Bicycle Majestic - Now Live on Kickstarter

[CBJ]

A new deck has landed on KS

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elitecards/majestic-bicycle-playing-cards-deck





CBJ

[xela]

Way too many deck launches. How do you folks that buy all the new releases keep track :S

[Michael]

Way too many deck launches. How do you folks that buy all the new releases keep track :S

It really is way too many nowadays. Part of the plethora ( ) of released decks are on Kickstarter. I use the NDR to keep track ( ).

This deck actually is really nice in my opinion. I like the slightly fancied out pips that aren't too quirky. I think this deck may actually look really good. And for something less that $15!  Haven't backed yet but highly considering it.

[John B.]

I just look at the new topics, if I like a design I pledge and keep track, otherwise I don't care.

[MrMollusk]

I'm having mixed feelings about this deck.

First of all, the last 2 times Elite Playing Cards did decks, they promised ridiculously classy foiled boxed. Never came through with that. Just glossy and standard. The back also has me shying away. I can understand "Premium playing cards" on a box, but why the hell would you smack it on the back? It looks kinda cheesy. I like the jokers and face cards though. They're standard enough to not arouse suspicion, but they have a pretty nice customization thrown in. Ace of spades is cool, too.

If they're aiming for magicians in this project, I think they did a pretty neat job. But as far as classy yet somewhat standard goes, I think Coterie Bee trumps all. This might be a neat deck, but I'm not about to smack down another $11 for it.

Also horses. Myegh.

[Michael]

I'm having mixed feelings about this deck.

First of all, the last 2 times Elite Playing Cards did decks, they promised ridiculously classy foiled boxed. Never came through with that. Just glossy and standard. The back also has me shying away. I can understand "Premium playing cards" on a box, but why the hell would you smack it on the back? It looks kinda cheesy. I like the jokers and face cards though. They're standard enough to not arouse suspicion, but they have a pretty nice customization thrown in. Ace of spades is cool, too.

If they're aiming for magicians in this project, I think they did a pretty neat job. But as far as classy yet somewhat standard goes, I think Coterie Bee trumps all. This might be a neat deck, but I'm not about to smack down another $11 for it.

Also horses. Myegh.

I agree with you on the backs. The fact that the word "premium" is on the back is almost as if they need to call it that rather than it actually being that.

The faces are the sole reason why I like this deck. Like I said, still considering whether or not to back this project.

[Don Boyer]

Yeah, it's a decent concept, but it looks like they're pushing too hard or something.  That labeling on the coin of "Majestic 128 Years 1885-2013 Elite Playing Cards" implies that it's Elite and the Majestic brand that's been around all those years rather than just the USPC.  And for the life of me I can't understand why the joker card cases are $10 more than the AoS ones as add-ons.  I'm likely to pass on this.

Am I the only one who noticed that one of his images is in CMYK and looks like a negative?

[BiggerDee]

No surprise to all I'm sure, but I'm in. I like them. Just something that strikes me as favorable. It may be gold on black, that always seems to get my attention a bit more than a white deck would.

Alex, you should see how many KS project update e-mails that I get a week! :-) I will often get a package and the mail, open it, and say "oh yeah, I had forgotten about those!"

[MrMollusk]

I don't think I've heard of a Vellum box before.
This could be interesting.

[Michael]

I don't think I've heard of a Vellum box before.
This could be interesting.

Googling "vellum paper" and reading the WIkipedia page that was produced as a result read that vellum paper is generally used for paper that needs to be thin but sturdy like blueprints. I have absolutely no idea what other uses vellum paper has but that sounds interesting but also makes me skeptical. Shouldn't the tuck be thick to protect the cards they contain? Maybe this is thick vellum and maybe I'm just typing out my ass right now. 

[BiggerDee]

The Blue Crown Luxury (Red and Blue) tucks are listed as being vellum.

[Don Boyer]

The Blue Crown Luxury (Red and Blue) tucks are listed as being vellum.

It's just a heavy matte-finish paper, as it applies to tuck boxes.  The old-school definition is "fine parchment made originally from the skin of a calf," while the simple, modern definition would be "smooth writing paper imitating vellum."  It's considered synonymous with "parchment".

[BiggerDee]

I used to have maps printed on vellum in the '80's, and it was a simulated vellum, a translucent, parchment-colored plastic material.

[Card Player]

I'm really liking the back design and the ace of spades. The custom pips are tastefully done also.

I don't understand why Elite is going with the bicycle branding and the "128 years edition" on the side of the box? This is not a Bicycle Anniversary or heritage deck. Was this design approved by USPCC?

[Don Boyer]

I'm really liking the back design and the ace of spades. The custom pips are tastefully done also.

I don't understand why Elite is going with the bicycle branding and the "128 years edition" on the side of the box? This is not a Bicycle Anniversary or heritage deck. Was this design approved by USPCC?

I'm not keen on that, either.  Otherwise, this looks like a good, straight-up deck - something I've never said before about an Elite deck.  They tend to be too baroque for my tastes.  It's like they're pushing too hard to have a history they haven't yet put in the time for with this deck.

[magimago]

While i realy like the design, although the horses on the back seem to be too bold and missplaced, reminds me somehow of whiskeybottles.
The design on the Ace of Spades looks much better, thats how the back should be done. Might be just me.

But what makes a pass on this one for me is, that i find that using Standart-Bicycle-Stock and Aircushionfinish has nothing "premium"-quality to it.

For a 11dollar-deck i expect a premiumStock and magicfinish.

[g-low]

I like the ace cards customization but I'm not too sure about the text on the back design, though.

[Don Boyer]

But what makes a pass on this one for me is, that i find that using Standart-Bicycle-Stock and Aircushionfinish has nothing "premium"-quality to it.

For a 11dollar-deck i expect a premiumStock and magicfinish.

Did you know that Magic Finish is the default finish for all custom decks now at USPC?  Regardless of what it may say on the box?  There have been plenty of decks released that said "Air Cushion", "Cambric", etc. that were coated with Magic Finish.  I'd be shocked if it wasn't MF, and they just like using the Air Cushion name.  The very first Magic Finish deck made available commercially was the Gold Arcane, and the box simply says "Air Cushion" on it.  All new decks from E say either "Performance Coating" or "Performance Finish" on the tucks - it's their name they use for Magic Finish, not a different finish.  In fact, it was the original code name USPC was using for the finish while it was still being tested.

Back to the point - there's a slim chance this deck doesn't have Magic Finish on it.  You'd have to order "standard" finish specifically and there's no discount for the downgrade.  Marketing names don't matter - the actual coating on the paper does.  It wouldn't surprise me if USPC makes MF the standard finish for everything eventually.

As far as stock, they give smaller companies ordering short runs two choices - Bicycle or Bee Casino.  There is no in-between.  The stock is actually the same paper made to different thicknesses, with the Bee Casino range being on the thicker side.  Having said that, however, the actual range for both stocks actually overlaps, so a thick "Bicycle-range" stock can actually be thicker than a thin "Bee Casino-range" stock.

Big companies placing big orders get to fiddle with stock characteristics and have more precisely-made paperboard.  Blaine did it for his White Lions, Kalush did it for the CARC Bee Erdnase 216 - as well as having a custom-blended finish.  They place orders in the tens of thousands and on a regular basis.  Joe's Design, making a short run of 2,500-5,000 every now and then, don't get the privilege, because as in most businesses, money talks.

Their cards will probably handle much like NOCs or Crowns.  Which handle like a lot of other new decks - consistently well.