Hey guys. Thought I’d pop in here with a couple of comments.
The Green Crowns are my favorite so far of the series. In addition to the new color (which is awesome) there have also been some subtle design tweaks. The back design is 99% the same, but there are a couple of enhancements to really make things pop. If you hold a 1st-ed blue or red deck next to a green one, you’ll likely see the differences. Green is also the last color that will be sold. There will not be orange, yellow, purple, pink, fushia, polka dots, etc. Believe me, Alex has tons of awesome ideas for new designs. The Crown Deck is simply the “core” of the lineup.
As with the blue and red decks, the greens are printed on great stock with the magic finish. They handle incredibly well and are super long-lasting. I’ve been using the same deck since Magic Live, and it’s still going strong. Several people got their hands on the deck at Live, and the response was excellent across the board. As for the boxes being cheap, I’ve personally not heard that complaint. The boxes aren’t super-thick like some of the custom T11 decks, but they’re not any thinner or weaker than a standard USPCC box. Pretty much your standard tuck case in regards to type of paper, strength, etc. So, yes, I’d guess that any box complaints are exaggerated.
There are a ton of decks out there to choose from, ranging from subtle and elegant, to crazy blood and skulls. Not every deck is going to appeal to every person. You should certainly only buy the ones that you like. Personally, I think the Crown decks are quite nice, and they’re one of the few custom decks that I actually use as a regular performance deck. I keep a lot of the more “funky” decks for the collection, but would never perform with them. The Crown decks are designed to be used, not to collect dust. I think the back design offers a great blend of simplicity and detail, and I’m a sucker for Arrco faces.
Only a few days left until the launch!