The Planets: Mercury by Vanda now live on KS

[davegk]

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

You can now pre-order the entire 8-deck series. More details found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/go ... ts/1986734

[serubi]

@davegk, what happens if a deck in the series doesn't get funded?

[davegk]

@davegk, what happens if a deck in the series doesn't get funded?

Given how much interest I've seen so far, I doubt this will happen, but in the event it does I have some other options to get these decks produced. Worst case is I would refund backers for decks not produced but I think that will be very very unlikely at this point.

[Bradius]

Thanks for listening to us and trying to accommodate us as much as possible. I am in for a 1+1 series set. I am not worried about the series not funding. Congrats on getting funding reached for the first series. I can't wait for comments on the second to last deck in the series.

[vasta41]

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

You can now pre-order the entire 8-deck series. More details found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/go ... ts/1986734

Niiiice. Pledging as soon as I get back from vacation in 1 week. Bon Voyage, UC!

[Räpylätassu]

Awesome add! I am happy that this campaign is doing so well!

Where are you going Vasta? Funny story actually about your handle, in Finland sauna is a national past time, a big part of cultural heritage, a place of relaxation but also kind of an holy place. Anyways, sometimes some Finns like to take twigs from birch trees with the leaves on and use them in the sauna to strike themselves in the back, the sides, in the forearms etc. The name for the birch twig used in sauna is a vasta. Or is it? There is an age old, neverending debate in Finland which is the proper term, vasta or vihta. This has been another, SuomiFinlandPerkele story for you UC.

[JuFiN]

So you will need to fund 8 decks in about a year for the timeline to deliver the whole series to work out. Meaning not only do you have to design 8 decks of quality equal to this one which started 7 months ago (atleast publically on this forum). But you have to fund a deck every month and a half or so (so almost back to back projects) with the last one funding before the first is even delivered.

Because most of the biggest fans of the deck will have pledged upfront on this campaign for all the decks there is a smaller pool of people to raise the money from for future decks. Its only a few hours from the new pledge tier launch and already I calculate around 10k of the funding is from full series pledges, pledgers that will not pledge for any future project as they already plan to receive all of the decks. With a funding goal of 18k per deck this seems like an insanely ambitious quest you are taking on.

Yes there is a lot of enthusiasm, but the most enthusiastic people will have pledged for all 8 decks on this campaign and will not be there for future ones. So basically you will have to have a lower goal for those campaigns and use the money from this campaign to off set the loss. Seeing as there is no reason to not pledge for all the decks now assuming you want them we have to conclude that the backers of just this deck will not back all future decks and the backers for all 8 decks also will not back ANY future decks. so future decks will fund FAR FAR less than this one.

It is very easy for me to see this crashing and burning for this reason.

I dont want to sound too pessimistic so ill end by saying I love the deck and altho right now im pledged just for this deck ill probably up my pledge to include all 8 despite my belief its a mistake to offer it.

[davegk]

Fear not, ye of little faith! I realize it's a large undertaking but I've learned much in the 5 years that I've been doing this and am absolutely ready for a project of this scope.

1. I intentionally waited until we hit the funding goal of this project before unlocking the full series tier options just to make sure that the Mercury deck could be funded on its own and new backers are continuing to sign up.

2. Because some of the decks from each of the remaining planets are already purchased, the funding goals for the other decks won't need to be as high.

3. I have a list of wholesalers who have already committed to purchasing decks if/when I make them available for wholesale so there's additional funding available if need be.

4. If we're still short on funding, I have a few other resources willing to help pay for production costs.

5. Yes, the timing will be a little tight. My plan is to run campaigns back to back. Venus won't launch until after backers have received their Mercury decks to ensure they are satisfied with the results of the campaign and ready to sign up again. At that point I think backers will feel comfortable backing additional decks before receiving the previous ones knowing that I'm pushing the timeline to reach a goal of getting the whole series out by the holidays. The rough plan is to launch a deck once per month starting january 15th and ending july 15th so the final campaign will end in august leaving plenty of time for production and fulfillment before december.

6. I actually think that having the first deck in hand will inspire backers to share their excitement with friends, thus creating a larger backer base for subsequent decks in the series.

7. Marketing, Marketing, Marketing. Thus far for the Mercury campaign I've actually done zero marketing aside from sharing with my existing email list and social media networks. I believe this deck theme is perfect for ad campaigns to reach a much broader audience of backers. I'm planning to run a few ad campaigns to see what the results are but I'm pretty sure that will help to drive additional interest.

