A pros. review of Guardians... Justin N. Miller

[Justin Miller]

So like all of you I was awe-struck with the preview of these cards. So here is an honest review of Theory 11's...The Guardians.

First, you need to know that I lecture and perform at conventions so right off the bat I ordered 144 decks due to the sizes of my audiences. I used to use NOTHING but Viper cards from E in my all my lectures and if you have seen The LOOPS DVDs you know I was very fond of Vipers..Until I met the Guardians!

Now I know there are a plethora of you who do not like these cards and have gotten some clumpy issues (I love puns) with your Guardians. I am sorry for you all who have experienced this. My experience has been different though.

The biggest problem I found with these cards is that you HAVE TO GET USED TO THEM. We all have been use to so many other designs and cards that when you open a box of these cards they WILL FEEL TOTALLY DIFFERENT..thats ok..if you give them a chance (and not just 6 hrs) they are sure to grow on you. When I opened my first case last night I was extremely pleased with the card case..very, very cool design. I am a Christian so I LOVED the Waring Angel motife..GREAT JOB GUYS!

But I have to tell you when I took the cards out of the box I was like "ah, man Just bought 144 of these puppies..are you kidding me?" Because of the new feel of the cards are way different than a bike deck or a tally-deck (at first) then I started to play with them..they fan, spread, riffle,pass,control and everything else I could do to them just GREAT! Like I said you HAVE TO GET USE TO THEM, they WILL grow on you..I promise.

So I started my first test..LOOPS. Now even though their white border is very striking to the dark Grey and black back design, I found that with a small bit of audience management you can do ANY AND ALL LOOP effects with the Guardians no problem. Its like using LOOPS with a blue deck with white borders, the blue hides the LOOP very well, well with the Guardians you have a black back design so it hides it perfectly.

Second test..The Cloak. So if they do not stand up under this test I am done with them (at least for lectures). Guess what? They pass with FLYING COLORS!

To those who said " I played with them for 6 hrs straight and they started to clump up" um mm yea, ANY deck that is played with for 6 HRS Straight is going to do some major clumping because of the natural oils from our hands, you see it starts to create moisture and then they begin to stick to each other. Listen if you haver a deck of cards in your hands for 6 hrs straight..STOP IT! Seriously put the cards down and go read a book. It is absolutely ludicrous to think that the cards will not show some elements of cause and effect after 6 hrs. Now to solve the clumping issue get your self a porper card clip (the best there is) and put those puppies (guys PLEASE do not pm me about putting puppies in a card guard) in there for a night and when you wake up (you do sleep right?) in the morning they will be good as new.

Also you guys might have just got a bad batch..it happens. But do not give up on these cards they are GREAT CARDS IF you get to know them.

Justin N. Miller

[Phreak]

Great review man... I was hesitant about getting them with the other reviews. With Justin being who he is... I'm ordering now.

[UnholyGodn]

I have a puppy, and a card guard, I just can't get the thing inside. It's so annoying too.

[Krash]

So like all of you I was awe-struck with the preview of these cards. So here is an honest review of Theory 11's...The Guardians.

First, you need to know that I lecture and perform at conventions so right off the bat I ordered 144 decks due to the sizes of my audiences. I used to use NOTHING but Viper cards from E in my all my lectures and if you have seen The LOOPS DVDs you know I was very fond of Vipers..Until I met the Guardians!

Now I know there are a plethora of you who do not like these cards and have gotten some clumpy issues (I love puns) with your Guardians. I am sorry for you all who have experienced this. My experience has been different though.

The biggest problem I found with these cards is that you HAVE TO GET USED TO THEM. We all have been use to so many other designs and cards that when you open a box of these cards they WILL FEEL TOTALLY DIFFERENT..thats ok..if you give them a chance (and not just 6 hrs) they are sure to grow on you. When I opened my first case last night I was extremely pleased with the card case..very, very cool design. I am a Christian so I LOVED the Waring Angel motife..GREAT JOB GUYS!

