I completely understand how you feel about Kickstarter. I still have some decks that are way beyond what they were suppose to be on the timeline. I also had one that the lady completely closed her social media accounts and just pretty much took off with everyone's money. You have to be willing to take those risks with Kickstarter, and geez on the AI decks being created. I don't think it is so easy to tell anymore because there are artists that are taking AI created artwork and then putting it into their own photo editing software to put their own tweaks to it. I'm still on the fence about all that. I hadn't heard about that with Baba Studio, but that is something I think is so wrong! Thank you for sharing sweet lady. 😍

@WhitsundayOracle

7 ай бұрын

Gosh - the one where the lady disappeared with everyone's money sounds like a scam, I am sorry you experienced this. The Baba Studio fraudulent deck was openly criticised on their FB page (rightly so - the "creator" just fed the original VR deck into the AI app and it spat out a terrible looking AI version) and they managed to shut it down by complaining to FB. Then there was another instance of a deck being passed as original when in fact it was a copy of another's original work (I can't recall the name unfortunately). I do hope KS takes a stronger stance on plagiarism, AI, and just dodgy creators in general, because I have backed so many wonderful decks and I do think it's a great platform for artists to fund their work. Will let you know in a year's time how well I do (as a Saggi sun with Moon in Gemini, the odds are not in my favour haha 😅). Thank you 💜💜

I back Kickstarters as well. The points you make about backing are valid and I feel the same way. I am not fond of AI either. I think I've backed about 20 things over the past couple of years, most were decks but not all, and there was one project that I never received. Very disappointing. It was not tarot but playing cards so my loss was less than $30. However, I did wait for almost 2 years to get a board game ! Thank you for sharing❤

@WhitsundayOracle

6 ай бұрын

That's a shame you never received that one - because it really does erode one's trust in the process. I mean, I guess we all know each time there is a risk we may ever see what we pay for, and thankfully so far the experience of not receiving a deck has been a minor one, but I can't help feel like it's slowly increasing. I think if I was just starting out on my tarot journey, I'd still back a lot of KS decks, but because I'm at the stage where I could just about open a shop with all the decks I have, I don't feel it's worth taking that risk anymore. That being said, it's early days - ask me how I'm going in about 6 months' time 😂

@dezarey

6 ай бұрын

@@WhitsundayOracle I will try to remember to check in and see how you're doing lol

Thanks Monika. The little sister Deck, Queen of wands looks like you. so i can understand why for you that would be for you. i really like the Three Black moons decks. I wish I had the money to back that one. Also on the FB page someone put a Chicken deck that if I had the money would have loved to back that one. I did back The Rustic Fortune Tarot by an A South Australian Lady Roxanna Paul. I love it so much it is an amazing deck. i was so impressed I went on her website and brought her cards to add to my Alleyman. It was my first Kick starter. I understand what wyou mean about a lot of the decks seeming to be AI on Kickstarter. i really prefer the Artist or photographical decks more then the AI

@WhitsundayOracle

7 ай бұрын

I do love the Rustic Fortune deck, and have contemplated getting it, however it is a bit similar to the Housewives tarot which I've had for a long time and is a firm favourite. And I think that's at the crux of it all - a lot of new decks, while well done, are often similar to decks I already have in my collection and it feels like doubling up. Thank you always for watching and for your support 💜💜

I only have on kickstarted deck that I've invested in, I love it and I'm hopeful, but I don't spend it if I can't afford to lose it. So, fingers crossed on it.

@WhitsundayOracle

2 ай бұрын

That's a good policy to have, as well as not spending if you can't afford it period. But I do recognise how tempting it is to say no sometimes, especially when just starting out!

I back far less kickstarters than in the past. This year kickstarter has started making folks say if there is AI in their project (I discovered this when I launched my latest deck and was thankful for it). I wish etsy would make folks do this also.

@WhitsundayOracle

6 ай бұрын

Oh I did not know that. I would still directly ask a deck creator this question unless they clearly state whether they do or not - just because KS has a policy requiring them to do it does not mean they have any way to actually check how a creator makes a deck, and are relying on creators' ethics and honesty to disclose this. As for Etsy - I agree! Though I try to not venture looking for decks in there, far too dangerous for my budget haha!

