Run It Up - Faded Spade (1 Viewer)

[davin]

Anyone try these multicolor Run It Up Faded Spade cards?

 

[FEAROFGOD]

following

 

[Highli99]

I like faded spade and play them in my home game but I’ve never seen multi-colored decks outside of online. That’s pretty cool.

 

[Old State]

If they are the same card stock as the regular card (I have bridge sized) I wouldn’t touch them. There is a review thread on Faded Spade.

I own a sample of every major plastic paying card made and these are the only I wish I didn’t buy. The cards are absurdly stiff. They also lack texture which caused them to want to stick to each other. They are very difficult to shuffle. Almost unplayable. Company says the card stock was chosen to be used in card shufflers. Sounds odd in that Kem, the softest feeling cards made and most common casino used card, have been used in those card shufflers for a decade.

 

[fieldsy]

I have not played those, but I have played with 4-color Copag decks before. I personally think they’re cool, in part since I like playing a 4-color display online. But a few guys who played the game were not fans and said they had a harder time reading the cards on the board. I think the green and the blue just appear a little lighter than standard colors. These were guys in their 30s/early 40s, not bad eyesight in general.

The Copags we played with were standard index (although Copag also makes the jumbo). Those FS cards look nice, and worth a shot. I like the 4-color deck for Omaha in particular, if I can get my guys to give them another try.

 

[GIANTDustySquid]

If they are the same card stock as the regular card (I have bridge sized) I wouldn’t touch them. There is a review thread on Faded Spade.

I own a sample of every major plastic paying card made and these are the only I wish I didn’t buy. The cards are absurdly stiff. They also lack texture which caused them to want to stick to each other. They are very difficult to shuffle. Almost unplayable. Company says the card stock was chosen to be used in card shufflers. Sounds odd in that Kem, the softest feeling cards made and most common casino used card, have been used in those card shufflers for a decade.

I’ll say that the first impression of the faded spade is definitely not what you expect. THey are thicker and stiffer feeling. But after using them only a couple times, everyone I know has grown a liking to them even though they’re different. I regretted buying them at first and sold some extra setups I had. Wishing I kept them now. They’re now some of my favourites even along side desjgns/gemaco/Fournier. When I run two tables I always use them at one table at least. They feel a little different than shuffling other cards but if you can shuffle at all, I wouldn’t say they’re any more difficult to use. Different but very nice imo

 

[v1pe]

I really like the look of Faded Spade, and I also really would like some 4 color decks....but I couldn't play with these for long given the thickness. Maybe I'm a weeny, but they hurt my hands/fingers. I also dedicated deal my games...if I just had to play with them I would love them I think.

 

[Old State]

I really like the look of Faded Spade, and I also really would like some 4 color decks....but I couldn't play with these for long given the thickness. Maybe I'm a weeny, but they hurt my hands/fingers. I also dedicated deal my games...if I just had to play with them I would love them I think.

They are not really thicker but stiffer. The owner pointed that out to someone who complained on their FB site. I had them in play a month or so ago for a few hours. They were universally hated by the entire table. They absolutely do irritate your thumbs when you riffle them and I had to adjust my grip. Gemaco Superflex is really the stiffest card I personally feel is tolerable to play with.

Also the box divider is too short.

The best attribute is the size of the index. That’s basically it.

 

[Lemonzest]

If they are the same card stock as the regular card (I have bridge sized) I wouldn’t touch them. There is a review thread on Faded Spade.

I own a sample of every major plastic paying card made and these are the only I wish I didn’t buy. The cards are absurdly stiff. They also lack texture which caused them to want to stick to each other. They are very difficult to shuffle. Almost unplayable. Company says the card stock was chosen to be used in card shufflers. Sounds odd in that Kem, the softest feeling cards made and most common casino used card, have been used in those card shufflers for a decade.

Thanks for saving me time/money. I am not a fan of cards stiffer than Design.

 

[arch3r]

I have these ( https://fadedspade.com/cards/four-color-playing-card-set ) and I really like them. Like others said, the card stock is thicker and stiffer then others, and it feels weird at first, but you get used to it. And now I even prefer it. Plus I really like the look of the cards.

