Aquila Playing Cards (KS)

[adhex5150]

I'm confused as I saw this page:
http://tuckcase.com/2013/07/10/new-release-conjuring-arts-research-center-launches-the-expert-playing-card-co-debuts-global-titans/
My Exquisite Decks and Global Titan decks say on the tuck "Expert Playing Card Company".
My Legends 1st Edition tuck has multiple references to Lawrence Sullivan, but none to Legends Playing Card Co.

Legends and Exquisite cards have much the same smooth feel, while the Global Titans are much coarser -- and they are made in Shanghai, not Taiwan. So I'm guessing that the Aquila cards will feel like the Legends and Exquisite?

/bama

Hi Bamabenz,
Badpete and Sher was right, Expert Playing Card Co. is runned by Bill Kalush and Legends Playing Card Co. is runned by Lawrence Sullivan.
For the Aquila we're working directly with Lawrence Sullivan to produce Aquila.
Aquila will be printed using the Taiwan printer. It will have same card stock with Legends v2 and Exquisite, and will be using Diamond Finish.

[Mike Ratledge]

It is confusing: Expert PCC is a 501(c)3 "Not for Profit" under CARC headed by William "Bill" Kalush and Legends PCC is a Nevada corporation owned by Lawrence Sullivan as I understand what I have been told by Bill.  They both use the same factory, which the name escapes me at the moment, but if you contact them they tell you to use their "North American Agent" Expert PCC.

The factory is Shanghai was canned after they printed those Global Titans, as far as I know neither is using them now nor has plans to do so.

You should expect these decks with the new finish a la Sharps to be the same quality and handling as the Exquisites and Legends v2 decks, amongst others.

[bamabenz]

Mike & Adhex,

Thanks for the explanation. So Legends and Expert are two independent U.S. entities that happen to use the same, or at least overlapping printers. Expert has a deal with the factory to be their official US rep, but others may work directly with them.

I'm curious if you know of more decks produced by this factory?

Anyways, the Aquila project looks awesome, I'm in for a Limited and Mixed Dual.

BTW, you may want to change your tag to Playing Cards:
https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/categories/games/playing%20cards

/bama

[Don Boyer]

Here's the story as I know it, folks.

Bill Kalush is the Director of the Conjuring Arts Research Center (CARC).  He produced several decks of cards with USPC, but wanted to take a different course, scouted out many printers from around the world, and settled on one located in Taiwan, the name of which is an industry secret.  He used another location from Shanghai, but the cards from that plant weren't as well received.  There are some old-school card men who swear by them, but they do take considerably more breaking in.

Bill worked with Lawrence Sullivan in the production of his Legends deck, version 1, from which the Legends Playing Card Company grew.  They both are exclusive agents of the same printer in Taiwan.  Legends PCC appear to be taking orders from designers in the Far East, while Expert PCC is taking orders from designers in North America and Europe.

Anything more than that, I'd actually have to ask Bill.

BTW: you guys do realize that not only is Bill a member here, but that the Expert Playing Card Company has an official sticky topic in the Plethora?  Right?  And that there's an official "company rep" rank, with a company identity for EPCC, specifically created for answering questions and disseminating information about upcoming releases?

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself around here... 

[Sher143]

Here's the story as I know it, folks.

Bill Kalush is the Director of the Conjuring Arts Research Center (CARC).  He produced several decks of cards with USPC, but wanted to take a different course, scouted out many printers from around the world, and settled on one located in Taiwan, the name of which is an industry secret.  He used another location from Shanghai, but the cards from that plant weren't as well received.  There are some old-school card men who swear by them, but they do take considerably more breaking in.

Bill worked with Lawrence Sullivan in the production of his Legends deck, version 1, from which the Legends Playing Card Company grew.  They both are exclusive agents of the same printer in Taiwan.  Legends PCC appear to be taking orders from designers in the Far East, while Expert PCC is taking orders from designers in North America and Europe.

Anything more than that, I'd actually have to ask Bill.

BTW: you guys do realize that not only is Bill a member here, but that the Expert Playing Card Company has an official sticky topic in the Plethora?  Right?  And that there's an official "company rep" rank, with a company identity for EPCC, specifically created for answering questions and disseminating information about upcoming releases?

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself around here... 

Thanks for the info, Don. Yes, I did notice those things, and was half expecting the "company rep" to clear this up, though I would have given them a day or two since I'm not sure how often they visit the forums...

[ivan]

Just hit 70% of the funding goal!

Here's a quick overview of the diamond tens, courts and aces for both the LE and SE from the latest Backer's update.

[Mike Ratledge]

Sweet courts, Ivan! I love them and I am certain that I am not the only one! I noticed that Don is a backer as well...

[Aptombstone]

backed this project too

I think i prefer the standard courts over the limited ones. they remind me of the Noc v2 courts. luckily i don't have to choose since i got two of each!

[rousselle]

According to the most recent update, you kinda do have to choose now. They are looking for feedback on a potential redesign, where the courts for the Standard edition have the same line art as the LE, but with the coloration that is seen on the current Standard design. If you prefer the less complicated art of the current SE (or, for that matter, if you like the more sophisticated version), you should head on over there and let your voice be heard.

