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Mike Ratledge wrote: Never assume anything. They aren't being made by either, that's all I can say for now. I've already mentioned that it involved (a lot!) of old world craftsmanship and I'll have to leave it there for about a month. It's a pretty simple decision: if you don't think they are worth $100, you vote with your wallet, just like we always have. In my mind he could be asking more, without even getting the blink of an eye.

And no - it's absolutely a one-shot deal because of just how difficult it is to do: 200 is all that there ever will be period. You get one of these or you won't ever have an example of the first - and potentially the only - playing card deck to (ooo - I almost let it out)...

Ok, so this is getting really interesting. Considering that I've put out $75 each for hand-gilded decks, $100 each is not bad for a deck with that involves artistic labour.

Is it just me or does there seem to be real competition between Lorenzo, JR, UUSI and more to come out with the most innovative decks possible?

I love it!

Well, no competition, really - each are truly different an unique unto themselves, frankly. We all come out ahead except for the holes in our pockets. This one is frankly going to top them all, and I have seen the rest, including those beyond those three groups/people. Basically as I stated up front: something different this way comes, and it's wicked cool!

I was gone for the weekend and now I'm lost with what has happened. Any date on when the wicked news comes out?

Yashi wrote:I was gone for the weekend and now I'm lost with what has happened. Any date on when the wicked news comes out?

Mike mentioned that it would probably be around the first week of June, after Lotrek has taken care of the Grotesque campaign.

After grotesque is done shipping if im not wrong =)

Edit: Theres a new SHER-iff in town, damn you are faster and more accurate than me

volantangel wrote:After grotesque is done shipping if im not wrong =)

Edit: Theres a new SHER-iff in town, damn you are faster and more accurate than me

Bdaum bum tss Sometimes I wonder where she gets all her free time, but as you are both on the other side of the world, and I'm in the middle, it all seems to be fresh. That and Mike seems to post just about any time, I wonder if he ever sleeps...

Maddest Hammer wrote:

volantangel wrote:After grotesque is done shipping if im not wrong =)

Edit: Theres a new SHER-iff in town, damn you are faster and more accurate than me

Bdaum bum tss Sometimes I wonder where she gets all her free time, but as you are both on the other side of the world, and I'm in the middle, it all seems to be fresh. That and Mike seems to post just about any time, I wonder if he ever sleeps...

Not really: I tend to get 3-4 hours per night, all I really need. I have lots to do right now, more news when I have the paperwork done.

Maddest Hammer wrote:

volantangel wrote:After grotesque is done shipping if im not wrong =)

Edit: Theres a new SHER-iff in town, damn you are faster and more accurate than me

Bdaum bum tss Sometimes I wonder where she gets all her free time, but as you are both on the other side of the world, and I'm in the middle, it all seems to be fresh. That and Mike seems to post just about any time, I wonder if he ever sleeps...

Lol! I have both my laptop and phone with a tab dedicated to UC and I refresh it every now and then. My phone is permanently attached to my hand; it's the first thing I grab for when I wake up, so I'm a bit obsessed.

Sher143 wrote:

Yashi wrote:I was gone for the weekend and now I'm lost with what has happened. Any date on when the wicked news comes out?

Mike mentioned that it would probably be around the first week of June, after Lotrek has taken care of the Grotesque campaign.

Thanks for that Sher or should I say Sher-iff.
I bolted skimmed through the posts I missed and I didn't catch any of the info you just gave. I must have been too excited.

Sher143 wrote:

Maddest Hammer wrote:

volantangel wrote:After grotesque is done shipping if im not wrong =)

Edit: Theres a new SHER-iff in town, damn you are faster and more accurate than me

Bdaum bum tss Sometimes I wonder where she gets all her free time, but as you are both on the other side of the world, and I'm in the middle, it all seems to be fresh. That and Mike seems to post just about any time, I wonder if he ever sleeps...

Lol! I have both my laptop and phone with a tab dedicated to UC and I refresh it every now and then. My phone is permanently attached to my hand; it's the first thing I grab for when I wake up, so I'm a bit obsessed.

