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Yup, the Royal Bee definitely has foil on both the front and backs...metallic inks don't shine like that (sorry for the poor quality pic)

As for registration, have you ever seen USPCC's registration with regular ink? If they can't get that right, they don't have a chance in hell with foil

With all the aesthetic advancements occurring in the playing card industry, the challenge is inevitably how to maintain classic properties and overall function. Just like it is in other industries and art forms in the world that get pushed through advancement phases over decades and centuries...such as architecture....the struggle is balancing form and function.

It's all well and good producing a deck of playing cards that is covered in tiny diamonds....but if they cause the cards to scratch and are impossible to handle....they only end up being something to look at and have totally lost their function in life.

As ridiculous as that example is, the principal is right. I know most on this forum are pure collectors and don't care whether the playing card can be flourished or have magic tricks performed with it or even be shuffled properly and used professionally at a casino...

But even the diamond-encrusted deck has its potential place of use (such as at a mega high roller blackjack table in a private Russian casino). It goes without saying that if you can maintain function while changing or improving form, then that's the holy grail.

Every deck like this Montenzi Neo Ultra (and others that push the envelope), will provide a step to ensure that relationship (between form and function) is maintained in the long term.

I am not sure I agree with you VXD that collectors don't care that a deck is not functionally playable. We will accommodate some functional limitations if it checks other boxes, but rarely will we buy a brick painted like a deck and call it a collectible playing card. Many accept that the early Lotrek decks don't handle like USPCC. Many will ignore that Lorenzo's new deck is one-way and will be harder to handle. Many purchase art decks that are not very practical for playing or have poor designs that would allow some level of cheating. However, there are other collectors that draw harder lines on this than others. In the end, it is lots of individual choices. Cardists on the other hand MUST have a deck that handles well, or it renders their usefulness to them essentially worthless.

PLAYING cards are made to play of shuffle so playability is very important. That's why it is very good sign that such big brands like Cartamundi works hard on their manufacturing process to make this possible. They are able to produce playable and affordable cards with foil for players AND collectors. One day you'll be able to buy playing cards with foil on both sides for just $10-15 retail.

It's a sign that 2nd campaign is using USPCC to produce standard decks and Cartamundi to create something more interesting for collectors...

BTW if you have not seen a video of foil on cards from Cartamundi you can find it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mo ... ts/2138665
Silver and Gold foil there but they are able to use any color.

Is the foil going to be like Shin Lin's Regalia deck? That "foil" seemed weird to me. It was like some kind of shiny glue or paste put on the cards. Not foil. I don't dislike it, but it doesn't work for me like some other foil decks.

Bradius, after viewing video reviews I am not 100% sure. But I can't find anything weird or wrong with the back. From VJ's review I don't understand why the back can be seen on the other side. Cold foil can't damage the card. That's why I'll ask Cartamundi first.

Please view the video from my last link. It's cold foil. Same for my LTD box - it''s cold foil. Regalia? Interesting question.

It doesn't really matter to me. Either way, I am backing the project.

NEO:WAVE Ultra ADD-ONS are NOT AVAILABLE anymore!

Available tiers: 5 * (1U), 4 * (1C+1U), 5 * (1C + 2U), 4 * (2C + 2U), 1 * (2C + 4U)

Funded <37 hours to go

so happy to wake up and see this campaign funded! YAY!

I was getting a little worried >_>

Thanks!

Don't worry .. you are in good hands

p.s. 18-23 Ultra decks left

Thanks to all backers for your fantastic support!!!

Backers will start receiving decks this week

Only 18-24 decks left (Sunset box only)
Price increase by $1 per each 6 decks sold. Current price - $25. Final price - $29

foil ...

montenzi wrote:Backers will start receiving decks this week

Still have ~40 decks available (Sunset box only)

foil ...

Damn...

I didn't really care for the nautical theme(s) before, but I know my dad and most of his friends would really like to play some cards with these decks.

I just received my Neo:Wave sets in the mail. I also managed to..uh..talk my way into a set of the previous decks. I got three of the Sunset foil decks, but now wishing I had added one of the blue foiled decks. Ah well. If someone was hoping I would crack open my wrappers, you are just plain crazy. Not happening. I probably will open one of my two Neo:Wave regular release decks, but that is going to be it for now. If someone wants to show off the foiled decks, that would be swell.
Oh heck, I went ahead and opened one of the regular decks. They handle...so nice. The borderless backs are interesting and let the wave pattern really shine. The artwork is superb and I especially like the club pips. Great job Montenzi!

Thanks Try to open the Sunset box (foil on cards). Higly recommended! p.s. it's impossible keep it sealed trust me

Okay, okay. I will open the...



I have only experienced Cartamundi's cold foil decks from Regalia. This is amazing. It isn't like hot foil, but wow. This stuff is awesome and handles great. Yeah, this rocks Montenzi. The way the foil plays of the uneven texture of the cards is just amazing. When fanning, the foil glistens. I could just imagine how this would look in a dark room with a spotlight on the cards. Your style of deck design really works with this foil.

You have to keep up foil versions.

Agree! And I love to use gradients with foil. Gradients are incredible (especially on Spades and Diamonds). Yes, they print on top of a silver or gold foil layer but as a result we have 100% freedom to create without limits. This B9 Truelinen stock adds 3D to foiled areas...love. I believe one day USPCC will start offering cold foil but Cartamundi will always have an advantage because of their linen paper structure. Still cannot wait to try USPCC's cold foil... When? Who knows?

