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I'm really on the fence about these....

I think that as much as I like this deck. I dont know if I can justify the price for a first time card maker.

Marianne may be a 1st timer, but she's the one who handles the business side of things for Nicolai. So she's no stranger to KS projects and deck designs. I was going to pass on this as I felt the circus theme had been done enough. But after seeing the designs, I'm in.

yeah, EB $13 per deck may be high for NPCC but for what you get, it's decent.

Decknowledgy wrote:

kem-collector wrote:

Decknowledgy wrote:Anyone realize that the Black Mosquito edition has a one-way back design?

Yes, it specifically states Deluxa is two-way and Black Mosquito is one-way.

Yup, I know the faces were one-way as highlighted, just find it odd to also have the back one-way haha, the image provided for the back was more subtle.

The Black Mosquito is more of an art side rather than the standard playing cards, which is good, at least to make the illustrations stand out.

But one wonder, why the name: "Mosquito" XD

The Black Mosquito edition could be really good with the gold ink. Dunno about NPCC quality (don't own any of their decks), but the only gripe is the stock, right? Their printing is par, isn't it? Not a fan of that art style though, maybe this is why I don't own any Nicolai Aarøe decks. I like the faces of the Deluxa edition more but the back of the Black Mosquito edition.

Harvonsgard wrote:The Black Mosquito edition could be really good with the gold ink. Dunno about NPCC quality (don't own any of their decks), but the only gripe is the stock, right? Their printing is par, isn't it? Not a fan of that art style though, maybe this is why I don't own any Nicolai Aarøe decks. I like the faces of the Deluxa edition more but the back of the Black Mosquito edition.

I don't think I own any either, but from what I gather the main gripe is the finish (or glide, if you will).

The artwork is great, but I don't like the watermark on the number cards.

MagikFingerz wrote:

Harvonsgard wrote:The Black Mosquito edition could be really good with the gold ink. Dunno about NPCC quality (don't own any of their decks), but the only gripe is the stock, right? Their printing is par, isn't it? Not a fan of that art style though, maybe this is why I don't own any Nicolai Aarøe decks. I like the faces of the Deluxa edition more but the back of the Black Mosquito edition.

I don't think I own any either, but from what I gather the main gripe is the finish (or glide, if you will).

Yeah, toughto describe but feels like a hard weird cheap plastic.

Harvonsgard wrote:The Black Mosquito edition could be really good with the gold ink. Dunno about NPCC quality (don't own any of their decks), but the only gripe is the stock, right? Their printing is par, isn't it? Not a fan of that art style though, maybe this is why I don't own any Nicolai Aarøe decks. I like the faces of the Deluxa edition more but the back of the Black Mosquito edition.

Well, by now everyone should be aware of my disliking of NPCC... They should be put out of business. So we could have Nicolai's fantastic artwork in some USPCC or Cartamundi decks! That would be the real deal!

To your inquiry, I've to say: "If it was only 'that'!!"
Putting it simple, NPCC's only good thig is the printing quality, where they can really print fine details with great accuracy. Other that that they are just crap.
Stock is bad, finish is very bad, cutting is some of the worst I've ever seen, and inking is somewaht poor. So don't expect that the advertised metallic ink to really pop, as it will not... It will just look like a normal ink, no sheen to it..

Hmmmm, looks like NPCC had a bad reputation? So between NPCC and WJPCC, which one is worse?
PS: Try not the get biased because WJPCC is China based

laitostarr777 wrote:Try not the get biased because WJPCC is China based

I don't think anyone in here is biased towards China. Quite the opposite, China based printers like MPC and WJPcC have continuesly upped their quality and are close to par or on par as far as I'm concerned. I can't speak about NPCC since, I don't own any of their decks, but as much as I've read in here it'll be hard to be lower in quality than NPCC .

Killer artwork regardless

Harvonsgard wrote:

laitostarr777 wrote:Try not the get biased because WJPCC is China based

I don't think anyone in here is biased towards China. Quite the opposite, China based printers like MPC and WJPcC have continuesly upped their quality and are close to par or on par as far as I'm concerned. I can't speak about NPCC since, I don't own any of their decks, but as much as I've read in here it'll be hard to be lower in quality than NPCC .

