WotC is thrilled to market products as gift sets -- like they did with the slipcased set of supplements last winter -- but isn't doing it this time around.
Having little booklets with Tarot cards is apparently a standard expectation for Tarot cards. The Hit Point Press one does the same thing (their stretch goals will apparently be PDF-only, unless a later stretch goal appears to bundle them together in physical form).
the booklet apparently is an 80 page hardcover… more than I initially expected
Not super clear how big it will be relatively, but seems somewhat substantial
They have hinted at the book having advise on throwing a slightly controlled version or the deck into play (stacking the deck, basically).
Where's the fun in that, kind of removes the point of the magic item IMO? I suppose that depends on the type of game you want to run and what the additional new cards are. If there's a chance of great gain, there should also be the chance of something extremely bad happening as well. I know a lot of players don't like the idea of having their character killed by a single failed save or bad dice roll but to me that just adds to the tension and suspense.
What they said was "alternate configutations", so it's possible to get a still random but less derailing set-up, but also probably even more random is an option.
I wouldn't be surprised if the book offers adventure hooks and suggestions on how to use the deck in a campaign without the PC's ever getting a chance to use it. For example, having to deal with the repercussions of someone else using it that has an effect on the campaign world.
Yeah, ornusing the 30+ Mosnters as Monsters, or the detailed locations (like the Donjon is fully mapped, apparently), with the themes and such.
Yes, but I think the deck is a holdover from an older playstyle that lots of groups nowadays (remember, nearly all D&D players are new with this edition) don't click with.
