UnitedCardists.com - The forum for Cardistry, Magic, Custom Decks and All Things Playing Cards.

The deck is inspired by the splendor of the Alhambra palace but doesn't use elements from it. At least not directly recognizeable. It's a tribute to the most intricate art the world has ever seen, hence the generic name "Arabesque".

Awe come on Lotrek! Just SHOW us already!

We know the tuck will be amazing. We know there will be multiple foils on the cards, hopefully on both sides. But the thing I'm most hoping for is that Lotrek formulated a new finish that will make his cards handle well and be more playable!

Don't you dare.
Most un-Lotrek-esque ....
The Alhambra will fall before I play with these.

Lotrek for crying out loud please stop taking my money!

My cards arrived from Greece safe and sound the other day. Forgot to email you.
Thanks a bunch!

Love the Hellenic Post stamps!

Oh and yeah, I bought a Mystery Deck lol.

Gene

It's just my opinion, but I believe playing cards are meant to be used. I understand that people like to have collections - hell, I'm a collector too. That's why I bought two decks, one to keep sealed for the collection, but also one to open up and use in all it's spectacular beauty. I want to smell the cards as I crack open the virgin tuck for the very first time. I want to feel the cards slide against each other as they glitter in the light while I'm fondling them in my hands. I want to execute a perfect faro and then produce a giant fan so I can see my face reflected in all that glorious foil. I want to enjoy them with my friends during poker night: it will make it all the more enjoyable when I slow play a boat and spring my trap at the river and rake in my chips. And yes, one day in the distant future, the deck will be used up to the point where they're no longer playable, but they will get a noble burial in my wastebasket because they were used, played with, to the fullest extent of their intended purpose, and I will be content with all the satisfaction that deck provided all the while knowing that I have another one in pristine, perfect condition in my collection.

If I could afford two of every deck I would feel the same way. But until then my cards will stay perfectly wrapped in the cellophane in which they arrived and proudly displayed in my cases as beautiful pieces of pristine, untouched, artwork.

sinjin7 wrote:It's just my opinion, but I believe playing cards are meant to be used. I understand that people like to have collections - hell, I'm a collector too. That's why I bought two decks, one to keep sealed for the collection, but also one to open up and use in all it's spectacular beauty. I want to smell the cards as I crack open the virgin tuck for the very first time. I want to feel the cards slide against each other as they glitter in the light while I'm fondling them in my hands. I want to execute a perfect faro and then produce a giant fan so I can see my face reflected in all that glorious foil. I want to enjoy them with my friends during poker night: it will make it all the more enjoyable when I slow play a boat and spring my trap at the river and rake in my chips. And yes, one day in the distant future, the deck will be used up to the point where they're no longer playable, but they will get a noble burial in my wastebasket because they were used, played with, to the fullest extent of their intended purpose, and I will be content with all the satisfaction that deck provided all the while knowing that I have another one in pristine, perfect condition in my collection.

You're perverted.

sinjin7 wrote:It's just my opinion, but I believe playing cards are meant to be used.

I agree.

Trying to formulate the best possible coating is a challenge, especially when foil is involved. I find it exhausting but fascinating, too. Way more difficult than the design itself.

I'm happy to say that my new varnishing formula that you will see in Arabesque is taking my foiled decks to the "playable" family of cards. Unfortunately my cardistry skills are equal to a retarded monkey's so I'm not a good judge myself...

Of course you shouldn't expect USPCC handling, just to be clear.

Lotrek wrote:Im happy to say that my new varnishing formula that you will see in Arabesque is taking my foiled decks to the "playable" family of cards.

Playable?!?! At $85-$100/deck it's quite far from playable on a daily/weekly basis.

I think I'll just keep them in my collection, thank you!

Lotrek's name is now in the monthly budget list. He became another "bill" to pay.

we want more (info), that is...!

Cardians wrote:we want more (info), that is...!

Milestone #2 is not far away. The graphics with the name should have been the clincher if you had even a minimal doubt that you will be getting your money's worth - and then some.

Given the track record for sales of even recent decks on eBay as well as private sales, these are going to be a bargain - especially for the people who bought them without even a name.

