Hi all,
I recently bought a rather nice piece of mentalism called "Titanic Deck" (from http://www.titanas.net - there is a demo video there too) that I decided to review it here.

The product:
What you actually get is a consice booklet describing step-by-step how to construct a specific type of deck (the Titanic Deck - TD) that allows for some very nice and strong mental effects.
So how do I define nice and strong? I will try to be as clear as possible: I am a fan and desperate in search of apparently impromptu, apparently propless mental effects. And this is the case because I am a casual performer - I love mentalism but I can't set up a stage type of performance so my range of selections is rather narrow.
The TD fits very well my style - it may be used for some very nice effects that appear to be propless and impromptu while with same deck someone may do a whole repertoire without the need of a switch.
What I like most however, is that with the TD I may pass the deck at any time to the audience to check it, shuffle etc etc so I can get rid from a number of problems that arise after someone shows a strong and impactful effect (ie when people start reconstructing the effect and find out that you weren't as fair as possible or when you do it again for someone and a person that already has seen it and knows what to look for is present - This is the hard reality of casual performers and the TD is a medicine to these problems).

I haven't gone out to perform it yet but according to my knowledge and my countless number of hours spent in reading books and watching vids of mentalism, the TD was one of the admittedly very few times where while I was reading through I was saying to myself "Hmmm, this sounds good", "Yes, this is something I really want to play with", "This is to be included definetely in my repertoire", "I must "kill" them now with this" etc etc.

I hope that I was as clear as possible - I also hope to hear from anyone else that owns the TD how he or she perceives it.

rgds,
aware

Dear Aware,
I am very pleased that you like the Titanic Deck so far.
I promise you that there is even more power with this deck when you go out and perform it for the real world.
Thanks a lot for the great review.
Titanas

Is it a download booklet? Also it states 'Upcoming products:
Full version of the Titanic Deck (coming soon)'.

Does this mean they are to sell actual packs ready to go? Or is this version half complete?

Also how long does it take to construct the deck?


Posted: Feb 4, 2006 5:43pm
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It looks good though.

I also own the TD and I must admit it`s the only card effect I do
in my mentalism repertoir.
the one thing that is most important to me in all my effects is that
there will be no "fishy moves".
the TD does just that...it is so clean and innocent and can be handed out
at any point...if you choose to continue to other card effects,you don`t
need to switch decks which is a great plus.
what I came to love in the TD is its directness.
just watch the demo.
big thumbs up for Titanas for this one
looking forward for your next products
Mrcat

It really sounds amazing. I can't watch the video for some reason. Anyway, this is the sort of thing I'm interested in because I'm no good with sleight of hand with cards.

Anabelle

Can't watch the demo either...

Here's a question, can I have the deck stacked and do a stacked deck effect, then later on use the titanic deck princible to get my needed information for a one ahead routine all with the same deck?

I believe you require REAL PLAYER for the demo clips. It does not stream.

I believe it's in divx format, download the K-lite codec pack to view it. http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm

The videos are in real player format for bandwidth purposes. (They used to be in Divx).

TheNightBringer89,
I will pm you for your previous post.
Thanks.


Posted: Feb 5, 2006 5:47am
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Anabelle and Equivoque,
In order to be able to view the videos, you need to download the "Real player"
Thanks.

To construct the deck someone needs 3-5 minutes only.

I have recently purchased the Titanic Deck e-book. As a change from my often negative posts, I found this to be some very interesting thinking and worth the purchase. I have not personally seen this idea in print before though apparently something related to it has been published.

Having personally thought about this effect/problem for some time and got nowhere, it was very rewarding to see this fresh thinking. It is one of those ideas that gives you the 'Why didn't I think of that' feeling. I am very grateful to the author for sharing this idea and look forward to using it.

Congratulations on coming up with the method, and thanks for a good e-book.

If the choice of the card has to be done only with the riffle "stop" principle, I do not think this is a so mental effect since I hate this method. There are hundreds of other more clean methods to perform a find a card trick. Also I hate to support "new creators" that take old ideas without permission from other original creators and they are trying to make profit wearing "new clothes" to old principles and effects (thinking that will cheat new magicians). I think I will pass. Also watching the second clip I do not feel ok to bring out a piece of paper with a few visible cards (again existing principle, kind of forcing a few cards). I think that we do not have to discuss about this deck in this section, maybe should move it to the card section.

Also MrCat (by the way again with one post Mr. Titanasgr) I think you confuse mentalism with mental magic. Do you really know the difference? Can anyone really put a find a card trick to the mentalism category? Well, of course with the right presentation and if you are really good but again not thru a riffle "stop" method.

I feel bad after all these years spending thru everyday reading, to meet magicians that they say that they are mentalists without knowing even the basics of mentalism. I spent thousands of dollars even in really hard to find rare books to learn mentalism because I love it and that is the reason I have hard feelings with all those "new mentalists" that destroy our art. It is better to stay in close-up, (which again I love), or something else but when it comes to mentalism you have to realize that is a completely different section. Those are my thoughts, however good luck titanasgr with your deck.

1908, the riffle stop method of selection is not necessary as is clear in one of the videos. As far as originality goes, I think that Titanas has gone as far as to credit them. It doesn't sound like you have purchased the ebook. How can you criticise.

No,i did not purchased the ebook,that is true and as I said I am not going to.As for credits is different to put out something and give credit and different to ask for permission.I criticise as many members here criticise products from experience and watching video clips.I did not give a review...

Titanas:Thank-you for the fast courteous service.The e-book is great!
I hope you eventually start the forum you mentioned.All the best.

Rich

It is not limited to using a spectator riffle stop. You could in theory do this:
Have the deck shuffled, by you or spectator.
Spread deck face down on table.
Spectator touches any card.
You remove surrounding cards.
You know their card.
No marked cards.

And possibly more.

Thanks for your inputs so far.
Loz,
that was great thinking. You should add this to the TD's forum.
For the TD owners,
if you go to the original email of the TD (the one with the attached file)
it has details of how you can register TD forum.
Titanas

I've purchased Titanic Deck, but not received the ebook yet. Will the ebook be sent via e-mail?

Mushi,
Your Titanic Deck.pdf is in your email now.
Thanks,
Titanas