Favorite RWS versions and/or clones?

[EmpyreanKnight]

I am using the After Tarot deck, which is very similar to RW deck but with one or two added features to each card that describes a situation if the RW deck were picked a moment later.

 

I love it. Connected very well with it too. But when I read the user review, actually very few individual are able to connect with the deck. Some of the images, to be honest, are rather abstractive.

 

Oh Em, is the After Tarot really that good? A very nice and gracious lady once offered to give me her copy, but I declined thinking that I won't be able to connect with it at all since it seems so gimmicky. But it has slowly won me over, and now I find myself deeply craving for it.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Looking at the previous comments, it seems like the Centennial and the Universal are duking it out as the forum's favorite RWS. Interesting.

 

Maybe I should get myself a Universal too, just to see what it's packing.

[Em]

I am using the After Tarot deck, which is very similar to RW deck but with one or two added features to each card that describes a situation if the RW deck were picked a moment later.

 

I love it. Connected very well with it too. But when I read the user review, actually very few individual are able to connect with the deck. Some of the images, to be honest, are rather abstractive.

 

Oh Em, is the After Tarot really that good? A very nice and gracious lady once offered to give me her copy, but I declined thinking that I won't be able to connect with it at all since it seems so gimmicky. But it has slowly won me over, and now I find myself deeply craving for it.

 

I really liked it tho. It is gimmicky, you are right. I mean the artwork looks very similar the original RW and the creator is clearly targeting RWS deck lovers. Somehow I do connect very well with it. I do daily readings and they are accurate. Although, they look very similar to RWS original but their meanings could be slightly different. I think they are perfect for predictive readings and not so suit for past reads.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I am using the After Tarot deck, which is very similar to RW deck but with one or two added features to each card that describes a situation if the RW deck were picked a moment later.

 

I love it. Connected very well with it too. But when I read the user review, actually very few individual are able to connect with the deck. Some of the images, to be honest, are rather abstractive.

 

Oh Em, is the After Tarot really that good? A very nice and gracious lady once offered to give me her copy, but I declined thinking that I won't be able to connect with it at all since it seems so gimmicky. But it has slowly won me over, and now I find myself deeply craving for it.

 

I really liked it tho. It is gimmicky, you are right. I mean the artwork looks very similar the original RW and the creator is clearly targeting RWS deck lovers. Somehow I do connect very well with it. I do daily readings and they are accurate. Although, they look very similar to RWS original but their meanings could be slightly different. I think they are perfect for predictive readings and not so suit for past reads.

 

Thanks Em! I'm currently in the middle of my love fest with the RWS, and I honestly welcome decks that provide other perspectives on it. The After Tarot is now firmly in my To-Buy list, along with the Vice Versa Tarot Kit, which I think might intrigue you too. Imagine cards with no backs - both sides feature different views on the same arcanum. Gotta have these before Christmas. :)

[Carojulie]

My oldest deck is a Rider Waite Smith that I bought from the local hippie shop when I was about 15. I never learned to read with it, and when I unearthed it many years later when I was again feeling the call to learn tarot, I couldn't manage to connect with it. (The first deck that I really connected with and therefore learned to read with was Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot, which I still love!) Since starting to read I pull out my RWS occasionally to look at the symbolism, but I still don't read with it.

 

But lately...I've been feeling more drawn to the RWS, and I'm wondering if maybe a different version of the deck or perhaps a clone would work better for me. Since a lot of people seem to love and recommend the Smith-Waite Centennial, I was wondering what the differences are, if any, between that and the standard RWS deck? (By standard I mean the one currently sold by U.S. Games, with the crosshatching on the back, in the yellow box.) 

 

Or, are there RWS clones that you love and would recommend? Thanks for your thoughts <3

 

Hello,

 

I don't really like this version of the RWS either (the one with crosshatching backs), I dont like the garish colors, too much yellow, it makes the images rather plain.

 

But, I really, really like the Albano Waite. The colors are very vivid, you could also call them garish, but they give a very different look to the deck, and a very different vibe. It's warmer, colorful, richer, more beautiful. I also like that the color scheme suits the meaning of the cards better (IMO). I never use my copy of the crosshatching backs RWS, but I use my Albano Waite a lot, and enjoy it a lot. They have really different vibes.

 

I also like the Centennial RWS, more muted colors, older feel. The artwork looks quite pretty in these muted colors, none of the eye burning yellow of the standard RWS. Plus, the lines of the drawings are better defined.

 

I would not go with a clone for studying purposes, because I find that most RWS clones lack some of the symbolism of the RWS.

Clone-wise, one of my favourites is the Morgan Greer, but for studying purposes I would go with either the Albano Waite or the Centennial RWS.

 

Have a good day everyone !

:)

[EmpyreanKnight]

From the comments, it seems that there are two main contenders: the Centennial (yay!) and the Universal. I wonder which will win in a slug-fest.

