Raph's Basic Guide to playing Shadow Era Physical game

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Originally Posted by Raphael Majere

A brief update on sleeves.

Since geckt mentioned that he has astigmatism, I re-looked at my sleeves.

Basically, there are 2 types of sleeves. Matt finish or glossy finish.

Kmc is a highly regarded Japanese brand and indeed they make the best glossy ones. (Glossy both sides)

The foil cards show up very nicely on kmc sleeves, especially the metallic colors kmc ones. However, during game play with all the lights and such, reflection can be a problem for both players.

Matt sleeves provides a rougher texture, usually on the back of the cards. These sleeves usually have a glossy cover for the card face side.

Matt sleeves makes card shuffling and handling easier: glossy cards can either clump together or are too slippery. (Kmc white pearl sleeves are horrible, they handle like fresh fish and slips out of my hand, slides of the table, etc, horrible.)

Pro game sleeves (Hk?) makes DOUBLE matt sleeves. These are really good for geckt since reflection is reduced to the minimum. I really love the brand and their sleeves: having matt finishes on both the face and the back of the cards makes game play really enjoyable, everyone can see the cards better due to less glare and reflection, the feel is better, etc.

But they do reduce the coolness of the look of the foil cards.

So overall, I suspect that youngsters will like the kmc sleeves better, especially the metallic ones. Foils look super in these sleeves.

For older and mature players like me and geckt, we prefer nicely aged wine and hence go for double matt ones, which feels better in our hands and are more practical.

Lastly, ultra pro is supposed to be the leader in producing sleeves, card storage boxes, files, holders, etc. while their sleeves are highly criticized for being sub-par by most mtg players, I think they are ok. These sleeves are usually matt for the back of the cards.

There are other cheaper brands which I won't even bother to try.

I would love to see or try dragon shield ones. They are not sold in singapore but I've heard some good things about them.

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Hopefully, you can get Atomzed to bring some Dragonshield sleeves back for you from UK.

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Originally Posted by Gondorian

Hopefully, you can get Atomzed to bring some Dragonshield sleeves back for you from UK.

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We've seen it already today, btw, do they come in any matt styles, GDC? :)

Edit: btw, here's a view of our obsessiveness into accessories.

The massive loads of dices and beads. XD
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/09/adybetu8.jpg

A couple more pictures will be up soon when Raph has the time, some madness today with a meltdown face-off between Raph and berdugo despite the lack of show up.

Ok, my reviews for dragon shield, they are pretty similar to kmc sleeves from Japan.

It's glossy on both sides, but the transparent portion is thicker than kmc sleeves. (Which is better for protection)

But the sides are pretty badly cut, kmc sleeves are very precise and even.

I am sticking to my double matt sleeves.

@geckt, matt sleeves are usually single matt, usually matt only the the back of the card not the face.

The ones u see me use today for the constructed decks are double matt and they are from 'pro game'. (Hk?)

It's possible that they are the only ones who make double matt. Maybe ultra-pro has double matt ones, but these will be double matt 'transparent' i.e. no colored backs.

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Originally Posted by Raphael Majere

The ones u see me use today for the constructed decks are double matt and they are from 'pro game'. (Hk?)

It's possible that they are the only ones who make double matt. Maybe ultra-pro has double matt ones, but these will be double matt 'transparent' i.e. no colored backs.

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Well, the DragonShields aren't too shabby but nothing like what the shopkeeper said tho. lol
I liked the thickness it had, but still it's kinda slippery.

"pro game" sleeves huh? ok. :)
Now d6's are fast becoming my next obsession.

Also check this site out:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ed...sem=2&esum=152

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Originally Posted by Geckt

Well, the DragonShields aren't too shabby but nothing like what the shopkeeper said tho. lol
I liked the thickness it had, but still it's kinda slippery.

"pro game" sleeves huh? ok. :)
Now d6's are fast becoming my next obsession.

Also check this site out:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ed...sem=2&esum=152

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Lol, what did the shopkeeper say?

Geckt, btw, if u like the d6s I used today, I bought them all from the cardmart at thomson.

I can also bring my kmc sleeves and the dragon sleeves so u can compare. In fact, if u like them, I can even sell them To u half price. All unused but opened.

But I think u will still prefer the pro game double matt.

