Codex by Lotrek

[zlexander]

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Any news how many different variants will be there?

[Bradius]

Oh dear. I'm in. Sure. Yeah. I'm in.

[GandalfPC]

World Peace.

Will that only be available as an add on or in a bundle?

It will be included, but it won’t arrive with the rest of the pledge items. He is going to do it in 74 layers of foil, is testing a new stock and a new varnish. Initial estimate is two weeks to finish it.

[STLBluesNut]

the top card with the dragon is cool. the king to me is just a standard king. courts made to look or resemble standard are just standard, even if it is lotrek.

[Fenrir]

The back looks great but I’m really turned off by those courts.

[double_left]

geez went from this

to this

looks cheesy red to me
why such the dramatic change
lotrek you can do better

[Harvonsgard]

Cold foil? Lel... f**k that. Plus the written King of hearts was more in line with the codex theme imho. Not a fan of the changes at all despite not being overly blown away by the former version either. Seems like my love for Lotrék keeps fading.

[PiazzaDelivery]

The back looks great but I’m really turned off by those courts.

I'm turned off by it all. A Lotrek deck I'm glad is not part of the looming Patreon rewards lol.

[kevork]

Any news how many different variants will be there?

He has not confirmed anything recently, but I've noted in my list reference to two versions from two years ago:

• Codex Occidentalis - based on western medieval manuscripts
• Codex Orientalis - based on Byzantine manuscripts

Perhaps what we are seeing are previews of the two different versions, and not entirely new renditions of the Codex courts. Only time will tell.

While I'm no fan of standard courts, I've always found Lotrek's renditions of standard courts to be different and beautiful enough where I really like them. That said, the court cards we saw today are not the direction I would've hoped he would have taken compared to the older photos, so I have my fingers crossed that these are in fact two separate versions. Ultimately, the community has a voice and KS is a public platform where we can share our opinions of the artwork when the opportunity presents itself.

[Evilgamer]

from the post a year ago that hsbc posted

Finally, after a lot of research and changing of directions, Codex takes its final shape little by little, aiming to launch on KS this July. There will be two main editions: “Players” and “Scholars” with different artwork layout. The court shown here is from the Scholars edition, more true to how illuminated manuscripts look like but less playable than the Players edition which will have more legible and functional indices. Our Patrons will be treated with something very special of course…

[Honeybee]

While I'm no fan of standard courts, I've always found Lotrek's renditions of standard courts to be different and beautiful enough where I really like them. That said, the court cards we saw today are not the direction I would've hoped he would have taken compared to the older photos, so I have my fingers crossed that these are in fact two separate versions. Ultimately, the community has a voice and KS is a public platform where we can share our opinions of the artwork when the opportunity presents itself.

Same here, I actually like renditions of standard courts and often find Lotrek's desirable but as you say - the older photos are so much better and you could count me out of that newer version.

[zlexander]

He has not confirmed anything recently, but I've noted in my list reference to two versions from two years ago:

• Codex Occidentalis - based on western medieval manuscripts
• Codex Orientalis - based on Byzantine manuscripts

Perhaps what we are seeing are previews of the two different versions, and not entirely new renditions of the Codex courts. Only time will tell.

While I'm no fan of standard courts, I've always found Lotrek's renditions of standard courts to be different and beautiful enough where I really like them. That said, the court cards we saw today are not the direction I would've hoped he would have taken compared to the older photos, so I have my fingers crossed that these are in fact two separate versions. Ultimately, the community has a voice and KS is a public platform where we can share our opinions of the artwork when the opportunity presents itself.

Thanks for the heads up . Also Lotrek recently replied to my comments saying there will be 3 Variants , haven’t revealed anything about the variants , I am primarily interested in Collectors Edition, not much into Players edition so hoping the Collectors edition also gets produced

[Fenrir]

Any news how many different variants will be there?

He has not confirmed anything recently, but I've noted in my list reference to two versions from two years ago:

• Codex Occidentalis - based on western medieval manuscripts
• Codex Orientalis - based on Byzantine manuscripts

Perhaps what we are seeing are previews of the two different versions, and not entirely new renditions of the Codex courts. Only time will tell.

