PlayingCardForum.com - A Discourse For Playing Cards
Playing Card Chat ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ => Deck Reviews! => Topic started by: blastercast on January 06, 2013, 06:09:00 AM
-
Hello aether cards,
As my first review I would like to address the smoke and mirrors v7 boxset, recently released by Dan and Dave with reprints of v3 to v6 with slight variations and it contains a new deck "the v7 carbon edition"
The box that the cards are housed in is very well made, sturdy and a great display piece, it houses the modified D&D logo on either side, the same logo which as a whole is the largest change to each box of the cards.
When you open the box there is a signed certificate of authenticity which states the date they were printed, and also the individual number of your boxset.
The actual decks themselves are exquisite, albeit somewhat different from the original decks, the boxes on the front have the new D&D smoke and mirrors circle logo and the same fancy words "playing cards". The boxes are of a matte finish and depending on which deck the inside is styled to fit, the mirror deck is a reflective silver and the carbon edition has a musty black gloss interior. The backs on the boxes have no border and this creates a neat, clean look.
I will not review each deck individually for this is already a long review but I shall talk about them collectively.
Firstly the handling:
All 6 decks feature a brilliant finish and only took a minute or so to break in, I must say that that was something I rarely see. The cards don't clump after use because I've been using the Carbon edition deck for everything and they still handle like new. They fan extremely well and Faro shuffle unlike any other deck, you don't have to work at it they just weave together. For springs and dribbles the cards are fine and rigid, they work well for the anaconda.
Handling 5/5
Design:
Each of the smoke and Mirror decks have a really nice back design, although the recolouring didn't seem like much effort these really are beautiful in spreads, fans and flourishes. The v3 Smoke and the mirror deck have not had the back designs altered at all whereas the colour editions had the small circles above and below the middle removed to make for a cleaner look. The faces are pretty standard with recolouring to suit the deck and the face cards are recoloured standard ones. The ace of spades is recoloured but is the same ace in each deck, same with the jokers.
All in all the designs are extremely nice but the faces could have been the simplified ones.
Design 4/5
Performing with them:
These cards are excellent for magic. They really do handle well for all sorts of moves, double lifts, top controls, Erdnase changes and passes. I have performed nearly all my tricks but signed ones with them and they really do live up to what I expected off of Dan and Dave. Flourishing with them is the same, I covered it earlier in "handling".They have a great stock and finish to them to give them a great combination for flourishes, springs look vibrant, even charlier cuts look brilliant.
Performing quality 5/5
Overall these decks are excellent, they all have the same stock and finish, they have beautiful designs and handle perfectly. The only downside are the faces but since I marked them down on one they can only receive:
**** Four stars, nearly perfect but reprints are reprints
Thank you for reading
-
Great review, Blastercast. You could have gone longer if you felt there was more to cover, at least in my opinion - but reading does seem to be a lost art on many these days, so I understand your sentiments!
You're actually making me curious enough to consider buying a self-designed deck from D&D for the first time since Fulton's Chinatown! I did order a dozen Mystery Decks, but who knows what's in those, right? :)) I don't, since mine haven't arrived yet to my knowledge (I check the PO Box once or twice a week).
-
I may be mistaken, but to me, the v7 cards seemed to be a deal softer (stock-wise), compared to their predecessors. Another thing I liked about them were the idea with the seals, although it still took a little effort to cut along cleanly.
Also, I have the habit of peeling seals off and stick them elsewhere (Madison players sticker on my laptop right now). Couldn't do that with these though. However that's just me.
Nice comprehensive review there.
-
You're actually making me curious enough to consider buying a self-designed deck from D&D for the first time since Fulton's Chinatown! I did order a dozen Mystery Decks, but who knows what's in those, right? I don't, since mine haven't arrived yet to my knowledge (I check the PO Box once or twice a week).
Thank you for your comments Don, I might expand with photos soon but last night was uploading some videos to youtube :')
I must say, the overall quality of everything I have received off of Dan and Dave is incredible! The ace fultons casino deck is my trusty deck, always in a porper clip and it's so well made. The v7s are worth it if you can afford them, they are great as a set and truly well made!
although it still took a little effort to cut along cleanly
Once again thank you for the comments, I managed it on my second deck, the first one was a mess! Best method is a slice on one side with a knife then use your thumb nail to break the perforations. It was a truly excellent idea of theirs to do that though
-
Very nice written review dude, great job!
-
Very nice written review dude, great job!
Thank you very much :')
-
I finally did get my Mystery Decks, and one of them was Smoke from the V7 boxed set.
It was fine performance-wise - pretty much all USPC decks are these days, particularly the custom work.
What disappointed me was how absolutely plain the deck looked compared to earlier versions of S&M. 100% Bicycle standard. Might not have been as big a deal if the tweaked the colors more or better yet used the original, simpler courts that were the hallmark of the series through v6. While I've never handled the real v1-v3 decks, I own v4-v6 - it makes a difference visually. Even the pips look out of place, since D&D had been using "Perfect Pips" start to just-before-finish.
Considering that you probably didn't get the originals, you couldn't have factored that into the review. If one never owned them before, they wouldn't miss those finer details.
-
Considering that you probably didn't get the originals, you couldn't have factored that into the review. If one never owned them before, they wouldn't miss those finer details
Funnily enough I have handled v4 to v6 original and I am missing the simpler face cards and perfect pips :')
I must say though they are very durable
-Benny
-
Considering that you probably didn't get the originals, you couldn't have factored that into the review. If one never owned them before, they wouldn't miss those finer details
Funnily enough I have handled v4 to v6 original and I am missing the simpler face cards and perfect pips :')
I must say though they are very durable
-Benny
See what I mean? You agree! It's hard to say whether the Magic Finish is worth the loss of the original design. I'd say no.
-
Am personally kind of a fan (no pun intended :-[ ) of the stock. I do own V 4,5,6 and must agree in the matter of the faces. The older ones were quite enjoyable.
-
Great review blastercast! I too agree with some others that I miss the simplified court cards. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading your review and hope to see more by you.
-
I love the cards, but was disappointed they didn't come with gaffs like the earlier sets did.
-
Won't probably miss that as I never had the previous ones.
So, I guess I'll order one box. I was thinking about it, now I'm sure. Thanks
-
Won't probably miss that as I never had the previous ones.
So, I guess I'll order one box. I was thinking about it, now I'm sure. Thanks
No problem! I have some originals and they are slightly better but this is an exquisite set to own!
I love the cards, but was disappointed they didn't come with gaffs like the earlier sets did.
I was a bit annoyed by this myself but it was a very clean cut set made me not miss them, it's very well made!
thanks for the responses
-Benny
-
Thanks so much for the confirmation.
The great handling is what I look for as well the beauty of the cards.
-
Thanks so much for the confirmation.
The great handling is what I look for as well the beauty of the cards.
No problem! :D
I love my set, carry a deck every day, they all spend time in a porper since I'll never afford another set :')
-Benny
-
I picked up a set. I couldn't pass em up. I have back to the V4's (i still have about 1/2 a brick of the V6's left :) but for those of you that don't have em yet i know tannens is giving away an original V6 with purchase of the new box set. I didn't know this until after i bought mine >:( but thought i would share just in case. ;)
http://www.tannens.com/shop//cart.php?m=product_detail&p=9809
-
I also just order it from DD. I hope it will give me a great surprise.