2018 National Playing Card Collection Deck

[Bradius]

The time is almost upon us. Alex finally posted a few hours ago on Facebook that the decks would be released tonight(tomorrow) at midnight CST. So, set your watches if you want a full set.

[Magic Tapp]

Thanks Brad. Would they be available through The NPCCD website or Alex’s?

[Pablo393]

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[irtjames14]

So there are 6 decks in total in this set?? I hope they won't be super expensive... not sure how much more my wallet can take

[STLBluesNut]

So there are 6 decks in total in this set?? I hope they won't be super expensive... not sure how much more my wallet can take

I feel you. Looking to maybe get a pair.

Sent from my Galaxy 8 using Tapatalk

[Bradius]

I understand there are six different decks, but you don't need to get them all. That is kind of like last year, but a lot of people got one or two decks of the set. What looks to be cool about these from what I have seen posted so far is that there are red and blue plastic filters that when you look through will change what is visible depending on if you look through the blue plastic or the red plastic. It looks really cool. Again, I am seeing cool custom tucks as well. Last year there were 500 of the Pearl decks (about 100 each, but not evenly printed so some versions were very scarce) and 500 gilded midnight decks. Only 1,000 decks in total. My guess is it will likely be 1,000 total decks, but not sure how that number will be broken up in the various varieties. If last year is a model, then the actual cards will be the same, it is just gilding and tucks that will change. So, if you just get one deck, I am guessing that will be essentially the same across the entire set. There look to be three pairs that each make a chess piece.

[Magistrate1500]

“You don’t need to get them all” said nobody with OCD ever. Ha!

[hsbc]

So there are 6 decks in total in this set?? I hope they won't be super expensive... not sure how much more my wallet can take

He said on Instagram that a single deck is $35 and that combo packs will be cheaper per deck

[Bradius]

Yeah, well true. I got the full set* last year and they are in some nice carat cases and a favorite of mine. Yeah, I have to get a full set again.

*Well, not exactly the full set. I am missing the Platinum Pearl, but I am not counting that. I refuse to even acknowledge it. That is more of an unofficial version. Yeah. Not a part of the REAL set. Nope. [MURRAY]

[irtjames14]

So there are 6 decks in total in this set?? I hope they won't be super expensive... not sure how much more my wallet can take

He said on Instagram that a single deck is $35 and that combo packs will be cheaper per deck

Dang... $35 per deck.. I definitely am not going to be able to get the whole set... maybe I'll just get 1 or 2..

[KT52]

Still angry at myself for missing out last year. TBH I like those better than this years'

[Adonael]

I still haven't seen the courts anywhere, if they're standard then it's an easy pass from me regardless of the tuck/collectable value.

Edit: Never mind, I've jogged my memory with some googling, they certainly wouldn't be standard but I've never liked the art style of his courts which is why I passed on the last two and the apothecary series. Paired with his always intricately beautiful tucks it always seems like a dissonance which rubs me the wrong way.

[Bradius]

I am sure I have seen them, but can't say where. Not standard. I don't recall Alex ever doing standard courts.

[irtjames14]

Just bought the 1 of each deck at collector level! As much as I wanted the 6 deck set, I can't afford to shell out $200 at this time

Good luck to everyone else aiming for these decks!

[Bradius]

I got my decks as well. I think they sold out last year either in the morning or evening if memory serves me correct. This is a deck I am going to have to open to see what it looks like with the optical changes. It is definitely different.

[rektz360]

Placed my order for the collector level. Wish they were cheaper

[Magic Tapp]

Got my set as well. I like what Alex has done this year but I also prefer last year’s version. The red and blue filters are gimmicky but the 2017 were more elegant looking, for lack of a better word.

[Bradius]

I just noticed they are all hand-gilded, so $70 for two low-issue gilded decks with one of Alex's tucks is a good deal.

[Magic Tapp]

I just noticed they are all hand-gilded, so $70 for two low-issue gilded decks with one of Alex's tucks is a good deal.

I think that in the combo deal only one deck is gilded, the other one is regular.

[Magistrate1500]

I really like Alex’s work and the deck looks amazing. However, as I sit here after 1:00am contemplating a purchase I’m reminded of the comic industry in 1991 and the hype around X-Men #1. I have about 10 or so copies of each variant. I was sure to make thousands off those books. I could barely get cover price for them now. It was the beginning of a downturn for the industry and pushback by consumers against the endless variant covers used to sell more books. I don’t collect cards for resale and understand this is very limited and benefits portfolio52 but I have to wonder if the variant/foil/guilding is starting to run its course. I agree it does feel very gimmicky.

[Bradius]

Magic Tapp, you are right. I re-read the material, and it clearly states one of the two in the collector series is gilded. Same as last year. However, last year I ended up buying five pairs and then sold three of the gilded decks. This time, just three pairs instead of five pairs, so a bit better.

[hsbc]

Ordered a deck, not as keen on the white tucks so here's hoping I don't get one of those!

I feel like the only person here who only buys a single deck at a time

[portcullis]

I just stumbled across a 2017 National Playing Card Collection Deck here in the wild for AU$90 (~US$65). Yes please!!