It's in there: she's dead on the money - likely around the first of June, but I won't say it is strictly dependent upon Grotesque being at least at the fulfillment center, because this is a totally separate effort and he's squeezing it in-between Grotesque decks and his Dark Venexiana which he has already teased (just a little, but it's a nice tease, unlike the torture I put everybody through!). I'm sure we'd all LIKE to have Grotesque decks there by then, but the way USPCC is moving right now it might be another two months. They are so darned slow we just got two BIG projects that both were funded in early to mid-December over the past two weeks (Sherlock is still shipping) and Pagan is just now shipping decks only so far - as far as I know, and I've spoken to Linnea several times over this weekend.

Just a hint for those expecting other things: the gilded decks have yet to be done, the redwood boxes are still being done, and the uncut sheets were just double-signed and should ship out on Monday. The art book is also going to be later this month, but she's written "June" by hand on the gilded decks on my order packing list, and I suspect that the redwood boxes will come as they are finished, one at a time. The darned gilded decks are a huge PITA, and I bet they will be spending the whole week just to get those done. It's a very labor-intensive and exacting (as well as unforgiving) trick of expert craftsmanship! Absolutely NO room for error and each single deck has to be done individually - what a pain! I feel for Peter and Linnea this week, they will be devoting the entire week to those gilded decks pretty much I suspect. That's dedication...

Wow, get immersed in something else for a few days and miss one of the most enjoyable threads ever.

I'm late to the game but magnetic cards, tortoise shell cards and lenticular cards have all been done before. I have 2 or 3 magnetic decks and the early playing cards from India were made using precious substances, including tortoise shell.

How about a sodium deck? It bursts into flame when exposed to air so it comes in a vacuum packed paraffin tuck. The box collectors should love that, and there's got to be magic applications.

Or a radium coated deck for that true glow in the dark, with fun mutation side effects.

montecarlojoe wrote: ...
- Procedural printing - patterns are printed by rules rather than proofs making every deck different.
...
- Polarised coating - cards only visible if held directly in front of you - no peeking at poker!
...
- perforated cards - cut holes are part of the design / laser cut cards
...
- Heat reactive ink

I like these ideas!

Even though most of these posts don't fit the bill I'll bet on some of the ideas in them appearing in future decks.

Mike Ratledge wrote:... The darned gilded decks are a huge PITA, and I bet they will be spending the whole week just to get those done. It's a very labor-intensive and exacting (as well as unforgiving) trick of expert craftsmanship! Absolutely NO room for error and each single deck has to be done individually - what a pain! I feel for Peter and Linnea this week, they will be devoting the entire week to those gilded decks pretty much I suspect. That's dedication...

I would really like to see a video of these being done. Uusi gave a very detailed explanation of the whole process, but it was all Greek to me.

Maybe someone here knows where I could find the footage of something like this being done, or is it a trade secret that no video is allowed?

It's a painstaking lengthy process done one deck at a time. I suppose we might convince them to do that, but you'll need to repeat your request in the Hotcakes thread of Linnea won't see it, Norbie.

I think i have already asked them for a video of the gilding process in the uusi thread, and they said they would try their best to film one, im very interested in the process as well.

Could i suggest something about this deck.

If i understand correctly, only 200 decks will be produced, it will be really collector (hand made with 10 000 kg per cube meter Corinthian Marble with linoid finish or something like that) and the price will be... pricey (especially the shipping cost : stone is heavy).

In these conditions, no one will open his deck in order to see the cards (actually no one have the strength for that).

Is it possible to add a display deck to the original like Jackson do for independence deck ? This display deck could be produced with MPC or other "low cost" deck printer (and it will be more easy to ship and to manipulate).

Don't worry lolo - each deck comes with it's own x-ray machine - you never need to open them to see them!

montecarlojoe wrote:Don't worry lolo - each deck comes with it's own x-ray machine - you never need to open them to see them!

Oh... I undertand why the shipping costs are so high now !

Lead apron sold separately.

lolo wrote:Could i suggest something about this deck.

If i understand correctly, only 200 decks will be produced, it will be really collector (hand made with 10 000 kg per cube meter Corinthian Marble with linoid finish or something like that) and the price will be... pricey (especially the shipping cost : stone is heavy).

In these conditions, no one will open his deck in order to see the cards (actually no one have the strength for that).

Is it possible to add a display deck to the original like Jackson do for independence deck ? This display deck could be produced with MPC or other "low cost" deck printer (and it will be more easy to ship and to manipulate).

