Deck of many things

I have to admit, I've been tempted to have the PCs face off against a villain or rival in a Deck of Many Things challenge.

Each side takes turns drawing a card (or multiple cards), until one side is either dead/gone or decides they aren't willing to risk a further draw.
 

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Update:

I made a cursed item for each of my players a few weeks ago and handed them out at last night's session.

They were not impressed.

This made me realise that the deck of many things is not for them.

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Anyone ever used the deck of many things? What level was your party? What happened? Would you recommend it?

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Decks of Many Things are good for one thing, throwing a massive wildcard(literally) into your campaign. If you are going to give a deck to the players to use, be prepared for the consequences. Frankly unless you have a really good Dungeonmaster AND really good players I wouldn't use it because you're just going to get some people screwed over and unless they enjoy rolling with the storylines that result, you're like to have some upset players. Ask any dealer in Vegas, they all show up to the table excited, but rarely leave that way. And unless its craps, no one is on the same side in it.
 

I just remembered my absolute favorite Deck story...... In a lot of ways, it embodies the golden moments of why I love this game so much.

Man, that is a great storyline. Kudos to you. Also, I have a big bad Necromancer in my world that is about to make an appearance, a Lich that keeps coming back every hundred years or so. I think I'm going to steal your idea of a Revenant bad guy who hates the world.
 

I used the Deck of Many things in my Curse of Strahd campaign. Strahd himself gifted the party the deck as a way to torment them. Most of the results were changed slightly in order to better conform with the theme and plot of the adventure.

For the Rogue, the enmity is always borne by Van Richten.

The Throne grants rightful ownership of Argynvostholdt.

The Void sucks the PC's soul into the crystal heart within Castle Ravenloft, with its destruction freeing the PC.

The Talons deposits all of that character's items into the Castle Ravenloft treasury.

Donjon whisks the PC into the dungeons underneath Castle Ravenloft.

Since my campaign uses milestone experience, any card that granted a set number of experience points instead granted one flat level.


Its use did have a large impact on the campaign. One of the players had three good draws, including one that granted him a Staff of Ice from a wish. Another player drew the Donjon and was entombed while holding the Sunblade; he used the opportunity to secretly become villain for a dramatic party betrayal before rolling a new character. A third player drew the Void, though he moved out of town shortly thereafter, so it did not significantly impact the game. Otherwise, the party would have the option of a focused raid on the castle in order to run in, smash the heart, and run out.

Of course, the Chaotic Neutral fighter drew the worst card of all: the one that made her character Lawful Good.
 
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Man, that is a great storyline. Kudos to you. Also, I have a big bad Necromancer in my world that is about to make an appearance, a Lich that keeps coming back every hundred years or so. I think I'm going to steal your idea of a Revenant bad guy who hates the world.

Thanks!

It's funny you should say that because Hate worked "for" a lich necromancer IMC (they were each using each other to further their own personal goals). Guess it's a natural pairing.

Just a heads up, due to his unique vendetta I allowed Hate's revenant powers to work on anyone. As a result, while the players did manage to beat him every time they encountered him, he bordered on being unfairly tough (good luck played a significant role). Admittedly, I think he always had mooks with him.
 

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