2020 NPCCD Hindsight Edition

[EndersGame]

The pre-order starts this Saturday at 9pm EDT after the convention ends.

9pm EDT or 9pm EST?

The official website says 9pm EST.

[portcullis]

The pre-order starts this Saturday at 9pm EDT after the convention ends.

9pm EDT or 9pm EST?

The official website says 9pm EST.

EDT doesn't finish in the States for another 2 weeks

[Decknowledgy]

For those that missed out on the 2020 deck reveal ...

Alex, could we have a heads-up first about the pricing and bundles here on UC?
Pwetty please

[Eric Lee]

Any idea the price of each deck and the set? Need to see if just selling Plasma is enough or I may need to look into any organs I can spare.

[Siege]

From what I remember Alex saying yesterday after the launch promo video, the 5 deck set will be $235 and that will only be for the first 48 hours, then it’ll go up. Buying the set of 5 also gets you the sixth deck. It was 1am where I was tuning in, so I was shattered, but I think that’s right.

[HFMJ]

Yes, that is what I heard too. 235$ for the whole set of five (if you order in the first 48 hours you get also the sixth deck). After 24 hours the price goes to 270$. I think, but I am not sure there will be 4 standard decks for 35$ each, and 2 gilded, for 48$ each.

[Bradius]

Honestly, that puts the NPCCD decks at about the same cost as Kings Wild Limited and Gilded decks.

[bdawg923]

Who is printing these decks?

[HFMJ]

Honestly, that puts the NPCCD decks at about the same cost as Kings Wild Limited and Gilded decks.

That is exactly what I thought also. I said they are maybe expensive, but when thinking they are about two months worth of KWS subscription, they don't seem that much anymore.

Who is printing these decks?

I think EPCC in China.

[IAmTheChin]

Another amazing deck....I fear it would be somewhat inconvenient to get the cards in and out easily.

Absolutely fair point. I don't pick the deck up but just turn the box over and the cards come out easy but it's definitely not conventional lol.
There were a few versions and this one is actually the simplest. It won out though mostly because of the triangle fold on the front. It felt like a pediment which I really liked as part of the frieze idea. This was also the only design that allowed me to reconcile the 2 different themes of the tuck as "Pandora's Box" when closed and "Ancient Temple" when open.

[IAmTheChin]

EDT doesn't finish in the States for another 2 weeks

It's set for right after the convention. I've always had a brain fart about the difference between EDT and EST. Basically once the convention ends is when it starts.

From what I remember Alex saying yesterday after the launch promo video, the 5 deck set will be $235 and that will only be for the first 48 hours, then it’ll go up. Buying the set of 5 also gets you the sixth deck.

Similar to last year there's a 24 hour discount and then the price goes to $275. The Hope deck exclusive comes with every 5 deck set for the first 48 hours while supplies last.

For deck break down there are 4 completely separate print runs for this series. There are 2 "standard" decks that are ungilded and the other 4 are gilded. Every single deck features front and back foiling. EPCC will be printing these decks. USPCC can't do front and back foil and cartamundi wait time is insane.

[aznh]

Q. the flap where everything pops up to display

will the flap stay closed and flat on the tuck box or will the crease-fold up like yours was showing yesterday

are these cellophane wrapped

how will that part of the flap stay closed and flat is essentially what im asking

[portcullis]

Wait, this year’s deck wasn’t what was initially planned? I’m intrigued. Hope these secret designs see the light of day and are not just shelved.

[sinjin7]

how will that part of the flap stay closed and flat is essentially what im asking

It almost looks like the entire face of the deck is covered by a deck seal that needs to be sliced in half to open the tuck. If that's the case, then these can't really be closed again once opened (kind of like Pandora's box). I wonder why the Queen of Hearts is a one-way design while all the other courts look to be 2-way designs?

[PiazzaDelivery]

Is it confirmed that it’s the EPCC facility in China and not Taiwan?

[IAmTheChin]

are these cellophane wrapped

They will be cello'd so honestly if you're not opening them you won't be able to see the frieze. If you are opening them the whole point was sacrificing condition and forcing you to cut through a giant seal. If I'm going to be honest though the engraving needs a decently thick stock so if you're careful you could probably pull it up without cutting through. I will say though I would recommend a carat case for singles. Based on the flap structure you can actually feature the warning locks, the riot panel, or the covid/health panel to face your display depending on your preference which I thought was quite nice (especially if you like displaying mixes of vertical and horizontal).

Wait, this year’s deck wasn’t what was initially planned? I’m intrigued. Hope these secret designs see the light of day and are not just shelved.

Long story short my car got broken into and my laptop was stolen which had this year's artwork. It's not a hard deck but it is a bit tedious in execution and I just didn't want to rush it so I did this deck instead. The deck will definitely show up next year, just didn't have the time to execute in the current time frame this year given the circumstances.

I wonder why the Queen of Hearts is a one-way design while all the other courts look to be 2-way designs?