So, when you have seen the back design, are you ready to pull the trigger? I am sworn not to give a clue about the deck design, but I can tell you that sales have been beyond good. Numbers? Not for me to say.

I guess that I can say without being specific that some people have bought more than one, so there are plenty of people who have absolute faith in this being another ground breaking deck. Time will tell!

Oh my!
That's absolutely stunning

...and $95 now to join the party. Wow, Lotrek, that is fairly nice. Yeah, nice.

misterharmanko wrote:Oh my!
That's absolutely stunning

I don't think that's drool.


I'm sad I have to give these a miss, but Alex Chin shook everything out of my wallet, including the cobwebs.

Nice back design. Wonder what the tuck will look like...

That back tho. In the running for one of my favorite card backs from Lotrek. Magnificent.

shaitani wrote: In the running for one of my favorite card backs from Lotrek. Magnificent.

I'd have to agree.
To date I still think that the Icons Imperial decks are my favourite deck from Lotrek but I have a feeling this might easily surpass them.

Oscar53955 wrote:Nice back design. Wonder what the tuck will look like...

I was wondering the same thing myself..... and the courts. I really hope there's a new set of courts for this deck.

I'm also wondering how much of this back design is foiled.

portcullis wrote: I don't think that's drool.

Lol, You might be right

If that back was shown for the first time ever and we had to guess who it was from, it'll easily be from Lotrek because of the look and style.

It looks great and the back will be shiny some kind of way. I'll still wait on the full reveal to buy more.

Misterharmanko raised a really good question I have been wondering. How many different foil colors did Lotrek use on the backs? I feel certain based on the color changes in the photo there is at least foil for the turquoise, gold and red. There is a little light blue on the sides that screams foil, but that would be four. Is the black foil? If so, that would be five. Any other thoughts?

Looks like "just" gold foil to me, which I think is the right way to go. The Oath deck was already all-foil on a gorgeous pearlescent black-core stock. Is this his most detailed design for foil, though (looks like it)?

As beautiful as it looks, and as much as I'd like to pre-order 2, I don't think it's as good as any of his signature decks. Also, as someone else mentioned, Mr. Chin is cleaning me out later this month...

From his FB page:

Lot of foil, actually 2 different foils, CMYK+ Metallic gold inks. You know, something simple for everyday use...

Everyday use indeed.

I do think folks have a point. We don’t yet know what the courts and other cards look like, nor do we know what the tuck case looks like. From a technical design, the back is way more complex than The Grotesk overall design (although that skeleton was detailed -and caused problems). Lotrek probably has a micrometer to measure distances and knows exactly how detailed he can go, and then went wall to wall (except the border) on this back. I am expecting a similar technical wonder in the face cards. Lord knows he can blow that out of the park after the remastered deck he just mailed out.

The other sad reality is this is out at the same time a lot of us are about to plunk down some major bucks for Alex’s Apothecary Kickstarter in a few days. Alex has nearly 1,500 backers too. Wow. Tough choices for all of us with budget limits if one kind or another.

Foil at the level of registration I'm doing it is extremely difficult. I'm always pushing the limits and fortunately I have an amazing workshop to work with. Still, the main chalenge for me isn't the technical but the artistic one. I'm always shooting for elegance and balance, even in the most intricate design.

As for the tuck faces, wait and see...

Yeah, I'm one of those folks who has had his card monies gobbled up by Alex Chin. The good news is Alex PROBABLY [read: I hope] won't have a new project for a while, whereas you, my Greek friend, will most likely have something new before the end of the year.


On a different note, the news about Ambassadors is a little disheartening. Happy to wait tho.

Thankfully I don't generally like floral, so I don't have my very small budget tied up with Chin's project, and if I did I would likely cancel my pledge for this haha. I just received my Inverted Inferno Signature and what can I say, holy sh*t? Always been jealous of the other signature decks, now that I finally have one it just makes me more excited for this lol.

I looked again at Lotrek’s teaser photo revealing the back of the cards. Then my eye wandered to the subtle black silk background. Could this be an additional reveal?

So today's the day.
Guess I'll be checking my phone more than usual today.