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First time I’ve had a request for NZ dollars . But yes the campaign will be, no choice for me there unfortunately. I’m still finalising details, but I’ll get more information posted soon. Also tuning the art so will post an update when I can.

RickDavidson wrote:First time I’ve had a request for NZ dollars . But yes the campaign will be, no choice for me there unfortunately. I’m still finalising details, but I’ll get more information posted soon. Also tuning the art so will post an update when I can.

Any UC member perks, Rick??

It looks awesome. I'm especially happy about the UC green. And the QofC with the scar. There is a story there, I'm guessing.

RickDavidson wrote:First time I’ve had a request for NZ dollars . But yes the campaign will be, no choice for me there unfortunately. I’m still finalising details, but I’ll get more information posted soon. Also tuning the art so will post an update when I can.

Well this is worthy of headline news: Australian cardist gets better than fair exchange rate.

Hey guys,

Working hard on finalising the campaign before the weekend. Here is a quick update on the how the face cards are evolving and a little promo video. I'm working on what little extra I could drop in for UC members yes, happy to hear thoughts on what you might like to see there



[youtube]https://youtu.be/VkqRJuu1Kk4[/youtube]

https://youtu.be/VkqRJuu1Kk4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yep, loving these Rick. Colours - I presume it's the UC deck on the left - have scrubbed up well! What time you launching? NZ time is fine, I'm only 2 hours behind.

I'm not crazy about the... alt-index(? the KS/QH thing) in the right-hand corner of the cards. Is that just a guide you're using during the WIP or is that intended to be a final feature?

I also think I liked the simple diagonal backdrop for the faces better than the irregular hexagon; the latter doesn't really add anything and I think the former was better for balancing the composition.

I like all aspects of the design. The video sets this up nicely. The KS and QH in the corners is , I think, trying to envision what future card decks might look like. It adds a unique element, and I like it. I just wish my bank account was as ready as I am.

Merlebird wrote:I'm not crazy about the... alt-index(? the KS/QH thing) in the right-hand corner of the cards. Is that just a guide you're using during the WIP or is that intended to be a final feature?

I also think I liked the simple diagonal backdrop for the faces better than the irregular hexagon; the latter doesn't really add anything and I think the former was better for balancing the composition.

I do like the alt-index myself, but I totally agree about the new backdrop. I prefer all the others you've shown over this one. Seems to suck the composition inward.

I like the red but I also liked the previous orange on the King of Spades. Or is that a different version?

wingedpotato wrote:I do like the alt-index myself, but I totally agree about the new backdrop. I prefer all the others you've shown over this one.

Okay, I myself totally forgot that there had been more than one backdrop shown because they were all on different pages, so I'm taking the liberty of aggregating them here, numbered in the order they appeared in the thread:

Backdrop Preview #1

Backdrop Preview #2

Backdrop Preview #3

Backdrop Preview #4

My personal thoughts, in no particular order that makes sense to anyone but me:

• #1 was a great starting point: it doesn't enhance the courts, but it does balance the composition of the faces by acting as a kind of counterweight to the indices. I think you could do better, but you could also do worse.
• #4 does, as wingedpotato said, suck the eye inward, toward the join in the center of the card, rather than along the length of the figure as it should. It also makes the negative space around the alt-indices look vast and empty - and I think enlarging them to compensate would just make the face look cluttered, like too many icons on a desktop. (I'm also not a fan of the large pip to the right of the main index, but that's a personal preference.)
• #3 has the balancing effect of #1, with the added visual interest created by the circuit motif. The way it frames the indices - including the enlarged pips, which I do actually like here - also contributes a pleasing illusion of depth. I might like to see you play around with the color a bit - perhaps a further desaturated version of the muted gold in #1? - but there's a lot to like about it as is.
• #2 is easily my favorite, though I think you could do without the second pip inside the frame. As it's the most visually commanding of the backdrops, you would need to be careful that it worked well with the composition of each court, and perhaps make some adjustments to that end, but I think the final product would be worth the effort.
• I don't want to be melodramatic, but I didn't think the color scheme used for the QoH in #2 needed an improvement, and even if I did I don't think #4 would be one. The reds and blacks in #2 were much more appealing, and even the gold tones looked better. The purple is just too much. (In a minor variation of the same theme, I also thought the green sleeves on the QoC looked better than the blue, but again, personal preference.)

Edit: Clarified what I was talking about in my last point by adding the specific reference to the QoH.

Funnily enough, I was planning to compile the four variations tonight for feedback. Thank you Merle

My original - #2 - is still my preference, but tends to be swallowed up by the art on some cards. I may go back to that one and work it up in grey, but happy to hear additional thoughts before I finalise the design. Thanks for taking the time to feedback guys. Thoughts on the 'alt-index' welcome too

I, too, prefer design #2 of all of them, but feel that there is a little too much white space...maybe enlarge the gold frame to cover more of the card, which might also prevent the art swallowing it up.

