UnitedCardists.com - The forum for Cardistry, Magic, Custom Decks and All Things Playing Cards.

Ellusionist emailed the Black Club yesterday, giving us another free deck call the Sleepers. This is the only picture I can find anywhere of it.



I got 2 day shipping, so I'll post pics of the actual deck as soon as I get my hands on it.

I think they are about to put to sleep all Black club members

I like the pips but for God's sake- NO MORE MADISON!!

I agree ^, enough Madison already!

So what would push one to join the black club.. They say you get 12 free decks minimum a year.. but you are not you have paid 147$ for those 12 decks ($12 a deck average, so not really free) All you are doing is giving all your money to E while i can buy those same decks cheaper when they come out. Like the Steeler deck it cost me $7 plus shipping but it would cost $12 plus shipping for a Black club member. Wow great advantage hehehe.
They would have to release about 20 decks a year for the club member to pay about $7 a deck plus shipping which i doubt they will ever do. What other wonderful perks do they offer? That $147 doesn't seem to get you anything worth while

badpete69 wrote: That $147 doesn't seem to get you anything worth while

Except a seemingly endless supply of Gold Arcane uncuts, right Jay?

Obvious joke:

Maybe the Ellusionist moles (not to be confused with the Ellusionist mols) were reading the other thread

vasta41 wrote:

badpete69 wrote: That $147 doesn't seem to get you anything worth while

Except a seemingly endless supply of Gold Arcane uncuts, right Jay?

Oh, don't get me started lol

It's so convenient that they are offering free shipping to everyone on April 22, by that time you won't be able to get the free deck along with free shipping.

jerichoholic wrote:It's so convenient that they are offering free shipping to everyone on April 22, by that time you won't be able to get the free deck along with free shipping.

Actually you can. You can ship your free deck with your order over 75$ to get the free shipping.

I'm not a big fan of E.. but free world wide shipping is absolutely awesome!

Well, they just came in. Here are the pics:





In my opinion the best thing about this deck is the pips. I can't stand the back design, so that kind of ruins it for me. The deck handles nice, though. When you faro, however, feels weird. The way I faro the cards gets them interlaced very quickly but on this deck they don't really interlace unless you move the packets around until you find the sweet spot. If you have any questions about the deck or want a couple more pictures of something specific then just ask/say so.

Bonus pic of a giant fan:

I'll admit that's not what I was expecting.

My goodness. If this was launched through KS, this wouldn't fund.

runit wrote:My goodness. If this was launched through KS, this wouldn't fund.

That was my exact thought Their design team are lucky they don't have to go through KS!

No wonder it's free, seems they only give out the really lame decks for free, so far this and Lion's Den. Membership is so not worth it right now.

Haha you really need to work on your giant fan XD, but yea this deck is disappointing, i love the style, but the execution of everything is bad, ok maybe the tuckbox is decent

Well on the plus side it doesn't have Madison faces and it is completely custom. Did Madison actually design this or was it someone else?

jerichoholic wrote:Well on the plus side it doesn't have Madison faces and it is completely custom. Did Madison actually design this or was it someone else?

It says on the box "An Oban Jones design", so I don't think DM made it but its in the Madison Presents line of cards.

I like the back . Not a huge fan of the court cards though.

From his Facebook page he kind of looks like Madison, lol. What is it with everyone and beards nowadays?

I thought Ellusionist has a good taste of design (Except for the madison decks), but now then I see this and I realised I was wrong. I miss the time when they released decks like Arcane, Fathom, Ignite...

jerichoholic wrote:From his Facebook page he kind of looks like Madison, lol. What is it with everyone and beards nowadays?

They've got girlfriends telling them to grow one. I speak from experience...

MagikFingerz wrote:

jerichoholic wrote:From his Facebook page he kind of looks like Madison, lol. What is it with everyone and beards nowadays?

They've got girlfriends telling them to grow one. I speak from experience...

