THE PERSIAN EMPIRE playing card deck now live on Kickstarter

[badpete69]

Made like KEM cards

The most important aspact is the quality. The Persian Empire deck will be produced in KEM quality. KEM cards are made from cellulose acetate, and are able to withstand washing and still be playable.

[th4mo]

Another deck with stunning artwork!
Seems like an inexperienced Kickstarter though, and he says his research consists of looking at what other KS deck projects have done, which would seem somewhat insufficient.
His goal of $8619 also seems low. I don't know what it costs to get plastic cards made, but seems like it's got to cost more than the paper cards, no?
Maybe he's contributing some of his own funds?
I don't mind the plastic, so i'm on board for a single deck for the time being.

[BMPokerworld]

Since he isn't USPCC the quality is probably going to suffer.

Thanks!

[walrus]

Ah, the Persian empire. They brought us things like the abacus, jihadists and now playing cards. These are beautiful decks. Very nice backs.

[Emmanuel]

He has stunning talent and this deck looks awesome. I really hope he considers making it a USPCC deck.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

Yea, I was all set to bid and then I saw the KEM notation and the low goal.... I'd love em, but not as a KEM deck

[BMPokerworld]

Yea, I was all set to bid and then I saw the KEM notation and the low goal.... I'd love em, but not as a KEM deck

It is not a Kem deck and he has no idea what he is talking about. It is either Kem or its not. There is no such thing as Kem quality if it isn't Kem. Custom Kem decks have a 1,000 or 1,500 run Minimum and if I remember correctly, they cost $15 per deck.

Thanks!!

EDIT: Think about it. How could can they be better if he can get a plastic deck made for less than a standard paper Bicycle deck? The quality probably won't be too good in my opinion. I love the artwork, but I am afraid the quality will be bad.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

I agree - that's what I tried to say. Sorry it wasn't clear.

[JacksonRobinson]

When i checked with USPCC to about making a Federal 52 set of KEM cards. Lest just say the minimum order was about twice what my current projects goal is. On top of that you are required to use the KEM face cards and the only can do 3-4 color designs.

It boggles my mind that so many people do absolutely no research about what they are doing.

[Kdklown]

This really seems like a shame to me. I think the artwork is beautiful. Hope he rethinks all this.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

well as BMP pointed out above, I don't think USPCC is printing them - he says

"They are kem quality & they will be printed in the USA."

So it makes me think he found another supplier, another reason his target goal is so low.

[vasta41]

It's a shame this isn't a Bicycle deck. I love the artwork! And the simplicity of it all. The aged look is good too.

[BMPokerworld]

It's a shame this isn't a Bicycle deck. I love the artwork! And the simplicity of it all. The aged look is good too.

I 100% agree.

Thanks!

[Casual Pixels]

well as BMP pointed out above, I don't think USPCC is printing them - he says

"They are kem quality & they will be printed in the USA."

So it makes me think he found another supplier, another reason his target goal is so low.

Also, he mentions that he has a friend who works for one of the largest card makers in the U.S. so presumably that's where he's getting them made.

[CyArian]

Hey everyone,
i wanted to clarify all the misunderstanding about my project. I'm not using Bicycle or USPCC. There is another manufacturer which does the card cheaper and on a lower quantity. I hope people realize that there is not only one way of doing these cards. If you have any question please ask me.

[samurai007]

I'm torn on this one because I love the art, not a fan of plastic cards but could live with it, and I'm worried that it sounds unrealistic economically meaning it's possibly some knock-off company doing the printing. ("We're Khem! Just as good as Kem, you won't know the difference, trust us!")

[CyArian]

I'm torn on this one because I love the art, not a fan of plastic cards but could live with it, and I'm worried that it sounds unrealistic economically meaning it's possibly some knock-off company doing the printing. ("We're Khem! Just as good as Kem, you won't know the difference, trust us!")

They are Kem. i've seen sample of their work and they are legit.

[BMPokerworld]

I'm torn on this one because I love the art, not a fan of plastic cards but could live with it, and I'm worried that it sounds unrealistic economically meaning it's possibly some knock-off company doing the printing. ("We're Khem! Just as good as Kem, you won't know the difference, trust us!")

They are Kem. i've seen sample of their work and they are legit.

They are not Kem. Kem is made by one company, USPCC and that is it. Please don't come on this forum and start off by lying. You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about.

Thanks!

[CyArian]

I'm torn on this one because I love the art, not a fan of plastic cards but could live with it, and I'm worried that it sounds unrealistic economically meaning it's possibly some knock-off company doing the printing. ("We're Khem! Just as good as Kem, you won't know the difference, trust us!")

They are Kem. i've seen sample of their work and they are legit.

They are not Kem. Kem is made by one company, USPCC and that is it. Please don't come on this forum and start off by lying. You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about.

