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WOW Lotrek, you did it again....
Let me take the obvious out of the way first, this is without a shadow of doubt one of the prime examples of passion and dedication put in a deck of cards. A truly work of art in all senses.

The stock choosen for this deck couldn't be better (I still prefer Luturgy's stock, but it won't look good on this one), that stardust paper is beautiful, another shiny thing in such a shiny deck!
The back design is probabily Lotrek's best yet, I just love it. It looks simple and yet very appealling, with the foil (perfect choice of colors) contrasting nicely with the stock, probabilly the best use of "white/negative" space.
The face cards are beautiful, a great approach to the "standard" faces. My only complain is the AoS, I think it could had been better, particulary if instead of the sun, you would only foil the ace design (don't know if this makes sense). But this is far from being a issue, is more a nitpick!
Now the box, despite the fact it is amazing, very unique and beautiful, I can't stop thinking that it could be better, specially because of it's content. It deserved a ICONS Signature type of tuck box.

As for the handling, well, we know these cards are not meant for that, but I believe it could have been improved. The cut on these cards is not Lotrek's best work. You can really feel - and see - the bevel on the cards. I think this is the first Lotrek's deck where this is so noticeable, it reminds me of NPCC decks (they are masters on poor cutting!!).

One thing that I can't stop doing is look at the deck from it's sides, it is beautiful, those black sides are nothing like what we are used to.

So congratulations Lotrek for doing it again. After producing such a masterpiece as Liturgy I wasn't sure if you could come close to that so soon, but you did it.

This deck makes me look forward to Black Mass even more than I already have been!

Cbkimble wrote:Wth, I did the same. It's a beautiful deck.

Yes, both of you - down to 7.

Mike Ratledge wrote:

Cbkimble wrote:Wth, I did the same. It's a beautiful deck.

Yes, both of you - down to 7.

Are there really more to be sold?? I don't see any on Oathplayingcards.com.

they are available through the united cardists shop. https://ucdecksales.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

JuFiN wrote:they are available through the united cardists shop. https://ucdecksales.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes, sorry. I didn'T want to repeat the entire post, but those last seven decks (as of right now) on UCdecksales are all that are left.

@sms69x:

Thank you for the great review! I think you're right about the cutting and handling. I disagree about the tuck, I think it's my finest so far and I didn't want it to be as impressive as the content. It's like having a frame antagonizing the painting. I wanted the tuck to have a subtle majesty, letting the cards to stand out.

As for cutting, it's not me. It's the stock. No matter how sharp the cutting die is, the cut is like this. I was inserting regular playing card stock pieces between each deck while cutting and these inserts were perfectly cut, without bevel. I don't think I can do anything about it the LITURGY bronze decks will have the same cut. Seems I had to compromise that in order to have that stock.

Handling: I don't wish to share all the technical details but it could not be better this time, at least not without compromising things that I consider more important for such a deck. I'm trying and I'm experimenting but there are certain limits. Due to the process I follow -and although it seems irrelevant- I had to choose between perfect foil registration and better handling.

P.S.: For a really crazy tuck, wait for the "ROYAL EDITION": 50 decks in total, blue stock, same faces, gold + silver foil on the back. But don't tell anyone...

Lotrek wrote: P.S.: For a really crazy tuck, wait for the "ROYAL EDITION": 50 decks in total, blue stock, same faces, gold + silver foil on the back. But don't tell anyone...

Want it !!

I hope you announce date and time HERE soon enough.

I'll be in your neck of the woods Lotrek starting Sunday, can't wait. Also reserve 4 Royal Edition decks for me.

Received my deck today. I'm afraid to open it, it looks so nice. Happy to do my part to support the Greek economy.

Got my deck as well. Love it. The gold is amazing. It's stashed away in a carat case for now.

Anyone else able to notice the back stamping on the front of the card? It doesn't take away the beauty but it is one of the more obvious ones I've gotten from Lotrek.

4.of.Clubs wrote:Got my deck as well. Love it. The gold is amazing. It's stashed away in a carat case for now.

Anyone else able to notice the back stamping on the front of the card? It doesn't take away the beauty but it is one of the more obvious ones I've gotten from Lotrek.

