Deck of Many Things
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Ridley's Cohort
First Post
The 3.0 version is a dog IMO. I would never draw from it willingly. (Not sure how it got changed in 3.5 off the top of my head.)
In 1e/2e, a stat increase is a major boon. But it is not much of a big deal anymore especially if it does not stack with Inherent bonuses. On the flip side losing d4 Int can really hose a lot of carefully built character concepts.
Gaining 50,000 xp used to be a small deal. In 3.0 it is such a big deal it is likely to ruin the campaign right then and there. Therefore it is actually worthless.
In 1e/2e, a stat increase is a major boon. But it is not much of a big deal anymore especially if it does not stack with Inherent bonuses. On the flip side losing d4 Int can really hose a lot of carefully built character concepts.
Gaining 50,000 xp used to be a small deal. In 3.0 it is such a big deal it is likely to ruin the campaign right then and there. Therefore it is actually worthless.
Eldragon
First Post
I have used the Deck in just about every game I have ever DMed. From level 1 to level 12. The players are generally smart enough not to draw from it, and those that did usually did so because they wanted a new character anyway. Sure a character could have a great boon, but the PCs did not trust the DM (Me) not to stack the deck against them. It has since become a running gag. turning up in the loot of lame, blind, toothpick wielding kobolds. By now My players usually refuse to go near any decks of cards or any kind.
cignus_pfaccari
First Post
In our just-ended Birthright game, we ran across a DoMT about 10th-12th level.
No one died. The UMD rogue's cohort got Voided, and we eventually were able to get him back...like, 16th level or so.
My cohort/secondary drew a "No realm income this turn" card, and then a "Double Realm Income This Turn" card for his two draws. Given he didn't *have* a realm, that was no big deal. He then promptly sat down and fainted.
The elf mage's cohort drew the Outsider Enmity card. Given that my tiefling rogue was right there, I was asking if said cohort had uncanny dodge, and if he could beat my 25 initiative.
Sadly, DM ruled I wasn't the one who was the guy's enemy. Pity.
My character first signed over his possessions to the priest-paladin (who drew 0 cards), with the understanding he'd get them back, but he got a +2 Inh. bonus to Int, and defeated the next creature he fought for an extra level, but lost 10 points of bloodline, which hurt like hell.
Later on, we drew from a variant deck in Return to White Plume Mtn. My secondary got drawn to the center of the earth, then hit with a curse on him whenever he traveled by ocean*, a d8 slam attack, and a +10 Str -4 Int +1LA racial adjustment. He...lost that draw.
Brad
* - Which neither I nor the DM remembered thereafter, except in passing, amusingly enough.
No one died. The UMD rogue's cohort got Voided, and we eventually were able to get him back...like, 16th level or so.
My cohort/secondary drew a "No realm income this turn" card, and then a "Double Realm Income This Turn" card for his two draws. Given he didn't *have* a realm, that was no big deal. He then promptly sat down and fainted.
The elf mage's cohort drew the Outsider Enmity card. Given that my tiefling rogue was right there, I was asking if said cohort had uncanny dodge, and if he could beat my 25 initiative.
Sadly, DM ruled I wasn't the one who was the guy's enemy. Pity.My character first signed over his possessions to the priest-paladin (who drew 0 cards), with the understanding he'd get them back, but he got a +2 Inh. bonus to Int, and defeated the next creature he fought for an extra level, but lost 10 points of bloodline, which hurt like hell.
Later on, we drew from a variant deck in Return to White Plume Mtn. My secondary got drawn to the center of the earth, then hit with a curse on him whenever he traveled by ocean*, a d8 slam attack, and a +10 Str -4 Int +1LA racial adjustment. He...lost that draw.
Brad
* - Which neither I nor the DM remembered thereafter, except in passing, amusingly enough.
SylverFlame
First Post
Eldragon said:
Yea! I was referenced. Unless, of course, you ran into the cousins of my legless kobalds, in which case I got all excited for nothing...
the Jester
Legend
Jester47, if you wait til the 50K award only puts you up one level, you have to wait til the group's 50th level. 
The problem with that one was that it was designed for a system that sometimes required hundreds of thousands of xps to go up a level.
As to the Deck itself, those things are my favorite magic items of all. But I love chaos. Watch out- if you use one, it's almost certainly going to have a profound influence on the future course of your game.
