Alamaris
First, I'd like to point out that if this deck was a person, I'd be in court for assault right now.
A US Games Universal Waite deck is my companion deck. I enjoy reading with it more than other decks, to the point of exclusion. But the thing is, I like things to look and feel worn. I skulk bookshops for antique novels, and if there's a more beat-up version of the same book, I'll buy the tattier one. Old, worn objects have a beautiful tactile history -- dog-eared corners, frayed edges, subtle creases, stains and tears.
But the UW and its Lacquer From Hell scoffs at such foolishness. Before I even tried Umbrae's method of preparation, I accidentally mauled the deck many times: dropped cards on the floor, in dirt and mud, and chased after them when an abrupt windstorm caught us outside. I've stepped on them in bare feet and dirty shoes; I've rescued them from my cat's mouth and from under his claws. After all that abuse didn't faze it, I tried shuffling for an hour a day (minimum!), every day for an entire month, in every form of violent shuffling I could find. Finally, I used the method of pulling every card over the edge of a table, on both sides and from every angle.
The damage? When stacked, if you look closely, the deck looks slightly "poofier" than when it was purchased. But only slightly. No stains -- not even a scratch.
I'm starting to think US Games decks are completely indestructible. So tell me, if the Umbrae method (and various other forms of torture) don't seem to wear in the deck at all, what else is there? I may try buying an original RWS just to practice antiquing methods on, but I have a sneaky suspicion that the only RWS deck my local bookstore carries is made by none other than US Games, with their Armageddon-proof lamination.
Suggestions?
A US Games Universal Waite deck is my companion deck. I enjoy reading with it more than other decks, to the point of exclusion. But the thing is, I like things to look and feel worn. I skulk bookshops for antique novels, and if there's a more beat-up version of the same book, I'll buy the tattier one. Old, worn objects have a beautiful tactile history -- dog-eared corners, frayed edges, subtle creases, stains and tears.
But the UW and its Lacquer From Hell scoffs at such foolishness. Before I even tried Umbrae's method of preparation, I accidentally mauled the deck many times: dropped cards on the floor, in dirt and mud, and chased after them when an abrupt windstorm caught us outside. I've stepped on them in bare feet and dirty shoes; I've rescued them from my cat's mouth and from under his claws. After all that abuse didn't faze it, I tried shuffling for an hour a day (minimum!), every day for an entire month, in every form of violent shuffling I could find. Finally, I used the method of pulling every card over the edge of a table, on both sides and from every angle.
The damage? When stacked, if you look closely, the deck looks slightly "poofier" than when it was purchased. But only slightly. No stains -- not even a scratch.
I'm starting to think US Games decks are completely indestructible. So tell me, if the Umbrae method (and various other forms of torture) don't seem to wear in the deck at all, what else is there? I may try buying an original RWS just to practice antiquing methods on, but I have a sneaky suspicion that the only RWS deck my local bookstore carries is made by none other than US Games, with their Armageddon-proof lamination.
Suggestions?
