Theory11 - Artisan - second edition

[rousselle]

Sign me up!

I don't know what it is about the Artisans. The design is excellent, but it's not particularly innovative or revolutionary. The card stock and finish are standard offerings from USPCC. And yet, somehow, the combination of all of the elements came together to make this one of my favorite T11 decks of all time. I just love the way they feel, although I'd be hard pressed to say what it is about them that makes them feel better than any of the other T11 decks printed by USPCC. I just love the way they look, even though they aren't any more or less awesome than the other decks designed by the same designer. And yet, there it is.

A Gold Edition of Artisans? I'm on board. If they do with this what they've done with some others, and release a whole bunch in a short window at a $10 price point, I'm a happy, happy camper.

[sinjin7]

Ah, it was interesting to go over that interaction I had with Andrei Jikh. I think we went at it in three different threads, all T11 threads, of course. He never took me up on my offer to send me that PM. I really was hoping for a "game changing" deck from T11 instead of just more of the usual fluff Andrei tried to feed us. If I remember correctly, the next deck from T11, which is what I assume Andrei was referring to as the "game changer", ended up being the Love Me deck. Or maybe it was Medallions. Either way, I was disappointed to see that the game wasn't changed after all.

I'm with rousselle, I think the Artisan deck was one of the best T11 decks. I still feel the 4 deck box set is one of the best values for a specialty set - the laser engraved wooden box is absolutely beautiful and so worth the price. If you haven't picked one up yet, by all means grab one. The tuck seems to have been upgraded from a matte black to a glittery gold, so I think the MetalLuxe guess is a good one. Man, I do hope it's a foiled version of the Artisan, both black and white. If that is the case, then the boxed set makes even more sense because you can now put on of each of the 4 versions inside.

[theCapraAegagrus]

Boioioioioing.

[Magistrate1500]

Sign me up!

I don't know what it is about the Artisans. The design is excellent, but it's not particularly innovative or revolutionary. The card stock and finish are standard offerings from USPCC. And yet, somehow, the combination of all of the elements came together to make this one of my favorite T11 decks of all time. I just love the way they feel, although I'd be hard pressed to say what it is about them that makes them feel better than any of the other T11 decks printed by USPCC. I just love the way they look, even though they aren't any more or less awesome than the other decks designed by the same designer. And yet, there it is.

A Gold Edition of Artisans? I'm on board. If they do with this what they've done with some others, and release a whole bunch in a short window at a $10 price point, I'm a happy, happy camper.

I agree. For me, its the best handling deck I have. Easily the best T11 deck and my top three of all decks. There is something different about them and like you, I can't objectively tell you what it is. Same stock and cut as standard Bikes....but something else is going on with these. I am in for a brick!

[Harvonsgard]

Someone at reddit pointed at the two letters at the left ld. Therefore Gold Edition seems pretty plausible.

[james001a]

Yes, there is something special about this deck that I can't quite place either. And I like the black and white decks equally. A gold edition would be a lovely addition to my collection. However, I can say that Artisan has one of the best looking Ace of Spades in my opinion. I also love Monarchs too for the same reasons. Nothing overly fancy, just nice. I can appreciate that.

[Decknowledgy]

Welp.

The new Gold Edition Artisans are only available as a gift for spending over $150 on the site

[Kurama]

And there ended my excitement... RIP

[Decknowledgy]

Current state of the Gold Artisans:

1. People on T11's Instagram are upset about the Gold Artisan being marketed as a "free gift" in the past days only to know that you need to purchase over $150 to get one, saying it's hype and clickbait

2. T11 has also said that there is one Gold Artisan per Target, so good luck US people, it's time to get driving.

Pretty sure these will end up being as expensive as the Gold Monarchs in the aftermarket. [MURRAY]

[marman]

Welp.

Screenshot_20191129-160329_1.jpg

The new Gold Edition Artisans are only available as a gift for spending over $150 on the site

Just purchased my order mixing the new released deck (Darren Brown, Purple Monarchs, plus otther items)

I've spent $159 as it is a cumulative bonus, so i got for free all bonus decks: Gold Artisan, plus Rarebit Gold and Noc Midnight on top as well.
I think it's a good deal.

[KT52]

Current state of the Gold Artisans:

1. People on T11's Instagram are upset about the Gold Artisan being marketed as a "free gift" in the past days only to know that you need to purchase over $150 to get one, saying it's hype and clickbait

2. T11 has also said that there is one Gold Artisan per Target, so good luck US people, it's time to get driving.

Pretty sure these will end up being as expensive as the Gold Monarchs in the aftermarket. [MURRAY]

How do you know there's one per target and do you know when they will be in stores?

[Decknowledgy]

Current state of the Gold Artisans:

1. People on T11's Instagram are upset about the Gold Artisan being marketed as a "free gift" in the past days only to know that you need to purchase over $150 to get one, saying it's hype and clickbait

2. T11 has also said that there is one Gold Artisan per Target, so good luck US people, it's time to get driving.

Pretty sure these will end up being as expensive as the Gold Monarchs in the aftermarket. [MURRAY]

How do you know there's one per target and do you know when they will be in stores?

[jerichoholic]

I call bullshit, why would Target stock just 1 in each store? Stores don't do that.

[hsbc]

Target and T11 could have an arrangement where Target just gets boxes of various decks from T11 - it would be easy for T11 to put one of a certain deck in each box. I'd be shocked if each Target location is ordering a specific number of Artisans, Monarchs, etc.

[Outsider]

I call bullshit, why would Target stock just 1 in each store? Stores don't do that.

Yes, it would be totally out of character for a giant corporation to pull a gimmicky stunt to attract customers, much less to stock an unreasonably low number of a highly desirable item at a low price in order to bring in people looking for deals they're not actually going to get.