I too am waiting on the Marea Tarot. And yes the shipping costs to Australia are just too much. Decks from America postage can be $50-$60 dollars. I definitely try to keep my tarot library manageable, ensuring I use most of the decks. Thank you for your thoughts and content, I enjoy your channel as a fellow Australian.

@WhitsundayOracle

7 ай бұрын

Yeah, I hear you. I can't believe only a few years ago a KS deck was around 50 and shipping about 12 or so... I don't think those days are ever coming back. It does make me appreciate and value my collection even more though. I think the Marea Tarot is a bit of a dark horse, can't wait to work with it 😊💜

@kateatkinson624

7 ай бұрын

@@WhitsundayOracle I’m curious to see the Marea Tarot in the flesh, some of the cards look to be a dark colourisation, so I’m hoping they are ‘lighter’ in the hand. 🤞🏻😊

@WhitsundayOracle

7 ай бұрын

I haven't really considered this - I think I was just happy to see a Thoth deck, as there aren't many compared to RWS. Not long now 😊

I've been backing Tarot and Oracle decks (32 of them) on Kickstarter since 2019. The Kickstarter experience is so different now. Like you, I've decided not to back additional decks on Kickstarter for 2024. I'm not interested in most of the decks, including AI decks, on Kickstarter now. The delivery delays of up to a year doesn't feel good to me, either. I love hand drawn decks, so if an outstanding deck shows up on Kickstarter, I will back it. You stated your opinion very well, and I appreciate you sharing.

@WhitsundayOracle

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment - I am also all for hand drawn/painted decks, and for this reason I treasure all my older Lo Scarabeo/US Games decks. There have been a couple so far this year on KS I wanted to get, but ultimately passed even though I considered them to be great reading decks. Happy to just enjoy what I have for now 🙂

Me 2 I have roughly the same it really does become a habit tbh and gets out of hand for some .

@WhitsundayOracle

6 ай бұрын

Yes I think if one is not mindful, it's so easy to just keep on adding the "shiny new thing". I am perfectly content to just explore my own collection for 2024 🙂

Kickstarter does now require creators to disclose the use of A.I., thankfully (the policy went into effect in late August). Might be difficult to enforce, and obviously scammers still put up dodgy projects, but it's something.

@WhitsundayOracle

6 ай бұрын

I was not aware they require disclosure of AI, but as you mentioned, how would they ever know or be able to tell? I don't think it is something that can ever be enforced because of this, hence the onus is on creators to be honest and ethical. Thankfully most creators are, but it leaves backers open to risk from unscrupulous charlatans.

@robertawalsh2995

2 ай бұрын

I'm not seeing any evidence at all that Kickstarter is actually enforcing this A.I. disclosure policy.

I allow myself one Kickstarter a year. If I set it to zero, I'll look at all of the amazing decks and get very sad and very needy and want all of them; if I *can* have one I ask myself whether I want to spend my budget on this particular deck or wait for another, and the answer is usually 'I'll wait'. (2023 was the Victorian Fairy. I have the app, I use it regularly, so I know I'll love it.) Occasionally I will have a second deck from a creator I love or that fills an actual gap in my collection - for instance I'd had high hopes for the Impressionist Tarot, hated it, and backed the Feline Rider, which scratches that itch in a beautiful way, so that was an upgrade.

@WhitsundayOracle

7 ай бұрын

I think I'll just have to refrain from looking at the Kickstarter site, but then I still see posts on new decks on the Facebook tarot pages I am on which makes it very hard to resist 🤦‍♀ The only reason I am confident I can last is that I do have so many wonderful decks, and it does help. One KS a year is very reasonable though! I shall have to do an update at the end of 2024 and see how well I do 🙂

Completely agree about AI decks, unreliability of delivery and how expensive decks are when you have to ship them to Australia!

@WhitsundayOracle

3 ай бұрын

Unfortunately it's a trend that is not improving - and thus I amend my choices accordingly. I feel very lucky to have the collection I do now, knowing all of this. I hope newcomers to the tarot world do their research and support genuine artists.