OATH'S PATREON -details

[Fenrir]

I hope you won’t regret your decision. At least you have the option to cancel after the first one.

[laitostarr777]

If these decks are Patreon only, then I hope I can relent on missing them out
They're good, but my bank account is tight... it's heavy for most people to pay 45Euros for a standard-ish deck - and not to mention about the import taxes...

PS: whatever happened to Codex, which is said: "it will come" for probably 100 times XD

[Honeybee]

They are nice enough but definitely not anything special. It says a leather tuck case, faux leather I imagine.

[CourtCurator]

The thing I find most frustrating about this situation is that he said the biggest reason he can’t work on the outstanding decks is because the artwork isn’t finished. He’s had years to work on them. YEARS! Not even one is finished?! Instead he is working on these easier decks. The reality is that working on these easy decks isn’t efficient, it’s a distraction from working on the promised rewards because he needs the income stream. I can empathize with that but it feels really crappy as someone who is waiting on the decks that were promised years ago that haven’t even been designed yet. I still really wish he had implemented a scenario where Patrons received limited tests and an opportunity to provide input. He would have solved his income problem, while working toward fulfilling the owed rewards.

I know he will come through in the end with amazing decks, but right now I am quite aggravated with this avoidable mess.

[hsbc]

faux leather I imagine.

Per Lotrek, "recycled leather, containing 80% leather, looks like leather, feels like leather, smells like leather."

[kevork]

I still really wish he had implemented a scenario where Patrons received limited tests and an opportunity to provide input.

This is what I was secretly hoping Experiment 26 was going to be. I'm not sure if he pondered the idea and found reasons why that wouldn't be feasible. I wish I could've subscribed for more copies but I'm in for one of each.

If the goal is to prove to himself and fans that he can churn out decks like this, I don't know if Patreon was necessary for it, unless the stress of not recouping costs was a barrier. 2025 showed already that he can churn out decks. I'm not worried about his ability to create single foiled decks, as he's gotten really good at what he does. Comparing Rubaiyat to Damask highlights how much he's improved on his foil registration, handling, and production.

Regardless, I look forward to having a 12-deck series that resembles books, something I saw him semi-attempt with the Redemption outer tucks. I understand Lotrek takes a lot of influence from ancient designs and texts, so this will be cool to see. Epiphany showed us one prime example of a deck inspired by books, which is gearing up to be a phenomenal deck.

Even Rubaiyat had elements of books and old meets new. The title itself. The jokers resembling illuminated manuscripts. The back design, very appropriate to the Persian theme.

Here's what we received last year as a reminder:

2025
• Redemption Series Vol. VIV (IX) - Silk Rule (Gold/Gold) (1/190)
• Redemption Series Vol. VIV (IX) - Silk Rule (Silver/Gold) (1/60)
• Charmers Alabaster (1/325)
• Fragmenta Test Print (1/550)
• Fragmenta (1/1100)
• Golden Rule Silk Edition (1/280)
• Golden Rule Patreon Test Print (1/280)
• Redemption Players - Turquoise (1/700)
• Redemption Players - Carmine (1/450)
• Redemption Players - Vintage (1/190)
• Mystery III "Rubáiyát" Test Print (1/370)
• Patrons "Rejected" Red/Gold (1/230)
• Patrons "Rejected" Teal/Silver (1/230)
• Rubáiyát Deluxe Players edition Red (1/340)
• Rubáiyát Deluxe Players edition Blue (1/340)
• Golden Rule Red edition (1/650)
• Rubáiyát Players edition Red (1/320)
• Rubáiyát Players edition Blue (1/350)
• MORE Player's edition (1/500)
• MORE Red Collector's edition (1/270)

[Honeybee]

Per Lotrek, "recycled leather, containing 80% leather, looks like leather, feels like leather, smells like leather."

That is commendable

[laitostarr777]

I’d LOVE to see, if Lotrek can do a deck that is inspired by the Holy Bible, and the Courts can be either Saints or Apostles and whoever. I’d cherish this deck if he ever made one

[Bikefanatic]

From what I recall reading recently, if I stay in my $70 a month Manic tier, for 2 decks to come out every month with promise of a 12th/free deck(s), may not be that bad.............

