El Recuerdo Playing Cards On KS

[vasta41]

Deck features:
- 52 poker size playing cards + 2 Joker cards
- 100% custom design of cards and tuck box
- Embossing and foil on the tuck box as a stretch goal
- Custom tuck seal
- Printed at the highest quality by the NPCC
- Exclusively on the Kickstarter









I like everything about this deck except how all the red pips aren't red but even more so, NPCC printing. Ugh. Here's a preview link that can be updated after go-live which is tomorrow on Wednesday, May 9 (Los Angeles 10am PST, NY 1pm EDT, London 6pm GMT+).

[wingedpotato]

They'd been getting feedback on the Custom Deck Draft board, but never showed the red face cards. Have to agree it looks a little odd, but not enough to put me off.

[PipChick]

that back design really is a huge improvement from the first design shown, and those warm earthy-yellow colors play so well with the muted green tones.

And since there's so much of the green, I think another color gives the palette just enough contrast to pop so I'd also agree that adding red to the diamond and heart pips would suit well.

Overall, this deck has really turned out great

[sinjin7]

Why does this have to be printed by NPCC? I'm not a fan of the tuck, but the rest of the deck is quite nice. I really like the back design and the color scheme for the entire deck. The custom courts have a Jackson vibe to them, which is a good thing. I'd like more prominent red indices and pips for the Hearts and Diamonds for better playability, but I can live with what's there. What I can't live with is NPCC, que lastima. . .

[JacksandJokers]

Now live

[Oscar53955]

I was so excited about this project, being Mexican myself. But seeing the prices, I’m kind of turned away by this project. $16 for a shipped early bird deck printed by NPCC?! I don’t know about that...

I backed the golden age project. That was $11 per deck with shipping to the U.S included. Don’t know why it’s not included this time around

[wingedpotato]

I was surprised to see the hefty shipping fee added to my pledge. Holding onto it for now, but may have to reconsider, as much as I love this design.

[badpete69]

Why does this have to be printed by NPCC? I'm not a fan of the tuck, but the rest of the deck is quite nice. I really like the back design and the color scheme for the entire deck. The custom courts have a Jackson vibe to them, which is a good thing. I'd like more prominent red indices and pips for the Hearts and Diamonds for better playability, but I can live with what's there. What I can't live with is NPCC, que lastima. . .

Sinjin buddy question for you... I am intrigued by the NPCC comment. Now i do not know how many decks you buy but when i was buying almost everything out there, there was no way I could play with every deck I bought. When I say play I mean playing card games and mostly poker and usually I use standard decks for my tournaments. There has been many beautiful decks over the years that i have used in other card games and also there has been many decks that I have not opened for my collection. Now I am sure that cardists and magicians use a lot of the decks they buy but isn't there some decks you would collect just for the overall look and art, decks that you would not necessarily use in a card game, a deck such as this one? Plus I don't see this as a cardist deck so how would the quality of NPCC affect any games you would play with this deck if you indeed did use it

I rarely found myself saying Vegas hmmmm these cards are not on crushed linen finish stock .....

Then again I have never played with a NPCC deck so maybe the quality (or lack thereof) is indeed noticeable

[Spectre]

I know the question was posed to Sinjin, but I would like to share my thoughts on the matter.

As a collector, I agree with everything you said with one minor change. When I hold tournaments or other card games, I use a red and blue Monarchs. I think they add a touch of class and I usually have a brick or two stashed away. As for the decks in my collection, they don't get opened. As a matter of fact, it has become a running (not so funny) joke that someone is going to "Crack open #7 of 7". (In reference to my Federal 52 Legacy deck, one of my more rare decks on display.)

When it comes to my collection, I don't care personally too much about the playability of these decks. I do care about the artwork of the deck and especially the tuck. In addition to a number of other things that add value to the deck, even if it's only in my mind. But I do understand, if a deck is deemed a good players deck, they tend to hold their value more.

NPCC, I think, can and does produce great decks for collectors like myself and I own a number of them. Often the artwork is good (usually a credit to the designer/artist) and the printing is good (a credit to NPCC). My main issue, and this is going to sound really lame, is that the cellophane used to wrap the decks is so much thicker than the other producers. Often this thicker cellophane, while clear, is just a touch cloudy and in combination these two things tend to hide the great artwork beneath that plastic wrap and, at least to me, makes the deck feel really cheap. Of all the NPCC decks I own in my collection, very rarely, if at all are any on display.

I see great artist on KS that design good decks and I pledge for them. Then when I get them, I'm let down, not by the artwork. Not by the print. It is usually by the feel and sight of the crazy shrink wrap they put on the decks.