But I have to tell you when I took the cards out of the box I was like "ah, man Just bought 144 of these puppies..are you kidding me?" Because of the new feel of the cards are way different than a bike deck or a tally-deck (at first) then I started to play with them..they fan, spread, riffle,pass,control and everything else I could do to them just GREAT! Like I said you HAVE TO GET USE TO THEM, they WILL grow on you..I promise.

So I started my first test..LOOPS. Now even though their white border is very striking to the dark Grey and black back design, I found that with a small bit of audience management you can do ANY AND ALL LOOP effects with the Guardians no problem. Its like using LOOPS with a blue deck with white borders, the blue hides the LOOP very well, well with the Guardians you have a black back design so it hides it perfectly.

Second test..The Cloak. So if they do not stand up under this test I am done with them (at least for lectures). Guess what? They pass with FLYING COLORS!

To those who said " I played with them for 6 hrs straight and they started to clump up" um mm yea, ANY deck that is played with for 6 HRS Straight is going to do some major clumping because of the natural oils from our hands, you see it starts to create moisture and then they begin to stick to each other. Listen if you haver a deck of cards in your hands for 6 hrs straight..STOP IT! Seriously put the cards down and go read a book. It is absolutely ludicrous to think that the cards will not show some elements of cause and effect after 6 hrs. Now to solve the clumping issue get your self a porper card clip (the best there is) and put those puppies (guys PLEASE do not pm me about putting puppies in a card guard) in there for a night and when you wake up (you do sleep right?) in the morning they will be good as new.

Also you guys might have just got a bad batch..it happens. But do not give up on these cards they are GREAT CARDS IF you get to know them.

Justin N. Miller

Alright Justin.

I am putting my absolute faith in you. Not only will I give my Gaurdians more of a chance, I will go and purchase a porper clip for them. One of my main put-offs was their inability to fan at all.

If you say "give them a chance"...then "give them a chance" I will!

Shane K.

[The Dark Angel]

May I ask:
Why 144 decks?
That seems like an odd number...

[Chris Hestnes]

May I ask:
Why 144 decks?
That seems like an odd number...

144 decks = 12 bricks.

1 brick = 12 decks.

12 * 12 = 144.


And regarding the Guardians, I'll just stick with my Jerry's and TH9s for now.

[Sean.Cinco]

What Justin said about the clumping is 100% true. With my experience using the Guardians, on day 1 they fanned perfectly. On day 2 they started clumping. I kept playing with them to see if it really was becaues of my hands or the finish, but they just needed some breaking in (just like any other deck really).

[Krash]

I went a bought a porper clip from Ellusionist. Hopefully this will help me out with my current deck of Gaurdians. As I said before in my other post addressed to the T11 team...I REALLY want to be able to use these without worrying about slippage, clumping, wear and tear.

Thanks for review Justin!

Shane K.

[y2john]

Cheers for sharing your thoughts on these Justin :D

[Phreak]

...and put those puppies (guys PLEASE do not pm me about putting puppies in a card guard) in there for a night ...

Justin N. Miller

I keep laughing at that.

[Cardmagic12345]

Justin Miller your awesome,When I saw the ghost deck preview I bought the army of 52 DVD.Didn't know why because I didnt have a gaff deck.But it was still worth it I SO much usable stuff from there.

[David Engel]

May I ask:
Why 144 decks?
That seems like an odd number...

Silly goose, it is an even number.

[Krash]

Wow, Justin...

I took your advice, and I am amazed. I took the time (more than an hour) to mess around with the deck of Gaurdians and eventually broke them in. I'm getting the same types of fans now as I was getting with my deck of Masters. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this review. I think if it wasn't for you, I would have missed out on something great!

Shane K.

[Lionsden123]

Well Justin, I think you might be right. I'll try mine again. You want a normal bike porper though, not a E custom deck one?

Thanks,
Evan

(PS: You gonna be on skype tonight? I got something I think you might like.)

[silent]

I've been afraid to order them because of the bad reviews but I guess I'll never know if i don't try. I'm going to get a few soon

[AllanLuu]

Very good review, I ordered five decks of these bad boys and I can't wait till I recieve them.

[Dizzi]

1. how much is a proper? I have a caurd guard, but I'm not surte if it's a porper...(I payed seven bucks for it...) And also, my gaurdians are cluimping....BAD with fans. but the good thing is, is that They Pass, double lift etc fine. It's just fanning thats screwed up.