 

In any case, I think I will have to put the Universal in my to-buy list. I want to see what the fuss is all about. After all, it's not a zero-sum game, altho of course I think that I'd still remain firmly in the Centennial's camp (heh!)

[FLizarraga]

 

I'm down with "dingy and drab" ;) I have the Centennial pocket and like the muted colors.

 

 

Muted is a much better word, thank you. More descriptive and less of a personal judgement.

 

And thorhammer is correct the cards are really nice, the backs are lovely and the feel of the cards is luxurious. I think I was extra-annoyed that the fronts were so not-for-me because I really wanted to like them.

 

 

I would say that the Centennial was intended to look "dingy and drab," as they went for an aged, distressed look overall. So I see no problem in calling a spade a spade.

 

 

I enjoy the Centennial's intentional dinginess, as I enjoy the popping colors of the newer Urania edition --the one that was abducted by aliens...

[Trogon]

Looking at the previous comments, it seems like the Centennial and the Universal are duking it out as the forum's favorite RWS. Interesting.

 

Maybe I should get myself a Universal too, just to see what it's packing.

 

I love both my old, yellow-box RWS, and my Universal Waite. When it comes right down to it, both feature the art created by PCS. The biggest difference is the colors. In the Universal Waite there is more shading and a deeper color palette. The Centennial is a reproduction of the original version, with slightly more muted colors so it's not as garish as the others. I have been seriously considering the Centennial ... though I'm having trouble justifying a 4th version of the exact same deck (I also have my mother's old Albano Waite).

 

And, after reading through some of the replies, I was reminded of another deck I have. I picked up the Anna K Tarot a while back. I've used it for a number of readings and really like it too. There is some variance between this and the RWS, but not much ... just enough to give some interesting new aspects to the cards.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I already have 4 RWS's - the Original, the Rider with the tartan backs, its pocket version, and the Centennial. I also just ordered the PCS Commemorative Set so that I have a Centennial backup, and since it is the very first deck I have a double of, it speaks of how highly I regard this deck. I still think I need the Universal, just to be sure lol. And yeah, the Radiant and the Borderless too.

[greycats]

In 1971-72 I bought a copy of the standard Rider-Waite-Smith with the old, drawn font from a local shop.  I still have it, in a bag in a drawer.  It's a bit grimy because I didn't know how to take care of it properly in the early years, but I've never had to replace a card.  It definitely has a patina acquired  over the span of this century and the last that's irreplaceable.  That deck is mine.  The others will move in and out of ownership but not that one. 

[EmpyreanKnight]

I remembered when I was starting out (just two years ago!) I was shaking my head at how some readers say that they have all these RWS clones. I thought that was a bit intemperate, and surely one RWS deck is enough?

 

I know that the RWS system has its limitations, but it is still a very fascinating one. And oh, the myriad interpretations its images can inspire. I guess the joke's on me. :D

[Guest KnightsQuest]

I have a number of OOP RW clones and re-coloured variations, my favorite is the JK Waite deck i like the colouring used on the cards.

 

http://tarot.zerosummer.org/items/show/250

 

 

My other favorite is the Albano RW deck for readings.

 

 

[Jewel]

I tried connecting with the RWS, I really did but it just does nothing for me.  I still have a copy of the Radiant RWS so for clones that is probably my favorite, but I still don't use it.  I would have to say the Robin Wood is the closest I come to the RWS, that is the deck I finally learned using (that and Tarot of the Old Path).

[EmpressAdora]

I love the Anna k deck. I find it has a lot of movement in it. I also looooove the colors.

[DanielJUK]

I have the Radiant but this year accidentally bought one of the muted colour versions of the deck, I am not a fan, they make me feel depressed.

However Sulis raved to me about the Pamela Coleman Smith Tarot, it's a RWS with beautiful colours and backs by Lo Scarabeo. I think there was an original version which is very OOP and expensive now and this is a cheaper mass produced version which is easy to get but it's so beautiful! I love it.

[Penthasilia]

My favorite of them all is Pam's Vintage Tarot. I had a pre-copyright RWS, Centennial, the Illuminated, etc- pretty much all of them except the original A/B/C versions and this one is by far my favorite.

 

Card stock from DTC is also really nice- that is where I purchased mine as opposed to gamecrafter.

[River]

I used to not like the RWS in general and I ended up giving away my copy of the Centennial. Now, some months afterwards, I want it again... The full size one, I think. I also like the Lo Scarabeo version with the more vivid and darker colours but I think it has gotten hard to find. Does anyone know what kind of colours does the new LoS version have? Are they like the Original and the Centennial or like the plaid-back ones?

[reall]

My favorite of them all is Pam's Vintage Tarot. I had a pre-copyright RWS, Centennial, the Illuminated, etc- pretty much all of them except the original A/B/C versions and this one is by far my favorite.