Just be sure to keep it properly groomed. I'm secure enough to admit that a man with a nicely trimmed beard is usually a handsome person. However, when you have a scraggly rats nest a la Madison or any number of hipsters out on the streets, that shiznit needs to go.

However, it has been my personal experience that women really love that I use a straight razor. Whenever they find out they seemingly can't wait to watch / assist. It's as if holding ones life in their hands with a blade to your throat is an aphrodisiac. And really there is nothing like a good clean proper shave. I wear a goatee but wouldn't be able to stand a full beard. Since I started using straight razors and proper shaving soap I actually enjoy shaving.


Anyway, as for the Madison deck. I'd say it's called sleepers because, "*yawn* another Madison deck..."

After seeing the pictures of the Sleepers deck from Frimann79, I can honestly say that now I regret signing up to Ellusionist Black Club. Is this what most customers that signed up with E, have to look forward too?

Most people want decks that they would actually use in the real world. This example of "special releases" is another blow to E. They obviously don't have any brains to what their clients in the magic world want.

They come out with a "Steel Deck" and then email all of us to say your not entitled to this deck because it is a limited edition.

This will be the last and only time I sign up to Ellusionist's "so called" amazing deals for 2015. What a joke...

Looks like Madison has something to do with the deck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E63ispe ... llusionist" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I totally agree with double_left. I got suckered into getting a membership due to the discount that was offered towards the end of December and the promise of 12-20 "free" decks despite all the complaints from the forums. From now on if they only show a glimpse of a deck I won't bother buying out of curiosity. Big letdown so far on all their "free" decks and that Steelers deck was also a sleeper. What? A photo of a steel grate....their creativity is down the drain IMHP. I really was looking forward to buying some Gold Artifice decks so I think I will just bid on eBay for them instead of shelling out for another membership. I could save that money for awesome Kickstarter projects from the best deck designers in the business.

double_left wrote:After seeing the pictures of the Sleepers deck from Frimann79, I can honestly say that now I regret signing up to Ellusionist Black Club. Is this what most customers that signed up with E, have to look forward too?

Most people want decks that they would actually use in the real world. This example of "special releases" is another blow to E. They obviously don't have any brains to what their clients in the magic world want.

They come out with a "Steel Deck" and then email all of us to say your not entitled to this deck because it is a limited edition.

This will be the last and only time I sign up to Ellusionist's "so called" amazing deals for 2015. What a joke...

We feel your pain. In many cases we still feel our own pain from 2013 and 2014 too.

They really don't seem to have learnt anything from this - sell an essentially $150 "membership" and then don't deliver. They did it in the first year, then 'apologised' with a special printing of Gold Artifice decks. They did it in the second year, and then apologised offering the 'free decks' promise. My feeling - and I believe many others - is simply displayed by not fooling for it again. IF, and that is a big IF, they actually deliver something worth at least that value this year, I will consider signing up again. ...but that's not something I'm expecting.

Gareth, I totally understand. I'm glad I didn't sign up two years ago and feel the same disappointment as some have felt over the years.

I can understand if they said to new and returning members, that your $150 membership included all decks shipped to your door for FREE. Postage on them. I would think a lot more people would appreciate such a great gesture from E, but that would never happen. Maybe next year!

Businesses are always looking to expand their business and make more money, but it seems that E has become desperate these past few months and we all see it. Now look, their offering free worldwide shipping on April 22nd for any orders $75. Why can't they say, free shipping in general..... Is it because they'd start to lose money and we all know Brad Christain has overhead to pay and most likely royalties to Madison, McKinnon and so forth.....

I'm going to continue to take the "Free" decks, but after this year I'll never give them another penny.

It's sad they came out with a whole bunch of new Black Club items, but common, $75 for a signed white LTD or $100 for a Lions Den deck that costs $5. The signature on a deck doesn't justify $75 or $100.

If they continue like this, Ellusionist will be another dead zone...
That's just my two cents...