Mike mentioned that the deck will not be sealed, so you will be able to open it. The seals will be provided separately so you can choose to put it on or leave it unsealed for viewing pleasure.

Ooh! Ooh! Will these be baby seals that come with each deck?

"They said it couldn't be done, but now it has. In fact, they said it shouldn't be done, but we did it anyway."

rousselle wrote:Ooh! Ooh! Will these be baby seals that come with each deck?

"They said it couldn't be done, but now it has. In fact, they said it shouldn't be done, but we did it anyway."

LOL - no they''re little Walrusii. (sorry, couldn't resist) Where the heck is he these days? I know he disappears for a while, but it's been a good while this time...

Actually, Shermaine is again precisely correct: they are unsealed and it's an option you'll have to make on your own, and that's obviously intentional on Lotrek's part.

Sher wrote:Mike mentioned that the deck will not be sealed, so you will be able to open it. The seals will be provided separately so you can choose to put it on or leave it unsealed for viewing pleasure.

However, I have to be insistent : this deck will cost arms and eyes. Manipulate it... Hum... How dangerous it will be...

Really, I think a low cost presentation deck would be welcome : it could be an option...

Hi lolo
would you plant plastic roses in your garden because they are cheaper or would you buy real roses which look and smell beautiful.
this is a unique pack of cards. Expensive. Yes very.

I have faith and trust in both Lotrek and Mike when they say this pavk will be worth every hard earned penny. I only hope i van be able to get one when they are made avalible

Jock1971 wrote:would you plant plastic roses in your garden because they are cheaper or would you buy real roses which look and smell beautiful.

I just want to avoid risks of manipulation. I can display the real and costly deck with the seal appart in a really cool and nice display on my wall and give the chip display deck to my guests (or my terrible children) in order they see and manipulate the cards.

lolo wrote:

Jock1971 wrote:would you plant plastic roses in your garden because they are cheaper or would you buy real roses which look and smell beautiful.

I just want to avoid risks of manipulation. I can display the real and costly deck with the seal appart in a really cool and nice display on my wall and give the chip display deck to my guests (or my terrible children) in order they see and manipulate the cards.

sorry Lolo. I misunderstood your posts , please forgive me

Wow Mike, you're unbelievable in torturing people
This thread has turned out so amusing!

So, it's time for a few facts about the "secret".

Yes, it is a deck. Only 200 of these will EVER be produced. Not one more. 200 produced, 199 will be available. I think I deserve a deck myself, right?

It will be a deck in anticipation of the "Dark Venexiana", keep this in mind.
These decks will NOT be a Kickstarter project. They will be available directly through my website somewhere around the 10th of June. The secret and teaser pics will be revealed on the 1st of June.
The decks will be produced under my close supervision which will make them almost handmade. That means that each card in the deck will have been examined by me during and after production.

Although It will come with a seal, it will NOT be sealed, as I want anyone to be able to hold it and look at it without destroying the seal. I will include a separate seal in the package and it will be up to you IF and WHEN the deck will be sealed.

Okay, that's enough for now, keep up throwing crazy ideas!

Lotrek wrote:Okay, that's enough for now, keep up throwing crazy ideas!

Do you plan a spare "low cost" deck for showing the cards and reduce manipulation risk on the real cards like Jackson do with independence ?

Lotrek wrote: Although It will come with a seal, it will NOT be sealed, as I want anyone to be able to hold it and look at it without destroying the seal. I will include a separate seal in the package and it will be up to you IF and WHEN the deck will be sealed.

This is a great idea for this kind of decks. Thanks!

(Well, "this kind of decks"... I don't really know what we are talking about, but I know that it will be a ultra-limited-new-never.seen.before-game.changer-unbelievable deck. And this is from Lotrek and Mike, so I can just say: I'm in!)

lolo wrote:Do you plan a spare "low cost" deck for showing the cards and reduce manipulation risk on the real cards like Jackson do with independence ?

If you bought a Mustang would you shut it in a garage and show off a Capri instead?

Wait and see what's coming - a low cost alternative might not be a viable option...

lolo wrote:

Lotrek wrote:Okay, that's enough for now, keep up throwing crazy ideas!

Do you plan a spare "low cost" deck for showing the cards and reduce manipulation risk on the real cards like Jackson do with independence ?

No, the nature of the deck does not allow for a cheap version. You got to keep your children away, Lolo!