C R Y P T - Mystery deck n.3

[shkorc]

When you leave a crypt you lock the door behind you , right?

Would hate for a hungry cat to sneak in and start dragging out all sorts of things hehe

It's a part of the theme

I'd imagine opening a tuck from the SIDE for a tuckist must feel like electro-shock therapy lol

Brutal Lotrek

[james001a]

To be fair, I did not actually open the deck

Wait, you rate C R Y P T at the bottom of my decks without having seen it? This deck has a concept behind it. The name itself says everything. It’s a deck you have to break in in order to appreciate it. It’s like seeing a wooden case that has a treasure inside and your reaction is: “Beh, that treasure is crappy. Look at that old wood, these rusty nails. Besides I don’t want to break the lock.”

You are right. I did not give this deck a fair chance. Based on Rouselle's directions, I will be attempting to open it later today with a more fair review. I apologize for my jumping to conclusions. I have supported almost every project of yours, so I do not wish to insult. I know you had a plan.

[james001a]

One question though Lotrek - why did you put the sticker there in the first place?
I removed it completely, since... well it's justs a sticker, not even a real seal. Which I would have left there. It leaves no residue per se but you see a slight, very minimal circle, which I assume comes from the cardboard having absorbed some hints of a greasy/oily component of the glue used from the sticker. Nothing too bad.
It makes kinda no sense since it has another closing mechanism.

Thats what I mean, it freaked me out when I saw that and stopped peeling. I am assuming over time, that will just discolor and get worse. I wonder why the seal is there at all.

[james001a]

Of course it’s very hard to turn non-openers into normal people and they’ll still find a way to ignore or avoid touching a seal but at least I tried!
Some of the low number decks have a seal on the top flap too but I figured I was getting brutal so I left the side one.

Hey, I thought I was normal (says every crazy person I have even known). Lotrek, this is killing me breaking the seal. Or pulling the seal off, or whatever you want to call it. What an OCD nightmare. But you do say that your decks are meant to be opened, and every deck I have gotten from you which does not have a seal has been opened and I have not been disappointed, so I'm going in.

[james001a]

I opened it. I stand corrected. It was glorious. I am terrified of revealing the secret of the Crypt, and what would happen to me if I did so, but as a semi-tuckist I got over my trepidation and went in. Still not my favorite tuck, but the cards were dazzling. Maybe the nicest cards I have ever seen. Front and back. Shame on me for doubting the genius with a capital L. But hey, we all make mistakes. Well, except for Lotrek.

[Bradius]

But hey, we all make mistakes. Well, except for Lotrek.

Poor Lotrek has the worst luck. There have been so many costly mistakes made over the years. A whole set of decks that had the varnish applied and then stuck together like a giant brick. The varnish dried fine on the tests, but the weight of all the full production run pressed them together. Of course we can't forget the Arabesque Error deck. These are but two of many examples. It happens as Lotrek is constantly experimenting and testing the boundaries of what is possible. It is what drives him, and what attracts us to his work. Like moths to a flame. Getting back to luck, there are fires, floods, customs officials, suppliers, vendors all conspiring to hold up Lotrek in infinite ways.

Thanks for the chuckle. I needed it this morning.

[Lotrek]

I opened it. I stand corrected. It was glorious.

I am VERY glad you like it. Naturally the tuck case isn’t my best and this was intentional. A crypt should never scream “Treasure inside”!

I love how this cryptic thing is evolving though...

[Cardians]

I love how this cryptic thing is evolving though...

Man, can't wait to get mine...

Glad to see the reviews coming in without pics..

[james001a]

But hey, we all make mistakes. Well, except for Lotrek.

Poor Lotrek has the worst luck. There have been so many costly mistakes made over the years. A whole set of decks that had the varnish applied and then stuck together like a giant brick. The varnish dried fine on the tests, but the weight of all the full production run pressed them together. Of course we can't forget the Arabesque Error deck. These are but two of many examples. It happens as Lotrek is constantly experimenting and testing the boundaries of what is possible. It is what drives him, and what attracts us to his work. Like moths to a flame. Getting back to luck, there are fires, floods, customs officials, suppliers, vendors all conspiring to hold up Lotrek in infinite ways.

Thanks for the chuckle. I needed it this morning.

Welcome Brad! I actually chuckled out loud when you reminded me of the giant brick.

[Jykwei]

I opened it. I stand corrected. It was glorious. I am terrified of revealing the secret of the Crypt, and what would happen to me if I did so, but as a semi-tuckist I got over my trepidation and went in. Still not my favorite tuck, but the cards were dazzling. Maybe the nicest cards I have ever seen. Front and back. Shame on me for doubting the genius with a capital L. But hey, we all make mistakes. Well, except for Lotrek.

So could you rank the decks again?
By the way, thank you for 'walking' me through your experience. I think the fear may be intentional - it's part of the admission, but I'm fine experiencing it through someone else! In fact I am now disappointed it doesn't make a huge tear sound, then a cloud of dust comes up the moment it's opened.
...And thanks for the laugh - when you ranked it based on the tuck box, which I have seen pictures of - and a riot almost broke out. Even the worst Anyone Worldwide tuck box (and they have a ton) can outrank the Crypt tuck box.

