The Guild Of Artisans by Theory11

[CBJ]

"Laser Etched. Wood Engraved. Coming Soon. ARTISANS."

Not really sure what this is going to be...

[Encarded]

This could be a very fancy laser engraved wood box, with a matching deck inside. I think that creating a whole theme of "artisans" they necessarily would need a deck to go along with it, and since T11 pumps out decks every month I'd be surprised if there wasn't one.

The engraving looks lovely, and I could see that being not necessarily a clip but a "deck sized" box to hold this special deck.

And yes, you can be almost certain we'll start seeing marketing about "joining the guild" and "being part of the artisans" and all that hullabaloo which is for some reason the primary method of late to attract people.


(and it's so very interesting that I can't recall any card related thing using laser engraving until recently... )

[Evan]

I have a feeling that this is going to be a deck because at the bottom of the pic, it says United States Playing Card Co.

[Sharpie]

I have a feeling that this is going to be a deck because at the bottom of the pic, it says United States Playing Card Co.

That's what I was thinking, but its no guarantee.
Might be a playing card accessory.

[vjose32]

"Laser Etched. Wood Engraved. Coming Soon. ARTISANS."

Sounds like a card clip, but maybe there will be an Artisans deck.

[Evan]

Heres a new pic:

The bottom looks like it says "Black Edition"
I'm still thinking it's a box.

[Sharpie]

Beautiful detail. But "Black Edition" means there'll be White, Gold and Silver Editions on the way... at least.
If its a deck (or includes a deck), I'll most likely get it. But this kind of thing really takes away my will to spend money.

[MagikFingerz]

Oh God, I hope this won't be a limited deck only sold in a limited box for a premium price with premium shipping...

[Encarded]

I too think it's a very fancy wooden box to store a deck(s) in. The laser engraving is lovely, they did a fantastic job on that. As Sharpie said, "Black Edition" certainly implies that there are other editions, so they might have a standard artisan deck, and a limited edition one in the laser engraved box as a collector option.

[cosmicsecret]

I too think it's a very fancy wooden box to store a deck(s) in. The laser engraving is lovely, they did a fantastic job on that. As Sharpie said, "Black Edition" certainly implies that there are other editions, so they might have a standard artisan deck, and a limited edition one in the laser engraved box as a collector option.

I think it will be something along those lines for sure.
Maybe on Black Friday if you spent XYZ amount of cas$h you will get such a collectors box.

[lumpyliew]

I love it! T11 always have AWESOME deisgns

[Evan]

Black Friday. Black Edition. ARTISANS. Available Friday at 11:00am EST.

The box is beautiful! I can't wait to see what's inside!

[Evan]

Here's a pic of the Ace of Spades:

"ARTISANS: The Ace of Spades. Marked with the month and year of print. Available at 11:00am EST. Black Friday." - Theory11

[Encarded]

So, looks like standard faces, and they will make small changes to it and reprint it frequently. Wouldn't make sense to mark it with production month and year unless they planned on doing lots more in the series.

[alric]

They'll probably have a white edition, gold edition, etc.....

[volantangel]

awesome case, awesome tuckbox, awesome back design, awesome ace of spades, BUTTTTTTT no pictures of faces = standard courts perhaps just in a diff colour. Typical theory11 =.=

not worth it to venture out just for a single deck considering the shipping costs..

[Evan]

Just ordered 2! They really look nice.

[Encarded]

That's a stunning price for the box, far less than I thought. The decks will be nice but rather "meh" I think, but that box looks darn nice. I have to imagine they made a lot of those....

[Russell]

I was surprised by the good price as well! I really wish they would have custom courts more often than not though.

As usual with T11 - fantastic box and Ace of Spades, standard court cards.

[Gareth]

I like that the 'edition' is printed on the deck seal - us collectors can instantly see which print the deck we have is from.

However, I'm not so convinced there will be that many printings.

The etched box is nice too - had to get one.

[MagikFingerz]

The box is nice and actually reasonably priced, but the deciding factor for me was custom faces. The deck would have been so much better being all custom, and it would have justified buying the box to go with it.

I even had it in my cart, then I thought "I really don't need a swanky box for another mediocre T11 deck".

Oh well, saves me money at least

[alric]

It really is a shame. Theory11 does such a wonderful job with their tuck boxes, and their back designs are nice, too, but their decks just feel incomplete without the full customization. I am very surprised the wood collector's box is such a reasonable price, and they don't appear to be limited, so I'll give them high credit for that. If Theory11 could made tuck boxes for Ellusionist, then we'd have some really kick-ass decks.....

[badpete69]

The box is nice and actually reasonably priced, but the deciding factor for me was custom faces. The deck would have been so much better being all custom, and it would have justified buying the box to go with it.

I even had it in my cart, then I thought "I really don't need a swanky box for another mediocre T11 deck".

Oh well, saves me money at least

I sat there for 45 minutes with the screen ready to check out but unlike you Tom I was weak...very weak I completed the order

[CBJ]

Got this from T11 today

" Jay,

When we launched the Artisans there was a note stating at least a week before fulfillment would occur, at that time the cards were scheduled to be in house and shipped immediately after the BlackFriday sale. Due to serious issues at the US Playing Card company this estimate was way off, so it did turn into a pre-sale although we never intended that to be the case. We're updating our Facebook with the latest info so stay tuned there for more information, or course just throw us another email. Sorry for these delays, certainly not of our fulfillment processes.

Bryant
theory11 support "

[Evan]

If they didn't have the decks, then they shouldn't have released them unless they stated that it was a pre-order.

[cosmicsecret]

If they didn't have the decks, then they shouldn't have released them unless they stated that it was a pre-order.

and then had lost plenty of money during the black friday sales to the competetioners (Ellusionist/The Bucks/TBC&HOPC/DB etc.)
I mean T11 had no free give aways at certain tier levels...so why should you place a order at T11 when the others give you free stuff?

[alric]

If you look at their site, it STILL states: ARTISAN Playing Cards - Now Available. Fine, crap happens and USPC delayed their order for these decks, but they should have the decency to at least update their site so it clearly states they don't have the product yet and any orders now will constitute a pre-sale. Damn, I hate shady marketing!

[lumpyliew]

Box ... House 4 decks . 4 editions maybe? Black White Gold Silver

[Encarded]

Via instagram, "Each of these boxes was hand folded by Andrei Jikh, Michael James, and Bryant Aucoin. We worked through the night to personally help USPC finish as many decks as possible today!"

So T11 flies 3 (relatively famous) people from one side of the country to the other, to help USPCC package decks. That seems...rather odd. Somehow USPCC had the manpower to package up thousands of my decks without my help, perhaps because that's what I pay them for? Bizarre.

[cosmicsecret]

Via instagram, "Each of these boxes was hand folded by Andrei Jikh, Michael James, and Bryant Aucoin. We worked through the night to personally help USPC finish as many decks as possible today!"

So T11 flies 3 (relatively famous) people from one side of the country to the other, to help USPCC package decks. That seems...rather odd. Somehow USPCC had the manpower to package up thousands of my decks without my help, perhaps because that's what I pay them for? Bizarre.

god bless i´m not the only one who found this status message unbelievable.
but who knows what kind of contract Andrei and Michael have with T11.... (here is soo much space for sarcasm left...but i will leave it to walrus to make the bad jokes)