"ARABESQUE" by OathPlayingCards

[Lotrek]

With the new silver version, I'm not even sure how many variants there will be

Only the 2 KS player's editions without any Signature decks.

[Lotrek]

@sinjin7:

Valuable input and I don't think I can thank you enough...

About the club, you say exactly what Melania, my wife and partner said: We'll end up with additional headaches and more demanding people to satisfy.
I really believe that a club can be a good idea with benefits for both creators and backers BUT: It needs a lot and constant work. I don't believe I can do it and I won't get in trouble by myself again.

[JacksandJokers]

I really believe that a club can be a good idea with benefits for both creators and backers BUT: It needs a lot and constant work. I don't believe I can do it and I won't get in trouble by myself again.

Lotrek, If you do decide to go down this route give me a shout, I will be more than happy to help out in any way, shape or form that I can

[Bradius]

We could manage the UCSLCC for you (United Cardists Supporting Lotrek's Card Club). Keep up with members, field complaints (trash bin) and such for you. We just send you money. What could go wrong? [MURRAY]

[PipChick]

No problem TwoPieceFeed. We can talk offline. I can set you up. I understand you still have an arm and a leg left.

would you take a left kidney???

[MagikFingerz]

No problem TwoPieceFeed. We can talk offline. I can set you up. I understand you still have an arm and a leg left.

would you take a left kidney???

You think anyone on this forum would take an incomplete set of kidneys???

[PipChick]

No problem TwoPieceFeed. We can talk offline. I can set you up. I understand you still have an arm and a leg left.

would you take a left kidney???

You think anyone on this forum would take an incomplete set of kidneys???

but that's my slightly defective one! it's limited edition!!!

[MagikFingerz]

No problem TwoPieceFeed. We can talk offline. I can set you up. I understand you still have an arm and a leg left.

would you take a left kidney???

You think anyone on this forum would take an incomplete set of kidneys???

but that's my slightly defective one! it's limited edition!!!

Well, then you can demand an error deck for your error kidney, I suppose

[PipChick]

would you take a left kidney???

You think anyone on this forum would take an incomplete set of kidneys???

but that's my slightly defective one! it's limited edition!!!

Well, then you can demand an error deck for your error kidney, I suppose

EXACTLY! one of a kind! so, any takers??

[Bradius]

I am okay either way, just wrap it it up (I like things unopened) and put a #2/2 sticker on it. It's all good.

[PipChick]

I am okay either way, just wrap it it up (I like things unopened) and put a #2/2 sticker on it. It's all good.

I'll see what I can do

[Adonael]

It is a free country

In theory only. Besides, it's not Lotrek's country . People take advantage of holes in the system, it's what (the more unscrupulous) people do by nature, all Lotrek has to do is close them up as best he can.

sinjin7 is right, these are good problems, and simply having purchase limits per person and announcing how many versions there will be of the deck in advance would go a long long way toward alleviating them. Don't feel like you have to do anything drastic. No matter how cool it sounds to have a John Wick, Continental style club with a badass name like The Basilica, where every member has a limited physical Lotrek designed and numbered coin with a unique identifying code on it tied to only one individual account at a time, giving them an exclusive time- limited take-it-or-leave-it offer of one of every deck before the public offering and excluding Signature decks (their very small numbers won't allow it), coins which can only be acquired by receiving them from a current member or inheriting them via will or next-in-line. Yep, no matter how cool that sounds.

[Räpylätassu]

Getting super excited to receive my Arabesque deck soon!

The fact that I love the design on this and I love the design on the Jinni deck makes me hope to see more Arabic themed decks in the future. Or an Ottoman Empire themed deck, which is not techinally Arabic but has similarities.

[Bradius]

these are good problems

This is absolutely correct. That is because he and others have worked really hard, and that he keeps pushing himself to improve in multiple ways.

I have taken a closer look at one of the Arabesque Error decks and really examined the reverse. On so many of the cards the registration is just flawless. For me to understand how flawless I needed to examine the few that were not flawless. I mean a fraction of a millimeter off, and you can tell. I could find only one in the deck that was really off, and it was off by way less than a millimeter. I am almost afraid to guess how many sheets were wasted and how much effort was put into this level of accuracy. I am also trying to guess the effort taken to make sure the foiling was done so cleanly and accurately. And, that was just the reverse. I am sure the same had to be done on the other side as well. In examining the details, you begin to see the incredible craftsmanship involved, beyond the art and shiny foil.

I carefully examined another error deck. I could only find very minor registration errors that were less than a line's width. I did find one obverse card with some foiling issues on the reverse. The obverse side work was just about completely perfect. I guess I need to get a better ruler that can measure in 10 or 100 microns. The only advantage of being incredibly nearsighted is my close up vision.

