These decks usually go for $35 apiece and the cheapest I've seen them is a little over $20, so I wandering if they were good for any magic or cardistry. They're made from plastic and I own a deck named Bicycle Prestige that is also made of plastic and is terrible for both magic and cardistry. I expect KEM cards to be just as bad from what I've seen of the Bicycle Prestige, but I could be wrong. Please reply.
Well, here's the low-down:
They suck for cardistry. I'm not even going to debate that - they just do. Now, regarding magic:
First off, they come in sets of two, as far as KEM. Second, KEM cards are somewhat good for magic, but I've never tried performing with them. Mainly only have one deck I occasionally practice gambling sleights with, but here's the thing. Have you ever heard the arguement to practice with a bridge deck instead of a poker deck sometimes? That's
BS. Even people who play bridge play with a poker-sized deck nowadays... However, you are VERY likely to find a plastic deck in someone's house or on the spur of the moment if you wish to use those, so it is definitely worth practicing with.
Whereas a paper deck (Bikes, Bees, Tallies, etc.) will last you a month TOPS if you keep them in a pristine condition, plastic decks easily last for a few months and always feel the same for most of the duration of their lifetime, if you will. The only bad thing I can say about plastic decks is that:
1. I hate the f'ing feel - paper feels so much better. Don't know why, I just hate it.
2. After a few months, it will get a slight bend and warp that'll pretty much stay there, but the decks still last a really long time until that happens, and you'll be able to live with it for a bit.
All-in-all, I say you just buy a set and play with them, then decide what you think. I'd never use them for magic, like I said, I just bust 'em out for the occasional practice of gambling sleights.
My philosophy: Paper > plastic.
Hope that helped.