While I'm no fan of standard courts, I've always found Lotrek's renditions of standard courts to be different and beautiful enough where I really like them. That said, the court cards we saw today are not the direction I would've hoped he would have taken compared to the older photos, so I have my fingers crossed that these are in fact two separate versions. Ultimately, the community has a voice and KS is a public platform where we can share our opinions of the artwork when the opportunity presents itself.

I’m just genuinely curious what is it about the Lotrek courts that make you like them if you are not a fan of standard courts? That being said, he clearly does a better job than bicycle standard courts.

I’ve never been a fan of his courts. Ever since the shift from Half Moon to Oath, I miss the fully custom Lotrek courts. If he still did full custom today with his love for foil and pushing the boundaries, they would really be something.

[GandalfPC]

I’m just genuinely curious what is it about the Lotrek courts that make you like them if you are not a fan of standard courts? That being said, he clearly does a better job than bicycle standard courts.

I will chime in on that as well - reason I like his courts while not being a fan of standards because even when very close to standard, nobody does it better

[Timmargh]

Cold foil? Lel... f**k that. Plus the written King of hearts was more in line with the codex theme imho. Not a fan of the changes at all despite not being overly blown away by the former version either. Seems like my love for Lotrék keeps fading.

You and me both.

[GandalfPC]

I would imagine that if I already had his older decks I might agree - but I have but a meager handful of those, thus I’m still riding the crest of the wave available to me. You lotrek old timers did get spoiled - and it is pretty easy to argue that he hasn’t topped his past hits recently

There is always next year though

[kevork]

I’m just genuinely curious what is it about the Lotrek courts that make you like them if you are not a fan of standard courts? That being said, he clearly does a better job than bicycle standard courts.

As Gandalf mentioned, I don't think anyone does it better when it comes to standard court customization. They're also different enough to where I don't entirely want to call them standard even though they are to a degree. Art is subjective and I can't necessarily describe all the technicalities as to what makes his renditions aesthetically pleasing to me, but I know that they are.

Ever since the shift from Half Moon to Oath, I miss the fully custom Lotrek courts. If he still did full custom today with his love for foil and pushing the boundaries, they would really be something.

I would love to see fully custom foiled courts. Silk, Arabesque, Venexiana were some of my favorites. I'm looking forward to the Patrons deck, since I loved the courts on the test print we got last year.

[Bradius]

The first Lotrek Kickstarter I saw was his Grotesk campaign. I wasn't into gargoyles and didn't know Lotrek from a hole in the wall. I passed, but did join him on the Inferno campaign as the red foil on black stock caught my eye and I never looked back. I had to get those missed decks in the aftermarket as I seriously regretted not picking them up during the campaign. I like his standard courts much more than Grotesk. Do I have too many Lotrek decks? Can you have too many? Well, probably (definitely by any sane person). I like the colors and I also like the design. I like to just have what he comes up with. I doubt these will break the bank. His standard decks are definitely on the affordable side of Lotrek's work.

[Fenrir]

I’m just genuinely curious what is it about the Lotrek courts that make you like them if you are not a fan of standard courts? That being said, he clearly does a better job than bicycle standard courts.

As Gandalf mentioned, I don't think anyone does it better when it comes to standard court customization. They're also different enough to where I don't entirely want to call them standard even though they are to a degree. Art is subjective and I can't necessarily describe all the technicalities as to what makes his renditions aesthetically pleasing to me, but I know that they are.

Ever since the shift from Half Moon to Oath, I miss the fully custom Lotrek courts. If he still did full custom today with his love for foil and pushing the boundaries, they would really be something.

I would love to see fully custom foiled courts. Silk, Arabesque, Venexiana were some of my favorites. I'm looking forward to the Patrons deck, since I loved the courts on the test print we got last year.

Totally fair and I’m not trying to invalidate your opinion. Was just curious for the rationale as I have a hard time seeing it. Arabesque being the exception. The rest just don’t do it for me.

