Well, I sure did back a lot of new KS projects during the month of April. And, I sure did receive... a few.
The decks I did receive in April remind me of why I love collecting playing cards. Like... three of the best decks of the year arrived this month, and two of them were Kickstarter projects. And the other decks I received were no slouches.
Before we get to the three heavy hitters, let me mention that I received the Skateboarder decks I backed (originally expected to be shipped in January '17), and they are truly a fun little deck. One of my boys is practically begging to add this one to our rotation of decks that we play with as part of the bedtime ritual. So, that's fun. I also received the Rainbow Illusion V2 decks and coin (originally anticipated in May '17, so it didn't even make my list yet!), and those also were really well done.
That said, I was simply blown away by the Gemini decks (originally anticipated in March '17). Oh. My. Dog. These decks are everything I expected and more. The tuck, the design, the production of the cards (the registration! the way they fan!), and the truly exquisite use of foil... just wow. I ordered a bunch of these, and I'm very glad I did. These are cards that demand to be seen, felt, played with, and appreciated.
One other Kickstarter deck project arrived in April that actually wasn't anticipated to be fulfilled until May (made it by about a day!), so it won't get added to my list in time to be taken off, either, and this project was similarly fantastic: the Pantheon decks. Giovanni's use of color, metallic inks, and foil is truly regal on this deck. Like Gemini, you know you're holding something special when you pick up the box. Oh, right... and they both have amazing foil work inside the tuck, as well.
These two contenders for Deck of the Year awards were also joined in that club by a non-Kickstarter arrival this month: Oath. These innovative decks are likewise stunning. Lotrek's design is impeccable, especially given that he had no inks to work with, just three colors of foil for the faces (and two colors of foil for the backs). He totally makes it work. Oath, like Liturgy and Icons Imperial before it, is absolutely a contender, and it makes me happy to add it to my collection of fine art.
You'll notice that some of Lotrek's projects are not on the list below even though they haven't shipped yet; that's because they aren't KS projects, and this list is focused on KS projects. However, I'm considering adding other crowd-funded projects to this list going forward; I did back the Butterfly project on Indiegogo, which is supposed to ship soon (and was originally expected to have shipped by now). Would adding other crowd funded projects help out those of you who follow (and contribute to) this list?
Lastly, I received one deck from the Prism Day and Dusk project -- the Spectrum -- and it is very well done. I'm looking forward to receiving the other decks from that project.
So, without further ado, here's a list of KS projects that have had an anticipated delivery of up-to and including May, 2017 for which I am awaiting fulfillment:
- Venexiana Dark (February '15) -- As noted previously, I've received all of the items for this project except for two uncuts. Lotrek and I agreed to a substitute item.
- Icons Imperial Edition (May '15) -- I have a last remaining item from this complicated order (also an uncut). I don't know the status of this at this time.
- Grotesk Macabre (January '16) -- Awaiting Black Mass (everything else has long since been received).
- Grotesk Macabre Black Gold (July '16) -- Shipping of this project is expected to be combined with Black Mass.
- Legal Tender (December '16) -- As of an update posted two days ago, the decks have arrived Stateside, now we're just waiting for them to arrive at the fulfillment center.
- Eros Erotic Tarot (February '17) -- A comment posted a couple of days ago indicates the estimated fulfillment remains around June (as they'd noted in March would be the case).
- Prism Day and Dusk (February '17) -- The decks are at the fulfillment center (Gamblers Warehouse) and are expected to start shipping within a week or so. The Spectrum deck that I ordered arrived already (direct from MPC), and it's pretty cool.
- Spirit II (March '17) -- An update from mid-April indicated that some decks have already arrived at GW, and others are anticipated to arrive soon. They indicate that fulfillment is expected to begin in May.
- Calaveras de Azucar (March '17) -- Natalia recently posted that production is wrapping up and fulfillment will begin Very Soon Now (likely first week of May).
- Russian Folk Art Limited Edition (April '17) -- Likewise, fulfillment expected to commence shortly.
- TITANS Robber Baron Edition (April '17) -- At last word on the subject, fulfillment should begin in May.
- Nouveau BIJOU (April '17) -- As of an update two days ago, decks just arrived at the fulfillment center, and shipping to backers should begin shortly.
- Dystopia (April '17) -- Fulfillment is expected to begin in May, as of a comment they posted a couple days ago on the project page.
- Bicycle Neoclassic (May '17) -- No updates posted, as of yet.
- Hello Tiki (May '17) -- As of their last update at the end of March, they were still on target for beginning fulfillment in May.
- Honeybee V2 (May '17) -- Production is underway, coins looking great, and fulfillment likely to be on time as of a post a couple days ago.
- Avant-Garde (May '17) -- Cards have arrived at GW for distribution; fulfillment expected to begin imminently. Coins will be shipped separately, possibly delayed.
So, add four projects to my list and remove two, for a total of seventeen. Given the status of many of these projects, it's reasonable to suppose that a few of them may actually arrive in May. Here's to hoping!
And you? What deliveries are
you currently anticipating from Kickstarter projects?
[Edit: cleaned up lots of details, including the arrival of the Rainbow Illusion V2 coin.]