I’m the Gentleman Wake and in this episode we explore a new deck release from Doc’s
Playing Cards and artist Abraham Garcia Sanchez.
Plus I'll be announcing some amazing giveaways.
For the best in collectibles content hit like, subscribe and ring that notification bell.
I like reviewing recently released decks on this channel, usually for a couple of reasons.
For one thing, the new releases tend to produce more interest from you, the viewer.
After all you wanna know how the decks look and handle and maybe, some of you, care to
actually hear my thoughts on them.
Secondly, new releases are more relevant because, well…
they’re likely to still be available.
In today’s review I’m diving into the Ocean’s Curse, a deck that feels like a
long lost relic from a pirate ship.
Released in the spring of this year, the deck was made available in a few different editions,
via DocsPlayingCardCo.com.
For the purposes of this review, we’re looking at one in particular.
Before we get into the review I just want to say that my next Kickstarter Campaign,
The Successor Playing Cards, is slated to launch in mid-to-late May.
I’m extremely excited to bring you this series of decks.
The Successor was designed by Kevin Cantrell Studio, the genius behind some of my favorite
decks of all time, The Citizens, by Theory 11, and The Standards, released by Art of
Play.
That last release, in particular, featured a piano black lacquer collector’s box that
I gushed over when I reviewed it on this channel some time ago.
I loved it so much.
that when presented with a chance to work with Kevin on the Successor.
I knew that we’d have to, not only keep the tradition of a fine luxury box set going,
but take it up a notch.
And I hope the images on your screen right now, of the Successor Sarcophagus box set,
are an indication to you that we accomplished that goal.
I can’t wait to share more details with you about the decks that will be contained
within, including the spectacular tuck boxes being printed by Studio Pression in France.
In fact I plan on previewing all of the decks in detail in a video that will be showing
up on your youtube feed shortly before we launch the campaign.
To that end we are planning some massive giveaways including hand signed uncut prototype tuck
boxes, prototype Successor decks, a Tempest Prism edition AND a prototype Successor Sarcophagus
lid sculpture–which will make an absolutely awesome piece to display on your shelf.
All of those will be given away as part of a Successor Kickstarter Campaign Launchstream
event, right here, on this channel.
Kevin Cantrell will be joining me and we’re gonna talk about the deck and the design process
and much more.
That’s coming in less than a month–make sure to follow me on Instagram and subscribe
to me here on Youtube for exact date and time info.
Now, let’s get to the review!
This is the special Captain’s Crate edition of the Ocean’s Curse.
House in this attractive wooden enclosure designed to look and feel like a miniature
cargo crate; the kind you would find in the hold of a pirate’s ship.
Crafted from real Walnut, the crate has nice open grain and a textured feel, with the Ocean’s
Curse logotype laser etched into the front of the lid.
Close examination reveals the tiny pin nails used to keep the multiple sections of the
crate together.
As is always prone to happen with natural materials there will be some variance in color
and grain and the wood does vary in smoothness–this is definitely, however, not the high end Walnut
woodworking you would get with a finely crafted and smoothly sanded dice vault from Wyrmwood.
It also wasn’t priced at that level either, of course.
My Captain’s Crate had some small imperfections; most notably a scuffed scratch on one side.
The lid, held in place by four sets of recessed magnets, can be removed or slid off to reveal
the deck inside.
The deck within comes protected within a plastic deck sleeve.
It’s something I've been noticing more and more producers including.
I find that the sleeves tend to dull the vibrancy and contrast of the underlying deck a bit
but it obviously offers some protection, especially in this case where you definitely wouldn’t
want the deck, even in cellophane, rubbing or jostling around against the rougher wood
texture of the crate interior.
Let me know in a comment below how you feel about these protection sleeves?
Is that something you wish more playing cards producers offered with their cards?
The tuck box itself is a very cool, very sleek black foil on black cardstock design reminiscent
of tar and powder–common materials of the era.
The foil layer has a 3D multilevel or sculptural embossing that gives life and dimension to
the design.
