The Zinfandel Deck - by Eric Mana

[Card Player]

The back design is a bit better then I first thought but It needs more silver and gold then it has now. I don't like the aces at all (exception AOS). Could have stuck with the v1 ace designs. I never liked over-sized ace pips. Mana AOS was always good.

I'm on the outs. V1 could been an accidental stroke of luck.

[Colorless Concept]

I think the zinfandel deck had something missing in the design,Doesn't feel like this better than the 1st version.I wish Eric Mana can release the old version of the mana deck with the original design(the purple color)

[Fred]

Erik has revised the front tuck box design. To be honest i didnt think there was any need. In fact, frankly, i think the new revised version detracts from the elegance previously captured in the original design.

[Card Player]

Erik has revised the front tuck box design. To be honest i didnt think there was any need. In fact, frankly, i think the new revised version detracts from the elegance previously captured in the original design.

The tuck revision is an improvement. Too many things I'm not fond of though. It also has some big shoes to fill.

- Aces Pips too Large
- Don't like the custom pip designs
- The back design borders are wacky looking.
- Not enough Gold and Silver in the back design
- The card font is awful

[Don Boyer]

I loved the Mana deck.  I even enjoyed the Verve deck, all three colors - I'm probably among the few people on Earth who actually liked the yellow one.

But this?  I wasn't happy before, now after seeing the new box, I'm even less so.

It's not like he doesn't know good design - what the hell went wrong?

[Anthony]

I still like it, we all look at things a little differently so I'm sure what pleases some, will not please others. That being said, I have to agree with Fred, I kind of like the faux "wax seal" more than the updated version, I think it ties into the concept a bit more.

[bhong]

On Eric Mana's website, http://www.erikmana.com/ , it's stated the Zinfandel and Indigo Mana Kickstarter is set to launch Wednesday November 20th. Should be a fun Kickstarter day with Pagan launching the same day too.

[DJT]

I think on the white deck they should use the indigo color for the silver foil accents and the black deck use the Zinfandel color instead of the gold accents. I think that would keep the feel and look of the deck more consistent.

My thoughts.

[badpete69]

They are live
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erikmana/mana-playing-cards-zinfandel-and-indigo

Thought about doing the collector box  but $175 is a bit steep..Settled for 2 decks of each

[badpete69]

[verloren]

Settled for 2 decks of each

Same here, although no guarantee I'll actually stick with the pledge.

[sprouts1115]

It's live http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erikmana/mana-playing-cards-zinfandel-and-indigo?ref=card  with early birds

Can we put that link in the first post.  So people don't have to scroll down here...

Edit: Crap just noticed badpete69 already posted it.  I see where this is going. Rob Wright is going to get a run for his money since pete is now hanging around.

[badpete69]

Nah Sprouts.  Just hanging and enjoying new forums for me

[MrMollusk]

Love those courts. Sleek and elegant. Even if you don't like the new version, this is still a great opportunity to grab some original Manas.



19 bucks for the original deck isn't so bad. I've seen them go for a lot more.

[verloren]

Love those courts. Sleek and elegant. Even if you don't like the new version, this is still a great opportunity to grab some original Manas.

19 bucks for the original deck isn't so bad. I've seen them go for a lot more.

Oh man. I just saw this. Guess he's taking my money.

[Don Boyer]

They are live
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erikmana/mana-playing-cards-zinfandel-and-indigo

Thought about doing the collector box  but $175 is a bit steep..Settled for 2 decks of each

Hmm...  Launched a day early?  Wasn't it due tomorrow?  (More like later today, since it's really late...)

I guess the release of the Pagan deck from Uusi had him worried! 

I have to say, I'm liking the design more than I thought I would, but that earlier opinion was based on what little we were being shown.  Still...  I dunno...

[Rob Wright]

Project is w/in $300 of goal
Latest update announced marked deck

Update #8                                                             Nov 26, 2013

Fun Secrets...   


Hi guys!

There is a secret to this deck that is very exciting. To those of you who don't know by now, this deck has a Marking System that will allow you to know what each card is just by a quick glance at the back of the cards. To the untrained eye, there is nothing you can see that gives it away, but once you know the secret, the code is very clear.

But that's just a small part of the fun! Here's the catch - I'm not just going to give you the secret code. You have to find it! Each deck will come with a small riddle that will lead you to another riddle and to a password. That password is for a secret link that will be found on my website. Only there will I share the secret code to the deck.

