House of Whispers by widakkdesign for Marvelous Decks [KS March 30]

[Fenrir]

decent designs but not unique enough to me to justify the price.

I feel the exact same way and I was really excited given the build up for the deck.

[wingedpotato]

Agh, I really wanted to like these more but the courts are a little too same-y suit-to-suit. Nice designs otherwise and it seems the cold foil will pop nicely. Since I already have the Charmers, I'm not feeling a strong desire to get these. In for now just to help get the campaign funded, but I'll probably back out.

[brownsl]

I agree, not a fan of the courts.

[hsbc]

We wanted to make an announcement that at 7:00 PM EST today there will be a new release thanks to your support. HOW Colors of Light which is our elegant players deck. This beautiful deck designed by Widakk & Dalibass brings to life the Stained Glass feeling from within the House of Whispers. HOW Dalle de Verre 'Colors of Light' borderless beauty deck (Limited to 1,000 - 250 Gilded)

You will be able to Add On to your current rewards or purchase separately …and for those who have backed ’All the Marvelous Package’ you will receive 2 of these standard decks and 1 gilded. $22 Standard & $30 Gilded. The Colors of Light will be printed by Cartamundi on B9 Slimline with Linen Finish. Full Color plus Cold Foil on fronts and backs. The tuck will feature soft touch paper stock in a CLASSIC tuck style with vibrant full coverage foil. Gilding will match the beautiful aqua color from the cards. Renderings below:

[laitostarr777]

We wanted to make an announcement that at 7:00 PM EST today there will be a new release thanks to your support. HOW Colors of Light which is our elegant players deck. This beautiful deck designed by Widakk & Dalibass brings to life the Stained Glass feeling from within the House of Whispers. HOW Dalle de Verre 'Colors of Light' borderless beauty deck (Limited to 1,000 - 250 Gilded)

You will be able to Add On to your current rewards or purchase separately …and for those who have backed ’All the Marvelous Package’ you will receive 2 of these standard decks and 1 gilded. $22 Standard & $30 Gilded. The Colors of Light will be printed by Cartamundi on B9 Slimline with Linen Finish. Full Color plus Cold Foil on fronts and backs. The tuck will feature soft touch paper stock in a CLASSIC tuck style with vibrant full coverage foil. Gilding will match the beautiful aqua color from the cards. Renderings below:

This was supposed to be a stretch goal, although released due to the project not funded yet.

Beautiful colors

[TheGentlemanWake]

I'm having a really hard time with how much this campaign is struggling. I do think the video doesn't help sell the cards and the offerings were a bit confusing with photos nor video really showing what each deck consisted of. I also agree that the prices at $28 seem a bit high for one deck. But the artwork is fantastic. I see some people complaining about repeating courts... the only thing potentially repeating feels like the facial hair on the jacks. Ultimately the courts feel different enough. I'm really beginning to be worried that the playing cards renaissance is somewhat fading.

[CourtCurator]

I'm having a really hard time with how much this campaign is struggling. I do think the video doesn't help sell the cards and the offerings were a bit confusing with photos nor video really showing what each deck consisted of. I also agree that the prices at $28 seem a bit high for one deck. But the artwork is fantastic. I see some people complaining about repeating courts... the only thing potentially repeating feels like the facial hair on the jacks. Ultimately the courts feel different enough. I'm really beginning to be worried that the playing cards renaissance is somewhat fading.

I do believe that the economy is playing a significant role in what appears to be a downturn in the card collecting market as a whole. But, in this case the poorly executed marketing campaign is almost certainly severely undercutting the stellar design and premium features. A well designed marketing campaign with better pictures, videos, and explanations would have provided more than enough justification for the premium pricing. I also see the criticism of repeating courts to be understandable. Although they are clearly different drawings, all the Kings, Queens, and Jacks look like the same person. A greater variation in facial features would be a very small change that would make for an outsized impact. That said, I personally like them as they are well enough. As an aside, the pricing for the stretch goal deck with a standard tuck is right in line with, or even better than many competitors.

[GandalfPC]

I see some people complaining about repeating courts... Ultimately the courts feel different enough.

No, the courts don’t feel different enough - you should listen to the people on that aspect. May seem fine to you - and thats fine if you want to do it for the sake of art - but for sales you should (and perhaps still could) switch them up.

I am in for a pair of decks, just so I can consider the new fancy colored back deck - I didn’t go in earlier, and I really hesitated even to dip in to think about the new deck - still figure I will probably back out after I am done considering - why?

The repeating courts.

A chain is as good as its weakest link - and as the nice decks pile up to collect people get more discerning out of necessity

[Sir Toddalot]

I like these decks, but I’m not backing. The main reason being is money and space. I have about 4 deck producers now that I am limiting myself to buying from, and just those strain my playing card budget and have me scrambling to figure out where to store them all.

[GandalfPC]

Yup - money and space. Things really need to check all the boxes to get added. Plenty still do - way more than I wish

[hsbc]

Inflation is also real, and shipping costs have gone up

I'm having a really hard time with how much this campaign is struggling.

It's at 90%, this will almost certainly fund - it's been a few years now but there was a stat from KS along the lines of projects that reach 70% of their goal almost always end up hitting 100%

[GandalfPC]

I see that the colors of light deck can be pledged (gilded or standard) without need to pledge others and add on

I’m in for a gilded - and not getting out.