[kevork]

From what I recall reading recently, if I stay in my $70 a month Manic tier, for 2 decks to come out every month with promise of a 12th/free deck(s), may not be that bad.............

You shouldn't be able to access that tier, as it no longer applies. He created new tiers entirely so you have to join one of them:

• JOKER for €5/month. This gives you early access to new releases, production updates and anything else that does not involve tangible rewards.

• ACE of SPADES for €45/month. Early access to new releases and production updates, plus:
  
  1 copy of the Ex Libris deck of the month. After completing an 11-month membership, you will get 1 copy of Vol. XII for free with your last shipping.

• JACK of DIAMONDS for €90/month. Early access to new releases and production updates, plus:
  
  2 copies of the Ex Libris deck of the month. After completing an 11-month membership, you will get 2 copies of Vol. XII for free with your last shipping.

• QUEEN of HEARTS for €130/month. Early access to new releases and production updates, plus:
  
  3 copies of the Ex Libris deck of the month. After completing an 11-month membership, you will get 3 copies of Vol. XII for free with your last shipping.

• KING of CLUBS for €160/month. Early access to new releases and production updates, plus:
  
  4 copies of the Ex Libris deck of the month. After completing an 11-month membership, you will get 4 copies of Vol. XII for free with your last shipping.

[Adamthinks]

The example deck he's already shown looks pretty mid to me. Even at what these decks should be priced at ($25), I wouldn't be on board. $45 each for mid decks is insane to me. No idea why anyone would sign up for this.

[brownsl]

I sadly agree. I have been with Lotrek's patron from the beginning but I think I am finally getting out. I have contributed an insane amount of money to his patreon and to be honest I feel a bit jilted at this point, regardless of the Redemption decks.

[CourtCurator]

The example deck he's already shown looks pretty mid to me. Even at what these decks should be priced at ($25), I wouldn't be on board. $45 each for mid decks is insane to me. No idea why anyone would sign up for this.

I agree. They feel like a continuation of the redemption decks (only not as nice), but now instead of being a reward for your patience, you have the privilege of overpaying for them. I have a feeling that the free 12th deck will be something special, but it’s not worth paying a premium price for eleven decks that are just okay on the off chance that the 12th is something I really want. And if I’m being 100% honest, I don’t think he will make it to the 12th deck in a year.

[Bikefanatic]

Thanks Kevork though I did get that email and didn't fully read through it.

For this new Patreon, I'm not doing it.

[brownsl]

At each level of his patronage he states the number of slots left remaining. Multipling by the number of decks at that level I come up with a total of 186 decks remaining. If he is limiting it to 350 decks esch month, that means 164 decks have been "bought" so far. Not sure if that is good or bad.

[jasonx73it]

After reading every comment on Experiment 26 and after a lot of thinking, I decided to share where I stand and why.

After years of collecting I rarely see anything exciting anymore. I really cut down on spending lately because most of the decks I see feel for the most part boring. For the first time in years, having every single one of his decks, I skipped a Thirdway Industries deck.
The designers I would blindly buy something from are currently just Elettra Deganello and Lotrek.

Lotrek was my first love and I still think he has what it takes to deliver something that can bring amazement. That’s why I do not care about anything else. If after all the delays, the overpriced decks, the patience tested at every step and a multitude of mid one foiled decks, if at the end of this very bumpy road, once every three years, I can hold in my hand something that makes me feel how I felt the first time I held Arabesque it has been worth it. I have no doubt about that, it’s a hill a will die on.

[Honeybee]

These are really cheap on Temu and might look nice on that hill

[Strag]

As many are aware, I have been a critic of Lotrek in the past, but I have supported and do admire his work. It's just the business practice I have had issues with.

First, I have to acknowledge that he has become MUCH better at communicating. I think that's a huge first step in improving things and as long as he keeps up that commitment I have much more confidence that he will deliver. Routine and hard commits are critical.

Second, I think it's incredibly difficult to make a living being a full-time playing card designer. Only a very few have managed to do it. When you consider the costs and time that go into making a deck and the fact that if you rely soley on KS you are going to have a very unpredicatble income, it's no surprise that something like Patreon would be very attractive and really pretty much necessary to being full-time.