[vasta41]

Here's my 2 cents about the club idea: you already have a club. It's called your email distribution list. Sinjin already gave you the best advice about that which is scatter you sales, limit maximum purchases, and give advanced notice (more than 24-48 hrs.). People will still complain but I think those 3 things will help limit the blow back. There's no need to form a club since most of the time the only reasons they're created is to attract customers. And since you already have more customers than decks to sell I think you'd be MUCH better off without an official club, both personally and professionally.

Here's my 2 cents about reselling: In short, people can do what they want. If someone puts the effort in to be on a certain website at a certain time and buy decks to resell at higher prices then I say good for that person. But as a collector first and foremost I do think that there should be limits in place for maximum deck purchases. If a reseller buys 12 decks but a collector cannot even buy 1 despite trying to be as quick as possible then that is not right. Limiting the amount of decks someone can buy can help alleviate that problem. Another thing I don't like about reselling is a point 2pc. brought up and that is taking profits away from the creator. The phrase "starving artist" was coined for a reason but if I were one I would hate to see other people getting richer than me on ebay. However, although I don't like that practice I think that artists like Lotrek, JR, etc. who charge a premium for their decks are exempt. People gave Lotrek $85 for a deck, sight unseen! And I'm sure that deck didn't cost $85 to make. I know Lotrek's decks cost a lot more to manufacture than your average deck of playing cards but I'm also sure he has good profit margins (at least I hope he does!). If he wanted to charge more for his decks than he could and should. Supply and demand...
I for one have sold a few decks at higher prices than I paid for them. I will probably still do so in the future. And why not?? Am I to blame that some of the decks I bought for $10 12 years ago are now worth $100? And would you prefer I don't sell them and watch what happened to baseballs cards happen to playing cards and that same $10 deck be worth only $2 12 years from now? Don't get me wrong- I do not collect playing cards to turn a profit someday. I'm one of those collectors that can only afford to buy 1 of each deck anyway, unlike some who can buy 2+. And I hope to have most of my collection for the rest of my life. But does that make me a douche bag if I sell a few decks for more than I paid and strike while the iron's hot? I don't think so.

[theCapraAegagrus]

Here's my 2 cents about the club idea: you already have a club. It's called your email distribution list. Sinjin already gave you the best advice about that which is scatter you sales, limit maximum purchases, and give advanced notice (more than 24-48 hrs.). People will still complain but I think those 3 things will help limit the blow back. There's no need to form a club since most of the time the only reasons they're created is to attract customers. And since you already have more customers than decks to sell I think you'd be MUCH better off without an official club, both personally and professionally.

Here's my 2 cents about reselling: In short, people can do what they want. If someone puts the effort in to be on a certain website at a certain time and buy decks to resell at higher prices then I say good for that person. But as a collector first and foremost I do think that there should be limits in place for maximum deck purchases. If a reseller buys 12 decks but a collector cannot even buy 1 despite trying to be as quick as possible then that is not right. Limiting the amount of decks someone can buy can help alleviate that problem. Another thing I don't like about reselling is a point 2pc. brought up and that is taking profits away from the creator. The phrase "starving artist" was coined for a reason but if I were one I would hate to see other people getting richer than me on ebay. However, although I don't like that practice I think that artists like Lotrek, JR, etc. who charge a premium for their decks are exempt. People gave Lotrek $85 for a deck, sight unseen! And I'm sure that deck didn't cost $85 to make. I know Lotrek's decks cost a lot more to manufacture than your average deck of playing cards but I'm also sure he has good profit margins (at least I hope he does!). If he wanted to charge more for his decks than he could and should. Supply and demand...
I for one have sold a few decks at higher prices than I paid for them. I will probably still do so in the future. And why not?? Am I to blame that some of the decks I bought for $10 12 years ago are now worth $100? And would you prefer I don't sell them and watch what happened to baseballs cards happen to playing cards and that same $10 deck be worth only $2 12 years from now? Don't get me wrong- I do not collect playing cards to turn a profit someday. I'm one of those collectors that can only afford to buy 1 of each deck anyway, unlike some who can buy 2+. And I hope to have most of my collection for the rest of my life. But does that make me a douche bag if I sell a few decks for more than I paid and strike while the iron's hot? I don't think so.

As I mentioned earlier, I would like to reiterate, that I don't mind people selling their collectibles at any time they choose. I, myself, wanted to sell the Grotesk Macabre Gold and Silver decks after I received them. I had no intention of selling them when I initially backed them. Also, as you say, sometimes you buy a deck for $10 that's worth $100 later. At that point you have to decide if you want to keep it in the collection, maybe you need the $100 for something else, or maybe you want to buy some new decks.

My only problem is with those that buy with no intention other than to resell. Again, I think you're 100% a douche, if you do this with Lotrek decks or Legacy decks. Decks of 500/1,000+ print runs are different.