As others have said, even with the 48hr 20% discount, this full set is waaaaay beyond what I can afford atm (yes I appreciate that irony), but I hope to pick at least one up in the future. Who knows, I may just stumble upon one again in a year's time.

[rousselle]

I feel like the only person here who only buys a single deck at a time

Wait... you can do that?

[IAmTheChin]

Hey guys! Just wanted to give you guys a little understanding about the project and how it came about!

Basically I make the NPCCD deck every year to raise donations to run hosting and pay devs. 100% of the proceeds go towards keeping Portfolio52.com a free service. Basically I was playing around with the typical donation model but unless you're gargantuan like Wikipedia, at the end of the day no one likes donating. So instead I decided that every year I would create something of value for you guys. It's a little bit of history, a little bit of fun, and the funds raised from sales hopefully get the site through to the next year. The pricing per single deck is slightly higher than normal but honestly once it gets into the combo sets it's pretty close to normal Kickstarter pricing given the gilding, engraving, custom die costs. This deck was actually more expensive than last year to produce given the extra gluing and acrylic paneling needed.

In regards to the style, yes I agree that it is DIFFERENT lol. That's what I was going for
The theme was the leading item that inspired the designs throughout with the chess/person relationship working on every side of the tuck. I think the big thing is that I wanted to stretch myself and didn't want to be too repetitive. The thing about the elegance people are talking about is that it almost always ends up being a pattern based fine print (foil/engraving) and I was trying to see if I could take it to a level that would be memorable, not just "nice". I didn't want another deck that was just "pattern". I knew it was going to be tricky to ground the intense colorization of the windows but I'm pretty proud of the end results. Getting a single red or blue filter to work is gimmicky, but getting a design to work on BOTH frequencies was a real challenge for me to get look right. I'm incredibly happy with how it turned out! (That might be in part because of how much work it took figuring out the designs lol).

At the end of the day this deck was about celebrating and growing the card collection market, and I didn't want to create a deck that was marked in history as "just another deck". This one might be polarizing for some, but honestly if I wasn't doing that, I wouldn't be doing my job as a growing artist

[Magistrate1500]

Hey guys! Just wanted to give you guys a little understanding about the project and how it came about!

Basically I make the NPCCD deck every year to raise donations to run hosting and pay devs. 100% of the proceeds go towards keeping Portfolio52.com a free service. Basically I was playing around with the typical donation model but unless you're gargantuan like Wikipedia, at the end of the day no one likes donating. So instead I decided that every year I would create something of value for you guys. It's a little bit of history, a little bit of fun, and the funds raised from sales hopefully get the site through to the next year. The pricing per single deck is slightly higher than normal but honestly once it gets into the combo sets it's pretty close to normal Kickstarter pricing given the gilding, engraving, custom die costs. This deck was actually more expensive than last year to produce given the extra gluing and acrylic paneling needed.

In regards to the style, yes I agree that it is DIFFERENT lol. That's what I was going for
The theme was the leading item that inspired the designs throughout with the chess/person relationship working on every side of the tuck. I think the big thing is that I wanted to stretch myself and didn't want to be too repetitive. The thing about the elegance people are talking about is that it almost always ends up being a pattern based fine print (foil/engraving) and I was trying to see if I could take it to a level that would be memorable, not just "nice". I didn't want another deck that was just "pattern". I knew it was going to be tricky to ground the intense colorization of the windows but I'm pretty proud of the end results. Getting a single red or blue filter to work is gimmicky, but getting a design to work on BOTH frequencies was a real challenge for me to get look right. I'm incredibly happy with how it turned out! (That might be in part because of how much work it took figuring out the designs lol).

At the end of the day this deck was about celebrating and growing the card collection market, and I didn't want to create a deck that was marked in history as "just another deck". This one might be polarizing for some, but honestly if I wasn't doing that, I wouldn't be doing my job as a growing artist

Well said and I can respect that for sure. The fact that you take the time to engage us on this forum about your thought process speaks volumes.

[Gonzalo]

Does anyone know how much is shipping to Europe?

[aznh]

It's not shocking to NOT see these decks sold out by now.

I think Magistrate1500 nailed it when they said,

have to wonder if the variant/foil/gilding is starting to run its course.

[theCapraAegagrus]

I really like Alex’s work and the deck looks amazing. However, as I sit here after 1:00am contemplating a purchase I’m reminded of the comic industry in 1991 and the hype around X-Men #1. I have about 10 or so copies of each variant. I was sure to make thousands off those books. I could barely get cover price for them now. It was the beginning of a downturn for the industry and pushback by consumers against the endless variant covers used to sell more books. I don’t collect cards for resale and understand this is very limited and benefits portfolio52 but I have to wonder if the variant/foil/guilding is starting to run its course. I agree it does feel very gimmicky.

Aside from agreeing with all of this, I don't like the 1-way backs on all the NPCCD decks.

The only annual deck I'm super interested in is the 52+ Joker Club Deck.

[vasta41]

I only bought one to keep the series going in my collection but I was even hesitant to do that at $40 a pop. But I like P52 so I did it. Wasn't feeling it like I had in previous years and that's not to say these decks aren't stunning. They're beautiful! I guess I might just have fatigue. Also:

The only annual deck I'm super interested in is the 52+ Joker Club Deck.

Yup.