UC2019 (Nº7) Annual Deck by Montenzi: Fulfillment in Progress

[Mike Ratledge]

We are almsot funded - NZ$ 24000 out of NZ$27777 with ~200 backers. The first stretch goal should be unlocked in this campaign!

We're just short of 90% at 13 hours in. Not bad at all! Keep pushing hard and share with your friends.

[montenzi]

Montenzi, how are you going to know what decks we have pledged for if you have set limits for one of the decks as we haven't yet indicated what we want? Personally, I am just looking for an even mix in my pledge depending on how many versions are produced.

1. It's the Law of large numbers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_large_numbers It always works.
2. All limits are already there as I have three options only per tier with one deck fluctuation. Otherwise, see #1

The range is 700-1500 per color as I don't want to send decks to GW by ship and I don't want to sit on decks after Kickstarter. I know at least ten ways how to limit this deck, but it should be a natural process.

update: remember, this project is EU friendly, so maybe half of the decks will be shipped from Germany.

[Bradius]

Fair enough. Sometimes that stuff can surprise you though at the numbers we are talking about. My specialty is in predictive analysis, so I deal with large number crunching and related coefficient variables all the time. Sometimes stuff behaves very predictably, but sometimes it throws in an odd wrench into an otherwise nicely working algorithm.

[Magistrate1500]

Fair enough. Sometimes that stuff can surprise you though at the numbers we are talking about. My specialty is in predictive analysis, so I deal with large number crunching and related coefficient variables all the time. Sometimes stuff behaves very predictably, but sometimes it throws in an odd wrench into an otherwise nicely working algorithm.

I think you just wanted to work "coefficient variables" into the conversation so I would have to google it. Ha!

[hsbc]

Funded!!

[Outsider]

The borderless edition has ambidextrous indices! You are a prince!

[montenzi]

The borderless edition has ambidextrous indices! You are a prince!

Indices are the same in all editions!

And WOW, we are funded in the first day! Foil both sides is the next goal!

Thanks to everyone!!!

[montenzi]

Our first stretch goal should be unlocked today! (foil both sides of the cards)

We need 210-230 backers to unlock the purple deck. It's possible!





Feel free to post anything in this thread as the work is over

Also, if you have any other ideas or comments about this project, please post here, on KS, DM me via UC or Instagram.

[Decknowledgy]

Feel free to post anything in this thread as the work is over

Freedom to post is finally allowed??
Ohhhhh yyyyyissss

[montenzi]

@Decknowledgy,




Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better

[BaconWise]

1st Stretch Goal is soooooo close!

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[montenzi]

1st Stretch Goal is soooooo close!

BaconWise, you are in good shape! I did not know that you are from the UK!

Our first goal of $37777 reached!

We'll be using foil on both sides of the cards! The purple deck is our next goal.

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[Magic Tapp]

I am fearing that getting to the purple deck stretch goal may be a tad difficult. Is it perhaps worth asking Omar to give it a shout-out in one of his videos?

[montenzi]

I am fearing that getting to the purple deck stretch goal may be a tad difficult. Is it perhaps worth asking Omar to give it a shout-out in one of his videos?

We need 160-180 more backers, 500 backers total. It's not easy, but also not too hard. At Hello Tiki we got 165 backers in the last 18 days, 190 backers for NEO: WAVE, 130 for NEO.
This campaign is much bigger! Also, I have not set limits for the Classic edition yet and have not started promoting this campaign.

The purple deck at $57777 is not quite in my comfort and safe zone. It's better to finish at 65-70k. But I'll be happy with any outcome.

p.s. I have not yet offered you 4th deck LOL. I am just kidding (?). Oh wait, I planned to send this deck to @Timmargh (backer #7) I have a couple of designs which I like as much as those on Kickstarter now.

[Magic Tapp]

p.s. I have not yet offered you 4th deck LOL. I am just kidding (?). Oh wait, I planned to send this deck to @Timmargh (backer #7) I have a couple of designs which I like as much as those on Kickstarter now.

4th deck??? You are such a tease...

[Timmargh]

4th deck??? You are such a tease...

He’s the King Of Tease!

Alex: much as I hate to say it I’m willing to forgo my super-awesome-7th-backer gift if it means more goodies for backers, but I’m guessing you have more than one deck waiting in the wings.

[montenzi]

4th deck??? You are such a tease...

He’s the King Of Tease!

Alex: much as I hate to say it I’m willing to forgo my super-awesome-7th-backer gift if it means more goodies for backers, but I’m guessing you have more than one deck waiting in the wings.

At least you'll be the first . But I don't want to offer this deck at the moment.

What if we unlock the purple deck now as a standard one (without using foil at all). If we reach our second goal, it will be upgraded to foil. If we finish under $57k, backers will be able to convert two of their premium deck into three standard purple decks — just an idea.

[VXD]

This forum is too small to get you another 180 backers or whatever you want

[VXD]

This will be my last post ever.

Take care all.

[aznh]

This will be my last post ever.

Take care all.

This forum is too small to get you another 180 backers or whatever you want

Why?? Struggles....

[hsbc]

This will be my last post ever.

Take care all.

?????

