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It's his Byzantine variation of the Oath Standard courts, so you've likely seen them before, but the clothing and color pallette were altered to fit the rest of the deck.

I have to say, opening the Sanctissimus tuck was like being a kid in a candy store. I hadn't felt that with a deck in a while, so that was nice.

Black Patrons deck image posted on IG

Year 1: Patrons deck,
Year 2: Royal Patrons deck,
Year 3: Black patron deck?

slickster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 5:30 am Year 1: Patrons deck,
Year 2: Royal Patrons deck,
Year 3: Black patron deck?

Lotrek mentioned in his comment on that photo that he doesn't think Black Patrons will be part of the rewards. We don't know what the other Year 3 deck will be yet.

Year 1 Patreon Rewards
• Royal Silk Red
• Royal Silk Red - Gold/Silver
• Patrons

Year 2 Patreon Rewards
• Golden Rule
• Royal Patrons

Year 3 Patreon Rewards
• Sanctissimus Collector's Edition
• ???

For those who don't use Instagram, here is the photo in question, referred to as the Black Patrons deck:

I honestly just don't understand why it's so difficult for Lotrek to just have a table on his web site that shows what the Patrons for each year were supposed to get and what they have gotten. What is it a puzzle? I mean this isn't about delays, this is just about clear communication and expectations. Really done after this year.

Lotrek mentioned in his comment on that photo that he doesn't think Black Patrons will be part of the rewards. We don't know what the other Year 3 deck will be yet.

I presume a gift deck then? If so, very cool, but why not work on Years 1, 2, 3, and 4 first? It seems print time is always a constraint. I don't understand... Maybe other stuff is done waiting on reprint of Year 1 Patrons?

I'm lost too. His attempts at being mysterious and provocative creates confusion.

steampunk52 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 12:03 pm

Lotrek mentioned in his comment on that photo that he doesn't think Black Patrons will be part of the rewards. We don't know what the other Year 3 deck will be yet.

I presume a gift deck then? If so, very cool, but why not work on Years 1, 2, 3, and 4 first? It seems print time is always a constraint. I don't understand... Maybe other stuff is done waiting on reprint of Year 1 Patrons?

I'm lost too. His attempts at being mysterious and provocative creates confusion.

He's only printed a few cards from the Black Patrons deck as samples. He has expressed wanting to make sure he completes the Year 1 Patrons deck first.

I was a Year 2 patron and I'm sick and tired of all the delays and bulls**t, so I can't imagine how Year 1 patrons feel.

My first experience of Lotrek's work was the Inverted Inferno Kickstarter back in May 2017 and I commented: "I've just read the story on your previous campaign and I admire your dedication to producing a perfect deck. It's also heartwarming to see your backers' loyalty and understanding."

Strag wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:12 am... Really done after this year.

You can look forward to this. Having cancelled after Year 3 gave me so much peace of mind .
Someone fancys a bet? What will happen first? Year 3 rewards arrive at my doorstep or my firstborn (currently 6 years old) having their drivers liscence in hand?

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:05 pm

Strag wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:12 am... Really done after this year.

You can look forward to this. Having cancelled after Year 3 gave me so much peace of mind .
Someone fancys a bet? What will happen first? Year 3 rewards arrive at my doorstep or my firstborn (currently 6 years old) having their drivers liscence in hand?

Given the odds I’ll go with the license.

An add on for Lotrek's next campaign

I would LOVE to see Lotrek write a work journal every day for a month or two. So we can see how many hours per day are spent on designing and producing cards for which he is receiving generous amounts of Patreon money.
I can't imagine him spending 8 hours and not coming up with more new intricate designs. Quite a lot of recent products are just reusing and modifying old stuff. I can't imagine 8 hours per day and 4 years later still no year one decks finished.
Does he have another job? Is Patron not providing enough income to be able to fully commit to what was promised?

shkorc wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 2:04 am Does he have another job? Is Patron not providing enough income to be able to fully commit to what was promised?

That's the key point here. On another thread we are talking about no guarantees on Kickstarter. Don't bet the money you can't lose.
Yet, Patreon is much more brutal in terms of guarantees.

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:05 pm

Strag wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:12 am... Really done after this year.

You can look forward to this. Having cancelled after Year 3 gave me so much peace of mind .

