UC 2014 Annual decks: "Grotesque" by Lotrek

[Lotrek]

I hope that member is "Grotesque" looking.

heheheh... I'm sure that will be taken care of during the translation by Lotrek.

Absolutely!

[volantangel]

I hope that member is "Grotesque" looking.

heheheh... I'm sure that will be taken care of during the translation by Lotrek.

Absolutely!

Lotrek do take good care of my pretty face will ya ? XD !

[Yashi]

Just read the update on the "Signature" Decks. Don't forget to save one for me Lotrek.

[Lotrek]

I'll post details about it later. It's planned to be released next week.

[Mike Ratledge]

Lotrek posted it (Update #7) before he went to sleep...

CUT AND PASTED FROM Grotesque KICKSTARTER PROJECT COMMENT I JUST POSTED: (IN REFERENCE TO UPDATE ABOUT "SIGNATURE" DECKS)

Well, how many people want them? Let's just give it a wild shot and say $55 per deck, no more than 50 of each, maybe less - even half that, depending on how much interest. We want to make it as exclusive as possible, perhaps 50 total between both decks? It depends on what we hear from you. You can respond to the "Contact Me" link and send requests - limit 1 per person, and sorry - no, we can't give one of each color, they're going to be rare enough as it is. We want everyone that wants one here on kickstarter to get one, and beyond that - there aren't any period, not just "for sale", not at all. That's why it's better if there are only 40 people interested that we only make 50% more than that. Lotrek and I briefly discussed it, thinking it's only fair to do 1/2 of them right now and the other 1/2 in the last couple of days of the campaign so anyone that arrives in the next two weeks+ doesn't get locked out of them. It's not encouraging when you arrive at a project for the first time only to find all the personalized stuff is already gone, and there aren't going to be that many "autographed"/signed decks - even if we were to do 50+50 of the Signature deck. I'm thinking along these lines, and it's Lotrek's decision, but maybe do 50 of the "Platinum Signature Edition" decks now (Limited Edition only available to kickstart backers at all) and then do 50 "Gold Signature Edition" (not limited, as in the one you can buy without getting it here on kickstarter). I don't know, maybe do it 25/25 now (half of each edition) and half during the last few days? Let's see - we'll have your username here, just respond "Gold" or "Platinum" if you are going to want one. I'll figure it out before Lotrek even gets up in Greece. If you're watching, answer now, please - the sooner the better so I can handle all the mail and Lotrek doesn't have to sort through every single "Gold" or "Platinum" message. I'm going for the Platinum one myself. I suppose if we have 50 interested people now, that might be best - sell the 50 Platinum Signature Edition now and wait until the last week or even few days to sell the 50 Gold Signature Edition? I guess if it is really unbalanced we can vary from making it 50/50 a little, but not a whole lot, because that would mean one has 30-40% (of more?) items total available, let's say 70 Platinum/Limited and 30 Gold Editions - just doesn't work. The GSE ends up being twice as rare as the platinum one. Maybe I'm worrying about something that doesn't matter - and it will be close enough to 50/50. If we have 50 interested in Grotesque/PSE decks now, then we'll just worry about the 50 Grotesque/GSE decks later. Just in case he didn't make this abundantly clear: the entire tuck will be lovingly hand-made, not just put together with glue and signed - finished off with a custom personalization dedicated to you and signed & dated by him. (and yes, I know - "Silver" and "Platinum" are just semantics, but in this case the Limited Edition decks start out as with platinum backs inside, you wouldn't want to swap the tuck colors!)

Unless you've run a project I've pledged before, you can't respond to me directly (PLEASE . D . O . N O T . P O S T . H E R E ! ! !), so use the "Contact me" link down by "United Cardists" in the blue frame on the right just below the numbers of backers, dollars pledged and time left on the Grotesque page in kickstarter.

This _should_ work: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/un ... istsdotcom

[Eoghann]

Ok I'm officially confused. When I read the update I understood about 50 limited decks are being produced. Handmade tuck by Lotrek. Now all of a sudden I see talks about platinum and golden decks. I'm not sure I follow what's going on.

