Jack the Ripper & Sherlock Holmes by Anti-Faro

[kevork]

[Evilgamer]

going hard with the theming this time.

[JazzBaloo]

Not into most book or movie themes. I also lost some respect for them because of their last sale. Some undelivered ks decks cheaper to pre-order than they were on the campaign.

[Evilgamer]

Not into most book or movie themes. I also lost some respect for them because of their last sale. Some undelivered ks decks cheaper to pre-order than they were on the campaign.

Im not aware of this sale, what were the specifics?

[Honeybee]

I too am not really into book and movie themed decks.
I am often drawn to simple B&W decks but I find these just plain and uninspiring

[JazzBaloo]

Not into most book or movie themes. I also lost some respect for them because of their last sale. Some undelivered ks decks cheaper to pre-order than they were on the campaign.

Im not aware of this sale, what were the specifics?

I haven't found the email yet but it was maybe a few weeks ago, I think. It was pretty much a site wide sale. It was advertised as the "doty flashsale". The Urashima Tarou pre-orders were each a couple bucks cheaper than on ks, as were other recent campaign decks.

[laitostarr777]

Hmmm, at this rate: Anti-Faro is dedicated to creating puzzle decks

[Evilgamer]

Not into most book or movie themes. I also lost some respect for them because of their last sale. Some undelivered ks decks cheaper to pre-order than they were on the campaign.

Im not aware of this sale, what were the specifics?

I haven't found the email yet but it was maybe a few weeks ago, I think. It was pretty much a site wide sale. It was advertised as the "doty flashsale". The Urashima Tarou pre-orders were each a couple bucks cheaper than on ks, as were other recent campaign decks.

Thanks, somehow I don't think Ive managed to get on their marketing list. I don't have a problem with them putting the cards up for preorder (and they are on the site for $2 over KS preorder) but...yeah if they are part of a sale that makes them cheaper than KS BEFORE they are delivered...that really shouldn't happen.

These cards remind me of drafting class in high school, me just turning out B grade projects as fast as I could rather than focusing on making a few great ones...but they're not expensive so Im generally going along with it (I didn't back the last Faro deck because it wasn't foiled...looking at it again today...nah I'll still pass).

[laitostarr777]

Plus, this series shall be the last one.
What I mean, the last one to complete Season 1 of Room One > curious to see what's the grand prize of getting all 13 cards

[Adamthinks]

A serial killer seems an odd choice for a playing card series....

[TorresOVER]

Not into most book or movie themes. I also lost some respect for them because of their last sale. Some undelivered ks decks cheaper to pre-order than they were on the campaign.

Hello JazzBaloo,
That’s not true—I’ve attached some proof for you. We had planned a DOTY Flash Sale on our current website (which runs on the Site123 platform). The idea was to offer bigger discounts when you bought more DOTY items. After the first few customers enjoyed the discount, the system crashed, and no one could use it anymore.

Unfortunately, there was also a bug on the website that applied discounts incorrectly, including on pre-order items (which were never supposed to be discounted). We contacted Site123 tech support, but they told us it couldn’t be fixed. So, we changed the sale to a simple 20% off on all items—except pre-orders.

But guess what? Another bug happened, and pre-orders got discounted again. We fixed it immediately once we noticed.

For us, it’s completely unacceptable and impossible to sell Kickstarter items cheaper than their campaign price—especially when they haven’t even been shipped yet. That’s just not how we do things. We are and always will be on your side.

Good news, though! We’re moving our webstore to Shopify because we’re honestly tired of dealing with all these bugs and the messy backend. It’ll be a way smoother experience for everyone.

Hope that clears things up! Let me know if you have any questions.

—Torres

[TorresOVER]

A serial killer seems an odd choice for a playing card series....

That's why you can be on Sherlock Holmes' side! If you solve the puzzle correctly, you'll be able to catch Jack the Ripper with him

[TorresOVER]

Not into most book or movie themes. I also lost some respect for them because of their last sale. Some undelivered ks decks cheaper to pre-order than they were on the campaign.

Im not aware of this sale, what were the specifics?

I haven't found the email yet but it was maybe a few weeks ago, I think. It was pretty much a site wide sale. It was advertised as the "doty flashsale". The Urashima Tarou pre-orders were each a couple bucks cheaper than on ks, as were other recent campaign decks.

Thanks, somehow I don't think Ive managed to get on their marketing list. I don't have a problem with them putting the cards up for preorder (and they are on the site for $2 over KS preorder) but...yeah if they are part of a sale that makes them cheaper than KS BEFORE they are delivered...that really shouldn't happen.