[Jack The Magician]

1. how much is a proper? I have a caurd guard, but I'm not surte if it's a porper...(I payed seven bucks for it...) And also, my gaurdians are cluimping....BAD with fans. but the good thing is, is that They Pass, double lift etc fine. It's just fanning thats screwed up.

The one selling at E is $29.80, ouch. I would suggest using some textbooks to minimize the clumping.

Cheers,
JTM

[Lionsden123]

The one selling at E is $29.80, ouch. I would suggest using some textbooks to minimize the clumping.

Cheers,
JTM

$30 isn't that bad to make these things last longer, that's only... 6 guardian decks, and you can use this thing on all your cards. I gotta add it to my list of a million things I need.

Thanks,
Evan

[drorange]

i have a E custom one eith the tiger deck engraved is this any good

[Jack The Magician]

i have a E custom one eith the tiger deck engraved is this any good

No, that's not the one. I believe that's just a case, if its the shiny one that I'm thinking of, but that will increase the durability and longevity of your deck, though its not a porper clip. I'm not sure that the Guardians will fit in the one's for the Tigers.

Cheers,
JTM

[Krash]

I found that the card gaurds that Ellusionist sells that have engravings of either Ghost, Black Tiger, or Masters on them aren't that good as far as safety goes. I tend to look at them as eye candy.

Anyway,

Yeah, $30 isn't too bad for something that is going to make my cards last signigicantly longer. I literally bought a regular rider back porper clip form Ellusionist along with Extreme Beginners today.

I really wanted to be able to use Gaurdians all the time, and I'm actually able to know that they are broken in. I'm sure when the porper clip gets here things will be a lot easier. I can now get fans out of them just like my Masters deck. I like them so much that I also purchased a 12-pack of Gaurdians.

A guys gotta have a stash, right?

Shane K.

[Christopher Williams]

144 decks...without having a try first?!?! That's insane! At least buy a couple, see if you like it and it will work for you, and then buy in that kind of bulk

[Justin Miller]

Tell ya what Chris you do what works for you and I will do what works for me...cool?

[Lionsden123]

Tell ya what Chris you do what works for you and I will do what works for me...cool?

Justin, did that guy respond to our youtube comments yet? Im surprised no one mentioned it on there, I checked a little back.

Thanks,
Evan

EDIT: 151 posts, yay!

[JackofJokers]

Here's my opinion...*No offense inteded. I'm just stating my own opinion*

If you need a 'cool'-looking deck of cards to look like a good magician, then chances are, you're not. In this case, Justin Miller is using them. Heck he's a good magician, but just because he uses them and he's good, doesn't mean if a beginner uses them, they will look good.

For me, I'll stick with normal bikes. Why? I don't need better feeling or looking cards to perform magic. Heck I'll go through a deck in a week or two. Why bother to spend a few more dollars to get a deck that will last me a few days longer? I can use that extra money to buy other more 'important'.

[sebashtion H.]

Here's my opinion...*No offense inteded. I'm just stating my own opinion*

If you need a 'cool'-looking deck of cards to look like a good magician, then chances are, you're not. In this case, Justin Miller is using them. Heck he's a good magician, but just because he uses them and he's good, doesn't mean if a beginner uses them, they will look good.

For me, I'll stick with normal bikes. Why? I don't need better feeling or looking cards to perform magic. Heck I'll go through a deck in a week or two. Why bother to spend a few more dollars to get a deck that will last me a few days longer? I can use that extra money to buy other more 'important'.

Man that was a little off the wall no one told you to buy them and no one said that it would make them cooler, so why the defence (guilt on not being up to par) i still love you man but calm down on people liking to get fresh looking cards............if it makes them happy so be but if not back up and let them find out........... i am not trying to start anything here but voicing my thoughts here to you man to man............ if you get ofended......let me say sorry this was not my intent but to hold you back killer............... these are your fellings but not theirs they want the latest greatest thing...........maby you are not like that and save your money...............i know i do...........
God Bless my brother and have a great day

Sebashtion H.