Pro game double matt are also sold at the cardmart. They are quite hard to find anywhere else.

Lastly, if u are going to cardmart anytime soon, I can meet u there. :)

(Oh, if u like, we can also exchange chessex d6s dice, :). )

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Originally Posted by Raphael Majere

Lol, what did the shopkeeper say?

Geckt, btw, if u like the d6s I used today, I bought them all from the cardmart at thomson.

I can also bring my kmc sleeves and the dragon sleeves so u can compare. In fact, if u like them, I can even sell them To u half price. All unused but opened.

But I think u will still prefer the pro game double matt.

Pro game double matt are also sold at the cardmart. They are quite hard to find anywhere else.

Lastly, if u are going to cardmart anytime soon, I can meet u there. :)

(Oh, if u like, we can also exchange chessex d6s dice, :). )

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LOL, he's raving about them being the best and nothing comes close.
Oh sgcardmart? yea, sure.
I would settle everything by this month end, and then I would get a bag or two of the d6's. So, I think you could take some from me then. heheh. :)

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Originally Posted by Geckt

LOL, he's raving about them being the best and nothing comes close.
Oh sgcardmart? yea, sure.
I would settle everything by this month end, and then I would get a bag or two of the d6's. So, I think you could take some from me then. heheh. :)

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Oh u meant the pound o dice of d6s? Sure, I can take a look. I like collecting dice...

Dragon sleeves are the most ex for now. 16 cents apiece. Kmc is 10 cents apiece.

Pro game double matt is 9 cents apiece.

Yea I really do mean those pound-o-d6's. :)
Besides I don't think anyone would like to have the boring white ones even if I were to spare them some. rofl.

Bump, updating this thread with Geckt's pic.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/28/zyta8yhe.jpg

Geckt mentioned Fantasy Flight Sleeves:

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ed...sem=2&esum=152

I found them at Paradigm Games shop at mid-point orchard mall in Singapore.

(@Geckt, did you see how they place the stand in the center of shop to promote games, do you think they can do that for SE?)

Back to the sleeves, i bought the White Fantasy Flight Sleeves: since the KMC 'pearl white' sucks to the max.

They are ok, nothing much to write home about, just a bit better than ultra pro ones. And they are slightly longer. (similar to Singapore's Deck Shields brand) Some players LIKE the extra length since the cards are better protected.

Anyways, I've switched back to KMC ones.

For the sole reason that they are of a very high quality and my foils look great in those.

I was kinda disappointed in Dragonshields - the edges of the sleeves were rough and jagged but their quality is good in terms of the thickness of both sides of the sleeves, the edges are tightly sealed and they handle well.

When buying sleeves, here are my own personal considerations:

1. Amount of protection: If you really want to trade with the cards you play, you might want to double or triple sleeve, I've never tried it but it will make your deck very very very thick. My reviews will only take into consideration a single sleeve, so hence good quality materials for the front and back are crucial. Next is the sealing of the edge; many people have complained that ultra pro ones split easily but I personally find them pretty OK. To me, if you want to be a collector, don't play with the cards you want collect. Buy 2 sets: one for collection and 1 for play. Much less heartache this way.

2. Matt vs Non matt finish. This can refer to the face and the back of the sleeve. Advantages of Matt: they do not get scratched easily. They are usually very hardly, especially double matt ones. I used to love these. The huge downside: since they are not clear, the foils don't look good in them. But Matt sleeves can very useful for people with astigmatism; less light reflection.

Lastly, the 'feel' of Double Matt sleeves are better than non-matt ones, since there is better texture and friction.

Here's my Rankings table for sleeves.

1. KMC (SUPER SERIES) from Japan, except Pearl White!!!
2. Pro Matte from HK (Double Matt) - very hardy
3. Dragonshields - very much like KMC, only that the finish is poor
4. Deck Shields (A new company from Singapore, double matt, only 2 colors for now)
5. Fantasy Flight
6. Ultra-pro

I've not included the cheap sleeves usually made in China. Not that they are not good, it's just that I have not tried them since they are usually significant cheaper and I usually do not like to buy cheap stuff. In any case, the Pro Matte does come from HK, which is part of China, and I won't be surprised if all the card sleeves in the world are made there anyways.