These cards remind me of drafting class in high school, me just turning out B grade projects as fast as I could rather than focusing on making a few great ones...but they're not expensive so Im generally going along with it (I didn't back the last Faro deck because it wasn't foiled...looking at it again today...nah I'll still pass).

Appreciate you bringing this up! The Urashima Tarou pre-orders were never supposed to be part of the sale—that was a website bug.
For us, Kickstarter pricing is always the best deal, and it’s against our principles to offer pre-orders cheaper than KS before they’ve even shipped. We’re already moving our webstore to Shopify because of issues like this—it’ll be a much smoother experience.

And hey, totally fair on the design side of things! We’re always trying to balance creating unique decks while keeping them affordable. If there’s something you’d like to see in the future, I’m all ears!

—Torres

[JazzBaloo]

Not into most book or movie themes. I also lost some respect for them because of their last sale. Some undelivered ks decks cheaper to pre-order than they were on the campaign.

Hello JazzBaloo,
That’s not true—I’ve attached some proof for you. We had planned a DOTY Flash Sale on our current website (which runs on the Site123 platform). The idea was to offer bigger discounts when you bought more DOTY items. After the first few customers enjoyed the discount, the system crashed, and no one could use it anymore.

Unfortunately, there was also a bug on the website that applied discounts incorrectly, including on pre-order items (which were never supposed to be discounted). We contacted Site123 tech support, but they told us it couldn’t be fixed. So, we changed the sale to a simple 20% off on all items—except pre-orders.

But guess what? Another bug happened, and pre-orders got discounted again. We fixed it immediately once we noticed.

For us, it’s completely unacceptable and impossible to sell Kickstarter items cheaper than their campaign price—especially when they haven’t even been shipped yet. That’s just not how we do things. We are and always will be on your side.

Good news, though! We’re moving our webstore to Shopify because we’re honestly tired of dealing with all these bugs and the messy backend. It’ll be a way smoother experience for everyone.

Hope that clears things up! Let me know if you have any questions.

—Torres

That is a reasonable explanation for why the pre-order decks were appearing at a lower cost than the KS. That clears up some confusion. Thanks.

[whatwillitbenow]

I have a question regarding the puzzle prize. If the first 500 people who submit the answer get the prize isn’t this putting people who live further away (where shipping takes longer) at a disadvantage?

[GandalfPC]

they could set a date for answer submission to start, only unlock the page once everyone has had the decks for X weeks - isn’t that what S17 does? cant remember, must be getting old

[Evilgamer]

"you bought too much our site broke"...well thats not a bad problem to have though still one you'd wish didn't exist.

I wouldn't worry too much about the prize they are still accepting submissions for the one with the Blackbeard deck last I heard.

[TorresOVER]

I have a question regarding the puzzle prize. If the first 500 people who submit the answer get the prize isn’t this putting people who live further away (where shipping takes longer) at a disadvantage?

Good question! To keep things fair, we plan to open the submission link one month after we finish fulfillment. By that time, around 85% of backers should have received their decks, ensuring most people have a fair chance to solve the puzzle and claim the prize.

Thanks for bringing this up, and we can’t wait to see how you do with the puzzle!

[EndersGame]

This thread really needs some pictures! Here's a write-up I put together about this project, along with images of the cards. I love that incorporate built-in puzzles, so this is one I'm excited about!

Jack the Ripper & Sherlock Holmes Playing Cards by Anti-Faro & Room One (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/an ... ying-cards

Custom playing cards in the era of Victorian London, with a built-in puzzle to solve

Price: $14 (Stalemate or Skewer edition), $26 (Checkmate or Castling edition), $78 (Collector Set with all four decks and bonus items), $98 (Half Brick Set), $145 (Ultimate Set)
Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday, April 1, 2025



This project combines fact with fiction, merging the real-world crimes of Jack the Ripper with the fictional master sleuth Sherlock Holmes. The artwork on the cards is geared to capture something of the eerie atmosphere of both world in 19th century London. I've always loved the Sherlock Holmes stories, and combines it with the mystery of Jack the Ripper is an excellent idea.

But what I especially love is the puzzle built into two of the decks from this project, where it's your job to figure out the murderer. Here's how it is described: "Scattered throughout the deck are hidden clues, cryptic messages, and pieces of evidence. Your mission: analyze the hints, follow the trail, and identify the infamous outlaw before time runs out. Will you rise to the challenge and solve the mystery, or will Jack the Ripper vanish into the night once again? Unravel the secrets, crack the case, and claim your victory. Every shuffle, every deal, and every play brings you closer to the ultimate revelation. Can you uncover the killer before the next crime occurs?