Haha, same, I didn't own cards from NPCC. Maybe this project will be my first and let me feel the cards
Oh, and while looking at their Portfolio, I think I've seen Ben Green's decks - so probably we can ask him to be the judge?

I have 300 decks I could play with. I am not going to pass up what I feel is awesome design and art because it's a deck I cannot fan evenly or do cardistry with.

These are decks for the great design and art.

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STLBluesNut wrote:I have 300 decks I could play with. I am not going to pass up what I feel is awesome design and art because it's a deck I cannot fan evenly or do cardistry with.

These are decks for the great design and art.

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I think I am in the same boat, though I can completely understand why some would want to avoid NPCC. While I would prefer that smooth handling, it's not a deal-breaker as I am getting these for the artwork and to support a fantastic female designer. One of my favorite decks in my collection is Royal Mischief and I would be hard-pressed to find another deck out there that handles worse than it does. The handling is horseshit, but I love it to death. I have Nicolai Aeroe decks, and while I definitely notice a difference in handling, I am not bothered by it.

Why does shipping cost so much?

Yes they'll handle like crap but that's expected, even to me as someone who doesn't play with their cards the Nicolai decks I have feel awful. The only problem I have with these is how to categorise them, maybe I'll just change my Nicolai Aroe buyer's guide to 'Anything Even Slightly Related To Isolated Thunderstorm' buyer's guide lol.

BaconWise wrote:I would be hard-pressed to find another deck out there that handles worse than it does. The handling is horseshit, but I love it to death.

ACRE is my horseshit handling favorite . I just love that design.

So the 300.000 DKK stretch reward is going to be foiling on the interior of the tucks. Thoughts

I like inner tuck printing and more so if foil. Foil on the interior seems to be somewhat rare.

I suppose some that do not open their decks may not care for interior design stretch goals but I don't care for tuck seals, especially as stretch goals. To each their own.



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STLBluesNut wrote:I like inner tuck printing and more so if foil. Foil on the interior seems to be somewhat rare.

I suppose some that do not open their decks may not care for interior design stretch goals but I don't care for tuck seals, especially as stretch goals. To each their own.



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I don't really have an opinion, was just interested to know if it's something others enjoyed.

justplaycards wrote:So the 300.000 DKK stretch reward is going to be foiling on the interior of the tucks. Thoughts

I am excited to see it. Honestly, the design can't be improved much more, so this was a nice goal to see. She will also select a foil that is different for each deck, rather than just gold on both. Very cool.

Update from the Kickstarter - The project had reached two goal stretches:
Stretch Goal 1 - Interior Foil Tuckbox Deluxa Edition interior design is a diamond and dots checkered pattern, and will have gold foil. Black Mosquito Edition interior design has the pattern of circus animals with copper foil.

Stretch Goal 2 - Poster Style Card This might be your usual ad-card, but this card is designed to looked like a promotional poster for a circus. Both version will have this extra card.

Both are great stretch goals. I am glad I have backed this.

Everything about these 2 decks is pretty awesome. These stretch goals just enhance that. I will be a happy camper when these arrive.

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More two stretch goal had been unlocked
Stretch Goal 3 - Gold Certificate Poster Every backers will get the gold foil certificate, as part of the appreciation of being backers to the project

Stretch Goal 4 - Jokers Two versions of the decks will have an unique set of Jokers. Deluxa Edition will have the animals (tiger and elephant) and female dancer. Black Mosquito Edition will have the mime clown and the capuchin monkey.

AND.......

The project's funding session has finished! :3

Updates on the project - The cards had been layout for each edition and prep for printing:

I cannot wait to get these!

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Update for the Circus Playing Cards by Marianne Larsen:
The cards are already printed by NPCC, tuckboxes are still in progress - delay which caused by (you guessed it) COVID-19. Here are some photos of the finished printed cards, still as uncut sheets. Enjoy

How in the world do those uncuts not slide off each other on that pallet? They are so tricky to handle!

james001a wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 4:50 am How in the world do those uncuts not slide off each other on that pallet?

Mostly gravity. Don't understimate the paper weight.
That said, just yesterday someone on reddit shared what can happen if you manage to tilt the pallet too much - what a nice ribbon spread that was .