Thanks!

whatever flows your boat. I don't know where you get your info but whatever. apparently you know everything so i'm not going to respond anymore.

[BMPokerworld]

So let me see if I got this right, you can buy 3 decks individually for $11 each or $33 total or I can buy a 3 deck reward for $39? No wonder he thinks they are Kem when they are not made by USPCC.

Thanks!

[BMPokerworld]

I'm torn on this one because I love the art, not a fan of plastic cards but could live with it, and I'm worried that it sounds unrealistic economically meaning it's possibly some knock-off company doing the printing. ("We're Khem! Just as good as Kem, you won't know the difference, trust us!")

They are Kem. i've seen sample of their work and they are legit.

They are not Kem. Kem is made by one company, USPCC and that is it. Please don't come on this forum and start off by lying. You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about.

Thanks!

whatever flows your boat. I don't know where you get your info but whatever. apparently you know everything so i'm not going to respond anymore.

Of course you won't respond because your a typical brain dead campaign creator who knows nothing about cards. Kem is a company that USPCC bought and they own the brand name, so that means that NO one else could have Kem cards right? Secondly, Kem cards are created using a special process that no other company uses. That is why USPCC bought them. But you know everything right? Who charges more when you buy 3 decks instead of one? Moron!!!

Thanks!

[4pmdesigner]

Ok, first off I had second thoughts about posting about this but as I read on and look at the KS page I think it needs to be stated. Not only is this creator feeding misleading information about "KEM quality" he's also taking credit for the artwork being "drawn". As a designer and collector this is a no go.

1st - KEM is a brand, much like Mike/BM stated. Thats like saying "Bicycle quality but not made by Bicycle/USPCC". It either IS or ISN'T. It's an obvious observation when you try to develop a product maybe you should do some actual research. These may be "just cards" to you but it's a business and passionate hobby for many. These people will do their research.

2nd - The artwork is clearly compiled from various images and "photoshopped". When a person states "I spend the past year drawing & designing this custom deck of playing cards" THEN posts images of him "hand drawing" them, I would expect them to be authentic. When I first saw them I immediately thought they were photoshopped images but giving him the benefit of the doubt I continued on. First I thought how the hell did he manage to get that type of consistent detail with that type of inking pen? Then I thought, and how did he manage to make the image practically symetrical by hand? This obviously led me to spend a few minutes on google and BOOM. Source material found. I've attached his "drawing" image along with 2 images found online where you can clearly see where the photoshopped images came from.



I REALLY do not like calling other designers out but it's really unfair to see people on here think his art and "talent" is genuine when it's not. I don't think any backer should be taken advantage of and given misleading information. I'd also urge anyone here who's a backer on the project to inform others about it.

[vmagic]

Now i'm glad I cancelled my pledge. He claims he'll produce paper decks if he reaches 200%, I would be surprised if he reaches 100%.

[badpete69]

I would love to hear from Cy after the post from 4pm.....

[BMPokerworld]

I would love to hear from Cy after the post from 4pm.....

I say lets not wait for Cy, lets hang the person who first posted about this deck!! Who's with me???!!!!

[badpete69]

[Widdee]

Nice research 4pmdesigner. I got a eery twitch when I first saw the photos of him drawing that incredibly tight artwork at such a small scale. Having spent a lot of time early in my career as a pen and ink illustrator (back then art directors doubled as illustrators at many agencies) we always drew in larger scale because art tightens up when it is reduced. And as you say, the chances of the art being symmetrical borders on the impossible- and even more so in such a small scale.

[IronZepp]

When I first pledged I sent a message to another deck creator on KS who seems to know what it takes, as I thought perhaps he'd like to have a look at them, and he responded somewhat cautiously of the whole project because of his experience looking into deck production with KEM and whatnot, which is along the same lines which have been posted by other posters above. I was grateful for the advice and suggestion of caution at the time, and now that I've seen this thread I like to think I've grown a little bit wiser from the experience.

They are a beautiful deck, and it's put together well, even if he isn't the original creator of the images. I'd buy them (so long as they had the blessing of whoever originally drew the images, and so long as it obviously isn't an actual scam) under normal circumstances, but he seems somewhat aloof to other concerns, and inexperienced when it comes to deck creation, so I'll be steering clear of this one I think.

[th4mo]

Thanks 4PM! you really nailed him. I also thought the photos on KS showing someone drawing all that freehand were pretty amazing. But i'm not an artist whatsoever, so i figured there were just some people out there that are good enough to do that. Thanks for showing us the truth. This guy is 100% a fraud and he is not getting my money.

A shame really, because he is obviously very talented in some ways. Too bad he's a liar.

[Emmanuel]

Wow. Thanks for letting us know 4pmdesigner.