@Bruno. Lol. I can just gaze at these shining in my hands without playing with them.

There's plenty of decks where you can see the backs through the front depending on what they're made out of. To name a few are the limited black tuck Spirit deck and the cobalt Alloy deck. Once again, it's good the fronts can't be seen on the card backs.

4.of.Clubs wrote: Anyone else able to notice the back stamping on the front of the card? It doesn't take away the beauty but it is one of the more obvious ones I've gotten from Lotrek.

Are you sure? On ICONS and Venexiana the back is way more noticable on the faces than in this one... Maybe is the deck you opened, the one I opened, while you can see the backs through the face it isn't that noticable, even if you compare with some foiled decks produced by EPCC.

FWIW, I inspected both of my decks, and while I wasn't looking for this particular issue, I didn't notice this in either deck (whereas, I *always* notice with my LPCC/EPCC decks). That doesn't mean it wasn't there; just that it wasn't noticeable on first inspection. I'll look more closely next time I open them up.

...which I will do before too long, because these are so freakin' awesome to look at!

sms69x wrote:

4.of.Clubs wrote: Anyone else able to notice the back stamping on the front of the card? It doesn't take away the beauty but it is one of the more obvious ones I've gotten from Lotrek.

Are you sure? On ICONS and Venexiana the back is way more noticable on the faces than in this one... Maybe is the deck you opened, the one I opened, while you can see the backs through the face it isn't that noticable, even if you compare with some foiled decks produced by EPCC.

That's probably close to 100% correct, I'm one of the ones that don't open the decks. I only open the ones without seals/cellophane or if I have duplicate.

It IS just an amazing deck, eh?

By the way, it's sold out at this point.

Looking at these again and contemplating exactly how fantastic they really are. Took a few dodgy iPhone pics to share

.

Congratulations to Lotrek for having his stunning Golden Oath deck named as "Deck of the Year 2017" by 52 Plus Joker at their recent convention!



I've just posted a series of two comprehensive articles covering all of Lotrek's decks, which you'll find here:

Pictorial Review: Playing cards to treasure from Lotrek (Part 1)

Pictorial Review: Playing cards to treasure from Lotrek (Part 2)

This is my favorite deck from Lotrek. He mentioned making another version of it.

Bikefanatic wrote:This is my favorite deck from Lotrek. He mentioned making another version of it.

Not exactly, the deck IS ready as it was printed with the regular edition. These are 50 decks printed on blue pearlescent stock with gold and silver foil on the back. Just waiting for the right time to release them.

How about NOW???!!!

I've been desperate for this deck ever since it was first mentioned.
But my wallet simply wouldn't handle it being released just yet.
Need time to recover

misterharmanko wrote:I've been desperate for this deck ever since it was first mentioned.
But my wallet simply wouldn't handle it being released just yet.
Need time to recover

I agree. Need a breather.

I agree, too. Time hasn't come yet. Besides I need to design a new tuck for it and I absolutely have no time for it. Sunday I'm launching Ambassadors Player's Edition, Monday I'm shipping Grotesk Gold and Liturgy.

Can’t wait for that royal edition. Do you think it will be sold in time for Christmas, or later?

Lotrek wrote: Sunday I'm launching Ambassadors Player's Edition, Monday I'm shipping Grotesk Gold and Liturgy.

And Tuesday you're finishing my Icons boxes, right??

If Golden Oath was around $95-$97 then I assume the Royal edition will be more than that since it's only 50 of them.

misterharmanko wrote:

Lotrek wrote: Sunday I'm launching Ambassadors Player's Edition, Monday I'm shipping Grotesk Gold and Liturgy.

And Tuesday you're finishing my Icons boxes, right??

Definitely Tuesday but which Tuesday?

Lotrek wrote:

misterharmanko wrote:

Lotrek wrote: Sunday I'm launching Ambassadors Player's Edition, Monday I'm shipping Grotesk Gold and Liturgy.

And Tuesday you're finishing my Icons boxes, right??

Definitely Tuesday but which Tuesday?

Sorry, Couldn't resist.
Hopefully a Tuesday in the near future