 

[Taghkanic]

I have these ( https://fadedspade.com/cards/four-color-playing-card-set ) and I really like them.

Just got three Faded Spade 4-color set-ups for my two table tourney. They didn’t arrive in time for last night’s game, so I haven’t had the chance to test them in game. But I did mess around with them for about a half hour, shuffling and washing and picking them up repeatedly. Some initial thoughts:

* So far I like the finish, somewhere between slick and buttery/tactile.

* They do seem a little stiffer and thicker than what I’m used to, but then again these are brand new decks. I know there have been some gripes about this, but I’ll wait and see how they play in an actual game before deciding.

* I like the typography and pip designs—clear, simple. The face designs are fine; distinctive, but they don’t knock me out.

* I would have liked to see the shades of Blue and Green differentiated more clearly. In certain light (incandescent, rather than fluorescent) the colors merge a lot more than they should. This is more of a problem with the backs than the faces, because the back pattern is quite small and thus there is less surface area to convey the color. I can easily see it taking a while to notice a green card which happened to mix into a blue deck, or vice-versa. It would have been better, say, to use more of a Cerulean Blue and Olive Green for more contrast. Or Blue and Red backs, which they used on all their other sets. Seems like a mistake to have switched this up.

* The back pattern is also kind of boringly generic. It might have been nicer to be a little more creative. I suppose the small, tight pattern may serve some purpose (e.g. making it harder to detect small marks/flaws if they occur). But this seems kind of like a missed opportunity.

More after my next home game on the 21st...

 

[StackemHigh]

Darn. I really wanted to give these a try. But the stiffness issue and now seeing the too-similar blue/green backs.... feels like a dealbreaker (.
Thanks for the review though.

 

[Taghkanic]

I’m going to still try them at my next game, but the more I look at it, the more concerned I am about the backs issue.

Except in super-bright light they really seem easy to confuse. (The pic above actually makes it seem better than in person.)

Now even in our self-dealt game, it’s not like decks get commingled much. But even one card moving from one deck to another on very rare occasions would not be OK, if it is going to take several hands for the mistake to be noticed.

This strikes me as a major misstep by Faded Spade, and a totally unforced error—it would have been easy to differentiate the backs better, if not by more distinct colors, then by variations in design.

 

[Taghkanic]

 

[Old State]

This company seems to be 99% focused on marketing and 1% focused on producing a great product.

 

[v1pe]

This company seems to be 99% focused on marketing and 1% focused on producing a great product.

I don't think that's entirely fair...their market is obviously casino and tournament organizations, which they seem to be doing well with. As a player, I really like these cards, the feel and look is good. The issue comes in when I'm using these as a dealer, in particular when I have to shuffle them. Most casino/tournament organizations are going to use auto-shufflers, so the thickness of the cards is not an issue. Might actually be a benefit if they are longer lasting than other plastics on the market. Who knows, perhaps casinos and tournament orgs requested a thicker card?

The reality is that the home market is small, and the majority of people handling these cards are players who only have to deal with 2-4 cards...for which IMO the experience is quite pleasant.

 

[Mesnik44]

We used these decks at my season opening tournament, and there were no real complaints from either of the 2 tables. I liked the font and the thickness of the cards. The cards are really easy to view when on the table.

 

[Old State]

I don't think that's entirely fair...their market is obviously casino and tournament organizations, which they seem to be doing well with. As a player, I really like these cards, the feel and look is good. The issue comes in when I'm using these as a dealer, in particular when I have to shuffle them. Most casino/tournament organizations are going to use auto-shufflers, so the thickness of the cards is not an issue. Might actually be a benefit if they are longer lasting than other plastics on the market. Who knows, perhaps casinos and tournament orgs requested a thicker card?

The reality is that the home market is small, and the majority of people handling these cards are players who only have to deal with 2-4 cards...for which IMO the experience is quite pleasant.

It’s the stiffness that is the issue not really how thick the cards are. They told me when I inquired that they chose that stock to work better in shufflers. This is curious because I would imagine that 95% of all cards ran through casino shufflers since they came into being are Kems which are hands down the most flexible card. That’s quite a leap in the opposite direction!