[CourtCurator]

I see that the colors of light deck can be pledged (gilded or standard) without need to pledge others and add on

I’m in for a gilded - and not getting out.

Oh! I hadn’t noticed that. It seems to me that it would have been smarter to start the campaign out with the cheaper decks, or at least make the fancy tuck boxes as optional upgrades to a more standard design.

[GandalfPC]

I still say it comes down to the repeating courts - there are other aspects one can debate, but I would be in for a set of standards and a few of the color back ones if not for that

[CourtCurator]

I still say it comes down to the repeating courts - there are other aspects one can debate, but I would be in for a set of standards and a few of the color back ones if not for that

I agree that in an oversaturated market the little details really matter. I think they could do a little tweaking here and there to make this issue an easy fix.

Can those of you who are held back by the court designs pinpoint some key changes that would make this deck a slam dunk buy for you? Is it more than the fact that the faces all look like the same person? I could see how the homogeneous use of color could be seen as a negative.

[GandalfPC]

Faces, poses, clothing similarities - just way too similar…. You have to look at them twice to tell they aren't the same

[CourtCurator]

Looking closer at them, I think the headwear is a big factor, beyond the similar faces and facial hair. More variety in these three spots would go a long way in creating some differentiation. Seems like these could be relatively quick fixes if there was the will to do so.

[GandalfPC]

As a tangentially related side note, I would love for someone to do an homage to triplicate decks with the card pips - other than that I usually know what I love when I see it and seldom sooner

[kevork]

I have to say, there hasn't been a deck with this much discussion in a minute, aside from TGW postings. I feel the community is really holding this campaign to high standards because they know what can be achieved, and being picky these days has become absolute necessity for many of us in this oversaturated market. I want this campaign to succeed, but at its fullest potential. I do see merit in people's comments about the courts looking similar and Kellar mentioned these are a specific take on "standard courts" although I could see the appeal of changing headdress, etc. to add more variation.

As a tangentially related side note, I would love for someone to do an homage to triplicate decks with the card pips - other than that I usually know what I love when I see it and seldom sooner

You mean you don't love a deck before you click on the thread for the first time? Not a true collector.

[Adamthinks]

No, the courts don’t feel different enough - you should listen to the people on that aspect. May seem fine to you - and thats fine if you want to do it for the sake of art - but for sales you should (and perhaps still could) switch them up.

From the way you worded this I get the impression that you thought TGW is involved in this campaign. If so, just fyi he's not. He's just commenting on this campaign in a general sense as a barometer for the market.

[GandalfPC]

Indeed I did - thanks

[Gilded]

My only gripe is how are you not doing holographic peacock / stain glass / multicolor gilding on that multicolor option.

[GandalfPC]

And Gilded knows gilding - named for his Great Grampa Gilder - a girder gilder from the gilded age.

I do like the teal though

[TheGentlemanWake]

Indeed I did - thanks

Has my complaining become so ubiquitous that when I chime in as a playing cards fan if feels like I’m the prodcucer!?

As Adamthinks states, I’m only here as a fan of Widakk and Kellars and a backer. Similar statements were made with regards to the courts on my groundskeeper deck which is maybe where the confusion is stemming from. We’ve already decided to differentiate things on that front a bit.

[TheGentlemanWake]

I have to say, there hasn't been a deck with this much discussion in a minute, aside from TGW postings.

To be fair I post a lot. Lol

[kevork]

I have to say, there hasn't been a deck with this much discussion in a minute, aside from TGW postings.

To be fair I post a lot. Lol

It's fantastic! I wish more designers/producers did. What better way to gather input and foster discussion.

[laitostarr777]

I can try and help spread this project around and get it funded

[Strag]

I'm having a really hard time with how much this campaign is struggling. I do think the video doesn't help sell the cards and the offerings were a bit confusing with photos nor video really showing what each deck consisted of. I also agree that the prices at $28 seem a bit high for one deck. But the artwork is fantastic. I see some people complaining about repeating courts... the only thing potentially repeating feels like the facial hair on the jacks. Ultimately the courts feel different enough. I'm really beginning to be worried that the playing cards renaissance is somewhat fading.

I used to purchase a TON from Kickstarter. However so many campaigns recently have had issues, from bad shippers being chosen, to horrible communications, to just plain disappearing that I don't even consider to back on KS any more unless it's someone REALLY well known and even then there can be issues (look at the Portfolio 52 deck... no one has heard from Alex in months and if it wasn't for Jack we would have no idea what was going on). Just not worth it for me and Kickstarter has made it clear you have zero protection as a backer.

I'd rather pay more in the aftermarket for a deck I like than backing on Kickstarter these days.

[Swiski66]

All these negative posts made me rethink my backing on this deck, and provoked me to cancel my pledge. I think overall we as a collecting community are getting bombarded with new decks and new Kickstarters left and right. Playing card fatigue, or just people being more choosy because of the economy and inflated prices?

[PiazzaDelivery]

I'm out. Too expensive for what it is. For a second, forgot my personal rule that being on the fence means passing. Totally see what everyone is saying about the courts, but that's not my reason. I love a good elegant, elevated, classy reinterpretation and I think they've done that well, even if there is some resemblance. It's 100% the price for me. $30 per just doesn't make sense imo.