[Leo Scherfig]

In my opinion, the best part of Lotréks work are the close to standard decks. I think that making close to standard decks, referencing so many other decks, is like taking part in a conversation — that started more than a hundred years ago. It makes sense in a way that I don't think random kings or queens do.
I very much like that king he shared.

[Sir Toddalot]

I personally don’t have any Lotrek decks except Tale of the Tempest, and have never really tired to acquire any because I knew how hard and expensive it would be to get them all. That’s to say, I really like the looks and theme of this deck and will probably be in for it!

[Timmargh]

I would imagine that if I already had his older decks I might agree - but I have but a meager handful of those, thus I’m still riding the crest of the wave available to me. You lotrek old timers did get spoiled - and it is pretty easy to argue that he hasn’t topped his past hits recently

There is always next year though

For me it's not about quality or anything like that, but a combination of the constant broken promises* and the feeling that while, yes, the courts are nice, and the new varnishes work well**, and getting more and more foils / plates / aardvarks on a deck is impressive, it's the feeling that it's just the same thing over and over. It feels like some designers have something that works well for them, and so they stick to it and wring it out for so its worth; there's nothing wrong with that of course, stick to what you know and all that, but I get bored of it.

Or maybe I'm just old and grouchy.


* – if we were in a relationship I would've dumped him years ago
** – although handling etc. has zero bearing on my opinion of a deck

[Harvonsgard]

Do I have too many Lotrek decks? Can you have too many?

No. No, again.

I’m just genuinely curious what is it about the Lotrek courts that make you like them if you are not a fan of standard courts? That being said, he clearly does a better job than bicycle standard courts.

I'm part of the "I dislike standard courts"-crowd, too. But not because they're standard but because most of them are ugly af. Simply visually not pleasing. Bicycle, Arrco, Copag, Congress... list goes on. They all look like their parents are brother and sister. The courts Jackson used since his Tally-Hos were the first standard courts I've encountered where I realized that there're standard courts who actually look good. As someone who would go as far as calling most of Lotrék's courts standard derivates and even would call Arabesque, Morésque and Silk courts standard-ish, my answer is pretty simply: He nails the dimensions, ratios and all the tiny things that make a design great as opposed to bad - most of the time that is.

In my opinion, the best part of Lotréks work are the close to standard decks. I think that making close to standard decks, referencing so many other decks, is like taking part in a conversation — that started more than a hundred years ago. It makes sense in a way that I don't think random kings or queens do.

Beautifully put.

[GandalfPC]

Or maybe I'm just old and grouchy.

Right, old, grouchy - two out of three ain’t bad - three out of three is my plan for retirement

[Honeybee]

For those who like it when artists reference historical decks and put their own take on it, think about supporting Ian Cumpstey's Shimmering Seven if he has another go with it, as the following quote from an update on his recent KS Inglewood campaign suggests he might

I may be back with something else in the near future. I'm not sure how immediately or ultimately successful the approach I used for this kickstarter campaign was. Probably it was better than not printing at all, which (if you've been following for some time you'll know) was what happened with my most recent two playing card projects (the Cards from the Pattern Garden, and Shimmering Seven). So I may attempt something similar with one of those, or maybe the other one. Keep an eye out.

He puts a lot of research and creative talent into his decks
Some pics and the link to the old KS campaign

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/73 ... ying-cards

[Honeybee]

Ian is going ahead with Pattern Garden first

[zlexander]

Late to the conversation,but I would like to say I like modified Standard courts that Lotrek does , a part of it can be due to me getting into Card Collecting from Magic and heavily customised faces cant be used for magic , Ive passed on quite a few decks even some popular ones due to the customisation being not to my liking . I like what Lotrek does with his decks , I dont have the most extensive Lotrek collection, only a few decks so Im excited for the upcoming projects !

[Harvonsgard]

... heavily customised faces cant be used for magic, ...

I wish I'd got a dollar whenever reading those fake news.

[zlexander]

I wish I'd got a dollar whenever reading those fake news.

If you are saying heavily customised faces dont cause problem, Ive seen people forget or not understand the standard courts and pips lol .

[Harvonsgard]

Ive seen people forget or not understand the standard courts and pips lol .

Exactly. The problem aren't the courts . Thus my point is proven.