As for casinos, tournament tables often don’t have auto shufflers like cash tables do. I’d be shocked if they haven’t heard some complaints from dealers.

I made the marketing comment because all you see from them on social media is how some tournament is featuring their cards. Never anything about the product itself and why it is great. Kind of like beer commercials for Miller and Bud, etc where the intent is to elicite an image parties, hot chicks, or Americana....but never about how their beer is made other than that it is cold. Also, how do you miss the color issue posted above in preproduction? How do you let boxes out that have short dividers? Or that the cards cling together. All things that would have picked up on by anyone who handles cards frequently.

So I will agree - if you are just sitting at a table being dealt these cards and never shuffling them I could see how the composition wouldn’t make a difference to you.

 

[v1pe]

It’s the stiffness that is the issue not really how thick the cards are. They told me when I inquired that they chose that stock to work better in shufflers. This is curious because I would imagine that 95% of all cards ran through casino shufflers since they came into being are Kems which are hands down the most flexible card. That’s quite a leap in the opposite direction!

As for casinos, tournament tables often don’t have auto shufflers like cash tables do. I’d be shocked if they haven’t heard some complaints from dealers.

I made the marketing comment because all you see from them on social media is how some tournament is featuring their cards. Never anything about the product itself and why it is great. Kind of like beer commercials for Miller and Bud, etc where the intent is to elicite an image parties, hot chicks, or Americana....but never about how their beer is made other than that it is cold. Also, how do you miss the color issue posted above in preproduction? How do you let boxes out that have short dividers? Or that the cards cling together. All things that would have picked up on by anyone who handles cards frequently.

So I will agree - if you are just sitting at a table being dealt these cards and never shuffling them I could see how the composition wouldn’t make a difference to you.

I don't really disagree with anything you're saying. I also wouldn't be surprised if dealers without auto shufflers (or even with them...these cards are even a pain to gather/box IMO).

Just saying that it's possible that FS is catering more to the casinos/tournaments as they make their adjustments (1.0 > 2.0), since that is their primary market and customer. The employers probably don't care how the dealers feel as long as the players prefer the cards and they stand out and look great on the TV screen, and they also last longer due to the increased thickness/stiffness (not sure if that's the case, but I wouldn't be surprised if they claimed it).

Anyway, I won't be buying them again...I think we both agree that the cards are too stiff. Too bad though because I quite like the art.

No worries though, @desjgn is gonna release some 4-color decks soon I think

 

[derekdd23]

I bought a couple of decks and agree they are a bit stiff. I do think that they are fantastic to deal because of the texture, and I am a sucker for 4 color decks. Overall I liked them quite a bit, although I wish the colors were a bit brighter like the copags. Some people had a hard time seeing the difference in color from across the table.

 

[TheBigTater]

Obviously their target market is certainly casinos/card rooms that use auto shufflers or dedicated dealers. The card probably performs great in that environment. They are stiff & tough and can hold up to the continuous grind of auto shufflers. Players that don't have to shuffle or deal wouldn't notice that much difference.

Most home games are self dealt/shuffled and in that environment these cards are a PITA. Shuffling, dealing & gather them up for a entire night will wear you out and will be especially tough for people who aren't very good at shuffling.

Granted i don't play in casinos a lot anymore so I don't see a lot of auto shufflers or dedicated dealers. Only thing i like about them coming from a perspective of someone who would have to shuffle, deal & handle these constantly is I like the back design a lot, otherwise they blow, there are sooo many other good choices available out there.

Very polarizing cards with a huge love or hate thing going on.

 

[Old State]

I’d like to know what casinos are actually using these outside of an occasional TV tournament. I would be shocked if they were actually gaining any kind of measurable market share inside the casino industry. Kem has had a lot of competition for the last 15 years and they still dominates this space. I’ve occasionally seen Gemaco Superflex (which usually look beat up) but never anything else. Granted I play almost exclusively in AC.

I know I seem to bash these guys a lot. I really wanted to like the cards because I’m a card enthusiast constantly in search of the holy grail. I think what bothers me is that there was a lot of hype but the product didnt match it .....and is actually a dud IMO. I wouldn’t have been that bad if they turned out to be just average. I kind of feel bamboozled I guess.