My sentiments exactly. Maybe that is the point of his Patreon, you will pay a lot of money and after you'll stop, you feel better than before. So perhaps new motto?
"Become a master of forever waiting, then stop paying and find peace of mind! -- Lotrek"

Lotrek replied that Past Patrons will be able to get Black Patrons so I believe maybe a redemption deck? I really like Black deck and looking for a Black Oath Deck for long , hoping the back is either gold or silver

Disenchanted_11 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 2:49 am

shkorc wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 2:04 am Does he have another job? Is Patron not providing enough income to be able to fully commit to what was promised?

That's the key point here. On another thread we are talking about no guarantees on Kickstarter. Don't bet the money you can't lose.
Yet, Patreon is much more brutal in terms of guarantees.

Objectively correct.

zlexander wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:42 am Lotrek replied that Past Patrons will be able to get Black Patrons so I believe maybe a redemption deck? I really like Black deck and looking for a Black Oath Deck for long , hoping the back is either gold or silver

Probably a 99% guarantee. Lotrek basically only works in gold/silver with a splash of another colour.

I hate to say it but I too am considering cancelling my Oath Patreon after this year, particularly if we don't receive the year 1 rewards by October.

We're 4 years in and I dread to think when I'll actually see those year 4 decks arrive.

With all the Redemption decks and other releases, he has shown that he doesn't have a problem producing the number of decks required within the year so why not just give these as the Patreon rewards.

If he really is having issues with workshop then stick to producing just 1-2 Foiled/Gilded decks in the year and focus on new non-foiled designs for the remaining decks - I would love to see more decks like the standard Patron & Venexiana Dark decks

I just have to imagine that attempting to live up to the old decks, no less attempting to outdo them, must require quite the journey

Fenrir wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:20 am

zlexander wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:42 am Lotrek replied that Past Patrons will be able to get Black Patrons so I believe maybe a redemption deck? I really like Black deck and looking for a Black Oath Deck for long , hoping the back is either gold or silver

Probably a 99% guarantee. Lotrek basically only works in gold/silver with a splash of another colour.

Thats nice to hear , I dont have a single Oath Black deck so this one might be the one ! Would also love to see a Pink Oath Collectors deck sometime if Lotrek decides to make one

Everyone is getting mad for not getting their Patreon rewards and Lotrek in the meantime is playing with his PVC-made pipe. Love his peacefulness

With such disregard for patreons of nearly 4 years - could it be that Lotrek is egocentric

As a former print job manager I personally can't think of any excuse to delay a print job for 3 years - it's no rocket science after all. And I'm as irritated as the next guy about the delays and shit (that's why I stopped my patreonage) but don't take things out of context. Everybody has the right to have some leisure time.

But is he considering his patreons?
Time can slip by but as a relative newb with maybe fresher (old) eyes, if Lotrek was to fail to deliver to patreons (not likely as it would be commercial suicide) and you told an outsider the 4yr story - they are going to say "and you didn't see this coming?!"
This being the case, you must say this is a total disregard for his loyalest fans

I made the following post on his Patreon. He can't even keep a promise made 4 days ago to post the next day, much less one made 3 weeks ago about the following week. I'm so frustrated with this hobby these days.

Once again, no idea what's going on. You said you would post about Redemption VII "tomorrow" 4 days ago. Your post on Jan 7 that we would have to place a zero order next week (so 2 weeks ago?). Did I miss it? Do you intentionally make it so confusing? these aren't even printing delays, these are just confusion communication delays.

Yes I find those frustrating too, but I have a bit of a pet peeve about people saying they are going to do something and then...nothing. Especially when it's a short term thing like that. (if a print run doesn't happen on time or goes bad thats one thing but that email was "theyre done! tell you more tomorrow!".

Im not all that upset but it brings me back to something I said a few weeks ago, Lotrek is the last person who should be doing kickstarters....

Or Patreon for that matter...

Evilgamer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:39 am ... but I have a bit of a pet peeve about people saying they are going to do something and then...nothing.

Urgh... the worst indeed. I chalk it up to mild Stockholm syndrome that I even went 3 years on Patreon, lel.

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:25 am Urgh... the worst indeed. I chalk it up to mild Stockholm syndrome that I even went 3 years on Patreon, lel.

Stockholm Syndrome should be the name of the highest tier.

GandalfPC wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 11:05 am IMG_9741.jpeg

That's a nice looking card.