The courts look really good. Love the clubs and diamonds... Looking forward into the future i would be pleased with how clubs and diamond pips turned out but not not really hearts or spades. Strangely i like grey background of no. 3.....i will be adding to the collection

First I realy like the new color scheme for the red edition, way better than before.

As for the background, I think it would be a great idea to incorporate the UC forum background in it, much like how Randy did for the first Annual UC deck. This would be a great feature and would really tie up the deck with the UC forum, just having a deck in UC green isn't enough (in my opinion) to call it UC Annual deck.

This deck looks fantastic, despite being the UC2018 Annual deck or not, I will get it either way...

Love the design and detail of this deck... looking forward to the KS campaign

I'm with shermjack on his thoughts of design #2. The 6 sided background feels odd to me while #2 has a classy, regal look.

Removing the QH, KH, etc. in corners looks better in my opinion.

I actually prefer the six sided over the rectangular shape. I'd like to see a six sided version of #2

RichK wrote:I'm with shermjack on his thoughts of design #2. The 6 sided background feels odd to me while #2 has a classy, regal look.

Removing the QH, KH, etc. in corners looks better in my opinion.

I like the extra indices in the corners. I noticed a lot of the European decks have indices on all 4 corners and I think it adds more playability to the cards as well as balance out the face design in some cases. Plus, with indices/pips in all 4 corners, you can have 2-way fanning on both the backs and fronts of the cards. Now the possible downside of this is that you lose the face up blank fan on reverse 1-handed fans so magicians may not be able to perform certain tricks. Either way, this deck is turning out to be a must own.

Rick could hand-draw some stars in the background for all I care. His Queen of Hearts/“Zorg” sealed it for me. Whenever I look at her now, I see Zorg! Lol

Bradius wrote:Rick could hand-draw some stars in the background for all I care. His Queen of Hearts/“Zorg” sealed it for me.

QoH Zorg is a peroxide blonde now and I lowkey hate it I thought the OG QoH was beautiful just the way she was... I do like the brow-mounted wearable Purple Zorg is sporting, but that's about it.

Guys and gals, the annual deck always depends on the members getting behind it and being there at the start, but these are just gorgeous and I think we should be having a great year!

Don't forget - noon Saturday. It will be on Rick's KS account. See you all there.

Mike Ratledge wrote:Guys and gals, the annual deck always depends on the members getting behind it and being there at the start, but these are just gorgeous and I think we should be having a great year!

Don't forget - noon Saturday. It will be on Rick's KS account. See you all there.

Awesome Mike.

I've started getting pretty good shipping rates applied on my account from the fulfilment partner that I work with, so please feel free to give a shout out if you'd like to use a different fulfilment company this time around, or at least, get the shipping for International backers done by a different entity rather than Gamblers Warehouse. Shipping cost will reduce for sure and International backers will receive their rewards faster with full tracking (automated emails with tracking# will also be sent to everyone) and securely packaged.

guru wrote:

Mike Ratledge wrote:Guys and gals, the annual deck always depends on the members getting behind it and being there at the start, but these are just gorgeous and I think we should be having a great year!

Don't forget - noon Saturday. It will be on Rick's KS account. See you all there.

Awesome Mike.

I've started getting pretty good shipping rates applied on my account from the fulfilment partner that I work with, so please feel free to give a shout out if you'd like to use a different fulfilment company this time around, or at least, get the shipping for International backers done by a different entity rather than Gamblers Warehouse. Shipping cost will reduce for sure and International backers will receive their rewards faster with full tracking (automated emails with tracking# will also be sent to everyone) and securely packaged.

Shoot Rick an email, Sunish. >>==--> rick@rickdavidson.com

If he can save $$ on shipping, that's always a good thing!

Backdrops #1 and #3 are the ones I like the most

I like backdrop #1 and #3, The idea of putting "initials" for the cards in grey in the right corners from #4 is kinda cool as well.

Also preferred QoH with black hair as well for what its worth.

I just realized the QoH is blond now. Yes, I preferred her brunette and more Zorg like. Loving the deck though.

Haha excellent, thank you guys. Great feedback - brunette it is. I tend to go through a range of options, sometimes I come back to where I started. And always looking for cheaper shipping, outlandish sometimes. I'll check that out, thx

Thanks Rick for Queen Zorg! Now to get you creators to make other similar Fifth Element courts.

Boys and Girls of all ages: we are down to a little more than four hours before we launch the DeNovo / UC2018 decks on Kickstarter.

Having reviewed the page, there is at least one goodie in there that I have not revealed. It has to do with the process / production of the decks.

Rick is going to be the first to use this. Hmmm... A lot of you will be stoked!

Hope to see you all at noon or shortly after!

Here's a couple quick looks at the perspective of the Viridi deck model:
As always, Rick does not miss a thing, and attention to the details is fantastic art!