See? Nothing to worry about...now go forth and back with confidence!
-David

So you will need to fund 8 decks in about a year for the timeline to deliver the whole series to work out. Meaning not only do you have to design 8 decks of quality equal to this one which started 7 months ago (atleast publically on this forum). But you have to fund a deck every month and a half or so (so almost back to back projects) with the last one funding before the first is even delivered.

Because most of the biggest fans of the deck will have pledged upfront on this campaign for all the decks there is a smaller pool of people to raise the money from for future decks. Its only a few hours from the new pledge tier launch and already I calculate around 10k of the funding is from full series pledges, pledgers that will not pledge for any future project as they already plan to receive all of the decks. With a funding goal of 18k per deck this seems like an insanely ambitious quest you are taking on.

Yes there is a lot of enthusiasm, but the most enthusiastic people will have pledged for all 8 decks on this campaign and will not be there for future ones. So basically you will have to have a lower goal for those campaigns and use the money from this campaign to off set the loss. Seeing as there is no reason to not pledge for all the decks now assuming you want them we have to conclude that the backers of just this deck will not back all future decks and the backers for all 8 decks also will not back ANY future decks. so future decks will fund FAR FAR less than this one.

It is very easy for me to see this crashing and burning for this reason.

I dont want to sound too pessimistic so ill end by saying I love the deck and altho right now im pledged just for this deck ill probably up my pledge to include all 8 despite my belief its a mistake to offer it.

[vasta41]

Awesome add! I am happy that this campaign is doing so well!

Where are you going Vasta? Funny story actually about your handle, in Finland sauna is a national past time, a big part of cultural heritage, a place of relaxation but also kind of an holy place. Anyways, sometimes some Finns like to take twigs from birch trees with the leaves on and use them in the sauna to strike themselves in the back, the sides, in the forearms etc. The name for the birch twig used in sauna is a vasta. Or is it? There is an age old, neverending debate in Finland which is the proper term, vasta or vihta. This has been another, SuomiFinlandPerkele story for you UC.

Well I was going to Naples, FL but that obviously didn't work out... so luckily my wife and I were able to get a full refund and used the money to go on a 7 day Boston to Bermuda cruise! Hopefully Jose stays away now. And my handle is actually my last name. All I know about it is that it comes from Sicily (where my Dad's family is from).

[Azazaaz]

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

You can now pre-order the entire 8-deck series. More details found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/go ... ts/1986734

Thank you so much for doing this!

Unfortunately for me, I won't be changing my 2LE + 2SE pledge as I missed the Limited Edition Sets. Being on holidays can be cruel

Let's hope for me that some LE sets will be available on the next campaigns!

[montecarlojoe]

Missed teh 1 one of everything level. Can't afford the 2 of everything level. Will wait and go piecemeal...

[Bikefanatic]

So one of each with US backers is $36, shipping included. That times 8 is $288 so to preordering all of them is $230 plus however much shipping is.

Paying the preorder is less but I'll rather take my chances doing them individually. I may not like all of them plus I'm not a completest. I only want the LE versions.

[davegk]

So one of each with US backers is $36, shipping included. That times 8 is $288 so to preordering all of them is $230 plus however much shipping is.

Paying the preorder is less but I'll rather take my chances doing them individually. I may not like all of them plus I'm not a completest. I only want the LE versions.

Just wanted to point out that I believe shipping for a full set of LE + SE is currently ~$21 (might be a few dollars more when postage costs go up next year), but definitely less expensive than buying separately plus you get matching serial #s.

$70k+ with about 8 hours to go in the campaign and there are still a few LE tier spots available in case you missed them before. Note: The LE1+ tier is now open to all backers, not just for people who already backed a lower LE tier.

See you at the finish line!
-David

[intlgrrl]

Just got my Mercury decks delivered 20 minutes ago! Beautiful! I love the tuck boxes and the cards are a dream!

[Bikefanatic]

I received both decks. The foil on the Ltd Edition decks really don't pop. I'll be fine to collect the Std Edition decks instead. I did not open my decks yet but I see that Std deck tuck wasn't fully closed before it was sealed. I like decks without seals though.

[vasta41]

The Vanda website is practically giving away cards so I might finally pick up The Planets series. However, they're sold out of the Mercury deck- does anyone have any extras for sale?

Also, check out the website if you want to pick up any Vanda cards.