Hey, I said it was a lame excuse. But, am I the only one that is annoyed that the Blue JAQKs have that gold band around the cellophane while none of the other JAQKs do.....?????

Anyway, this deck is an example of that for me. I like the artwork, I've pledged for a couple of decks. But i just know I'm going to be disappointed when they come with that BS they will wrap this wonderful deck in.

[Räpylätassu]

I really like this deck and I have no issue with the NPCC printing. But 17 € for one deck?

I think that I try to get on from aftermarket.

[Bradius]

That was an interesting reply Spectre, and I kind of agree with you. I hadn’t really thought of it like you have. But as I thought about your comment, I realized NPCC does put that thick, cloudy wrap on their decks. Yeah, looks cheap to me and yes it does make me less inclined to show off the deck. That is a shame.

Still, $29 for two decks. That is a little pricy, but I am in for a pair.

[sinjin7]

Sinjin buddy question for you... I am intrigued by the NPCC comment. Now i do not know how many decks you buy but when i was buying almost everything out there, there was no way I could play with every deck I bought.

sn't there some decks you would collect just for the overall look and art, decks that you would not necessarily use in a card game, a deck such as this one?

Then again I have never played with a NPCC deck so maybe the quality (or lack thereof) is indeed noticeable

I play in a weekly poker game on Wednesday nights with 6-10 regulars in any given week. We rotate homes to host the poker nights, but I've become the guy to provide the cards every week, and I bring at least a couple of different custom decks per night. I also usually play more casual games like Hearts or BS on weekends with family and friends. But even with this frequency of card use, my collection has grown to the point where I haven't used every deck for games. And maybe I'll never get around to using a good portion of my collection for card games, but it's always nice to know I have the option to do so with any given deck, and that they're both playable and handle well. Again, my philosophy is why buy a stunning deck but never be able to enjoy or use them? I buy multiples of 99% of all my decks just so that I can open every deck and at least fool around with them for some basic cardistry moves to fully enjoy their beauty, if not use in actual card games, and still have at least a few to remain sealed for my collection. The only exceptions are pre-1970's vintage decks, those I keep sealed.

I guess I and my poker group are snobs as far as how cards handle for games. We prefer cards to be easily shuffled and glide across the table effortlessly as the cards are dealt. The moment a deck gets too clumpy or sticky for our tastes (or if a corner gets bent) we'll switch out the decks. The last NPCC deck I used for poker night, the Midgard decks, got discarded after maybe only an hour of use because they stopped being smooth and clumped up. The quality is just not there.

My understanding is that NPCC decks are cheaper to produce than USPCC or EPCC/LPCC or Carta Mundi, so when I see high prices like we see for the El Recuerdo deck, it just screams money grab to me. Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge anyone from trying to make as much money as they can with their playing cards, but with prices this high along with quality this low, I won't be participating.

[Sviatoslav Pashchuk]

Hello guys!
Thank you for the interest to this campaign and for the support that’ve already given.
I would like to comment on the price of the deck. Actually, the price for the production, in comparison with the USPCC, is not as low as you imagine. NPCC is constantly improving their quality and thus it is normal when they put the higher price for production too.
It is a mistake when you say I make money on these decks - this is more a hobby, than a “job” that gives me money. Could you imagine that I get only 1000$ (from the basic goal) for the project I’ve been creating for more than 6 months? If you know the prices for digital artworks, then you’ll agree it is not the honorarium that can make me rich :)There are so many things we have to include in such projects that the real profit is really not high. Maybe in the near future something changes, but as for now this is the real picture. Also this year the price for shipping from my country has become almost twice higher and I can’t ignore this. In the previous project shipping costs were included in the project’s goal, now I ask you to add these into your pledges.
Anyway, you’re welcome to support my project(s) as I try to do my best and create beautiful and original arts for you.

[sms69x]

I would like to comment on the price of the deck. Actually, the price for the production, in comparison with the USPCC, is not as low as you imagine.

This being true I see no reason for you not to go with USPCC. With such a stunning artwork, as it is, and with USPCC tag on this deck, it would have been already funded by a good margin.

NPCC is constantly improving their quality and thus it is normal when they put the higher price for production too.

I think this sentence very hard to believe... Sure they may be upping their prices, but when it comes to quality.. Well maybe they forget about it.


In the end this is your deck and is your project, if you're ok with it being a lesser product than it shouldn't matter that much what printer you choose, but I would love to own this deck printed by USPCC, I really wished that.