[Xarin77]

Any other US backers seeing a stall in the parcel tracking? My latest update was when my parcel left Greece on 6/15. I am so antsy to get this gem!


Crypt Tracking.jpg

Mine is still stuck from the 15th too... man... the anticipation...

[brownsl]

Mine shows arriving in the US on the 19th. A week later no movement.

June 19, 2020
2:43 am
Processed Through Facility,
ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

[HostileTraveler]

Just received mine, and I have to admit I was surprised at the micro attack helicopters that flew out of the packaging to harass me. I managed to disarm the deck within a few minutes (please, no PMs for the code) but now that I've broken the seal, apparently some sort of curse has been placed upon me. I keep seeing more and more locusts showing up, so if someone knows a good exterminator, please let me know.

Seriously though, it's a beautiful deck. I can see where tuckists would be disappointed, but for me the beauty of a deck is both inside and outside, so I can't relate. The cards themselves really are amazing. I do wish they were gilded, but I can see where that might be technically challenging.

One thing, though - has anyone else noticed that their decks are cupped? The entirety of mine is, so it's shaped slightly like a U. I'm leaving them out on a flat surface for awhile to see if it's just a temperature/humidity thing, but it's the first time I've ever seen this happen.

[riutshoxie]

Yes my cards are also slightly bend and I live in an areas with low humidity. I think this also is the case for the Fable cards if I remember correctly. Probably just all the foil adding up.

[Harvonsgard]

It's partially because of the different amounts of foil on front and back. The process does impact the bend of the stock.

[JacksandJokers]

My decks are also stuck in transit somewhere - No movement since the 12th June.

I find it strange that it's taking longer to ship to the UK than to the US!

Crypt.jpg (85.48 KiB) Viewed 6081 times

Question for those who also had their decks stuck in transit - Did the tracking information begin to progress again or did the decks just show up?

[Harvonsgard]

Mine just showed up.

[TheWall]

My decks are also stuck in transit somewhere - No movement since the 12th June.

I find it strange that it's taking longer to ship to the UK than to the US!


Crypt.jpg


Question for those who also had their decks stuck in transit - Did the tracking information begin to progress again or did the decks just show up?

Once in the US mine started tracking with the USPS ( with the same Greek tracking number), not the Hellenic Post. I don’t know if the UK post will pick it up or not. But the Hellenic Post did track that it was received in the US. I am still waiting for my 2nd deck to be received in the US. It seems to be stuck between countries also.

[TheWall]

I also think the Covid situation is affecting transit times, maybe quarantine issues are slowing things down.

[JacksandJokers]

Pleased to say that after 2 weeks of no movement the decks have finally arrived in the UK.
Should have them in hand in a couple of days

[Jykwei]

Finally some movement for me. Still a long way to California, but with some luck, I may get it before the 4th.

June 27, 2020, 5:45 am
Processed Through Facility
ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)
Your item has been processed through our facility in ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS) at 5:45 am on June 27, 2020.

[portcullis]

Finally some movement for me. Still a long way to California, but with some luck, I may get it before the 4th.

June 27, 2020, 5:45 am
Processed Through Facility
ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)
Your item has been processed through our facility in ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS) at 5:45 am on June 27, 2020.

I don’t like those chances. I had a deck take 6 weeks to get from Chicago>San Francisco.

[irtjames14]

Finally my Crypt decks got released from US customs!

Hopefully it'll show up to my front door in the next few days now!

[brownsl]

Same. Mine has finally shown movement, it left NYC and it is now in Boston. Hopefully, not too much longer.

[Magic Tapp]

Wow...

This is what happened in my case:

1. Pick my decks from the post
2. Open the envelope with Greek stamps
3. Stare at the outer box - think WTF?
4. Get to the inner box, fiddle with the side seal, remove the seal.
5. Reach the actual cards, amazed by both the courts and the pips.
6. Open the forum page, read James's initial underwhelming opinion - second WTF moment
7. Open the deck again, marvel at the cards, shrug in amazement
8. Read the forum again, realise that James's comment was based on the tuck - could not believe what I was reading - third WTF moment.

On a more serious note, for me this deck is up there on the top with Arabesque and Venexiana decks. The quality is just amazing. Very happy to have a few of these decks in my collection.

[shkorc]

I'm getting a bit worried about my package, reading all the comments from EU members and now from US who received their decks already.

It left Greece on 10th of June.

tracking.PNG (21.82 KiB) Viewed 5624 times

No idea what held up the package as I've been receiving others from other countries normally.

[justplaycards]

Got mine this morning (UK). They are certainly decadent. I actually like the case. As Lotrek said, it draws you in to open them and reveal the inner treasure.
Jokers are amazing!!

[Bluedeck]

Got mine today in the UK, the Crypt is class, a work of art in my opinion.

I’m shocked that this deck Has been rated by a member who hasn’t even seen the cards; how disappointing must that be for the designer. Imagine putting your heart into a creation and having it rated by the tuck case only, come on people, where’s the common sense. Apology was made and rightly so.

[Decknowledgy]

Seems like the majority of UK people should get it today! I got mine today and with low number: #008
Won't be doing a review here before I get a full experience of it.

Although I did see some collector on Instagram spoiling the upper half of the inner case this morning....

[caniveski]

Also got mine today, absolutely stunning, agree with magic tapp right up there with arabesque ... the shimmering effect is stunning.