ShanHai Playing Cards by ARK

[hsbc]

This time, we present to you a brand-new series inspired by the "Shan Hai Jing". It is a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts.

They showcase three different states when held, flicked, and spread with traditional Chinese ink painting

This is a single deck without a gift box, allowing you to experience ARK's creativity more lightly. Beautiful illustrations and imaginative ARK cases can be obtained in this tier.

Launch on Kickstarter soon

[Evilgamer]

thats...interesting,

single deck huh?

[GandalfPC]

Seems they heard the cries from the crowd - likely enough add ons to fill anyones garage - liking the deck, and its singleness

[kevork]

[kevork]

KS Preview Link
Launching Dec 11th at 11:00 AM EST.

[Adamthinks]

Damn, that's pretty special. I'm really looking forward to this one.

[Honeybee]

Can I buy a deck for the backs and Tuck only - probably this one

[Evilgamer]

this is live but goodness the shipping, $25 to the US for the 2 deck box.

[STLBluesNut]

looks pretty good. along with others, i also like that this appears to be a single deck without gift box. it wouldnt surprise me if they had a tier with gift box though. no biggie if one can buy it without. guessing it will still be about $28.

well, i clicked the preview link before posting. it appears i am late to the party with the comment above. i was close though.

[Evilgamer]

looks pretty good. along with others, i also like that this appears to be a single deck without gift box. it wouldnt surprise me if they had a tier with gift box though. no biggie if one can buy it without. guessing it will still be about $28.

well, i clicked the preview link before posting. it appears i am late to the party with the comment above. i was close though.

Yes based on the original comments I was expecting less pigging up the offerings or forcing boxes, we didn't get that.

I added the link to the campaign (per another thread can a mod add that to the top post please).

[EndersGame]

Here's a write-up I did about this project, along with some more images. Looks lovely, especially the flipbook animation and fan on the card backs, and the idea for an unfolding tuck box!

ShanHai Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ca ... rds-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Monday, December 25, 2023

ARK Playing Cards is renowned for the luxury playing cards they have produced in the past couple of years. Many of their projects have made it onto the lists of the most-funded decks of playing cards of all time, and it's not hard to see why. They feature innovative designs, lavish artwork, and highly customized tuck boxes.

Their latest project, ShanHai Playing Cards, is no exception. Like some of their previous decks of custom playing cards, it's inspired by Chinese mythology.



The real standout feature here are the card backs, which turn into a flipbook animation movie when thumbed through at high speed, and which create a gorgeous single expansive image when the entire deck is spread. To show how impressive this looks, here's an animated gif that showcases the flip-book animation and the giant polyptych image produced by a spread:



Added to that is a the special feature of a unique tuck box which unfolds into four panels. Here's an animated gif that gives a sneak peek of how the unfolding panels of the tuck box look:

The ShanHai project is available with four different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
● Standard Deck (limited edition of 2222): single deck (US$30)
● Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck (US$75)
● Walnut Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin (US$185)
● Luxury Black (limited edition of 600): black and white deck, plus an embossed metal plate (US$90+, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)
Extra add-ons like uncut sheets and coins are also available.



This deck is inspired by the Shan Hai Jing, also known as the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a classic Chinese book that is more than 2000 years old, and is a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. It depicts over 550 mountains and 300 channels, as well as a variety of monsters.



The tuck case is unusual in that it features an unfolding double layer, and the inner layer consists of four separate compartments, each used to store the cards from a different suit.



When the cards are removed, this unfolds to show four birds on one side, and on the other the Queen Mother, who is a focus in this deck. The scenery depicts a transcendent mountaintop realm, which is her palace. Imagery includes mountains, clouds, mythical creatures and more, all capturing aspects of the legendary tales.



The main image on the card backs here shows the Queen Mother, sitting gracefully with a leopard behind her, and surrounded by bronze mirrors and artifacts.



When you thumb through the cards, the scenery changes and moves in a dynamic pattern. And when you fan the cards into a giant spread, a large panoramic image is produced, which corresponds to the picture on the folding screen from the tuck box.



In keeping with the theme, traditional Chinese ink painting techniques were employed for the card faces, which capture over 100 original large-scale hand-drawn illustrations created just for this deck.



1. Standard Deck

The standard deck comes with all the features that make this project unique, including the flip-back animation and panoramic image of the card backs, and the special tuck case with the four-panel unfolding design.



The Aces on all the decks picture four celestial birds, including the Golden Crow on the Ace of Spades.



Meanwhile the court cards depict different legendary figures and scenes from the Shan Hai Jing classic.



The number cards use a style that matches the ink painting design evident on the rest of the cards.



2. Artist Box set

This includes two decks, the first being a Holo deck with holographic foil.



As with all the decks from this project, a spread of the card backs produces a single panoramic image.



The card faces feature similar artwork as the standard deck, but colors are added to the background to give a more vibrant look.