[Smocito]

I liked the system used for the arabesque deck, people said how many decks they wanted and Lotrek printed them afterwards. I don't mind if there are 100 or 400 decks, it's still a reduced number if the deck is as good as arabesque, and it allows more people to enjoy them.

On the matter of people buying lots of decks, and collectors not being able to get a single one I have a suggestion: two rounds of sales.

1st round limited to 1 or 2 decks per person.
2nd round 24h later unlimited

[theOutsider]

I liked the system used for the arabesque deck, people said how many decks they wanted and Lotrek printed them afterwards. I don't mind if there are 100 or 400 decks, it's still a reduced number if the deck is as good as arabesque, and it allows more people to enjoy them.

On the matter of people buying lots of decks, and collectors not being able to get a single one I have a suggestion: two rounds of sales.

1st round limited to 1 or 2 decks per person.
2nd round 24h later unlimited

Not a bad idea on how to limit the decks. But Arabesque wasn't an unlimited deck based on pre-orders. There were 333 sold on a pre-order basis since it was a mystery deck.

Lotrek has stated that his non-Kickstarter decks will be ready-to-ship as they are put on sale. Arabesque was unique in that there was an error and needed to be reprinted.

[Bikefanatic]

If these weren't shipped on May 25th, hopefully they will during this week.

[theOutsider]

If these weren't shipped on May 25th, hopefully they will during this week.

I think 5/30 is the big day.

[Lotrek]

Folks, the big day was supposed to be 5/30 but there was a strike in the public sector today and the post was closed. Tomorrow is the last day of the month and it will be overcrowded and Monday I'll have to be away (plus I'm launching the KS for the Player's edition). So we have to wait until Tuesday...
Apart from that, all is great and the second run is way batter than the first IMO. The foil is incredibly crispy. Far more than the first print as I used a different material.

[RichK]

Folks, the big day was supposed to be 5/30 but there was a strike in the public sector today and the post was closed. Tomorrow is the last day of the month and it will be overcrowded and Monday I'll have to be away (plus I'm launching the KS for the Player's edition). So we have to wait until Tuesday...
Apart from that, all is great and the second run is way batter than the first IMO. The foil is incredibly crispy. Far more than the first print as I used a different material.

I want shiny foil not crispy. I'm not planning on biting these cards.

[Merlebird]

Apart from that, all is great and the second run is way batter than the first IMO. The foil is incredibly crispy. Far more than the first print as I used a different material.

I want shiny foil not crispy. I'm not planning on biting these cards.

Hopefully he meant "crisp," as in clear and well-defined.

On the other hand, well, artists can be a peculiar breed....

[vasta41]

Folks, the big day was supposed to be 5/30 but there was a strike in the public sector today and the post was closed. Tomorrow is the last day of the month and it will be overcrowded and Monday I'll have to be away (plus I'm launching the KS for the Player's edition). So we have to wait until Tuesday...
Apart from that, all is great and the second run is way batter than the first IMO. The foil is incredibly crispy. Far more than the first print as I used a different material.

Lotrek, if delays were a breakfast cereal you'd eat them every morning. [BACON]

[Bradius]

It is great to hear the foiling is even better. It was already amazing, so I will be interested to compare it with the error deck. I am amazed you keep managing to raise the bar every time.

[Spectre]

So the KS for the players edition is launching on Monday? Or this weekend?

[Lotrek]

I couldn't resist posting a pic...

The decks are shipping on Tuesday and along with the Arabesque we will also send the pending Test decks from Grotesk Macabre inverted Inferno campaign.

The Arabesque Player's Edition KS will be launched on Friday, 8 June at 5:00pm EDT. Details coming shortly (whatever "shortly" means in my case... )

[ICantShuffle]

Oh sweet, so there is hope I can get my hands on a copy of the Arabesque deck after all! Shut up and take my money, sir.

[portcullis]

Oh sweet, so there is hope I can get my hands on a copy of the Arabesque deck after all! Shut up and take my money, sir.

Players' editions are a bit different from your usual Lotrek decks bud. Still f---ing gorgeous but different. Players eds tend to be a little cheaper: not that our dear mutual friend is cutting corners. IIRC the Ambassadors CE was $45, the PE is selling around $25-$30. Unfortunately I can't give you a side-by-side because the Collectors' Ed I bought of the last deck - Ambassadors - for which I have the Players' Ed, hasn't arrived yet.

Lotrek, buddy, I hope on Tuesday you're sending me 3 decks, not one!! I don't mind as such, it's just been a long wait.

[ICantShuffle]

I saw the KS campaign page for the Ambassadors (I found a CE from a user here) player's edition and it looked like there was an opportunity to purchase a CE during the campaign. Maybe I'm getting my hopes up, but there might be such an opportunity during this campaign?

I haven't seen any pictures of what the cards look like yet, but the Arabesque concept and tuckbox had me intrigued from when I came across the thread. Sadly they had already sold out by the time I caught wind of it.