The design itself, from Mexican artist Abraham Garcia Sanchez, features a handsome head-on
illustration of the Ocean’s Curse, a fictional pirate ship and the focus of the deck’s
theme.
The black ship has a damsel figurehead on the bow and the design features a death’s
head looming over top of her.
Flanking each side of the ship are totems of stacked crates, treasure chests, and barrels,
topped with a skeleton trapped in a prisoner’s cage; likely having died of starvation or
wounds long before.
The deck’s title features a slightly nordic-leaning typography.
One side of the tuck announces the deck as premium playing cards while the other reiterates
the deck name.
The bottom features the traditional ad copy and mention of the deck’s origin of manufacture.
The top of the deck is covered in a custom cut copper foil sticker seal that features
the image of a frigate engaged in a deadly tug of war with a giant tentacled kraken.
The latin words Dictum Factum written above; which translates to ‘what is said is done.’
The back of the tuck is a one-to-one representation of the cardbacks as we’ll see in a moment.
The tuck flap reads Vivere Vincere which is Latin for live and conquer.
The smaller interior flaps have tiny skulls with iron rings clenched in their teeth.
The interior of the tuck is covered in a copper foil pattern; a treasure map by the looks
of it complete with a death’s head symbol and some sea creatures.
The card backs might be my least favorite aspect of the cards.
They feature an irregular frame that creates an undulating white border that I think is
a bit too wide.
The design, centered around two undead pirates pitted in battle against the back drop of
a globe, is itself a bit too monochromatic and details can get a bit lost with so much
gray and black.
There’s a compass rose at the center of the design.
I wonder if simply adding a second tone of gray, perhaps a lighter shade, would have
increased contrast enough to make the design a bit more interesting.
These are a completely custom deck of playing cards with distinct pips and indices.
Although the layout of the pips remains standard.
The pips are customized and include naval icons subtly ghosted into them including the
ship's anchor inside the spade pips.
an octopus within the clubs, a ship’s wheel in the diamonds and a compass rose within
the heart pips.
The index font is bold and easily legible and features sharp swooping points reminiscent
of swords and daggers.
The Ace of Spades features a small scene vignette presented within an iron-wrought like spade
frame, an open treasure chest sitting on the ocean floor with skeletal remains near it.
The court cards are an interesting collection of high detail illustrations.
The line work goes back and forth between an etched woodcut style and more traditional
comic book style lineart.
There’s a nice variety of warm tones and grays and browns that heighten the vintage
feel.
The faces are expressive and there’s good attention to detail with traditional implements
replaced by standard pirate crew fare like a blunderbuss, pistols and cutlasses.
The one eyed Jack has literally one eye, and also bears a resemblance to Pete Davidson.
And the Jack of diamonds reminds me of the character Trap-jaw from masters of the universe.
Let me know if you know who I’m talking about in a comment below.
The frame surrounding the courts is identical to the one seen on the backs but here I feel
like it works a bit better—probably because of the extended color palette.
There are four additional cards in the deck.
A double backer and a blank card that give an otherwise magic unfriendly deck a little
bit of magic utility.
There’s also two identical jokers, featuring a similar scene to the vignette seen on the
ace of spades but this time including a mermaid with the wry look of mischief on her face
as she stares at a human skull in her hand.
There’s yet a third Latin phrase, morituri te salutant, which translates to “those
who are about to die salute you!”
The deck is printed by the USPCC and, as you’d expect, handles great, despite not being the
most cardistry friendly design.
Faros, fans and springs are smooth and easy.
All in all, it’s a nice deck for collectors that maybe suffers a little bit by trying
to be too much to too many.
One thing I didn’t mention is the copy on the front of the tuck box that announces this
as a limited deck–and it’s not wrong; it’s already sold out.
Which means ebay is your best bet if you want to get your hands on it.
To check out another review check out the video that will appear right here.
Thank you so much for watching.
I’ve been the Gentleman Wake.
See you next time.