[theCapraAegagrus]

I would like to comment on the price of the deck. Actually, the price for the production, in comparison with the USPCC, is not as low as you imagine.

This being true I see no reason for you not to go with USPCC. With such a stunning artwork, as it is, and with USPCC tag on this deck, it would have been already funded by a good margin.

NPCC is constantly improving their quality and thus it is normal when they put the higher price for production too.

I think this sentence very hard to believe... Sure they may be upping their prices, but when it comes to quality.. Well maybe they forget about it.


In the end this is your deck and is your project, if you're ok with it being a lesser product than it shouldn't matter that much what printer you choose, but I would love to own this deck printed by USPCC, I really wished that.

I think that NPCC's quality is underrated. They're not as good as USPCC, EPCC, or Cartamundi, but they're also not light years below them. I think that NPCC is constantly, trying at least, to make their products better and more competitive.

sms is correct that brand whores will buy this deck if printed by USPCC, regardless of whether or not the deck will actually be any better for it.

[vasta41]

I would back this deck 100% if it we're USPCC.

[sms69x]

I think that NPCC is constantly, trying at least, to make their products better and more competitive.

While this maybe true, I see no point for them to charge the same premium prices as other companies. I don't ask my boss a rise because I am trying to be better employee, I ask him a rise when I know I am better.

Just to add to my point I took out my collection of Nicolai Aaroe's decks, which are all printed by NPCC, and the one that isn't that bad for handling is still the Indictus deck, printed back in 2015, so 3 years later and they arw charging more and delivering crappy decks... Must add, they improved on the tuck boxes

[TheGentlemanWake]

I like this deck generally... BUT i have a few qualms.... firstly, they feel really busy and not in the Jackson Robinson kind of way. I think this is due to the different art styles present. The faces are almost pop art/clip art looking. As if traced from real images. And a currency based etching design would probably be better and more cohesive. But admittedly harder to pull off. Additionally the different deck versions are JUST NOT different enough. Why not change up the tonalities. Rather than green ink make it navy ink on one deck etc. Finally the back designs should be completely different NOT just colorways with iconography that matches the title of each deck. ANyway my 2 cents. Good luck.

[sinjin7]

Hello guys!
Thank you for the interest to this campaign and for the support that’ve already given.
I would like to comment on the price of the deck. Actually, the price for the production, in comparison with the USPCC, is not as low as you imagine. NPCC is constantly improving their quality and thus it is normal when they put the higher price for production too.

I appreciate the fact that you came here to defend your deck. When comparing cost of production between USPCC and NPCC, you have to compare apples to apples. I've seen other artists use this false analogy in the past when protesting against allegations of profit mongering, where they say, "the cost of a USPCC deck is X dollars per deck and NPCC (or EPCC/LPCC) is Y dollars per deck. See? It's pretty close so I'm not really making that much more with the "cheaper" printer!" What they fail to disclose is the X dollar quote from the USPCC is based upon a 5000+ deck print run versus a Y dollar quote from the NPCC for a 1000 deck print run. When you compare 1000 deck run prices for both printers, there is a significant difference. If the prices were truly close, then why would one ever go with NPCC?

I love it when people say, "the quality of NPCC (or EPCC/LPCC) is constantly improving!" Let's pause for a moment to think that through. Why are they "constantly improving" their quality? It's because the quality is low to start with, that's why they're trying to catch up.

I think that NPCC's quality is underrated. They're not as good as USPCC, EPCC, or Cartamundi, but they're also not light years below them. I think that NPCC is constantly, trying at least, to make their products better and more competitive.

Underrated?!? Only a collector would make this statement, because certainly no cardist, magician, or card mechanic would. Sure, the printing quality is fine, as is the stock, so if all you're ever going to do is just look at the deck, that's enough. If you're actually going to use the deck, whether for cardistry, magic, or even poker, there's nothing "underrated" about the quality of the finish and handling of NPCC decks. I think we pretty much accurately call out the crappy handling for the crap that it is. And this is not a subjective opinion based upon me being a "brand whore". It's an objective opinion based upon the fact I've been collecting for over 15 years, have over 1000 sealed decks in my collection, and have open, handled, and used thousands of decks from every single major printer (and most minor printers) in the past decade. NPCC may not be "light years" below USPCC, but their finish and handling is closer to bargain dollar store decks than they are to EPCC, especially after a few hours of use.

Why am I making such a big issue about this? It's because I really like this deck. I'd like for it to join my collection. I'd like to put it into the queue of decks to be used for poker night. I think the back pattern and colors would be conducive to attractive fans and spreads. But none of this is going to happen because this beautiful deck will be produced by an inferior quality printer who's price is allegedly about the same as the USPCC.