Or, um, let your typing be read.

You get the idea.

[Paul.Middleton]

I have actually said myself to Lawrence that there's lots of confusion over the differences between LPCC and EPCC but then I guess they'll still be working and collaborating quite a lot so it dies blur the lines a little. Don- don't forget actually the LUXX is European and being printed by Legends so it's not a hard and fast rule.

Here's the story as I know it, folks.

Bill Kalush is the Director of the Conjuring Arts Research Center (CARC).  He produced several decks of cards with USPC, but wanted to take a different course, scouted out many printers from around the world, and settled on one located in Taiwan, the name of which is an industry secret.  He used another location from Shanghai, but the cards from that plant weren't as well received.  There are some old-school card men who swear by them, but they do take considerably more breaking in.

Bill worked with Lawrence Sullivan in the production of his Legends deck, version 1, from which the Legends Playing Card Company grew.  They both are exclusive agents of the same printer in Taiwan.  Legends PCC appear to be taking orders from designers in the Far East, while Expert PCC is taking orders from designers in North America and Europe.

Anything more than that, I'd actually have to ask Bill.

BTW: you guys do realize that not only is Bill a member here, but that the Expert Playing Card Company has an official sticky topic in the Plethora?  Right?  And that there's an official "company rep" rank, with a company identity for EPCC, specifically created for answering questions and disseminating information about upcoming releases?

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself around here... 

[Don Boyer]

I have actually said myself to Lawrence that there's lots of confusion over the differences between LPCC and EPCC but then I guess they'll still be working and collaborating quite a lot so it dies blur the lines a little. Don- don't forget actually the LUXX is European and being printed by Legends so it's not a hard and fast rule.

...which only goes to prove just how confusing the actual situation can seem at times!

I can tell you this.  If you were walking around in Taipei, stumbled upon this factory by sheer chance and asked in perfect Mandarin about placing an order for custom playing cards, you'd be referred to the Expert PCC on West 30th Street in New York.

[bamabenz]

...which only goes to prove just how confusing the actual situation can seem at times!

I can tell you this.  If you were walking around in Taipei, stumbled upon this factory by sheer chance and asked in perfect Mandarin about placing an order for custom playing cards, you'd be referred to the Expert PCC on West 30th Street in New York.

Don't you love Globalization? 

[Don Boyer]

...which only goes to prove just how confusing the actual situation can seem at times!

I can tell you this.  If you were walking around in Taipei, stumbled upon this factory by sheer chance and asked in perfect Mandarin about placing an order for custom playing cards, you'd be referred to the Expert PCC on West 30th Street in New York.

Don't you love Globalization? 

Well, it's not like USPC hasn't been given a LOT of chances by a lot of designers to make a good deck for them, only to make mistakes of their own doing and trying to push blame elsewhere.

It reminds me of a story I read in the news a few years back.  There was a new US company on the West Coast that went into business to make flat-panel computer monitors back when they were rapidly replacing the old CRTs people had been using.  They lobbied Congress for protection, claiming that overseas manufacturers were paying pennies on the dollar to their employees compared to what the American company had to pay and that it was destroying their ability to compete.  So Congress put tariffs into place to make cheap, foreign LCD screens suddenly more expensive.

The deal didn't last for very long, once Congress got wind of the fact that the American company was selling monitors that were actually made overseas...

This case isn't identical by any means, but it shares the common theme of a company being given a fair shot and in the end being found wanting.  A cheaper competitor can make a better product that costs significantly less - USPC needs to get on the ball if they don't want to lose that business, but considering that they're a division of a huge conglomerate, it's as likely to occur as someone waking up a rock.  They probably won't be able to react in time to keep Expert and others from making a dent in their lucrative custom deck sales.  How big of a dent remains to be seen.

[Anthony]

We've posted a new Revision of the decks in our latest update for those of you who would like to check it out!
 
Looking forward to some feedback 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kardify/aquila-playing-cards/posts/823548

[Anthony]

Another look at the updated courts 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kardify/aquila-playing-cards/posts

85% Funded! Thanks for your support!

[Anthony]

Just about there folks, thanks so much for your continued support!

Now this weeks update:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kardify/aquila-playing-cards/posts/830075

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

SPARKZ was kind enough to send me a sneak peek of Aquila: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQiuzNjwnI0

[Mike Ratledge]

Very nice, David! Good job as always!

[Anthony]

SPARKZ was kind enough to send me a sneak peek of Aquila: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQiuzNjwnI0

Your welcome and Thank You! Awesome job as always David 

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

ha ha, then how come my reputation is still ZERO!  No love... no love....

[Rob Wright]

ha ha, then how come my reputation is still ZERO!  No love... no love....

a little love +1

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

VALIDATION!!!! 

[shadowkat]

Thanks for the opportunity to win the prototype!  If you folks haven't seen Magic's sneak peak or contest, take a look.  check out the link in Magic Orthodoxy's signature. 

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

ugh! Fickle backers! It was up over 26K when I went to bed, and now it's under....

[Anthony]

ugh! Fickle backers! It was up over 26K when I went to bed, and now it's under....

It happens, no worries