Encarded - Another playing card company steps forward

[Paul Carpenter]

I also posted a preview of the complete back design and each suit. Still working out a couple details but we are getting there. Just check the site.

[Lushbob]

I also posted a preview of the complete back design and each suit. Still working out a couple details but we are getting there. Just check the site.

Wow, they look amazing. I honestly can't wait to own one of these decks. Or three of them. 

[dee1orean]

I'm liking this project, Paul, I think you have the patience of a saint. I'd have told #F where to go, I know he made some useful comments but some of his comments bordered on personal insults which is not on. But hey, we'll see what he's capable of if\when we see his project.

I've watched your trailer and am very impressed and excited to see this project develope.

In the trailer you mention 2000 decks on kickstarter, will the print run be bigger with decks available from your website? I hope so as you risk disappointing a lot of collectors who may want to add this deck to their collection.

[Don Boyer]

In the trailer you mention 2000 decks on kickstarter, will the print run be bigger with decks available from your website? I hope so as you risk disappointing a lot of collectors who may want to add this deck to their collection.

...thus making them all the more sought after?

There's a reason why many decks are done in short print runs.  These things COST MONEY, dude!  Don't forget, as well - a larger deck project will trigger IRS withholding.  If making a shorter run ensures that the deck has a greater chance of success, FANTASTIC, make the shorter run.  It beats nothing getting made at all.

[Paul Carpenter]

I've thought about this a LOT, and I do mean a lot. Like, more than a lot. And in the end I decided that for my first project, my primary goal is to a.) make something pretty great b.) produce a number that allows me a high chance of success (so that I can move onto deck #2) and c.) keep the deck desirable so that in the future when Encarded is on deck 4 or 5 people look back and say "damn I wish I had one of those Tendril decks!"

My current plan is to produce 2500. I have to run my spreadsheets against all the various rewards and the final quote from USPCC, but if I can clear about half those via Kickstarter the project would be a success. I hope that Tendril will be good enough that I can beat the goal by a wide margin, which will make everything easier down the road. I'm planning on having a fair number of decks left over after the Kickstarter, which I can sell direct via my own website and use in contests and promotions.

I really have a vision for how all this could work down the road but want to ensure that #1 hits it right and is a success, setting up everything else. My head is already busting with deck #2 but I've got to get Tendril done right to make it all worthwhile.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and supportive comments, this is a supremely fun and inspiring project and I really hope to be around for a while making awesome stuff.

[loldudex2]

For your first backs, these look beautiful, and I can't wait to pick up a few if my wallet allows it.

[Evan]

These look incredible and there has clearly been a ton of work put into them.
But my one worry it that there is too much ink and that will make the cards not last long and just not be too good.

[Paul Carpenter]

Well any deck that USPCC makes starts with the same white papers, so my design would be no different from any other deck with close to full coverage inks, like any black deck currently out. I fully expect tendril to handle and last as well as any deck out, especially with the quality stock and magic finish we plan on using.

[Evan]

Well any deck that USPCC makes starts with the same white papers, so my design would be no different from any other deck with close to full coverage inks, like any black deck currently out. I fully expect tendril to handle and last as well as any deck out, especially with the quality stock and magic finish we plan on using.

What stock will you be using?

[moonexe]

I have noticed with my new shadow masters that the ink makes the deck slightly thicker and noticeably stiffer, which is something I don't especially enjoy. Others might not mind a stiffer deck, though, so that point is a matter of personal preference.

Either way, just like I wouldn't hesitate to buy shadow masters again because of how nice they look, I'll be sure to buy this deck regardless of the ink issues. Sometimes you gotta do some compromises.

[Paul Carpenter]

What stock will you be using?

As of today, Aristocrat + Magic finish

[Evan]

What stock will you be using?

As of today, Aristocrat + Magic finish

I don't think Aristocrat can handle that much ink. Its a soft stock to begin with and I just have a feeling it would break down very fast.

[Paul Carpenter]

Hmm, well I'll have to discuss that with USPCC. Thanks for the heads up.

[Evan]

Hmm, well I'll have to discuss that with USPCC. Thanks for the heads up.

Your welcome. I think maybe Bee Casino or Bike Casino would be better with that much ink

[xela]

Bike Casino no longer exists apparently

[Robert Butler]

Indeed MagicAddictz is very right, If you soak that much ink into a thin stock, the deck will wear down way too fast!  I urge you against that.

[moonexe]

Bike Casino no longer exists apparently

Isn't it what the new E decks(Artifice, Infinity and LTD) are printed on?

[Robert Butler]

no, those are on all bicycle casino

[moonexe]

Which is exactly what I said...

[Don Boyer]

Well, someone recently told me that Tally Ho decks have a variant of Aristocrat stock - with the move to Kentucky, they no longer have the old Tally Ho stock.  I'd say the new Tallys are casino grade versions of the stock; it's hard to knock the quality, for one, and you know that new Tallys are much firmer than new Aristo reprints.

[Paul Carpenter]

My custom contact at USPCC offered Bicycle, Aristocrat and Bee (casino grade). Going with the Bee requires a larger run, and extra 4-6 delivery time as they outsource the tuck boxes. I get the feeling there are about a dozen "variants" of these stocks that mysteriously appear for certain clients and then go away...

[Robert Butler]

@Xmetal yep 


The only difference in them tho are moisture content.   

[Don Boyer]

Well, there's a number of factors that affect a stock.  First of all, any stock isn't 100% consistent in quality to start with.  Second, the black glue layer, in addition to the laminates and inks used in printing, affect the deck's performance.  Even the temperature and humidity at which the stock is stored is a factor in the quality of the finished product.  You could easily create custom variants of any card stock by tweaking these factors when producing your deck.

[IAmTheChin]

Complete side note here. Saw your promo video on 52 cartes. Really clean with a good pitch. Liked it a lot. Although admittedly "Symmetrical, yet not" sounded a bit silly in context lol.

[Don Boyer]

My custom contact at USPCC offered Bicycle, Aristocrat and Bee (casino grade). Going with the Bee requires a larger run, and extra 4-6 delivery time as they outsource the tuck boxes. I get the feeling there are about a dozen "variants" of these stocks that mysteriously appear for certain clients and then go away...

The Bee is one of their most popular stocks, with designers and casinos - could that also be a factor in the long wait time?


As far as stocks mysteriously appearing for some and not others, well - it's possible, but remember they don't actually make the paper.  They deal with suppliers, the paper isn't always consistent, and occasionally certain grades may temporarily go out of stock for an indefinite time.  They're slaves to the paper mills in that respect, unless they want to get into the paper business themselves - an unlikely possibility, since they likely rely on many different suppliers giving them papers made from wood from all around the country, if not the world.