I'll go with Dec 6.

Actually, Curt, there may be a difference between USPC-issue and strippers from Dan and Dave.

I've purchased a few D&D stripper decks.  They use a VERY shallow cut, making the stripped edge nearly impossible to spot visually, especially while used in a performance, but something like that is professional-grade, not a good deck to use if you're still learning how to use strippers in the first place.  Assuming their new decks are of the same grade as the old ones, I'd say buy them if you're experienced and have a sensitive touch (or are at least willing to develop such a touch).

The typical USPC-made stripper has a deep cut, one that's deep enough that the inverted card will actually leave a shadow that can be spotted when under a light source strong enough for reading.  You can fool some of your friends and they're perfectly fine for practice and learning about how they work, but strippers are common enough that some laypeople know about them and a sharp eye will see that shadow if you're well-enough lit and you hold your hands still enough!  The D&D-grade ones that I bought would fool a magician!

That is good to know Don, I'm going to order from Dan and Dave since it's better quality.  I don't mind spending the time getting used to handling them.  Would you recommend the steamboats or ace Fulton casinos?

Price per deck used to be a good indicator of the size of the print run. Now it's a bit fuzzier given the crowdfunded decks tend to maintain the high price per deck it takes to fund a project.

Demand is what usually fuels a price increase, also usually fuels reprints and recolors. A word on buying bricks or decks as a future investment. Don't.

True that's what it seems like, I also wouldn't recommend buying decks/bricks with the intention to resell. 

I would recommend just getting a standard bicycle stripper deck. If you perform with a deck that already looks different from what your spectators may use normally.. this is an easy way to cause suspicion. Quality wise, it's not a very complex gimmick, and the decks you mentioned are all made by USPCC so quality should be the same.

Thanks for the reply, I think that I might end up doing that. I usually prefer to perform tricks with a regular deck but figured I'd give a stripper deck a shot finally.  There are certain performances I would like to try out with it.

Nice haul bruh man
Did you buy the inverted decks, or is that a magic trick? 

Thanks

Now place your hand over the screen flip your monitor, remove your hand and prepare to be amazed 

Where was the quality control on this one?  The 8oC and 9oC have same markings, but then the 10oC shows as 9, J as 10, Q as J, KoC is back to accurate.  What else is screwed up???

Great, I now have a deck that can't be used for tricks and can't be used for poker because it's marked.  I guess I have a pair of cardistry and child game decks now.  Maybe I'll just add them to the collection, they still look nice.

Oh wow, you're right. That is really disappointing because I really liked these decks too, what a shame.  Has this been brought to their attention?
 

Sent you a PM

Quote from: _Daniel_ on September 08, 2014, 05:49:23 PM

Quote from: publius on September 08, 2014, 05:38:53 PM

Not that I'm accusing you of this, but just a small piece of advice. Don't collect decks because they are "must collect" decks. I hate to see this hobby of ours become another fly by night fad chasing exercise. Collect decks that mean something to you personally. My deck list is probably a lot different than the others because I tend to prefer USPC designed decks - old and new. The KS craze I mostly stay away from - maybe to my own chagrin, but it doesn't really excite me as much as other people. However, if I back a deck, it's simply because I truly like the deck, and not because it's the new hot deck everyone is backing. I like Daniel Madison's stuff, because his design style really speaks to me as a designer. I don't care for the Jackson Robinson stuff as much, although he is one hell of an incredible designer don't get me wrong - it's just a style preference.

I thought this was a really good point. I have probably fallen foul to what you describe a couple times. I sometimes wonder what causes the preference we have in card design, whether it's a compulsory neurological reason or just completely arbitrary...

I love this exchange. My two cents, buy decks you like. Don't buy decks you don't like. It's not a weight and measures of anything other than your own personal taste. There's something about a deck that inspired you to take pause and check it out. Odds are you know if you like it by looking at it. Not by who made it, who bought it, or where it came from. Those things just clutter the purity of the decks imho. (handling not included, entirely different ball of wax)

The value of a deck of cards is what someone will pay for it. The value of your card collection is how much you enjoy it, doesn't matter what's in it. If the decks that are in it are what you like, then you have a very nice collection. If the decks in it don't make you smile, well there's some work to be done there.

I couldn't possibly list my top three decks for various categories. I'll say what are on my desk at the moment though. Gnostic Rose Gold, Tally Ho Circle Back blue, Brazil 2014, and the ever present Bicycle red rider backs. My pocket deck is currently Tally Ho Circle back red. I guess those are my current favorites. I find I go back to the Tally Ho's a lot, they're kind of my go to deck. Inexpensive and wonderful.

