Tell tale Tarot - Black Hart Productions
Posted: Feb 5th, '07, 12:18
The Effect. A Major Arcana Tarot deck which is marked
Cost £28 from http://www.blackhart.co.uk/
Difficulty Not really applicable. To understand and read the markings probably 1 or 2 (depends on memory), to use the deck to perform effects probably 3 to 5 as it requires skill to sell mentalism effects
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
I have considered this carefully before doing this review. The Black Hart products I have seen reviewed in here have all received unanimous praise. I have some criticism to make of this product and I am afraid that I will upset some of Black Hartssupporters.
The product does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a Major Arcana deck of Tarot Cards subtly but clearly marked so that the user can identify all cards from the back. The marking system once learned is more or less fool proof and the only way I can see it would be open to misinterpretation would be in bad light. As it says in the ad it comes with a crib on the card box to double up the certainty of getting the reading right.
As such it can't be faulted. Where I do have a issue is with the price and the quality. I will take quality first. I had hoped to be able to use these cards to do readings as well as effects. I don't think they will stand up to much use though. They are printed on fairly flimsy card and don't as such stand up much better than the deck I bought from The Works for a few pounds.
I was also disappointed with the routines that came with it. I was expecting something a bit special I suppose and what I got was a couple of effects that I had already though of and dismissed as too simplistic. Add to this that one of them requires a DL which I believe will quickly deteriorate the cards and I don't think that the suggested routines are very special.
When you add up these weaknesses and put them beside the price, £28, I feel that the product is seriously over priced.
Overall Product 8/10 for the idea and execution
Quality 5/10
Value for money 2/10
To sum up, perhaps my expectations were just too high and at half the price I wouldn't have had any complaints. As it is I am disappointed and must nod an apology to Seige, it was a toss up between this and the Big Bertha set for my major purchase this month and I feel that the coin came down wrong for me