What Features do you look for in a custom deck?

[oddsmaker003]

As a collector what are the most important features of a deck? Art? Originality? The Artist?
Why Lotrek rather than fontaine? Strictly from a collector perspective.



PS This maybe in the wrong forum, please move it if needed.

Doc

[RelativityCards]

Hi Doc, I would say that it is very subjective. Everyone has things that they like and don't like, and I don't think that any two people collect for the exact same reasons.

However, it is probably true that the tuck means a lot from a collector standpoint? Some people collect something because of the way it looks, and others because of some idea associated with a thing or what it means to them. That certainly extends far beyond the tuck but as the only thing that some will ever see in person of the deck, it's got to mean something. (I think a lot of people collect 2 of something, though, so they can open one and preserve the other.) And as the first thing you see of a deck, it's got to feel worthy in some way, however a person measures it.

I'll also hazard a guess on Lotrek vs. Fontaine for a collector. As far as I know every Lotrek deck has less copies in existence than any run of Fontaines. If collector cares about rarity, that's certainly a factor there. If a collector likes breathtaking art, well... you picked a couple of opposites, didn't you?

[Harvonsgard]

You're fine in the general section, Doc .

Short answer: It has to be interesting for me, period.

This can be different things though. Mostly I look for the art work/design of course. It has to visually please my eyes first and farmost. But a deck can become interesting for me due to other reasons as well. For example the Vintage Chicken Nuggets are interesting for me since, they introduce a new stock from Hansonchien and I like the parody aspect of the deck. So despite them not being a creative or stunning masterpiece, I would get them for a reasonable price. Without the new stock they would be a definitive pass.
Comparing cards against tuck box; I use my cards for gameplay and cardistry therefore, I would give a deck of cards that I love with a boring tuck box the edge over a tuck box I love but cards that don't interest me. Both in balance would be the optimum of course.

Originality is a plus, but not that important for me. No human is an island. We are all influenced by the things we have seen and the humans we met. But of course if I have a 100% identical copy then I go for the original. Why should I support a 1:1 copy? But If somebody copies a concept/artwork and I like it more than the original because the tweaks and differences make it more to my liking, than I'm in for the copy.

Creator is absolutly irrelevant for me. Not a completionist therefore, why should I care who created a deck I like or why should I buy something that I don't like just because it is produced by someone I, in general, like? When backing kickstarters (which I don't do) the creator can be important though, to know if s/he is reliable and will deliver as promissed.

[theCapraAegagrus]

As a collector what are the most important features of a deck? Art? Originality? The Artist?
Why Lotrek rather than fontaine? Strictly from a collector perspective.



PS This maybe in the wrong forum, please move it if needed.

Doc

I'm hoping that the underlined was a rhetorical question...

Artists receive instant interest (or disinterest) based on reputation. That reputation will be built off of multiple campaigns/releases that contain great artwork, originality, and fulfillment.

[STLBluesNut]

I open all of my decks and generally do not buy multiples. The card design and tuck design both must interest me from a design perspective. Matching design and quality are important. Having a super elaborate and blinged out tuck with standard card inside are generally a no go. Same for awesome card design with a super plain or mismatched tuck.

Resale value and rarity have no bearing on my purchase decision beyond artificial rarity and hype raising the price beyond what I am willing to pay for the deck.

I much prefer a tuck with all the bells and whistles as this is the most impactful visually for me. However, I have purchased plenty of decks with plain glossy tucks as well if the design and the cards interest me but I won't pay blinged out tuck deck prices for plain glossy tuck and cards. I have bought many Riffle Shuffle decks. 98% of their tucks are plain glossy stock but for designs I like and at $8 or less, I buy most of what they put out.

The tuck features and card features are generally what dictate what I am willing to spend on a deck. Below 10 for no features on either. 10 to 15 for features on one or the other. 15 to 20 for most features on cards and tuck. Full features generally up to 25. (I don't consider seals a feature therefore I will not pay an inflated price because the tuck has some kind of fancy custom foiled sticker)

All decks should be fairly original in actual design. I do not need a deck to be completely original in theme or subject matter. For instance, as long as I like the design, I could not see myself passing on a pirate or viking themed deck no matter the number created before it.

Recolors. I admit I am fairly hypocritical in this area. You could find a number of posts on this forum of me being exhausted of recolors for certain decks but there are some decks I really like that I would buy all the recolors made.



Sent from my S10+ using Tapatalk

[theCapraAegagrus]

...Recolors. I admit I am fairly hypocritical in this area. You could find a number of posts on this forum of me being exhausted of recolors for certain decks but there are some decks I really like that I would buy all the recolors made.

I simply like recolors being cheap.

Recoloring expensive decks seems like a manipulative cash-grab (for both the seller and resellers).

[BaconWise]

I tend to collect cards for the full experience. Obviously, taste is wildly subjective, but a must for me would be a fully-custom deck and I want to believe some effort and thought went into a design. But overall, I have to like the artwork - these are tiny, functional pieces of art to me. So, to recap:

- Fully-custom
- Thoughtful
- I dig the artwork

It's really as simple as that, for me (I guess you could add print quality as I open everything and use my decks for gameplay, but it's not a dealbreaker). There is no real comparison between Lotrek and Fontaine because Fontaine doesn't meet any of my three requirements to be in the running for consideration. Now, if you put a gun to my head and made me choose between Lotrek, Lorenzo, Jackson, Gio, Jody, Montenzi, UUSI (so many more)...............I would die.

[justplaycards]

I like to display most of my decks in the office so an eyecatching tuck is pretty high on my list. Don't want to be staring at a fugly tuck case all day.

After that it all comes down to if I like it or not. Names don't mean much to me, happy to pass on any deck I don't like. Even if it's from Lorenzo (favourite artist). Although that's not happened yet .

I don't really have a preference for stock, finish or printer as I don't play cards with my collection. I use Cherries, Tally's or recently Parlours for such things.

[OVSUB]

Heya Doc,

I personally like buying and collecting cards with great art. I kinda like treating them both as daily toys as well as collectors items. I look for custom courts(Most important), Aesthetically pleasing 2 sided backs, and custom pips. If a deck has the above I'll buy it 75% of the time. The other 25% relies wholly on the quality of the cards. Most custom and special cards are well made by people who love cards, cardistry, or the art of it all putting their effort into the cards. The thing that turns me off of buying a deck is when it has next to no description, No telling of who the printer is, reaching out to the creator and they have no idea what they're talking about or selling.

So it just boils down to beauty and the quality of the art.

Cheers, OVSUB

[oddsmaker003]

Thank you for all of the answers.