I'll use pure gold foil back in one of the next releases. I am working on 3 decks now and one of the main reason to produce them - to print with foil. It's a real fun

montenzi wrote:I'll use pure gold foil back in one of the next releases. I am working on 3 decks now and one of the main reason to produce them - to print with foil. It's a real fun

I know the general idea on one of those three deck and even without seeing any artwork I could tell it would be a goddamn masterpiece. When montenzi told me about the idea I literally started screaming "YES. YES. YES. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YES." to my screen.

Also don't worry, haven't told anyone anything about it and still won't.

Räpylätassu wrote: I know the general idea on one of those three deck and even without seeing any artwork I could tell it would be a goddamn masterpiece. When montenzi told me about the idea I literally started screaming "YES. YES. YES. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YES." to my screen.

Lucky you that you know...and lucky me that I have a chance to work with *** No details for now but I hope we'll finish the deck this autumn. This deck will not be designed by Montenzi design btw And please don't ask anything about this project

Very happy with these cards. The Ultra deck is savage.

montenzi wrote:PLAYING cards are made to play of shuffle so playability is very important. That's why it is very good sign that such big brands like Cartamundi works hard on their manufacturing process to make this possible. They are able to produce playable and affordable cards with foil for players AND collectors. One day you'll be able to buy playing cards with foil on both sides for just $10-15 retail.

I received my decks over the weekend and have been playing with them for a while. I have to give Carta Mundi credit for improving their finish, especially on foiled decks. They've blown past EPCC/LPCC in regards to handling and are almost right up there with USPCC.

As far as foiled decks from Carta Mundi, I have both of Shin Lim's foiled Regalia decks and now have the Neo Waves. The Regalia's foiling is noticeably shinier because it is hot stamped foil. While the handling of Regalia is quite good (especially for a foiled deck), it paled in comparison to Neo Wave Ultra. The cold foiled deck handles every bit as well as it's non-foiled counterpart, which is incredibly impressive. What you sacrifice in bottom line lumes for cold foiling is more than offset by the excellence of the finish and handling. You just can't escape the hot stamped foil impression bleeding through to the other side of the card, but you don't have that issue at all with cold foiling. And I also have to give Carta Mundi (as well the artists who utilize Carta Mundi foiling) a lot of credit for their price points on foiled decks.

No deck is perfect, and these New Wave are no exception. I would've liked some embossing on the tucks. But the biggest negative is the super soft card stock. Not great snap or elastic deformation. I just feel these will be far less durable and more likely to bend and warp in the long term. The Regalia deck is the same. Having said all this, I will have no hesitation buying any foiled decks from Carta Mundi in the future and am incredibly impressed by the handling of the decks as well as the price points for foiled decks.

sinjin7, agree with everything! .. One exception - they are less durable but the reason is different - they are dark cards so the main issue is the dark ink/coating but not the quality of B9 stock. A deck on my table has a vintage worn look after 1 month of extreme tests. Even after a couple of days you'll see those effects. Would be interesting to check the same on a deck with white borders. Defenetely this deck is not for cardistry but ok for playing.

If Regalia is a hot stamped deck (did not know that) then NEO:WAVE is the first deck printed with foil on both sides by Cartamundi AND available to purchase They printed their Copag 310 with foil on both sides before but I have never seen this deck on sale.

Boxes. You are right! Could be better. It was my fault as I failed to print 1500 decks as planned. So with 750 decks print run they were more expensive. For some EB and high tier backers the price was a steal Will try to use a synthetic paper with embossing next time. But everything has a price.

Just a quick note about foil. Received a question via KS about foil on the back. It's a printed pattern on top of a silver foil layer. But if you look at the "NEO:WAVE LIMITED EDITION" text it's just silver foil without printing on top.

I received these decks yesterday.

The USPCC-printed NEO WAVE Classic is excellent.

The Cartamundi-printed NEO WAVE with full-bleed backs and faces is even excellenter.

The Cartamundi NEO ULTRA is off the ever-loving hook, it's so good. This foil effect is unbelievably awesome. The printing registration is super tight, so the fans are mesmerizing. And, the faces! The pips! The courts!

Clean up on aisle 3, because I'm drooling here!

The are simply... wow.

I missed it as earlier I didn't want to get on the hype bandwagon. But, looking at the comments above, I'd to get the sunset box.

Looking forward to it Alex.

I just received my decks yesterday!

The NEO:WAVE Ultra is something out-of-this-world! I didn't have this much fun playing with one deck for a long time.
Right out of the box this deck is a sight to behold. It handles perfectly and feels amazing in your hands. It's almost a commun place now to say "you need to hold this deck to trully appreciate it", but in this particulary case it's true. I tried to capture all the greatness of the deck in a photo, but it is impossible - my photo skills are low, so that could be part of the problem!
Congratulations Montenzi!

sms69x wrote:I just received my decks yesterday!

The NEO:WAVE Ultra is something out-of-this-world! I didn't have this much fun playing with one deck for a long time.
Right out of the box this deck is a sight to behold. It handles perfectly and feels amazing in your hands. It's almost a commun place now to say "you need to hold this deck to trully appreciate it", but in this particulary case it's true. I tried to capture all the greatness of the deck in a photo, but it is impossible - my photo skills are low, so that could be part of the problem!

IMG_2778_.jpg

Congratulations Montenzi!

Increasing anticipation at my end now.....

sms69x wrote:I just received my decks yesterday!
The NEO:WAVE Ultra is something out-of-this-world! I didn't have this much fun playing with one deck for a long time.

Thank you!!! Also agree that it's almost impossible to make photos. They are still different in reality))

guru wrote: Increasing anticipation at my end now.....

I got all my decks in the mail, so happy!

These are amazing! It's like, they're foiled, but handle like not foiled cards.