I appreciate the advice from everyone, but I'm surely not going to buy decks just because they are popular or because I feel like they are a must buy.  I just wanted to get an idea of what all decks were out that I might not have known about.  If not for this forum I might not have heard of Uusi and now the Royal Optik's are probably my favorite deck design I have yet to see overall.  I don't plan on having a big collection, and most of the decks I purchase I plan on putting them to use.  I will buy duplicates only of decks I really really like that are produced at a limited quantity.

Regarding Kickstarter I never thought I would participate in one but I recently backed the Empire 'Bloodlines' edition, It's a beautiful deck of cards and I wanted to get my hands on all three of the colors available. 

If you don't like to get stuff off of eBay, you can go to http://jpplayingcards.co.uk/aurum-playing-cards?search=Aurum to purchase the deck. He's selling them for £12.99. Much cheaper than what's on eBay.

Also, let's not forget Jackson's decks.
Out of the decks he's designed, I'm an absolute massive fan of the Sherlock decks.

Perfect Thanks a lot Nurul, didn't realize JPPlayingcards had them.  Jackson's decks are beautiful especially the original Federal 52's just bit too much for my liking, and the Sherlock decks are really cool especially and if you are a fan of Holmes then I would say they are a must buy.

Hey man!

I think Don's assessment is pretty much spot on.

The answers anyone gives for all 5 categories will always be highly subjective, because everybody's idea of what does and doesn't look nice can potentially be different (as they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"), and what people look for in a tuck can also be different.

Even handling is subjective, because of things such as preferences towards thick/thin cards, stiff/flexible cards, and the amount of slip. Magicians and those who do gambling demos (such as me!) will look for different things in the feel of cards.

Therefore, although this post is going to be long, I'll briefly jot down why I have chosen what I have.

(Other than for the handling section, I'll try and limit my picks to decks which aren't ultra difficult to get hold of just yet, and won't cost an arm and a leg. Also, my picks won't be in any particular order)

Back Design:
(1) LUXX by JP Playing Card Company
The intricate detail and choice of vivid colours for this back design looks both elegant, and spectacular. For what it's worth, it's my favourite back design to date
(2) Aurum by Encarded
Again, the fine detail on this back design is quite incredible, and great use of metalic inks
(3) The Hive by Kings Wild Project
The design clearly takes inspiration from the Tally-Ho design... but it's done in such a way that it cannot be considered a "knock off" in any respect -- it stands tall and shines in its own right. Great work by Brendon and KWP.

Honourable mentions:
- Ornate (all decks) by Midnight Cards and HOPC
- Mana (first edition and third edition) by Erik Mana

Faces:
(1) Egyptian Legends or the Gnostics by LPCC
Yeah, the faces are standard ones... but they have the best recoloured traditional court cards around. They have this awesome shade of gold ink which in turn makes the reds and blues really 'pop' on the courts.
(2) Clipped Wings by Emmanuel Jose
I don't usually care for art decks... but Emmanual's work is an exception because it's in a league of its own. The faces are as unique as they get, and the method used to create the designs is simply excellent. Very original.
(3) Pagan by UUSI
Again, this is more an art deck than a deck for performing gambling slights with... but the custom artwork is really good.

Tuck Box:
(1) Egyptian Legends
This tuck has it all -- foil, embossed foil, a papyrus feel (rather than the), really shiny foil on the interior of the box, thick and sturdy card, a die cut window, and then the usual LPCC traits such as the larger tuck flap, and perforated seal. Furthermore, it looks beautiful.
(2) LUXX
Same plus points as the Egyptian Legends, but without the die cut window. What it does have though, is phenomenal design and excellent use of foil. In terms of look, I think this one is as good as it gets.
(3) Medallions by Theory11
As usual, there's a lot of detail on the tuck of a T11 deck... but this tuck is made using a really soft type of paper which has a luxury feel to it, much like the red monarchs.

Honourable mentions:
- The Hive
- Sultan Republic
- Madison Rounders private reserve.

