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Agreed with ecNate. I thought the masked/unmasked idea was awesome, having both on each deck reduces it to "kinda neat". If you go with mixed, at least don't make it a 50-50 split. Have like 8 masked in the LE and 4 masked in the OE, and make logical story-based choices for who's masked and who's not.

@ EcNate & Magicfingerz:

The problem with such things is that you cannot please everyone, no matter how much you want to. I try to make my decks not only beautiful but functional as well. I completely loved the idea of a masked and an unmasked deck but I feel that an unmasked would be lacking some mystery. To be honest for me it works either way and if most of you guys want them masked - unmasked I can do it, I'm not stubborn. We have some days before the deck is re-launched and we'll see.
8-4 is definitely an option, I actually had mentioned it some time ago.

I'm in for both, either way (mixed masks or fully masked / unmasked), but remember: even if all the courts are unmasked, there's still a bit of intrigue, even if a little less mystery.

Also, even if you go fully masked/unmasked for the decks' courts, you could do the opposite with the Jokers....

Again, looking forward to these decks, either way!

As I said, if you go mixed on both then it should still work with a story and you'll have to work harder to make the 2nd deck substantially different than the first. On the surface it would appear it's just a mixed up version and less special, thus removing my desire to have both.

I don't know where you are at with them and forget details of what you posted, but having it be like the evil and true nature of each person comes out at night when the actual masks go on vs the deceit and secret planning during the day with masks off (but with 'false face', a symbolic mask in they are not showing their true intentions or who they really are) is pretty neat. They mystery of unmasked can be done with the story and how what happened in that deck ends up in the masked deck.

Watch how the Titanic deck plays out, I think a lot can be done with story and presentation to make the deck even more interesting. You already were doing this, but if you take it to the next level...

Yeah, 2 mixed decks could work, but to sell both you'll have to find some other way to make people feel they need to have both. I'm not sure that is as appealing of they are both just mixed.

I personally like the idea of mixing up the masked individuals between the two editions but agree it shouldn't be an even amount and that it should fit within the stories.

But damnit I want to see your take on that mask I posted earlier, where is she Lotrek? Come on its like you want us to believe you're busy or something.

Well, I think the idea of having two decks where the masked court in the first will be unmasked in the second (and vice versa) is appealing. (I hope I made clear that the decks will still have different courts) This is working regardless of the combination: 12-0, 8-4, 6-6, no matter which way I'll go eventually, you cannot see all courts' real face unless you get both decks.

But which combination is more interesting? This is another question. 12-0: gives the decks a more distinct character but maybe makes them somewhat boring. 8-4 is still good at maintaining each deck's character while adding some variety. 6-6: let's reject it.

chach wrote:
But damnit I want to see your take on that mask I posted earlier, where is she Lotrek? Come on its like you want us to believe you're busy or something.

Busy? Nah, come on, I'm just hangin' around yawnin' all day!

Lotrek wrote:
But which combination is more interesting? This is another question. 12-0: gives the decks a more distinct character but maybe makes them somewhat boring. 8-4 is still good at maintaining each deck's character while adding some variety. 6-6: let's reject it.

I like 12-0 with both decks being available (i.e. one isn't a stretch goal).

I also loved the idea of a masked deck and an unmasked deck. I'm just OCD enough to have a slight problem with an 8 - 4 split. It messes with my sense of symmetry. However, I know it'll be awesome and I'll be pledging no matter what!

I'm all for full mask, full unmasked, it gives it a little more consistency plus you could always play w the jokers like someone mentioned above

Deck #1 12-0, masked - unmasked, jokers unmasked
Deck #2 0-12, masked - unmasked, jokers masked

Okay people, I think I got the message...

5 and 7 for #1
7 and 5 for #2

Lol. I couldn't help myself.

Time for some more artwork...

Lotrek wrote:

charlie81dbz wrote: Hopefully the LE will be a stretch goal, or the goal amount will just start off high enough for both decks to be printed. Not sure if the LE decks being before the standard edition caused any funding issues either, it seemed like that was a bit confusing to some of the backers though.

charlie

There will be some changes in the structure of the KS campaign. I don't think that the fact that I had the limited edition first played any significant role. Sure, it was kinda strange -just as night Venice is- but the fact remains that only 250 people were willing to pledge and I really don't believe this deck is that uninteresting!

The initial idea was to have the Limited Edition first, with all courts masked and then I would reveal the faces on the Original edition. But I thought that having a deck with all courts masked would be a bit boring and also having another deck without masks at all would lack mystery. So I'll probably have 6 masked -6 unmasked on each deck. The masked courts in the L.E. will be unmasked in the O.E. and vice versa.

I'm also working on something quite unique for the "Signature" edition. I mean, really unique!

What if on every card you have the character masked on one side, and unmasked in the reverse direction? I think that would work well, and all you need to do to see the other version is flip it upside down.

samurai007 wrote: What if on every card you have the character masked on one side, and unmasked in the reverse direction? I think that would work well, and all you need to do to see the other version is flip it upside down.

Wouldn't that make them all... identical?

MagikFingerz wrote:

samurai007 wrote: What if on every card you have the character masked on one side, and unmasked in the reverse direction? I think that would work well, and all you need to do to see the other version is flip it upside down.

Wouldn't that make them all... identical?

Yes, and then I could just buy 1 deck instead of 2 and still get to see all the art. Finances are very tight lately and I'm having to watch what I get more carefully. I'd hate to miss out on half the art.

Alarm reminder set! Bet good money that it funds first day.

Not only funds on day one, unlocks stretch goal #1 and maybe #2, if he has them.

Cbkimble wrote:Not only funds on day one, unlocks stretch goal #1 and maybe #2, if he has them.

I have them

The first will be the Signature deck, which will be unlike any other deck offered in the past!

Can you give us what the initial funding goal will be so we can start placing bets on hour:minute the funding will be reached.

Lotrek,

Did you HAVE to pick my wife's birthday to release these beautiful decks on Kickstarter?!?

Now I have to find some way to convince my wife that we NEED to be home a 3:00 pm Sunday (Pacific Time) for a reason related to her birthday...

It's 30-September, and I still don't know for sure what she would really like for her birthday; but I certainly know what I want! Can you say, "Venexiana Dark!"

Maybe I can convince her that I'm buying them for her in loving memory of our last trip to Venice, Italy (in 1996)... And yes, we even spent time in a Gondola on the Grand Canal too!

Thank You in Advance for your beautiful creations!

I'll always pledge for your cards on any site you post them on.

Will Hart.
Fullerton, California.

Hmm... This one is tough, William. Maybe organize a party at home and at 3:00pm you disappear for a while?

But seriously, thanks for your support and kind words, they're both precious.

@Will, perhaps a secret alarm a few minutes ahead of time, followed by some 'quality bathroom time' and a smart phone at the proper moment. When you gotta go, you gotta go

No cell phone Will? Maybe a bathroom break? Lol.

I wish the time was actually today. I'll probably be the only one at work 6pm on a damn Sunday. Well I'll make a bathroom trip at that time.

ecNate wrote:@Will, perhaps a secret alarm a few minutes ahead of time, followed by some 'quality bathroom time' and a smart phone at the proper moment. When you gotta go, you gotta go

I know I did that once, forget which campaign it was (think it was a ltd edition release actually) but it launched when my family was having a sit down dinner for my mum's birthday. Had to excuse myself for a few minutes to make sure I got in.