[lolo]

I don't undertand too : silver, gold, platinium, unlimited, limited, platinium/limited... That's very unclear... How many decks will there be ? Which one can be use for signature ?

[Eoghann]

Ok, it's been clarified in the latest comments in the project page.
Make sure to send United Cardists a message saying which edition you would prefer!

[DukeBoy]

Seems if all that was going to be put in comments, why was it not put in the updates comments. Really confusing.

[montecarlojoe]

Lol - that was a master-class in confusing posts there Mike!

Have you jumped the gun a little? - The update was simple enough and Lotrek says HE would give the details of what was coming and how to ask for them later. Do we wait for the official announcement or ask for them now???

[DukeBoy]

Lol - that was a master-class in confusing posts there Mike!

Have you jumped the gun a little? - The update was simple enough and Lotrek says HE would give the details of what was coming and how to ask for them later. Do we wait for the official announcement or ask for them now???

Mike seem to favor forgiveness over permission.

[Lotrek]

Okay, perfect! You're all confused now!

It's pretty simple though, I'll post another update tonight to clear things up.

[Lotrek]

Just posted an update regarding the "Signature" decks.

[chach]

Just posted an update regarding the "Signature" decks.

I'm officially wanting one of these. Will you be announcing specific times they'll be released or do we just have to sit by the computer all week hitting F5 constantly?

[Lotrek]

Just posted an update regarding the "Signature" decks.

I'm officially wanting one of these. Will you be announcing specific times they'll be released or do we just have to sit by the computer all week hitting F5 constantly?

Haha, no! I'll announce date and time of course!

[th4mo]

Does this mean that the signature decks will be a new pledge tier, and that we would have to give up our existing reward to pledge for this? Or is it going to be a "PM me to add your name to the list" kind of deal?

[Yashi]

I didn't like the idea of two signature editions because I'd want both of them but would only have the money for one. I guess my Grotesque collection isn't going to be complete.

[Mike Ratledge]

Does this mean that the signature decks will be a new pledge tier, and that we would have to give up our existing reward to pledge for this? Or is it going to be a "PM me to add your name to the list" kind of deal?

They will be available as add-ons only, and the time for the first 40 decks will be announced in the next day or two. I suspect that it will work just like Uusi/s "Pagan" and Lorenzo's "Reqiuem". They both did it like this: add $60 to your pledge, send a "Contact me" message stating whether you want PSE or GSE deck(s) and you're done. The other 20 Signature Edition decks will be saved until the last few days of the campaign so people that pledge during the last 3 weeks don't get "shut out" of the Signature Edition decks. (so, no - you don't need to or want to change your base pledge tier, just add $60 and send a message) You can order either one: the Platinum Signature Edition (Limited Edition deck) or the Gold Signature Edition (original deck) or both - at least that is the way it was stated in the most recent update. Of course, one of each will cost $120, but you're getting two decks that will have an average of only 30 units available worldwide. (and as I noted below, the tucks are each individually crafted by hand, so in reality no two of these will be exactly alike, in fact each will be one-of-a-kind really - and personalized specifically for each backer.) Those numbers are what Lotrek posted in his most recent update about them, and are subject to change if he wants to do so.

A total of 60 units regardless of whether Platinum/Limited or Gold/original decks sell better, so there is no way there will ever be more than 60 total. The Platinum/silver color foiled seems to be more popular. These tuck cases are going to be completely hand-made, including the foiling and embossing will all be done manually by Lotrek in Athens Greece. Each will be personalized with your name (handle or real name, your choice), date and a personal thank you with signature from the artist (Lotrek). There is a little more to be worked out yet, but Lotrek will be announcing anything more that we haven't already heard.

[McSpazzy]

No tier for one brick of each D=

[Mike Ratledge]

No tier for one brick of each D=

It's because KS "pa-trolls" go nuts if you offer more than 12 decks as a reward, which itself (12 decks) is an exception to the "no more than 10 items" rule.

It has to be kept "under wraps", but if you want two bricks, simply pledge twice the amount for one and let Lotrek know what you are doing.

