Stratosphere (by Legends)

[GandalfPC]

Still say that cold foil is not Mylar any more than it is hot foil

[Harvonsgard]

I'm not hundred percent sure but since mylar is made from aluminized PET (plastic) I doubt it is a hot foil technique - I could be wrong of course.

[GandalfPC]

That’s not what I meant - just that Mylar is not the same as hot or cold foil - all three are different

If creators have the ability to use new materials and produce great handling decks with them it opens up the creative possibilities

[Harvonsgard]

Call me a pessimist on that topic then. I've seen great handling foil decks from Cartamundi for ages now and simply don't feel the innovation and next level; especially compared with the first Stratosphere. You could argue that V2 was an innovation because of the black stock stuff and all but V3 is the just the same thing as V1 .

[vasta41]

Randy's Tiger King decks fan and handle AMAZINGLY well. And they were printed by Legends. I recommend picking one up to see for yourself.

[shunterino]

The last deck (the black one) came with a warning that the mylar cracked if handled too aggressively. Since this one doesn't have that warning (unless I'm blind, which I often am) then they seem to have solved that issue at least. That would be a step forward.

Personally, my problem with this deck are the courts which are far too similar to each other and no real differentiation between K/Q/J. Twelve faceless helmets. I have the V1s which are fine but I wouldn't buy any more with the same faces.

[GandalfPC]

Seems to be a whole new level of refraction to me….

I do have Tiger King, glad you reminded me - keep meaning to break it open…

One thing about the V2’s is that the bend test will indeed break them (the cards, not just the foil), also thought the stock was a bit soft for my liking

[EndersGame]

“We use an ultra-thin mylar, or full foil, laminated to both sides of art paper. The card backs are a new shard-like holographic full foil, and the faces are standard silver holographic. Like Pokemon cards, both feature overprinting at different opacities to block out the shiny effects in the artwork. The only difference is these spring, fan, and handle like a normal deck of playing cards! A designers dream, and totally out of this world technology for future playing card decks.”

The V1 Stratosphere certainly didn't spring, fan, or handle anything like a normal deck. So if the V3 Stratosphere does, that will be a definite step up.

But I'd like to test-drive the new decks before stating anything definitive about them. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

[GandalfPC]

Just received these today - they are GORGEOUS - softer than King of Tigers, faro spot on - first few fans were imperfect, but they seemed to get better quickly - I am going to give these and the King of Tigers a workout over the next few days and see how both break in, then give an update.

[GandalfPC]

Been using both of these decks and they are both breaking in very nicely - fans on both have come up to snuff and all other qualities have held up thus far - continuing to beat on them to see how the hold up.

These decks are quite different animals, with the stock of King of Tigers being nicely stiff and the Stratospheres being nicely soft.

For the King of Tigers: “Card backs: 1c black pantone with holographic effects hot foil stamping in full bleed”

For the stratospheres: “Card backs: Holographic (meteorite pattern) Mylar lamination (full foil) with overprinting”, “Card faces: Silver Mylar lamination (full foil) with overprinting”

In the end I purchased some more Tigers - giving me 6 blue and 5 gold to compliment my 5 stratosphere meteors - they are all worthy of having in numbers.

[rousselle]

Decided I'd give this one a try. Too late. Sold out (on the Legends site, at least.)

[shunterino]

Decided I'd give this one a try. Too late. Sold out (on the Legends site, at least.)

The Stratosphere v3 is still available at Wounded Corners in the US and on order from JPGames in the UK.

[krystalie]

i think card-addiction has them too

[hsbc]

These are indeed very, very shiny Handling unfortunately is not great And the tuck is "backwards", didn't realize that until now!

[GandalfPC]

handling will improve with a bit of use - mine came up to snuff after a bunch of faros and fans

[james001a]

Hi all, looks like Legends has released the final 200 decks @$22.22 on their website if anyone is still interested!
https://legendsplayingcards.com/collect ... 4229663910

[Harvonsgard]

I wasn't interested in them at the first wave, now with this fomo inducing selling method even less. If your product is shit you have to resort to such methods I guess.

[james001a]

I wasn't interested in them at the first wave, now with this fomo inducing selling method even less. If your product is shit you have to resort to such methods I guess.

So, you're out then, right?

[Harvonsgard]

On the fence.

[Honeybee]

I was on the Legends site looking at a different deck (No - I am not still sulking about missing out on Strato V1 in Henry's sale ) when I had a look around and read this about the Strato v1's

"Originally researched and printed in 2016 for the Space of the Art Kickstarter campaign, and now released in this second edition in 2020."

The above quote is under the Sold Out V.1's and has pics of that deck BUT what is this reference to 2016? (and suggesting this is a 2ndEdn)
I cannot find out anything (eg on Kickstarter) and P52 has the deck listed as 2019
Does anybody know or do we take it to be nonsense copy?

https://legendsplayingcards.com/products/stratosphere

...

[EndersGame]

I was on the Legends site looking at a different deck (No - I am not still sulking about missing out on Strato V1 in Henry's sale ) when I had a look around and read this about the Strato v1's

"Originally researched and printed in 2016 for the Space of the Art Kickstarter campaign, and now released in this second edition in 2020."

The above quote is under the Sold Out V.1's and has pics of that deck BUT what is this reference to 2016? (and suggesting this is a 2ndEdn

Here's a link to the Kickstarter project this is referring to, which was launched in October 2017, and cancelled before it fully funded:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/10 ... ding-space

[brownsl]

How many versions are there? I think 4?

[Honeybee]

Thank you so much Enders
I did look on KS but obviously did not enter the right searches
From those pics, they clearly improved it before releasing it in 2019

4 would seem to be it brownsl