 

Card stock from DTC is also really nice- that is where I purchased mine as opposed to gamecrafter.

 

Ha ha! THANK YOU!^^ Pam's Vintage 1st edt(Bridge size) from dtc my fav to!^^ I was just checking this topic wondering how I didn't post about it earlier & happy to see you mention it for me!:D

 

I'm fine with my US Games yellow box, though I would have preferred one of the older versions. I'm not really a fan of either the Universal or the Centennial honestly! I guess I'm a bit like Goldilocks: Not too muted, not too bright, just right.

 

ha ha! something in between *old & bright is what i'm hoping to get with my next version of Pam's Original Tarot size edt with restored colors!:) plan to have it published by Christmas!:)

 

imo version is same lineartwork but different colors?:)

& *clone is *strongly based aka painted by looking at original rolemodel/RWS deck in this topic?:)

 

before Pam's Vintage my fav RWS were any I could get my hands on!:) was lucky to run Tarot shop for a while so I've seen most of regular editions!:)

 

but my fav now would be Blue box & Radiant & Carol H with Glitters & all bling!:)

also about Universal vs Centennial must say Golden Universal My fav clone!^^ lol

and I confirm Centennial colors are *legit original old deck scan so it's a tie!:D

[FLizarraga]

I should add that I also have the 1st edition of your Pam's Vintage Tarot, reall --and I LOVE it!  :thumbsup:

 

 

It's so beautifully aged, and the cardstock is yummy. I see that there's a new edition, so I'm getting that one as well.

[Thoughtful]

l have the Yellow box, Universal, Tarot Von A.E. Waite crackle back, and Tarot of the New Vision Premier edition.  Got rid of the Centennial to dull for me.

 

Have wanted to connect with the RWS for years and the best so far for me is New Vision.

[DevonCarter]

One of the reasons it took me years to decide to learn tarot is that I hated the RWS decks I'd seen so much, but wanted to learn the RWS system. But, I was having a hard time learning with the decks I had - they were RWS based, but different enough to make it more difficult than I wanted it to be. So I bought the Centennial in the tin. And I love it! It says it's got the original colors chosen by the artist, which is nice, but there's much less of the eye-searing yellow in it that turned me off so much.

 

It's still not my favorite deck, that's alternating between Joie de Vivre, Tarot Mucha and Mystical Manga at the moment, and changes frequently. But it is the deck I study with and use most. I think without that one I would have given up on Tarot at some point. I wouldn't mind having a full size copy of it some day.

[reall]

I should add that I also have the 1st edition of your Pam's Vintage Tarot, reall --and I LOVE it!  :thumbsup:

 

 

It's so beautifully aged, and the cardstock is yummy. I see that there's a new edition, so I'm getting that one as well.

Thank You! Always Happy to see good review!:D

 

l have the Yellow box, Universal, Tarot Von A.E. Waite crackle back, and Tarot of the New Vision Premier edition.  Got rid of the Centennial to dull for me.

 

Have wanted to connect with the RWS for years and the best so far for me is New Vision.

just keep an eye on this thread will keep it update!:)

[DoNotDelete]

I was just curious, wasn't there a promotional deck which was a Ltd edition of the release of the Sherlock Holmes Film "Game of Shadows, i think it was basically a RW but with different card backs.

[DanielJUK]

yes you are right. In the movie he has a tarot reading from a Gypsy which is with the Oswald Wirth Tarot (the original is a very rare historic deck and TdeM style, not RWS!). Weird Fact, that original deck only has 22 Majors and in recent years USGames reproduced the deck and had non-scenic pips added in the same deck style as the Majors. However in the movie, one of the cards dealt is the 2 of Cups and it's actually the RWS traditional 2 of Cups which has been changed to make it look like the Wirth style, so it's illustrated but it is the RWS picture :))

 

To promote the movie, they made a RWS with Robert Downey Jr's face on the card backs

 

There is an old thread discussing it and the movie on AT here and also Mary Greer wrote about the Wirth deck and how it came to be in the movie on her blog here, also some images she found of the original deck here

[DoNotDelete]

yes you are right KnightsQuest[/member]. In the movie he has a tarot reading from a Gypsy which is with the Oswald Wirth Tarot (the original is a very rare historic deck and TdeM style, not RWS!).

 

To promote the movie, they made a RWS with Robert Downey Jr's face on the card backs

 

There is an old thread discussing it and the movie on AT here and also Mary Greer wrote about the Wirth deck and how it came to be in the movie on her blog here, also some images she found of the original deck here

 

Wow thanks for the blog info Daniel, now i need to find this deck with those card back images. :D

 

This is very interesting to read  - https://marykgreer.com/2011/07/15/oswald-wirth-meets-sherlock-holmes/