The other deck is a Special deck with a monochromatic design.





The Artist Boxset comes in a gift box that can be pulled apart and changed into a folding album that displays large pictures with the ink painting artwork from the deck itself.





3. Walnut Box set



This deck has the added luxury of gilded edges.



Here's how the tuck box looks when the four panels are unfolded.



The cards feature holographic foil for extra luxury.



This set also comes with a special collector's coin.



The wooden box can be displayed in four different ways, one of which shows the full stretched out tuck case.



4. Luxury Black set

This special deck is only available to collectors opting for the "All In" reward.



It has fully black edges that are individually signed in silver paint.



The cards feature the ink drawings in white set against a jet black background.



An individually numbered embossed metal plate is another special feature of this reward.



Head over to the project page for more images of these extravagant collectors pieces.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ca ... rds-by-ark

[kevork]

Surveys just went out. Let them know in the notes section that you appreciate them offering a one-deck option for us who don't like box sets!

[GandalfPC]

I came pretty close to picking up that walnut display box, expense be damned, but a few other holiday purchases and a somewhat muted desire for the faces put me out - of course I would have had to find room to display it... Shame - really pretty display, probably could have put up a shelf for it

[Honeybee]

I think you have enough shelves

[GandalfPC]

That’s an old photo - now it just looks like all the episodes of Hoarders rolled into one

At least two of my dresser drawers still have clothes in them, so I probably shouldn’t complain - I’m sure there are others here who have to sleep on the roof already…. and I won’t have to do that until after the Tails of Mischief campaign.

[kevork]

That’s an old photo - now it just looks like all the episodes of Hoarders rolled into one

At least two of my dresser drawers still have clothes in them, so I probably shouldn’t complain - I’m sure there are others here who have to sleep on the roof already…. and I won’t have to do that until after the Tails of Mischief campaign.

Instead of filling my garage with decks, I now live in the garage, and the decks now live in the house. This is the way.

[Harvonsgard]

Wasn't really sold on them when seeing the first pics. Now I'm contemplating about getting them. Ark seems to be the better Kingslayer. Both are artwise a bit too all over the place imho but Ark is at least consistent within their decks.

[hsbc]

[Honeybee]

I have one Ark deck to have a balanced collection (not really why I bought it) and that may be how it stays

[Adamthinks]

I got mine the other day too. I love this deck. They did an incredible job. One of the more unique and beautiful decks I own now.

[STLBluesNut]

i ended up passing based on price. it was still too high although i appreciate it was one version without needing to purchase some sort of display. it looks really good! they do have a knack having very neat looking, detailed but muddy looking at the same time art.

[Evilgamer]

i ended up passing based on price. it was still too high although i appreciate it was one version without needing to purchase some sort of display. it looks really good! they do have a knack having very neat looking, detailed but muddy looking at the same time art.

Yeah I think I may be done with ARK, I got the devildom/halidom set when this one went up and now this one and on all of them the art/colors are just muddy and the sets arent cheap.

Great for those into their stuff but its not for me.

[GandalfPC]

I’m liking these more than I wish I did - going to have to grab one version or another at some point

[EndersGame]

Nice deck, and outstanding photos as always hsbc!

[PiazzaDelivery]

I echo basically all the negative comments herein, this both before and after the campaign.

But hsbc pictures tho...

[Eric Lee]

I went for just the Standard deck. It's amazing in itself with how they designed the tuck and cards and I'm very happy with my Standard deck that I don't feel the need to get the other variants. (and it comes with in a card case for extra protection)

This deck bears repeated viewings with the different tuck displays and back design. HSBC's pics doesn't do it enough justice compared to playing with it in your hands.

It's worth a place in your display shelf as you have different display options that you can play with. At this point, I would say if you only buy 1 Ark deck, go for this one.
(Disclaimer, being Chinese myself and exposed to Chinese art while growing up, I have a fondness for this artstyle)

[Honeybee]

After Sound is my 'one' Ark - I love the Courts

[KGthePrince]

Looks like Ark intends to make this a series. ShanHai is one of the few Ark projects that I really enjoyed so I'm curious about this follow up.

Admittedly, I am not well versed in Chinese mythology so I am unsure of what to expect. All I know is Laito is hyped as hell

[whatwillitbenow]

Looks like Ark intends to make this a series. ShanHai is one of the few Ark projects that I really enjoyed so I'm curious about this follow up.

Admittedly, I am not well versed in Chinese mythology so I am unsure of what to expect. All I know is Laito is hyped as hell

I’m hyped for this! Do we have a date?

[laitostarr777]

Admittedly, I am not well versed in Chinese mythology so I am unsure of what to expect. All I know is Laito is hyped as hell

I hyped for the mythology and story of that, but not hyped for how much longer the wallet is going to suffer just to keep up with the Standard + Artist Set for each Version.