Oath Mystery deck #2: DAMASK

[Lotrek]

Can the boundaries in luxury playing card making be further pushed?

[vasta41]

Lotrek- please oh pretty please tell me you have the deck in hand?

[Magic Tapp]

Thanks Lotrek. Is this going to be KS or sale through your website?

Bracing for another dent in my bank account balance

[Bradius]

I don’t have a bank account to dent...Sept. 1. Ugh. I’ll have to find some money somewhere for at least one.

[Cardians]

Another beauty awaits us... Keep em coming Lotrek...!

[KT52]

I don’t have a bank account to dent...Sept. 1. Ugh. I’ll have to find some money somewhere for at least one.

Sell some of those arabesque and youll have plenty!

[ICantShuffle]

Agh, too much at once. But, I'm in.

In that same weekend there's JR's Subscription launch, and the final Planets campaign.

[Pablo393]

Lotrek,
Will this be very similar to the Arabesque mystery deck in that we will be able to make the first purchase sight unseen for at least a few days before the price increases? I just want to make sure the purchase window is open for at least 24 hours and not limited to a certain number of decks.

Thanks

[Bradius]

I seem to recall this is sight unseen. No option to purchase after the reveal. If he had already printed, then it is going to be a limited number. You can be sure I at least will not be ordering seven, unless I grab a leprechaun’s pot of gold!

Lotrek, just so I am clear, I am SUPER excited about the new mystery deck. It has been long anticipated. I just have to find some money for it. I know you are also excited to open it up for sale. No doubt about it.

[ICantShuffle]

I'm already working the street corner and overtime at my day job to support my habit. C'mon 4th qtr bonus...

[Bikefanatic]

Lotrek is an monthly expenses so I'm ready! I would like to see the tuck and a face card.

[portcullis]

Not happening for me. I gotta be an adult this week. Poor form my Greek buddy, poor form. *under breath* Imagine announcing a deck 90 minutes before Alex Chin’s campaign ends.

1st of Oct woulda been better. Guess I’ll have to wait for the 52+ Con deck.

[Magic Tapp]

I am definitely in for a couple of decks; the only thing to know is whether this is going to be sold out through KS or the website?

[Adonael]

I thought I was going to have until January to scratch the money together for another mystery deck! This might be one of the ones where I convince myself 'one day on the aftermarket, in a future where I am surely wealthy' lol.

[Conturbia]

Do you know how to be come a drug seller? I believe I need to increase my income

[Lughnasadhuk]

Ball park, how much are these decks likely to cost? I came to the party after the first mystery deck (assuming mystery deck 2 came after a first one!) so have no idea how much blood and how many children to sell to fund this.

[PipChick]

Do you know how to be come a drug seller? I believe I need to increase my income

I suspect that his decks come laced with cocaine - that's what makes them so addictive lol

as seen in this never-before-released video footage of the final stage in the production process:

[PipChick]

Ball park, how much are these decks likely to cost? I came to the party after the first mystery deck (assuming mystery deck 2 came after a first one!) so have no idea how much blood and how many children to sell to fund this.

The 1st mystery deck (which turned out to be the Gold Edition of the Arabesque series) was initially available for pre-order, sight-unseen, for $85usd. About a month later, the design was fully revealed and the price was raised to $100usd, which was also the pre-order price for the Silver Edition.

I'd imagine that you can likely somewhat expect the same for this 2nd mystery deck... I'd suggest that you start harvesting your non-essential organs now for blackmarket sale, before deciding which and how many kids to sell off

[Justin O.]

I'm sorry, am I the only one not on board here? I backed the first mystery deck, got, it was great. You made an awesome deck with support of your fans sight unseen, you did it, merriment was a success, doing a second time isn't pushing a boundary. It was a cute gimmick the first time, "could he do it?" but I feel like the novelty isn't there anymore, nobody doubts it will be worth whatever the asking price is so why bother? Maybe I'm just being jaded?

[Bradius]

Well, Lotrek said he was going to do a second mystery deck a long time ago, so that was no mystery. He would have been criticized if he didn’t do a mystery deck again. We now know there are exactly 300 decks. No more, no less. They go on sale on Saturday at 5pm EDT for $95 each until sold out. I assume there is no limit (other than your finances and availability). 300 is a big enough number where folks should get one if they are at least quick. Name will be revealed on September 7, when price goes up to $105 if any are still available. The deck will be revealed at the 52+ Joker convention on October 11, and shipped out on October 12 from Gamblers Warehouse. It looks like a good plan. I am on board. Glad these are already printed and ready to go.