It is a fun and awesome little adventure that only the intrepid few will seek and pass. 

Exciting times ahead!

Cheers!

Erik

[Don Boyer]

I have yet to find a marked deck that didn't use UV inks or daubs or such that I couldn't both spot the markings AND break the code.  Riffling the deck while watching it will give away pretty much all such marked decks, though the better the marks are hidden, the tougher they are to spot.

[MrMollusk]

I have yet to find a marked deck that didn't use UV inks or daubs or such that I couldn't both spot the markings AND break the code.  Riffling the deck while watching it will give away pretty much all such marked decks, though the better the marks are hidden, the tougher they are to spot.

In my opinion, the most discrete marking system was the Legend's.

When you riffle it, it just looks like the flames are flickering. I never even suspected it was marked until I read a thread on it.

It should be interesting, though. The Mana's back certainly allows for a marking system.

[Don Boyer]

I have yet to find a marked deck that didn't use UV inks or daubs or such that I couldn't both spot the markings AND break the code.  Riffling the deck while watching it will give away pretty much all such marked decks, though the better the marks are hidden, the tougher they are to spot.

In my opinion, the most discrete marking system was the Legend's.

When you riffle it, it just looks like the flames are flickering. I never even suspected it was marked until I read a thread on it.

It should be interesting, though. The Mana's back certainly allows for a marking system.

I would say the Madison Dealers and the Madison Players are tough to spot.  Unfortunately, they're also tough to read compared to something like GT Speedreaders or the Ultimate Marked Deck.

[HandSkillz]

Since I was super late to the kickstarter party, this project has become the first one that I've backed - landed the last set of 2 for $20.  Although I think the Oracle's are my favorite, I'm excited to get the Zinfandel deck as it's a pretty unique color and I may be in the minority, but the indigo deck is very striking to me.  I'm pretty confident I know what he's going to do for the marking system, or at least where on the cards to find it.  The only marked deck I've ever used are the Madison Players, I just don't have a good routine to fit marked cards into (if anyone has any, please pm me). 

Anyways, I'm pretty excited to have backed my first project and to see what projects 2014 brings.

[Don Boyer]

Since I was super late to the kickstarter party, this project has become the first one that I've backed - landed the last set of 2 for $20.  Although I think the Oracle's are my favorite, I'm excited to get the Zinfandel deck as it's a pretty unique color and I may be in the minority, but the indigo deck is very striking to me.  I'm pretty confident I know what he's going to do for the marking system, or at least where on the cards to find it.  The only marked deck I've ever used are the Madison Players, I just don't have a good routine to fit marked cards into (if anyone has any, please pm me). 

Anyways, I'm pretty excited to have backed my first project and to see what projects 2014 brings.

There are no shortage of routines that you can use a marked deck for.  One of my favorites is to use a marked deck in concert with an invisible deck.  I allow the spectator to choose the card from the marked deck, then reveal it using the invisible deck.  It works even better if you use a Gambler's Deck - it has markings to tell you both the top and bottom cards of the deck.  You can have the spectator cut the deck and show them the bottom card - they'll never imagine you're using a marked deck since you don't even see the back of their card.  Done twice in a row, it really bugs people out.

[speedyy400]

I never knew marked decks existed. That is one of the coolest things ever. I may be in for one now. Might just have to get some money together for it. Do we know which deck it will be on? The Indigo or Zinfandel? Both?

[Don Boyer]

I never knew marked decks existed. That is one of the coolest things ever. I may be in for one now. Might just have to get some money together for it. Do we know which deck it will be on? The Indigo or Zinfandel? Both?

Wait, you NEVER knew that marked decks exist?  You must be VERY young!  I remember as a kid finding really cheapo marked decks as well as some overly complicated ones like the DeLand Automatic Deck - it was marked to the point that you could track the location of EVERY card in the deck, but it was terribly obvious that the design wasn't that of a straight deck.  A small difference is hard to spot, but the DeLand deck had over fifty small differences on each card back!

[speedyy400]

Haha would you consider 19 to be very young? I am certainly young in terms of plying cards and experience. I have only been collecting for just over 2 months now and have learned tons already. As I can see though, I have a lot more to learn.

It is tough juggle my time between reading the discourse and studying for finals… The discourse normally wins lol

I really am interested in getting my hands on a marked deck sometime. I might wait for these cards to go public and then pick up a deck on ebay or something.