Third and perhaps most importantly for me, I think this is something that Lotrek feels is very achieveable for him. Previously every deck had to be more spectacular, more foils, more more more because he was known to be the best of the best at that. But that becomes harder to do over time and this escalation meant that he was always trying new techniques which lead to more costs and more delays.

So overall I'm happy he's gone in this direction. I personally won't be taking up the Patreon, as I still want and need to get my owed decks before I consider comitting further. But I'm glad to see that there is a segment of his base willing to support him and for the first time in a long time I feel optomism he will do it.

[jasonx73it]

So overall I'm happy he's gone in this direction. I personally won't be taking up the Patreon, as I still want and need to get my owed decks before I consider comitting further. But I'm glad to see that there is a segment of his base willing to support him and for the first time in a long time I feel optomism he will do it.

As a Lotrek “fanboy” I have always been slightly irritated by your snarky comments but I rarely commented mostly because I believe everyone is entitled to an opinion and a different opinion doesn’t always make me right and also because with my age I’ve learned how to avoid dragging myself into pointless discussions on the internet (and also because I am stubborn and I rarely change my mind, so I have to consider the fact that, most likely, I will be dicussing with someone as stubborn as I am).

That said, I feel compelled to tell you how much I appreciated this post.

[Bikefanatic]

So I see the new tiers but however, I'm still being charged for my "old" tier. I was charged March 1st and haven't seen it refunded like it usually does. Hmm....

[Petkoski]

Great price

https://socalplayingcards.com/collectio ... 00-auction

[Bikefanatic]

Great price

https://socalplayingcards.com/collectio ... 00-auction

That is a great price. I sold one for half of that price. I'll see if I have another one laying around somewhere.

[brownsl]

I went a bit overboard and got 6 when they came out, maybe time to sell a few.

[Bikefanatic]

Some faceless idiot on IG years ago posted pics of Crypt but it was after most people got it from the beginning. The colors used it, it's in my top 10 of Lotrek decks.

As for this new Patreon set up, I may just buy on Ebay if I see something I like. Still waiting on Year 2-5 rewards!

[Adamthinks]

Some faceless idiot on IG years ago posted pics of Crypt but it was after most people got it from the beginning. The colors used it, it's in my top 10 of Lotrek decks.

As for this new Patreon set up, I may just buy on Ebay if I see something I like. Still waiting on Year 2-5 rewards!

I'm grateful for that "faceless idiot". Wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Frankly I thought the whole "never post pictures of this online" thing was really dumb.

[Honeybee]

Some faceless idiot on IG years ago posted pics of Crypt but it was after most people got it from the beginning. The colors used it, it's in my top 10 of Lotrek decks.

As for this new Patreon set up, I may just buy on Ebay if I see something I like. Still waiting on Year 2-5 rewards!

I have never seen it. Bike man are you saying the colors used made it?

[laitostarr777]

Some faceless idiot on IG years ago posted pics of Crypt but it was after most people got it from the beginning. The colors used it, it's in my top 10 of Lotrek decks.

As for this new Patreon set up, I may just buy on Ebay if I see something I like. Still waiting on Year 2-5 rewards!

I'm grateful for that "faceless idiot". Wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Frankly I thought the whole "never post pictures of this online" thing was really dumb.

I can show you TWI’s Devotion if ya like xD
I will show it in DM

[kevork]

To this day, Crypt is one of my favorite backs on any cards. I was shocked at the price it went for as it was even struggling to sell for $250-300 on eBay just about a year or so ago. There appears to be a new wave of collectors wanting older Lotrek decks. Blue Damask just went for $1800, and the previous #001 Blue Damask went for over $3200. SoCal auctions tend to have a ton of eyes on them it seems. That's impressive.

[Honeybee]

I think the advertising of SoCal auctions on Instagram is really working

[Bikefanatic]

Some faceless idiot on IG years ago posted pics of Crypt but it was after most people got it from the beginning. The colors used it, it's in my top 10 of Lotrek decks.

As for this new Patreon set up, I may just buy on Ebay if I see something I like. Still waiting on Year 2-5 rewards!

I'm grateful for that "faceless idiot". Wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Frankly I thought the whole "never post pictures of this online" thing was really dumb.

He got an idea from a book that ones who only read it, knew about it so I think that's what he was going for with the deck. It would been best to ask around who has it if someone wants to see it privately than to show it off to the public.