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fenderdemon · « **Reply #50 on:** December 08, 2015, 11:58:20 AM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on November 28, 2015, 12:06:46 AM

Quote from: fenderdemon on November 27, 2015, 11:23:12 AM
Has anybody seen any of the BL playing cards, complete, with the exception of one Joker? Seems like standard faces. What do the AOS and courts look like?

Most of Blaine's decks have the same courts - his faces are mostly standard, but he replaced the faces of the court cards with people he knows. He's on the King of Spades, his girlfriend is on the Queen of Spades, Bill Kalush is on the King of Hearts, etc. Most decks designed for magicians and used by magicians will have faces that are standard or close to it - it's the familiarity factor for their spectators. Most T11 decks are standard faces, not counting the commissioned work that they do for other companies (NoMad, Rarebit, JAQK Wineries, etc.).

HI Don. I think you're used to my 'late' replies, by now! 😉

I knew that. Don't forget, I had a gross oF the MGGs. I posted a picture of them on another thread. Down to my last 10 bricks 😏 Tons of other DB decks, Variety Boxes, as well. I was one of the lucky 16. Can't wait to receive the Create Magic deck! Yeah, baby!

I was wondering whether he'd done anything different to the courts this time. Will they be 'normal' or metallic, as in the MGGs and the MRGs. The AOS will most probably be different, et cetera. Naturally, lots of new secrets were mentioned on his BL page.

Has anybody received theirs, yet? Any pictures??

BiggerDee · « **Reply #51 on:** December 10, 2015, 09:09:27 AM »

Mine were "picked up" 3 states over on 12/4 by USPS, but there hasn't been any tracking update beyond that. Tracking states Priority 2-day. It looks like Gambler's Warehouse is fulfilling them (I received shipment notifications from both Blaine's store and Gambler's on the same day, same tracking number).

Don Boyer · « **Reply #52 on:** December 10, 2015, 08:51:42 PM »

Quote from: BiggerDee on December 10, 2015, 09:09:27 AM

Mine were "picked up" 3 states over on 12/4 by USPS, but there hasn't been any tracking update beyond that. Tracking states Priority 2-day. It looks like Gambler's Warehouse is fulfilling them (I received shipment notifications from both Blaine's store and Gambler's on the same day, same tracking number).

Didn't someone announce a few days back that GW is doing Blaine's fulfillment? I recall Blaine was having problems with his fulfillment at one point, so hopefully this will put that to rest.

Cardfool · « **Reply #53 on:** December 10, 2015, 10:01:30 PM »

Yes, GW is doing fulfilment, but apparently USPC only initially sent GW enough decks to fulfil half their orders and then messed up on the second shipment to GW (sent the decks to another customer) and had to express another pallet to GW...as per Eddie, once they receive the decks, GW will expedite the orders

Don Boyer · « **Reply #54 on:** December 10, 2015, 11:41:31 PM »

Quote from: Cardfool on December 10, 2015, 10:01:30 PM

Yes, GW is doing fulfilment, but apparently USPC only initially sent GW enough decks to fulfil half their orders and then messed up on the second shipment to GW (sent the decks to another customer) and had to express another pallet to GW...as per Eddie, once they receive the decks, GW will expedite the orders

"Another customer?" Imagine being the lucky guy who has half of all the Black Lions show up on his doorstep...

Magic_Orthodoxy · « **Reply #55 on:** December 12, 2015, 02:17:47 PM »

The "other customer" was Focus Mailing - DB/GW has only physically "shipped" 8 cases - the rest of those tracking numbers were generated but no physical packages have been mailed

Blockheads88 · « **Reply #56 on:** December 12, 2015, 10:13:09 PM »

Looks like they shipped out today!!!!!

Tracking number Updated and I should Have Tuesday.

FYI - I am in NY.

BiggerDee · « **Reply #57 on:** December 14, 2015, 11:01:54 AM »

No update on my tracking number...still the same "Picked up" that it's shown since the 4th. A "Hey we've had some issues, sorry for the delay" e-mail would have been nice. I'm anxious to get these and check them out.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #58 on:** December 15, 2015, 02:16:03 AM »

Received an email 12 days ago announcing they were "shipped." Checked the link in the email a moment ago to see the status online - no, they HAVEN'T shipped, not yet... Wrote to them asking for an update, included my "official signature" in hopes I might get a more prompt reply.

Official sig:

Don Boyer
Vice-President/Director of Digital Media
52 Plus Joker

Main Site: 52PlusJoker.com
Forum: PlayingCardForum.com

ksi · « **Reply #59 on:** December 15, 2015, 09:20:01 AM »

I am happy to share that my shipping status got some progress couple of hours ago. (Before this, it was idle since 4Dec).

It is now "arrived at USPS facility".

Hope everyone should have progress as well soon.

PrincessTrouble · « **Reply #60 on:** December 15, 2015, 11:02:50 AM »

I ordered the day they were released and haven't even gotten a tracking number. I guess I wasn't part of the 500 pre-printed shipping labels. Hoping to get a shipping notice soon, though.

GBrown · « **Reply #61 on:** December 15, 2015, 12:57:53 PM »

Latest response from Gamblers to my queries:

'Not yet but hopefully this week'. Quite literally as blunt as that (in response to my Q as to whether any decks had actually shipped yet.

When prompted as to why they haven't updated people out of courtesy, response as follows

'Its the duty of the seller. we are just the fulfillment company and still did post in forums'.

OK then...........

BiggerDee · « **Reply #62 on:** December 15, 2015, 02:23:54 PM »

Wow, that's an interesting response. I can see their point, but still...