The Jack the Ripper & Sherlock Holmes Playing Cards come in two main editions, one with what the creator calls a "shadow vanishing tuck box", and the other with what the creator calls a "detective tuck box". Each of these has two decks, one in black and one in white.
● Checkmate Edition (black) and Castling Edition (white) - both with the shadow vanishing tuck box
● Stalemate Edition (black) and Skewer Edition (white) - both with the detective tuck box

Checkmate and Castling Editions

The Checkmate and Castling editions are the more luxurious decks. Their tuck boxes have embossing and foil, and have a unique mechanism where a shadow of Jack the Ripper disappears when you open the front of the box. The cards in these decks use cold foil, and are finished with coloured edges.







Stalemate and Skewer Editions

The Stalemate and Skewer Editions have a unique tuck box with a wax emblem. When it's unfolded to reveal the cards, it reveals a letter from Jack the Ripper. These cards have a more straight forward colour scheme that relies mostly on black and white.







Extras

Box sets are also available for collectors, and especially noteworthy is the collector's box which contains one of each of the four decks, plus a set of clues for solving the puzzle, and a collector's coin.



To solve the puzzle, you'll need the clues found in both a black deck and a white deck, so you'll have to get a pair of decks: either the Checkmate and the Castling edition, or the Stalemate and Skewer editions.



The Creator

I've been very impressed with the output and quality of Room One Cards, and the decks I've seen so far have been fantastic. This is another splendid project that incorporates artistic creativity with an original theme, a luxurious look, innovation, quality, and a fun puzzle!

Anti-Faro Playing Cards is one of the sub-brands of Room One Cards, which is based in Asia and is the creator of three main brands: Room One Cards, Bloom Playing Cards, and Anti-Faro Playing Cards. With the help of Kickstarter they've already produced around a dozen different projects of custom playing cards, which have been well-received by the playing card community. Room One Cards has their own printer, and use three main stocks: 270gsm = Sleight Stock, 290gsm = Afflux Stock, and 300gsm = Elite Stock. I've seen and used decks with each of these three stocks, and the quality and handling has been impressive.

Jack the Ripper & Sherlock Holmes is the fourth project under the Anti-Faro label, and follows the success of three previous projects: Plague Doctor Playing Cards (2023), The Trial of Blackbeard Playing Cards (2024), and Stellar Dread Playing Cards (2024). I haven't seen these all personally, but I do own the Trial of Blackbeard deck, and love the puzzle that was built into that. So when I heard about yet another deck from the same creator with an in-built puzzle, I was immediately enthused.



Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/an ... ying-cards

[laitostarr777]

Wow, thanks as always, Enders Game.
Good for you to post the pics as side by side comparison!

[Honeybee]

Not for me I'm afraid - I don't buy puzzles and none of the artwork grabs me for this project

[EndersGame]

We're into the final couple of days for this project. Here are a few more images:

Checkmate Edition















Castling Edition









Stalemate Edition











Skewer Edition

[A. Haines]

"Skewer edition"?

Is that actually a thing?

[EndersGame]

Skewer edition"? Is that actually a thing?

They are all chess terms:
- Checkmate edition
- Castling edition
- Stalemate edition
- Skewer edition

A "skewer" in chess is a tactic where a more valuable piece is attacked, and when it moves out of the way, a less valuable piece behind it becomes vulnerable to capture.

Sources where you can learn more about it:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skewer_(chess)
- https://chessmood.com/blog/skewer-in-chess
- https://www.chess.com/terms/skewer-chess

[A. Haines]

Ah yes, I know my skewers from my forks, I used to play a little.

That makes sense, thanks

[EndersGame]

I've just heard that the production of this set is now complete, and these decks and accessories are currently arriving into the hands of backers. As a result, the company will soon be making it a regular product on their website.

They've just made it available for pre-orders on their website, and those will ship next week already, after which it will become a regular product. You can use this link to see all the products for this project. Here’s the link for the collector's set:

https://roomonecards.com/products/jack- ... lector-set

So if you missed the Kickstarter, or want to get more from this set, this is a great opportunity to pick this up!

[laitostarr777]

Im currently solving the case that comes with it.
Done almost all the parts, except the finale of it: figuring out the person.

X.X gawd, must not messed it up, or bye bye prize deck

[felicityk]

I actually received mine a couple of weeks ago, and I show all the courts in my thread here.

[EndersGame]

Thanks for sharing those images Felicity!

[Bradius]

When I lived in London, they had tours of Jack the Ripper that started on my front steps. That was not the kind of notoriety that I wanted in front of where I was staying. I think it has moved farther down the block.