The problem with that one was that it was designed for a system that sometimes required hundreds of thousands of xps to go up a level.
As to the Deck itself, those things are my favorite magic items of all. But I love chaos.
Watch out- if you use one, it's almost certainly going to have a profound influence on the future course of your game.
Neo
Explorer
My lot absolutely hate the Deck of Many Things not necessarily because of the cards so much as how I present it.
In my campaign its called the Hand of Fate, and whenever they are in real trouble and stuggling for answers or in need of some help for something earth shatteringly important, an individual called the Grey Man shows up.
The Grey Man is often sat at a small table, or shuffling his cards in a flourish..and will offer you the answer to any question or dilemma you face IF you only draw a card. The more cards you draw, the more specific and revealing his answer will be.
He has only ever shown up twice to date in any of my campaigns, but the group really hates that when he does turn up "THEY NEED HIM", and that that desperation may just as likely cost them as benefit them
Of course the gray man is unkillable, being a cosmic figure and all, a culmination of the fickle finger of fate made manifest in human form for a time if you prefer. I have even toyed with the notion of making him one of the avatars of Tymora.
Still the panic on my groups faces at the mention of the grey man still brings a smile to my face... as they know he only turns up when they "desperately" need him lol.
not necessarily because of the cards so much as how I present it.In my campaign its called the Hand of Fate, and whenever they are in real trouble and stuggling for answers or in need of some help for something earth shatteringly important, an individual called the Grey Man shows up.
The Grey Man is often sat at a small table, or shuffling his cards in a flourish..and will offer you the answer to any question or dilemma you face IF you only draw a card. The more cards you draw, the more specific and revealing his answer will be.
He has only ever shown up twice to date in any of my campaigns, but the group really hates that when he does turn up "THEY NEED HIM", and that that desperation may just as likely cost them as benefit them
Of course the gray man is unkillable, being a cosmic figure and all, a culmination of the fickle finger of fate made manifest in human form for a time if you prefer. I have even toyed with the notion of making him one of the avatars of Tymora.
Still the panic on my groups faces at the mention of the grey man still brings a smile to my face... as they know he only turns up when they "desperately" need him lol.
Hi!
Our DM gave us such a Deck when we were on high-levels (17-19). The Barbarian lost all his wealth, the cleric got a magic sword (he already had a better weapon), and my fighter/mage first lost one point of Int and then his soul was transfered into a gem which belonged to a Demon Lord. As the group thankfully recovered the soul-gem, my charakter's cohort died.
The Campaign wasn't broken but no one is too eager to find another deck.
Kodam
Our DM gave us such a Deck when we were on high-levels (17-19). The Barbarian lost all his wealth, the cleric got a magic sword (he already had a better weapon), and my fighter/mage first lost one point of Int and then his soul was transfered into a gem which belonged to a Demon Lord. As the group thankfully recovered the soul-gem, my charakter's cohort died.
The Campaign wasn't broken but no one is too eager to find another deck.
Kodam
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Li Shenron
Legend
I have never seen the deck used before in the games I played. If we were to find it, I would never like to draw any card at all... the problem is that many of my characters used to be just like the ones who cannot resist 
Off topic but: is the rule that you cannot gain more that 1 level with a single gain of XP ignored by the deck? or it applies only to encounters?
Off topic but: is the rule that you cannot gain more that 1 level with a single gain of XP ignored by the deck? or it applies only to encounters?
jester47
First Post
the Jester said:Jester47, if you wait til the 50K award only puts you up one level, you have to wait til the group's 50th level.
The problem with that one was that it was designed for a system that sometimes required hundreds of thousands of xps to go up a level.
Good point.
Looking at that, I would then say that the Deck would normally show up sometime after 10th level, and definately before 15th. At this point differences in level matter less than they do below Level 10. All things considered, I don't have a problem with disparity in party level. The way I run, you can't level without training, and should you have a higher level than the rest, the others will only catch up to you faster because they will (with your help) be able to take on much tough opponents and get XP for them, whereas you are taking on stuff that is lighter than what a party equall to your level would be so you slow down in advancement. Works Great, and keeps me able to argue that new characters start at level 1 and 0 xp regardless of the average party level.
Aaron.