[theCapraAegagrus]

Hello guys!
Thank you for the interest to this campaign and for the support that’ve already given.
I would like to comment on the price of the deck. Actually, the price for the production, in comparison with the USPCC, is not as low as you imagine. NPCC is constantly improving their quality and thus it is normal when they put the higher price for production too.

I appreciate the fact that you came here to defend your deck. When comparing cost of production between USPCC and NPCC, you have to compare apples to apples. I've seen other artists use this false analogy in the past when protesting against allegations of profit mongering, where they say, "the cost of a USPCC deck is X dollars per deck and NPCC (or EPCC/LPCC) is Y dollars per deck. See? It's pretty close so I'm not really making that much more with the "cheaper" printer!" What they fail to disclose is the X dollar quote from the USPCC is based upon a 5000+ deck print run versus a Y dollar quote from the NPCC for a 1000 deck print run. When you compare 1000 deck run prices for both printers, there is a significant difference. If the prices were truly close, then why would one ever go with NPCC?

I love it when people say, "the quality of NPCC (or EPCC/LPCC) is constantly improving!" Let's pause for a moment to think that through. Why are they "constantly improving" their quality? It's because the quality is low to start with, that's why they're trying to catch up.

I think that NPCC's quality is underrated. They're not as good as USPCC, EPCC, or Cartamundi, but they're also not light years below them. I think that NPCC is constantly, trying at least, to make their products better and more competitive.

Underrated?!? Only a collector would make this statement, because certainly no cardist, magician, or card mechanic would. Sure, the printing quality is fine, as is the stock, so if all you're ever going to do is just look at the deck, that's enough. If you're actually going to use the deck, whether for cardistry, magic, or even poker, there's nothing "underrated" about the quality of the finish and handling of NPCC decks. I think we pretty much accurately call out the crappy handling for the crap that it is. And this is not a subjective opinion based upon me being a "brand whore". It's an objective opinion based upon the fact I've been collecting for over 15 years, have over 1000 sealed decks in my collection, and have open, handled, and used thousands of decks from every single major printer (and most minor printers) in the past decade. NPCC may not be "light years" below USPCC, but their finish and handling is closer to bargain dollar store decks than they are to EPCC, especially after a few hours of use.

Why am I making such a big issue about this? It's because I really like this deck. I'd like for it to join my collection. I'd like to put it into the queue of decks to be used for poker night. I think the back pattern and colors would be conducive to attractive fans and spreads. But none of this is going to happen because this beautiful deck will be produced by an inferior quality printer who's price is allegedly about the same as the USPCC.

Precisely why they're underrated. They aren't this bad, at least none of the decks that I've bought.

I'm not arguing that they are as good as USPCC, etc, or that they should be charging as much. I'm only arguing that they aren't as bad as a lot of people would suggest in comparison.

[Sviatoslav Pashchuk]

Dear all,
Many thanks for the support and interest to this project!
Some of you commented on the color of suits and suggested that red and black color would be more appropriate for aces and number cards.
Here is the new design and I ask you to vote which variant you would like to see in the final design: green or red/black color?

[rousselle]

Your incorporation of the red & black really enhances the cards. Like, a lot.

[PipChick]

Your incorporation of the red & black really enhances the cards. Like, a lot.

I second that^ the change of color allows the pips to match the indices and is a much needed distinction from all the green of the background border details.

[CupcakeBaron]

Thirded

[vasta41]

Soooo much better. Now if you could only change the printer I'd buy a brick!

[Sviatoslav Pashchuk]

Soooo much better. Now if you could only change the printer I'd buy a brick!

Good try!)

[rousselle]

By the way, with regard to the Aces, I favor the version on the bottom row, with the added color for the pips hiding behind the green elements. In fact, if you could beef up the color's presence some how, that would be even more awesome. But, as they stand, the bottom row is preferable to the top row.

[Sviatoslav Pashchuk]

We’re funded! Thanks you so much for the support and we hope to achieve the next goals soon!

[Sviatoslav Pashchuk]

Your support is really great - we have reached our second goal and now the El Recuerdo deck (Revolucion edition) will have foil and embossing! Thank you for the comments on colors on Aces and number cards - I’ll use more red and black color, as most of you voted for these colors. You’re welcome to watch our new small video and enjoy how the foil and embossing will look like. Please order more decks, share this project among your friends and the Victoria edition becomes available too!

[vasta41]

Maybe a printer upgrade can be a stretch goal?? These should really be printed by a better co.