[JuFiN]

"the most expensive deck produced in modern era" -quote from reveal email.

Ughh.... How is that something to be proud of? As if cost was the same as quality somehow. Look how popular I am, people will buy "the most expensive deck produced in modern era" from me without even seeing it! Just seems a huge ego trip.

Anyway im sure it will be great and sell for double on ebay after its Lotrek after all. Maybe he is the sucker for not pricing it higher.

[Cardians]

The only thing that makes me a sad about this release now is that Gamblers is doing the fulfillment. Thumbs down to this as some of us here are dedicated collectors to Lotrek decks and usual get our on-going collectors number when he handles shipments.

Guess I'll just grab one instead of two.

[Adonael]

Maybe I'm just being jaded?

Yes. Many of us actually specifically asked for more mystery decks.

As if cost was the same as quality somehow. ... Just seems a huge ego trip.

This is Lotrek, so yes it does mean the same thing. Obviously you're not at all familiar with Lotrek so I'll just say this, he's a completely different creature to most other designers (like JR for example).

The only thing that makes me a sad about this release now is that Gamblers is doing the fulfillment.

It is a little disappointing. I've always liked the stamp covered envelopes I've received from Lotrek, and GW shipments take over a month to get to me.

[Lotrek]

Just to clarify:

Saying that this is the most expensive deck produced isn't something to be proud or ashamed of. It's just a fact. And I never "add stuff" just to show off luxury or sheen. Everything I do, obeys the rule: It has to be beautiful and balanced, at least to my eyes. And it's always a challenge to make something very rich but not loud.

Fulfillment: The decks will be numbered and sent according to when each one grabbed their copy, just as I did with my other decks. Gambler's will get very clear instructions on this.

The only problem I admit is that there will be no stamp-covered, fluffy, clumsy envelopes!

[Lotrek]

. Maybe he is the sucker for not pricing it higher.

True

[Thedissident001]

How are people getting all this info? I’m not getting any emails about anything in spite of spending hundreds of dollars on Lotrek projects recurrently over a short period.

[Magic Tapp]

How are people getting all this info? I’m not getting any emails about anything in spite of spending hundreds of dollars on Lotrek projects recurrently over a short period.

Here plus if you sign up for the updates on Lotrek’s website, you would get emails (got one this morning).

[Lotrek]

How are people getting all this info? I’m not getting any emails about anything in spite of spending hundreds of dollars on Lotrek projects recurrently over a short period.

This info isn't classified or anything. I just send a newsletter to all people who have either purchased something from my website or subscribed to my newsletter. Admittedly, some people don't get this email (no more than 5-10) but I have no idea why. I guess it's purely technical and my knowledge on these subjects is really limited.
If you haven't, please subscribe to my newsletter to make sure you'll be getting the emails.

[shimmering]

I'm another of the 5-10 who fit those criteria but don't get the newsletter.

[theCapraAegagrus]

I'm sorry, am I the only one not on board here? I backed the first mystery deck, got, it was great. You made an awesome deck with support of your fans sight unseen, you did it, merriment was a success, doing a second time isn't pushing a boundary. It was a cute gimmick the first time, "could he do it?" but I feel like the novelty isn't there anymore, nobody doubts it will be worth whatever the asking price is so why bother? Maybe I'm just being jaded?

I'm not on-board, but that's partly because I just wasn't completely blown away by Arabesque, and also because I won't have the budget (same as the last go-around). Arabesque is a gorgeous deck, but IMO not as good as Venexiana Gold or Golden Oath.

I'm also not a fan of Lotrek variants. There are just too many, which is why I only collected the Signature decks, because they were kinda the "ultimate/rarest" variant. The Players Decks are a great idea, but Arabesque Silver just makes it that much more difficult to complete a Lotrek collection. I'm of the opinion that each Lotrek design should be a Highlander. That too often isn't the case.

I don't have any particular issues with the Mystery Deck shenanigans. I just personally will not invest in an unknown. Keep doing your thing, Lotrek. It works.