[GandalfPC]

Take a look at the Buy/Sell/Trade section - there is a post last updated June 17th: Found - [BUY][ISO] The Planets - Mercury (Standard) - I checked and the source appears to have more for trade on portfolio52 at the moment

[BaconWise]

The Vanda website is practically giving away cards so I might finally pick up The Planets series. However, they're sold out of the Mercury deck- does anyone have any extras for sale?

Also, check out the website if you want to pick up any Vanda cards.

Just be prepared to pay $100 for the standard Mercury deck. For some reason there is a lower supply of that particular deck in the series and unfortunately the market is demanding an absurd price for it. Best of luck!

[vasta41]

The Vanda website is practically giving away cards so I might finally pick up The Planets series. However, they're sold out of the Mercury deck- does anyone have any extras for sale?

Also, check out the website if you want to pick up any Vanda cards.

Just be prepared to pay $100 for the standard Mercury deck. For some reason there is a lower supply of that particular deck in the series and unfortunately the market is demanding an absurd price for it. Best of luck!

That kind of stinks but oh well, maybe I won't buy the others. I thought it would be hard to get Pluto...

[Bradius]

I get the desire to get the whole set (yeah as I have like a zillion), but I do like each deck in their own right. At those prices, they really are attractive just to enjoy. I would just get what you can and have fun with them. So what if you don't have the $100 deck? Sorry, but I don't have any extra Mercury decks either, just sets now.

[hsbc]

I'm always fascinated by which decks end up being hard to find, I certainly wouldn't have picked the first in a set like this

[vasta41]

I get the desire to get the whole set (yeah as I have like a zillion), but I do like each deck in their own right. At those prices, they really are attractive just to enjoy. I would just get what you can and have fun with them. So what if you don't have the $100 deck? Sorry, but I don't have any extra Mercury decks either, just sets now.

I can't help it, I'm a completist. But those prices are making it really hard to pass up the other seven planets.

[Timmargh]

I get the desire to get the whole set (yeah as I have like a zillion), but I do like each deck in their own right. At those prices, they really are attractive just to enjoy. I would just get what you can and have fun with them. So what if you don't have the $100 deck? Sorry, but I don't have any extra Mercury decks either, just sets now.

I can't help it, I'm a completist. But those prices are making it really hard to pass up the other seven planets.

I could be wrong, but I kasuma99 has one, or at least had one, for sale.

[GandalfPC]

Kasuma99 was the one I was referring to above - still has mercury in Portfolio52 trade list

(I do as well, but only looking to trade the whole set, Pluto and all)

[Entaro]

The Vanda website is practically giving away cards so I might finally pick up The Planets series. However, they're sold out of the Mercury deck- does anyone have any extras for sale?

Also, check out the website if you want to pick up any Vanda cards.

Do so at your own risk lol Vanda is bad news these days, but good news for those still waiting on the missing Kickstarter more fire sales means that maybe they'll finally get their decks

[GandalfPC]

I can’t speak to the Kickstarter issue, but I have partaken in a few of their recent fire sales (they do seem to have a lot of them) and received them in a timely manner…

[Entaro]

I can’t speak to the Kickstarter issue, but I have partaken in a few of their recent fire sales (they do seem to have a lot of them) and received them in a timely manner…

Wow you lucked out then lol most people wait up to a month+ before getting them if they're lucky, the unlucky never see them and waste time trying to email them about it

[vasta41]

Thanks for all your help/advice, guys! I ended up pulling the trigger using the SHIPPING5 discount code, making each deck $6 each, shipped. Hard to resist at that price! And kasuma99 does have a deck but lives in Vietnam which is unfortunately on lockdown so he can't ship at the moment. So the hunt is on for me to find/trade for Mercury & Pluto!

[GandalfPC]

Wow you lucked out then lol most people wait up to a month+ before getting them if they're lucky, the unlucky never see them and waste time trying to email them about it

I would be happy to attempt to get satisfaction for any who had such an experience if they voice up here or PM me - no reason to let a company get away with such things. I’ve beaten down my fair share of doors

Dug up his phone number as well as other points of contact, ready to be dog with bone

From his resume it appears he is primarily a computer programmer and I imagine programming deadlines and spam filters are more likely causes for any issues than disregard…

[Strag]

You do realize this is the guy who has still not delivered in his Stories Kickstarter which is now 16 months past due? Pretty sure there is a ton of disregard for him towards his "customers"