[Bradius]

I am not sure what your concern is VXD. Most of us are not media personalities or social media celebrities. There are others that visit, but are silent. However, you are right that even so our reach is limited. That said, we do represent an important part of playing card collecting and I think it is worth communicating with us. We do get involved in other parts of the community, so I think it does help.

I wish you well.

[guru]

This will be my last post ever.

Take care all.

This forum is too small to get you another 180 backers or whatever you want

Why?? Struggles....

Agree with Bradius. Not sure about what your concern is? UC could be small but is a passionate bunch of folks. I am just thinking out loud here while trying to connect the dots, if you are watching Kickstarter analytics results which shows how many backers are coming from channels like UC, social media channels etc., then it might disappoint you for sure but then you are too much reliant on Kickstarter. You should stick with your initial vision of getting your products to Casinos and work towards realizing it, just saying. It is a good invention and may be, getting to the mass market targeting advertisers is what may help in realizing your vision.

Sorry, for derailing this UC'19 thread. Now, back to work.

[Adonael]

You should stick with your initial vision of getting your products to Casinos and work towards realizing it, just saying. It is a good invention and may be, getting to the mass market targeting advertisers is what may help in realizing your vision.

I agree with this. I may have implied this multiple times before in other threads, but to just come out with it VXD to me is somebody who is clearly inventive and has produced a technology with plenty of potential which is a huge accomplishment. But he is not creative. Like at all. His direction so far has been misguided and beyond his capabilities and it should have been obvious from the terrible first ideas for the Vegas deck. It may be an overly strong opinion to some, and I understand how the technology alone can be interesting enough to own a deck, but I don't think any VXD produced deck so far has much artistic merit, and are all bland tech demos akin to slapping make-up and a bow on a pig. What he should be doing is getting his product to casinos first of all as that is what it was created for (I can't possibly imagine any lack of demand), and licensing it out to designers/artists who can legitimately make use of it in inventive ways. It's nature is a commercial product and it is being wasted.

[Magic Tapp]

I am at a loss as to what caused VXD to start taking unprovoked jibes at Montenzi and UC in general. What is going on?

[montenzi]

This forum is too small to get you another 180 backers or whatever you want

Of course, I know that this forum is small, 100-200 active members. Maybe 30-40 backed this project. But it does not matter!!! It's not an advertising platform for me, and I always know my limits. I don't expect that 180 UC members will back this project tomorrow It's was just the fact that I should find 180 backers for this project to unlock our 2nd goal. Where? On Kickstarter as KS is much bigger.

When I present sketches/finished art, my vision of a project, I never overestimate the level of support I can get. People are different and smart enough to make their own decisions. It's impossible to force someone to love you. Also, when everyone supports you, it's not as good as you think! One day you will start doing what others expect from you, but not what you love doing!

I like asking questions, and I respect any point of view. But I will always do what I believe is right for the project even if the majority is against it. It's impossible to receive all likes but more important to be yourself.

[Decknowledgy]

This forum is too small to get you another 180 backers or whatever you want

I don't know which context you're coming from VXD, but UC---like all kinds of interest-based forums---has always been a forum for people with playing card interest to chat, to discuss, and to share about playing card news and designs. It has never been a good place for marketing and advertisements which are easily detected by the audience in the way the source promotes their product. So when Montenzi is speaking about getting another 180 backers, he's not speaking about 180 new backers from UC but in general (as told above).

On the other hand, Instagram and Reddit have been the real place for playing card marketing as they provide plenty of space for advertisement and publicity, using the algorithms that forums like UC don't have, and branching out with a mere click from an interested individual. That's why when new creators come to this platform to promote their designs but haven't set up an Instagram account for that, I always encourage them to do the marketing there in advance. Thus, like the eventually well-funded Culturae Animalis. This is a place to talk inspiration, not a place to do serious business. It would be risky to think that this platform would contribute significantly to the sales that you're looking for, and most importantly, it is not the forum's fault but rather the simple fact of how big data factors into social media platforms but not here.

As for the diffraction effect on playing cards, it's a "technique" rather than a "style" of playing cards, just as how foil, metallic ink, and gildings are. Your target audience would best be designers and card manufacturers like USPCC or Cartamundi or casinos who would probably look for a flashy shine for their higher-end gift shop decks. TBH, the price of a VXD deck is a toil on an individual's wallet, whereas wholesale will help all sides benefit: you, the wholesaler, and the customer. Currently, what I see is a direct producer-to-customer sales relationship that leaves no space for bargaining, bulk deals, and cost-downs. And in the long run, I don't see how any backer would be able to afford the whole series if the prices should consistently remain so high. Maybe a reassessment of the business ties in the future will boost sales for the VXD patented diffraction eventually.

I hope this changes your pessimism towards this community.

[montenzi]

We have two new stretch goals! I am going to unlock the purple deck earlier but with foil on one side only. If we reach 57k, it will be upgraded.


(NEW) 3. NZ$47777 (US$29800)- the purple deck unlocked with foil on one side only
(MAIN) 4. NZ$57777 (US$36100)- foil on both sides of the cards for the purple deck
(NEW) 5. NZ$57777 (US$36100) - the Classic edition deck will be Kickstarter and montenzi.nz exclusive

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[montenzi]

It's your next cardistry deck

The purple deck should be unlocked soon.

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[PrincessTrouble]

Sorry for the dumb question... How do we add on decks? I didn't see a price chart for add-ons.