[STLBluesNut]

It is probably like hsbc said. The store gets a case or display with a preset assortment of decks. Each assortment comes with one gold edition. This would be fairly easy to do.

Playing cards are not a very large stocking item for a store like target. Likely they would not order decks individually they would just get assortments they would send to each store.

Sent from my S10+ using Tapatalk

[rfogle17]

I've picked up two Golds. One from each of the two Targets I visited. I have two more Targets Locally to hit tonight in hopes no one has cleaned them out of their one per Target maximum

If I do come across the other two in town I'd be happy to pass one off to another member out of country to experience. Can't give up either the two I have. Opened one and kept one sealed.

I'll keep you all posted

[Decknowledgy]

I've picked up two Golds. One from each of the two Targets I visited. I have two more Targets Locally to hit tonight in hopes no one has cleaned them out of their one per Target maximum

If I do come across the other two in town I'd be happy to pass one off to another member out of country to experience. Can't give up either the two I have. Opened one and kept one sealed.

I'll keep you all posted

Any photos available?

[rfogle17]

I've picked up two Golds. One from each of the two Targets I visited. I have two more Targets Locally to hit tonight in hopes no one has cleaned them out of their one per Target maximum

If I do come across the other two in town I'd be happy to pass one off to another member out of country to experience. Can't give up either the two I have. Opened one and kept one sealed.

I'll keep you all posted

Any photos available?

I'm at work right now but will get some tonight when I get home. Gotta figure out this sizing limit thing on this site too. But yes I'll get some on here for you.

[STLBluesNut]

I tried my target earlier. The only display was old. 2 decks. NPH and an opened deck. Guy stocking toys looked up the decks in his handheld and said they didn't have anything to stock in back. Perhaps I'll check back again in a day or 2.

Sent from my S10+ using Tapatalk

[rfogle17]

I tried my target earlier. The only display was old. 2 decks. NPH and an opened deck. Guy stocking toys looked up the decks in his handheld and said they didn't have anything to stock in back. Perhaps I'll check back again in a day or 2.

Sent from my S10+ using Tapatalk

Good luck. They are beautiful

[rfogle17]

Ran home and grabbed them. This is the best I could do with my cellphone camera.

[rfogle17]

If you want any other looks of certain things on them let me know

[Decknowledgy]

Damn... when they said it's fully foiled they weren't joking... at least for the back design and the AoS. I assume besides the back and AoS, the court cards are still metallic ink? As much as I love the touch, I don't see the incentive to get this by spending $150 on other products, especially since it's not fair if these could be picked up by chance at your local Targets.

What's the price tag for Target pick-ups?

[rfogle17]

Damn... when they said it's fully foiled they weren't joking... at least for the back design and the AoS. I assume besides the back and AoS, the court cards are still metallic ink? As much as I love the touch, I don't see the incentive to get this by spending $150 on other products, especially since it's not fair if these could be picked up by chance at your local Targets.

What's the price tag for Target pick-ups?

$9.99

And the courts arent the same foiling/metallic ink. just the aos has the foil same as the backs of the cards.

[MagikFingerz]

Well, I've now seen 2 people on reddit claim they've found 2 Gold Artisans in a single Target, so that doesn't put T11 in a good light.

[Harvonsgard]

Well, I've now seen 2 people on reddit claim they've found 2 Gold Artisans in a single Target, so that doesn't put T11 in a good light.

Agreed on that. To play devil's advocate here though, they can't 100% assure how the decks are distributed, even with assortment lists and stuff. The decks will end up in a regional hub and then are distributed to each local targets from there. So, mix ups can always happen. I would doubt that T11 send decks directly to each and every target in single deliveries.
That said, everyone with half of a brain knows how craze, hype and marketing works. Would be cool if bigger companies would be more accountable to their word, but it is what it is. As long as consumers will tolerate it, it'll keep going on.

@T11:

[theCapraAegagrus]

I call bullshit, why would Target stock just 1 in each store? Stores don't do that.

Actually - they do. Is it common? No, but especially around Black Friday/X-Mas, large retailers won't hesitate to carry a single BOH of any item.

Please don't spread misinformation.

[MagikFingerz]

Well, I've now seen 2 people on reddit claim they've found 2 Gold Artisans in a single Target, so that doesn't put T11 in a good light.

Agreed on that. To play devil's advocate here though, they can't 100% assure how the decks are distributed, even with assortment lists and stuff. The decks will end up in a regional hub and then are distributed to each local targets from there. So, mix ups can always happen. I would doubt that T11 send decks directly to each and every target in single deliveries.
That said, everyone with half of a brain knows how craze, hype and marketing works. Would be cool if bigger companies would be more accountable to their word, but it is what it is. As long as consumers will tolerate it, it'll keep going on.

TBH this whole way of distributing the decks overshadows these minute details for me. Give people a fair chance of acquiring something at a reasonable price, and you get loyal customers. Creating hype/rarity and trying to capitalize on it as much as possible - sure, they'll probably make more money short-term but people will judge them accordingly.

[Harvonsgard]

TBH this whole way of distributing the decks overshadows these minute details for me. Give people a fair chance of acquiring something at a reasonable price, and you get loyal customers. Creating hype/rarity and trying to capitalize on it as much as possible - sure, they'll probably make more money short-term but people will judge them accordingly.

As mentioned, just a devil's advocate post. Not a fan of this artificial craze stuff either and most definetly turned off despite being not that interested in the Gold Artisans. But as you wrote, it leaves somewhat of a bad taste. Puts TXI definetly on my will have to think about it twice until I purchase-list.