[Lionsden123]

Man that was a little off the wall no one told you to buy them and no one said that it would make them cooler, so why the defence (guilt on not being up to par) i still love you man but calm down on people liking to get fresh looking cards............if it makes them happy so be but if not back up and let them find out........... i am not trying to start anything here but voicing my thoughts here to you man to man............ if you get ofended......let me say sorry this was not my intent but to hold you back killer............... these are your fellings but not theirs they want the latest greatest thing...........maby you are not like that and save your money...............i know i do...........
God Bless my brother and have a great day

Sebashtion H.

Hey Sebashtion! How ya been?
And you sure as heck weren't kidding about having no grammar haha!

Thanks,
Evan

(PS: I think they look sick, but I'm waiting until I hear some reviews on the second edition to order any more, and I have 2 sealed first editions if anyone wants to buy them.)

[Registered User]

To those who said " I played with them for 6 hrs straight and they started to clump up" um mm yea, ANY deck that is played with for 6 HRS Straight is going to do some major clumping because of the natural oils from our hands, you see it starts to create moisture and then they begin to stick to each other. Listen if you haver a deck of cards in your hands for 6 hrs straight..STOP IT! Seriously put the cards down and go read a book. It is absolutely ludicrous to think that the cards will not show some elements of cause and effect after 6 hrs.


Justin, with all due respect, I disagree AND agree with you here.
I have had cards, Bees in fact, that have been abused to a greater level than the Guardians and even a deck of Bikes that were left opened in a car in Florida for weeks and still managed to fan better than the Guardians.

Now I do agree that there will be a considerate amount of wear after a few hours of use but the cards were not subjected to anything more than I would put a Master deck through.

As for the elements of cause and effect, true, everything will show these signs in time, it's just that these cards were unable to stand up to them.

[Steerpike]

Well, I've read a lot of reviews now. Some good, some bad. Certain reccommendations for card care and maintenance. My decision?

I'm going to wait until the Shadow Masters come out, see how they compare, and maybe buy one of each when I have the cash to blow to see whether or not I should stick with my Ghosts and Vipers.

As it is, I like my Ghosts because the thicker stock and the finish allow for more punishment (I tend to be rather hard on my cards), and the Vipers are perfect for XCM which I recently got into. I've tried out regular Bikes, Bees, Tallys, and Black Tigers as well, and decided I like the Ghosts and Vipers best. Why break that rhythm?

[MagicZen]

I think i'll pick up a 6 pack of these.

[sebashtion H.]

Hey Sebashtion! How ya been?
And you sure as heck weren't kidding about having no grammar haha!

Thanks,
Evan

(PS: I think they look sick, but I'm waiting until I hear some reviews on the second edition to order any more, and I have 2 sealed first editions if anyone wants to buy them.)

Ha ha yup i graduated 3rd grade?!?!?!?!

LOL
Sebashtion H.

[zackzgb]

I agree with justins review , my guardians fanned great and they felt great too.

[don_leon]

Hi all...
i got my guardians this morning and i dunno what to say:
OH MY F*&§#]G GOD!!!

They are soooooooooooo beautyful that i can´t get my eyes away..

for me the handling is ok! i think they will be my new standard-deck for doing magic!!!

so im out ´cause i gotta play with my new friends :D

[TheInfomer]

Cheers for sharing your thoughts on these


Yes, very much appreciated.

[MaxDeVill]

I liked the 1st run of Guardians.. the only thing I didn't dig was the way the finish flaked off in little black bits.

[Great Scott!]

Hi all...
i got my guardians this morning and i dunno what to say:
OH MY F*&§#]G GOD!!!

They are soooooooooooo beautyful that i can´t get my eyes away..

for me the handling is ok! i think they will be my new standard-deck for doing magic!!!

so im out ´cause i gotta play with my new friends :D

I have the strangest craving for Orange juice and im not sure why.


Havent got any yet, i might just wait and see if anyone buys me any :p

[The Royal JRA]

I think that the gaurdian design is the sickest out there but they do have a clumping problem especially with a thumb fan but then again its a 1st edidtion just like video game systems they gotta work the bugs n kinks out