Now, if you get into the 48+ area (4 bricks or more), then it's time to talk to him about getting a wholesale price. Unlike with Lorenzo's Requiem decks, I am not the "U S Agent" for these, Lotrek is handling all of the answers for all things money-related. I'm just guessing at that threshold being 48, it might be higher, but I'm thinking that's about right. I'm sure if that's wrong he will correct it.

But - anyway, having multiple bricks is one thing they look for in Playing Card projects, and they will keep you from launching if you have something like that. That's why it's always hidden option if it's available, usually 'hidden' by putting it into the "Add Ons" graphic instead of in the pledge tier descriptions or text. Of course, once you are funded you can do any darn thing you want to, pretty much. I guess that a 5% payoff works well for them, and they look the other way...

[McSpazzy]

Well its 'one' brick.Would suck for poker chip guys if the 10 limit was enforced everywhere. What's the best place to pm him, forums or ks?

[volantangel]

Well its 'one' brick.Would suck for poker chip guys if the 10 limit was enforced everywhere. What's the best place to pm him, forums or ks?

I believe ks would be best, easier for him to track everything.

[Mike Ratledge]

True, no doubt about that. The link in the message where I went spastic (previous page) should work to send a message to him on kickstarter. You will have to log in if you're not already online with kickstarter open in a tab. I misread part of his original update about them, so I did clean up a little in that post where I successfully clarified everything until everybody that wasn't already confused was. Read the latest Upadte - it's 60 decks total, each will be $60. Your choice of PSE/Limited deck or GSE/original deck for that $60 - or you can get both for $120.

[McSpazzy]

How does legacy get away with the 2 brick tier? Fell through the cracks?

[Strag]

How does legacy get away with the 2 brick tier? Fell through the cracks?

If someone reported them, KS would probably force them to take them down.

Kind of a ridiculous arbitrary limit KS has there.

[Mike Ratledge]

How does legacy get away with the 2 brick tier? Fell through the cracks?

If someone reported them, KS would probably force them to take them down.

Kind of a ridiculous arbitrary limit KS has there.

Agreed. The curious thing is if you just describe it as a "Brick" they don't even look at it, treat it like it's 1 item. Therefore "2 bricks" = 2 items in their mind I guess - but - if you describe it as "a brick of 12 decks" and offer multiples, then they get touchy and I've seen one big project delayed recently for that very reason. It took two extra days because there was a brick in the add-ons (described as 12 decks). Once that was removed they were fat, dumb & happy.

[Sher]

How does legacy get away with the 2 brick tier? Fell through the cracks?

If someone reported them, KS would probably force them to take them down.

Kind of a ridiculous arbitrary limit KS has there.

Agreed. The curious thing is if you just describe it as a "Brick" they don't even look at it, treat it like it's 1 item. Therefore "2 bricks" = 2 items in their mind I guess - but - if you describe it as "a brick of 12 decks" and offer multiples, then they get touchy and I've seen one big project delayed recently for that very reason. It took two extra days because there was a brick in the add-ons (described as 12 decks). Once that was removed they were fat, dumb & happy.

Lol. I guess the key is to simply describe the tier as a "brick" without mentioning that this means 12 decks, so it can be interpreted as 1 item. Although, when I first started collecting, I didn't know what a brick was and really appreciated it when someone finally defined it as consisting of 12 decks. Haha.

[Lotrek]

I think KS decided to let it pass. They know what a brick is but they consider it as a unit. Of course in that cas you can have up to 10 bricks as a reward but let's not take it too far! In the project I describe what brick means and KS didn't say anything. I suspect that provided you don't have a porn project or you don't sell weapons or heroin, they don't really have a problem. I remember how many people reported this pro liar with the first "Persian Empire" project to KS and they did nothing.

[chach]

I think KS decided to let it pass. They know what a brick is but they consider it as a unit. Of course in that cas you can have up to 10 bricks as a reward but let's not take it too far!

Well, if you did want to go further, someone could always offer up the reward for one gross or even a great gross. Or just play it safe and only allow half a score.

[chach]

It's up and I got my pledge in! Now for the confirm. Lotrek, will you be letting us know what number we got?