Something Wicked This Way Comes - part 17

[Mike Ratledge]

Yes, you read correctly - #17. With only three weeks to go, I am ready to tease something else. This has been done in total secrecy, and as yet known to only two people in the world.

All you get for now is SW17 = "Secret Weapon #17"

Obviously might be a hint that CardLauncher.com is in this very limited preview pix:

SW17_first_tease.jpg (46.42 KiB) Viewed 1534 times

[vasta41]

I assume I'd be correct in saying this has nothing to do with the Bicycle Secret Weapon deck. But I won't let you get the satisfaction of random guesses from me, Mike!

[Mike Ratledge]

Nah, did they actually do one? I know that they sell a deck of all AoS cards, and they were superstitious (the enemy) and these were worm on clothing, spread around areas that were inspected, used as PsyOps as well.

[vasta41]

Nah, did they actually do one? I know that they sell a deck of all AoS cards, and they were superstitious (the enemy) and these were worm on clothing, spread around areas that were inspected, used as PsyOps as well.

They did two runs, well two available to the public (I don't know if the actual ones they made for soldiers to use against the Vietcong are the ones they sold in the 90s). The 1st were made in Ohio and they just re-released them, obviously made in KY. But they weren't called #17...

[MagikFingerz]

Nah, did they actually do one? I know that they sell a deck of all AoS cards, and they were superstitious (the enemy) and these were worm on clothing, spread around areas that were inspected, used as PsyOps as well.

They did two runs, well two available to the public (I don't know if the actual ones they made for soldiers to use against the Vietcong are the ones they sold in the 90s). The 1st were made in Ohio and they just re-released them, obviously made in KY. But they weren't called #17...

I think the Ohio ones were in 2 editions, Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

[chach]

3 editions of the Secret Weapons deck were released. 1st being in Vietnam, the Vietnam else were highly superstitious and saw the AoS symbol as bad luck / death omen, etc... These came in both red & blue backs but you didn't know which was which til deck was opened. This deck is my highest of highest white whale.

2nd were released during Desert Storm. The Iraqis weren't as superstitious and didn't care about the cards. From what I've read / seen / heard they only came in blue back.

Both those were made in Cincinnati of course.

3rd was released last year to public, printed in Kentucky.

As for SWTWCs, I'm thinking something to do with one of my bestest buds, Jack Daniels and his old #17

[Mike Ratledge]

Well, Chach - you are headed in the right direction.

[vasta41]

Okay, I guess I'll take a stab- an AIP bottle of JD??

[JokerzGamez]

Playing cards that come with a courtesy bottle of Jack Daniels?

[Mike Ratledge]

Well, obviously this won't remain a secret for long. Hint #2:

[Maddest Hammer]

Hey, Lorenzo designed the CL logo, and I recently gave him a bottle of Tennessee's finest (Dickle sucks!), so with enough whiskey, he could pump out another deck...hmmm, and the number 17...I may have to sit this one out

[JokerzGamez]

Well, obviously this won't remain a secret for long. Hint #2:

Could be a playing card factory made from an abandoned Jack Daniels brewery

[Maddest Hammer]

Well, obviously this won't remain a secret for long. Hint #2:

Could be a playing card factory made from an abandoned Jack Daniels brewery

Jack Daniels has never abandoned their distillery. Not during prohibition, nor the fact that they distill in a "dry" county. Crazy, but true

[Mike Ratledge]

Hey, Lorenzo designed the CL logo, and I recently gave him a bottle of Tennessee's finest (Dickle sucks!), so with enough whiskey, he could pump out another deck...hmmm, and the number 17...I may have to sit this one out

Working with insider information, please disqualify yourself.

I didn't mean to crop that last one so badly, but looking back at the source - that's me. I started over from the original:

[Maddest Hammer]

Hey, Lorenzo designed the CL logo, and I recently gave him a bottle of Tennessee's finest (Dickle sucks!), so with enough whiskey, he could pump out another deck...hmmm, and the number 17...I may have to sit this one out

Working with insider information, please disqualify yourself.

I'm out

[Cbkimble]

Looks like either a new printer or a new store.

Or could it be the cardlauncher forum

[SeabornLoyalis]

Did you start up a homebrew operation?

[dazzleguts]

The Deck Refinery sounds to me like a forum for the refinement of decks in progress through knowledgable critique and encouragement. Sounds like UC. But perhaps it is the CL forum.

[chach]

Perhaps a new deck from Jackson being launched on Cardlauncher?

Or maybe a consulting firm for deck creators?

[Mike Ratledge]

The Deck Refinery sounds to me like a forum for the refinement of decks in progress through knowledgable critique and encouragement. Sounds like UC. But perhaps it is the CL forum.

UC will remain free and unbiased, and new forums are being set up at CL Support & Deck Refinery for the fee-based system, which is actually a percent or two of successfully completed campaign, but. . .

Most of the CL stuff, all of the forums and such will be removed from UC in just a few days. I can't have business make UC no longer credible nor unbiased, like you-know-who that has sold out to a vendor. I will restrain myself from commenting on things I shouldn't or at least make it very apparent that it is my opinion, which after all is why I am moving almost everything off UC: I want to be able to voice my opinion.

There is a reason why #17 was chosen. Hammer - nose in the corner.

[montecarlojoe]

I don't think any of the general discussion of CL needs to move - it's a part of the industry that SHOULD be discussed here, but anything in the closed group, the FAQ and any 'Official' announcement type posts certainly will be migrated.

You aren't far off Dazzle - but the DR is aiming to be able to give some advice on other aspects of running projects too.

I guess the aim is to be up and running by the 1st august - but hopefully sooner.

[Mike Ratledge]

OK, let's let the tormenting end for now, but start a new tradition instead: beginning at one minute after midnight on Friday 1-August, every 25th new registration that is both validated and pledges within the first 24 hours after sign-up get one deck of two or maybe even three custom decks made for the occasion, up to the first 5000 users. In addition, in order to be eligible for the prize, you must have activated (verified e-mail address) AND made a pledge backing at least one deck of the first 4 or 5 decks available. The pledge cannot be canceled during the campaign, or the prize is forfeited. The two decks are either by a seasoned veteran or an unknown artist picked expressly for the event, and each is printed in 250-550 quantities. The 250 deck series is a 60-card Magic deck with foiled tucks and the 550 unit deck is a major contemporary deck designer and recently did a campaign over $80,000! Sorry, we pick. If you are on of the first 750 new registrations, you can win the second deck also, but we have not decided how yet.

Being complete deck series of 250 & 550 units, needless to say these decks will both become instant rarities as neither deck is for sale. Maybe a later clearly distinct v2 printing of 1000+ decks later, but these 760 decks are all the decks made for the entire world, one only 250 units, yet fully custom 60-card deck with hot stamped foil. These are neither iinexpensive nor common decks, but two of the rarest production decks in modern collecting history, with the distinct probability of adding a third deck soon!

[Mike Ratledge]

RIght now "DeckRefinery.com" is being setup and populated with both CardLauncher and The Deck Refinery forums so the conversations of a commercial nature can be removed from UC. I suspect it will be a few more days before everything it truly ready, but anyone is welcome to go ahead and start the conversation "over here: tdr.bike".