Before I called Andre I wanted to see if they actually _were_ shipping.

[Talisman]

Just so everyone knows, Andrea is VERY upset now that he found out La Scarabeo breached their contact which required them not to sell these until after 8-June, but they are already shipping them, even though it's still a week or two before Andrea can ship the ones he got to his backers. I was not "in" on the agreements, so I don't know specifics, but he is getting hammered on the KS project by people who have seen it available for sale with "Pre-order available starting June 8" and now they started shipping them Wednesday - even Amazon has them and I found at least 7 other sellers who have completely ignored the contract that - assuming it was worded as I specified - required that it not even be advertised for sale until 90% backer fulfillment had been achieved. I got a deck myself, and they are absolutely WAY beyond anything we had hoped even after we funded, but - this is a mess and there's no way to "put the genie back in the bottle" at this point.

I don't remember the name of the US distributor, although I should, but they started shipping Monday, and those resellers who ordered them began shipping them the day they arrived, which apparently for most of them was Wednesday. Truly sux, because I know for certain from talking to Andrea by phone (he is here in the US now) about the problem that he did make the contract that specified the earliest delivery available date was to be 8-June, so he had _plenty_ of time to get the backer fulfillment completed first. We are working on a solution to get La Scarabeo to send the required "Philosopher's Stone" decks to Gambler's Warehouse fulfillment center as soon as possible, so those of you who are waiting for the backer fulfillment decks - and absolutely not only SHOULD but were guaranteed by the contract with La Scarabeo to get your decks BEFORE they were available for sale anywhere will get them as soon as possible.

The fact is that they showed up on Amazon.com for "pre-order available beginning June 8" this past Monday, but on Wednesday - when the decks actually got to Amazon.com (they get their initial allocation of 250 units) on Wednesday, they started shipping them despite the fact that they are under contract (La Scarabeo is) not to allow them to be sold until June 8th. I know because I actually got one on Friday afternoon, because I am an Amazon "Prime" member.

As SOON as I know more I will post it here, but actually members here on UC are getting the "straight skinny" from me before even those looking for an explanation on Kickstarter have. I suspect that Riccardo will post an update for Andrea (who, as I noted is still here in the US and has been showing the video "Book of Shadows" to Tarot groups here in the states, last that I am certain he did was in Portland Oregon, although to be perfectly honest I have been a bit distracted with the wife, and haven't been keeping up with Facebook like I usually do. (yes, my eBay auctions are getting posted at 3 in the morning when I can't sleep, but otherwise it's just been a horror show here. The Grotesque Signature Edition platinum deck #1 of 10 was purchased outright for cash right before the auction went live, so I cancelled that one, also. I'll post something else tomorrow when I calm down a bit.

Poor Andrea is just about despondent, because he did exactly what he should have done with the contract with La Scarabeo to preclude this happening, and apparently - the almighty dollar has ruled once again. Check out the invoice below - they aren't calling it "The Book of Shadows Tarot" - it's something they pretty much made up adding to the sub-title (it's a "kit")...

Book_of_Shadows_invoice_from_Amazon.png

Mike, the photos you provided is what's on sale at Amazon or the photo that Amazon provided is?
Also does it come inside that elegant box set?
What I meant by the photos you provided is from the post prior to this one.

[Mike Ratledge]

The Kickstarter version and the retail version are different, it only contains the cards in the box.

The pictures above are both the Philosopher's Stone edition (basic) and the $130 Ornicalum (sp?) deluxe edition made to look like the Magnum Opus, which is not available for resale at all. The pix are of the actual production version "proofs" he received one each of about five or six weeks ago.

The $23 price is apparently a screw-up, their marketing manager states that the minimum selling price is $43 by contract.

Overnight Andrea sent me a written apology from La Scarabeo headquarters, but I have not read it yet. I will scan it and post it here:

[Talisman]

Thanks Mike.
Funny, Amazon is still selling this at $23.47 with their regular retail price set at $34.95 and it's available immediately and not set to pre-order at all.

[Mike Ratledge]

Thanks Mike.
Funny, Amazon is still selling this at $23.47 with their regular retail price set at $34.95 and it's available immediately and not set to pre-order at all.

Yep, I got mine Saturday when I got home, it was delivered Friday. Notice that the letter from the Sales Manager at La Scarabeo is dated 21st, it takes time to fix things, especially when Amazon is involved.

Being an Amazon seller, I know that changes I make often don't show up for days, so I guess they will catch up shortly. It doesn't even have the right name...

[Cbkimble]

I didn't see it on Amazon.

[Mike Ratledge]

I didn't see it on Amazon.

It's listed as "The Lost Code of the Tarot" instead of The Book of Shadows.

Rather than cause any more problems, I wanted to hear from Andrea who is here in the US.

Pictures:

For scale, I put a quarter on the spine. Box is about 6" × 9" × 1½" with 160 page book inside along with the Tarot deck.

[bamabenz]

I missed the KS so I just bought a deck on AMZN. Only 9 more in stock.

/bama

[Cbkimble]

Just grabbed one. Didn't cost a cent. Used my Amazon points.