(Okay, I'm joking about the Rounders private reserve -- only a blank box would be less spectacular. Lol)

Handling:
(1) Sharps
In my opinion, the best handling 'paper feel' deck of cards produced in the last 5 years (at least!). The combination of a well balanced (in terms of flexibility and sturdyness) cardstock combined with the coating that Legends cards use, make these cards unrivalled. The thickness of the cards, I find perfect. This deck will likely remain tough to get hold of... so try and get hold of any deck by EPCC or LPCC which uses their "classic finish" to get a first hand idea of how good these cards handle.
(2) Egyptian Legends
Same thickness and coating as the Sharps... but with a stiffer and longer lasting card stock. For fans and virtually any type of card work, this deck is exceptional. I practice with these every day.
(3) Richard Turner gold standard Bee
In my opinion, the best handling deck USPCC has made. They are made from their top-of-the-line Bee Casino cardstock, and compressed to a lesser thickness... and so they have really nice 'snap' to them and are brilliant for all sleights. Virtually impossible to find these days though.
(4) Fournier 605 -- Lee Asher Signature series
Yes, I've added a 4th one because Lee's deck is that good. A very different feel to any other cards on the market today, and they have a combination of excellent slip and a nice, sturdy cardstock. These are excellent for shuffle work such as riffle stacking. These decks are reputed to be ultra-long lasting. For people are looking for cards that feel different and handle well, I consider the 605s a "must have".


Overall:
(1) Sharps
(2) LUXX
(3) Egyptian Legends

Thank you for the detailed reply HolyJJ. 

I have been waiting patiently for my Egyptian Legends to arrive, can't wait to get my hands on those.  The Luxx do look beautiful but they are currently out of stock.  The Aurum is probably my favorite back design out of all the decks I've looked at but I can't find any for sale except for ebay which I'm very wary of, so if anyone has a suggestion of where to look that would be great.

Hello, Bruh Man!

Rather than specific decks, I'm going to offer general advice.

There are loads and loads of playing cards out there.  You will NEVER collect them all, so please, for the sake of your bank account, DON'T TRY! 

Go slow with your initial purchases.  Get decks that are currently still available at the original retail price rather than hunting older, rarer, more costly ones.  You can look into them later as you gain more experience as a collector.

Please be picky about what you buy!  I started off willy-nilly, buying whatever the hell I wanted - and now many of those decks are sitting in my collection, hardly touched.  They were interesting for a while, but the charm wore off.  I might revisit them now and then as a goof, but it probably would have been a smarter choice to forgo buying them in the first place.

Don't buy a deck because you think you must have it in your collection for it to be complete.  Buy it instead because you really, really like it.  I know a number of collectors who specialize in buying all decks with the Bicycle brand name on them - and as a result, a lot of crappy deck designs got made under the Bicycle brand because designers assume that no matter how bad the deck is, those guys will buy it.  So a battle ensues in the collector's mind: the deck fan in them says "No, stay away, they're repellent!," but the completist in them screams "Gotta get 'em ALL!!"  Fortunately for some, the deck fan in them is louder than the completist!  Don't let the completist make your buying decisions.

Advice about handling from anyone about any deck can and should be taken with a little grain of salt.  One man's perfect deck is another man's disgusting heap that should be burned rather than used.  Opinions about stocks and finishes vary more than the winds.

Don't make a huge collection all in one shot - again, with lack of differentiation, you'll wind up with decks you really don't like all that much.  Be slow, be patient, be true to what you really love.  You'll learn more about the cards while slowly building your collection and your tastes will become more apparent and refined.  As you gain experience, then you can make more informed choices about snapping up a lot of cards all at once.

Lastly - you are the one in control of your hobby.  Don't let the balance of power swing in the other direction!  If you're choosing gas for the car or some groceries versus buying a handful of new decks - let the decks go!  Decks are like buses, trains and cellphones - there's always more coming.

Card Player: FYI - NY Magic Project is Kevin Reylek of the Blue Crown.  His Bicycle Lefty deck is still on sale there, now in blue as well as the original red.

That is some really great advice Don, I really appreciate it.

After my first couple of purchases I am not going to be purchasing many decks, probably only a select few every year.  I don't ever see myself buying a brick, but I will buy multiples of certain decks.  Some will be gifts, some I will use regularly, and others I will set aside.  I bought a pair of the Split Spades as well as a pair of the Smoke & Mirrors and that's what got me started, really great decks.

I am just now beginning to collect decks and it's really overwhelming to this newcomer the amount of beautifully designed decks that have come out and/or are coming out, so I would really love to get everyones opinion on their top 3 in these categories. I would really appreciate it as it would help me decide which decks to start off my collection with.

Back design
1)
2)
3)

Face design
1)
2)
3)

Tuck Box
1)
2)
3)

Handling
1)
2)
3)

Overall favorites
1)
2)
3)