D&D 5E Deck of Many Things manufacturing issue from review to delay to dndbeyond article.

[Stormonu]

I wonder if the old trick of putting a book or two atop the cards overnight would flatten them.

The size is a bit of an oddity - wonder if they're grouped in some fashion (Grand, Greater, Lesser) and they thought the size difference would allow them to be differientated but not be normally noticed once shuffled?

Trying to give WotC/Hasbro the benefit of the doubt, but I have simply run afoul of bad product in the past.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

This gentleman has quite a few videos about the Deck Of Many Things. He is personally happy with it and his review video is quite positive. It is simultaneously very brutal.

You have to tear open the slipcase! And the cards are different sizes and curved.

Are there any good reasons they are different sizes?



Updating to add this may be a temporary thing with the cards, I have my doubts, and it is just one review.

Super glad I didn't touch this with a ten foot poll. I still have the nightmare of finding my Adventures in Multiverse Slipcase.

NEVER ORDERING DIRECTLY FROM WOTC AGAIN.

 

[Parmandur]

Are y’all saying that the size difference and curl may be temporary?

No, it's a manufacturing defect that often slips past the tightest QC because it mostly shows up in non-factory environments (the printer is the ideal environmentfor a playing card). It can be repaired somewhat.through some homebrew shenanigans that dehydrate them (bake rhem in the oven, or blowdry them, etc.), and then preserved through douvle sleeving to keep out moisture. Or, get a replacement from Customer service that isn't defective.

Also it seems odd that all the curled cards stack up together at the same size.

There are basically two kinds of cards here in his deck: the defective ones, and the non-defecrive ones. The defective ones are all in the same environments, so their curl is going to match pretty well as they get the same ambiant mositure. Ideally none would be defective, and that is quite doable.

Finally if he measured them I’d think the curl wound count in that size?

The curl is caused by the paper changing size due to moisture.

 

[Parmandur]

I wonder if the old trick of putting a book or two atop the cards overnight would flatten them.

The size is a bit of an oddity - wonder if they're grouped in some fashion (Grand, Greater, Lesser) and they thought the size difference would allow them to be differientated but not be normally noticed once shuffled?

Trying to give WotC/Hasbro the benefit of the doubt, but I have simply run afoul of bad product in the past.

Pit them in the oven would be more effective than pressure.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

You can sleeve them all, like you (often) would with magic cards, and the sleeve would probably hide the size differences. I know we can get tarot-sized sleeves, though they're not as common as standard size ones.

 

[Echohawk]

I watched someone tear their copy of the Campaign Case before we figured out how to open it. Sometimes the way to open it is just counter-intuitive.

Wait, what? Please subscribe me to your "how to open things without damaging them" newsletter. Looks at the unopened Campaign Case on the shelf. I need help.

 

[aco175]

I'm guessing that I can just use a set of poker cards and not spend the extra $40.00? Seems like a once per campaign or three item. Although I did see a video showing how you can get more use out of the deck and the book.

 

[Charlaquin]

I updated the OP. And the title.

Are y’all saying that the size difference and curl may be temporary?
Also it seems odd that all the curled cards stack up together at the same size.
Finally if he measured them I’d think the curl wound count in that size?

The pic looks like its 2 different sets of cards. I'd be shocked if they are the same 'deck' in that regard.

They do not remotely pass the eyeball test.

You should watch the video, or at least that section of it. It’s not clear from the picture because his hand is blocking the bottom, but in the video he moves the deck around and you can see that the cards aren’t flush on the bottom. They look so uneven because he isn’t holding them evenly. I’m inclined to give this guy the benefit of the doubt though and assume the problem is that the curling is making it difficult to hold them in a flush stack, rather than him intentionally trying to mislead people.

As to whether more curling would eventually cause the rest of the cards to “even out” with the curled ones? Eh, probably not. At least in my experience with magic cards, they don’t curl uniformly. The problem is that the humidity is causing the cardboard to warp but not the foil, and if you’ve ever dealt with wood or paper products warping from water damage, you know it’s not a uniform or predictable warping. Each card is going to curl slightly differently, and it’s probably going to be more significant on these cards than it is on magic cards, because they’re bigger.

Ultimately, this is a manufacturing defect, and customer service should be able to replace the defective product for you. But if you live in a very humid place or store your cards in a damp place, it may take a few tries.

 

[darjr]

I haven't watched the video, but are we sure that you HAVE to tear the box? I watched someone tear their copy of the Campaign Case before we figured out how to open it. Sometimes the way to open it is just counter-intuitive.

Wait, what? Please subscribe me to your "how to open things without damaging them" newsletter. Looks at the unopened Campaign Case on the shelf. I need help.

Oh yea do tell!

 

[darjr]

You should watch the video, or at least that section of it. It’s not clear from the picture because his hand is blocking the bottom, but in the video he moves the deck around and you can see that the cards aren’t flush on the bottom. They look so uneven because he isn’t holding them evenly. I’m inclined to give this guy the benefit of the doubt though and assume the problem is that the curling is making it difficult to hold them in a flush stack, rather than him intentionally trying to mislead people.

As to whether more curling would eventually cause the rest of the cards to “even out” with the curled ones? Eh, probably not. At least in my experience with magic cards, they don’t curl uniformly. The problem is that the humidity is causing the cardboard to warp but not the foil, and if you’ve ever dealt with wood or paper products warping from water damage, you know it’s not a uniform or predictable warping. Each card is going to curl slightly differently, and it’s probably going to be more significant on these cards than it is on magic cards, because they’re bigger.

Ultimately, this is a manufacturing defect, and customer service should be able to replace the defective product for you. But if you live in a very humid place or store your cards in a damp place, it may take a few tries.

He raps the bottom of the cards on the table at least once and I made sure to grab a pic just after that.