On that note, I contacted the Blaine store and asked what was going on with my order. Should be interesting to see the response, if there is one.

fenderdemon · « **Reply #63 on:** December 15, 2015, 05:10:40 PM »

Received this earlier today: -

"...Hello Raymond,

Your order without Black Lions has been shipped. Sorry about the confusion regarding the Black Lions delay. Your tracking number for order #***** has already been shipped and should be there any day.
Your Black Lions order is shipping this week.

Sincerely,

Customer Service
dborders@davidblaine.com ..."

Tracking numbers ALL show as 'Not Found' on USPS's website, as of typing this post.

I also know Madison is the KOD, yet again along with a couple of other court changes.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #64 on:** December 15, 2015, 11:26:51 PM »

Here's a bit of irony for you... I complain about the cards not being here, I check my mail after work before the PO opens (they have 24-hour lobby access for box holders and use of the automated kiosk), they're sitting in my PO Box... They were there while I was typing my complaint!

Bizarre that the tracking numbers don't seem to be really tracking anything in a useful manner.

fenderdemon · « **Reply #65 on:** December 15, 2015, 11:48:35 PM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on December 15, 2015, 11:26:51 PM

Here's a bit of irony for you... I complain about the cards not being here, I check my mail after work before the PO opens (they have 24-hour lobby access for box holders and use of the automated kiosk), they're sitting in my PO Box... They were there while I was typing my complaint!

Bizarre that the tracking numbers don't seem to be really tracking anything in a useful manner.

Oh, that's priceless!!! Hahaha 😂 😂 😂

So, what do you think of them, Don? Some nice pictures, perchance??

Don Boyer · « **Reply #66 on:** December 16, 2015, 12:45:21 AM »

Quote from: fenderdemon on December 15, 2015, 11:48:35 PM

Quote from: Don Boyer on December 15, 2015, 11:26:51 PM
Here's a bit of irony for you... I complain about the cards not being here, I check my mail after work before the PO opens (they have 24-hour lobby access for box holders and use of the automated kiosk), they're sitting in my PO Box... They were there while I was typing my complaint!

Bizarre that the tracking numbers don't seem to be really tracking anything in a useful manner.

Oh, that's priceless!!! Hahaha

So, what do you think of them, Don? Some nice pictures, perchance??

Gimme a chance to open them! :-P

UPDATE: I cracked them open. I've already started to decipher the markings on the back - it is indeed a marked deck! I've found and interpreted the suit markings and will post some photos when I've made progress on the values.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #67 on:** December 16, 2015, 06:10:33 AM »

OK, I have fully cracked the marking system on the Black Lions. It's very similar to that of the White Lions, but with a few noteworthy differences.

First, I'll upload some photos - note the labels I shall give them.

First, the four deuces. Then look at the upper left corners of the back designs of each deuce. I've isolated four of the split-spade designs in each, and you'll notice that along the center line, one of each of them is lighter than the other three. That's the indicator for suit - the position of the lighter split-spade tells you if the card is a spade, heart, club or diamond.

Continued next post.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #68 on:** December 16, 2015, 06:14:15 AM »

Now, on to the values...

Before, you had to look for the linework in the center of each split spade in a diagonal line in order to determine value. Now, you're looking instead at the GAP BETWEEN the diagonal lines of the split spades. Two gaps (or in the case of the aces, one line) will be wider than the others. It's hard to spot with the eye but you can train yourself to see it and it's especially obvious if you sort the cards by value, then perform a riffle test on the entire deck in that sorted state. I've drawn a black line at the start of each wider gap and angled it in the direction of the gap that indicates the card's value. This will take three posts in total to show you all the values - the examples given are all diamonds...

Don Boyer · « **Reply #69 on:** December 16, 2015, 06:15:10 AM »

Part two of three...

Don Boyer · « **Reply #70 on:** December 16, 2015, 06:16:25 AM »

Part three of three. Forgive the crude drawing - I only have a simple drawing tool, Seashore. I did notice something interesting about the pattern. Looked at as vertical lines of split spades, there's a pattern which alternates as two columns pointing up, two columns pointing down, two up, two down, etc. I think it was only one column each in the original White Lions, no? I'm going just by memory, I don't have a pack in front of me.

ksi · « **Reply #71 on:** December 16, 2015, 06:47:17 AM »

This is amazing!
Great job, Don!! Thank you very much!!

I personally not prefer marked deck. Because I would like to play card games with friends. But it seems not a big problem for me on this deck. Coz I am not sensitive on the lighter/darker nor thinner/thicker and it is very difficult for me to recognise those marks.

fenderdemon · « **Reply #72 on:** December 16, 2015, 09:11:34 AM »

Good posts, Don! Thank you :-)

BiggerDee · « **Reply #73 on:** December 16, 2015, 11:49:16 AM »

Good work/posts, Don! Thank you!

I never received a response to my inquiry to the Blain store, but in the last hour, my tracking number has updated to a "Departed NTX" (USPS shipping center in TX) status with a delivery in 3 days.

fenderdemon · « **Reply #74 on:** December 16, 2015, 08:44:47 PM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on December 16, 2015, 06:14:15 AM

Now, on to the values...

Before, you had to look for the linework in the center of each split spade in a diagonal line in order to determine value. Now, you're looking instead at the GAP BETWEEN the diagonal lines of the split spades. Two gaps (or in the case of the aces, one line) will be wider than the others. It's hard to spot with the eye but you can train yourself to see it and it's especially obvious if you sort the cards by value, then perform a riffle test on the entire deck in that sorted state. I've drawn a black line at the start of each wider gap and angled it in the direction of the gap that indicates the card's value. This will take three posts in total to show you all the values - the examples given are all diamonds...

Hey Don

I've attached a picture of the back of the 7♦️ (WL SB B). Would you mind using your marker (or MS Paint) to show where the value would be, please, because I can't see for looking 😉

Thank you :-)