I made it as a violator card (a design that breaks consistency). The queen of hearts is Hope. In the original story all of the evil spirits were released and by the time Pandora put the lid back on the box all of the spirits escaped, except Hope. For this deck most of my emotional process of dealing with this year was through the frieze art admittedly, but I did want Hope to be one of the courts. She felt like a very strong allegory for quarantine this year, isolated from the world which I resonated with a lot. Her setting and lighting are based on the tuck box itself. I may have her be the top card on opening to greet you.

Is it confirmed that it’s the EPCC facility in China and not Taiwan?

I am unsure tbh.

[Harvonsgard]

Is it confirmed that it’s the EPCC facility in China and not Taiwan?

I didn't hear a confirmation but seeing that even non-foiled decks like the Uusi 52+J are printed in China now, it is almost 100% certain that, from now on forward, all EPCC (and LPCC) decks are/will be printed in the PRC unless a customer demands otherwise (which I guess most don't do).

Keep in mind that William and Lawrence left Taiwan because they wanted to venture onwards with a new printer that works more to their demands. So it doesn't make sense to go back and forth between PRC and Taiwan.

[PiazzaDelivery]

Is it confirmed that it’s the EPCC facility in China and not Taiwan?

I didn't hear a confirmation but seeing that even non-foiled decks like the Uusi 52+J are printed in China now, it is almost 100% certain that, from now on forward, all EPCC (and LPCC) decks are/will be printed in the PRC unless a customer demands otherwise (which I guess most don't do).

Keep in mind that William and Lawrence left Taiwan because they wanted to venture onwards with a new printer that works more to their demands. So it doesn't make sense to go back and forth between PRC and Taiwan.

I've got to admit, if it's the case that everything is henceforth going to be printed in PRC, I'm disappointed. The consensus seems to be that the Taiwanese decks are just better in terms of handling. If Decknowledgy's recent observations are true, I'm curious as to what demands PRC meets that Taiwan doesn't.

I assume that this may be a case of conflict of interest, Taiwan and China not wanting to do business with a company that engages with the other. In this case, EPCC and LPCC might be predicting which facility will be able to produce better results in the future.

[Harvonsgard]

What I've read between the lines is that EPCC/LPCC were simply not happy with how the Taiwanese printer handled some stuff and they found a printer in Mainland China that caters more to their specific demands.
I have no doubt that the quality will match Taiwan printed quality someday soon. Since it was mostly Lawrence and William that brought playing card know-how to the Taiwanese printer in the first place.

[Decknowledgy]

There are still certain finishes that are only printed in Taiwan, such as Legend's Elite finish and Expert's Damask finish. These higher tier finishes probably has some more difficult processing specs that can only be done in Taiwan. In terms of the most common Classic finish, although the majority of decks are printed in China, there are still some that are printed in Taiwan, like Randy's Oculus Reduxe that came out last year or so?

If it's the so-called "vintage" JN finish which in my experience has the WORST handling of all Expert finishes, it's 100% China-printed. Whether or not in due time EPCC and LPCC will completely move the higher tier printing techniques to China remains in the decision-making of the administration. By the look of how EPCC is advertising it's Chinese printer, I wouldn't be surprised the moment would come pretty soon.

[EndersGame]

By the look of how EPCC is advertising it's Chinese printer, I wouldn't be surprised the moment would come pretty soon.

Can you point us to some examples of where they're advertising this, so we can check out what they're saying about it?

[Decknowledgy]

By the look of how EPCC is advertising it's Chinese printer, I wouldn't be surprised the moment would come pretty soon.

Can you point us to some examples of where they're advertising this, so we can check out what they're saying about it?

Based on the many advertisement for the JN Finish (printed in China) used on the reprinted Jerry's Nuggets, plus William during the 52+Joker Uusi Club Deck release was praising how good the Chinese printer was in terms of options and cooperation.

[bdawg923]

Any estimate on when these decks will ship since it's a pre-order?

[PrincessTrouble]

Went for a 2-pack. Praying to the spirits of randomness for a blue one.

[supernova]

I can’t tell how many gilded vs non gilded decks there are based on the website

I presume it’s 3+3?

Update: sorry read the description of the 6 deck set. It’s 2+4. Woohoo.

[gacktvam]

I can’t tell how many gilded vs non gilded decks there are based on the website

I presume it’s 3+3?

Update: sorry read the description of the 6 deck set. It’s 2+4. Woohoo.

shall be 2 non gilded + 4 gilded

[hsbc]

Grabbed a two-pack - wish I could afford the full set

Looks like the single decks are already sold out??

[james001a]

So happy I went for the full set. I have missed out every year on this, so I am thrilled!

[CPPCC]

Looks like the single decks are already sold out??

They are available now.

[Ice_Panda]

these look great. Cant tell which deck is which spirit but Im still super excited to get the set the blue looks so so good