Greater Deck of Many Things (need suggestions)

[Halivar]

I love the Deck of Many Things. I love the concept. It turns up in almost every campaign I DM or play in, and it's always a blast.

But with the same old cards, quite frankly, it's getting a little worn out.

I've gotten into making custom card decks for various things (am currently making a D&D tarot deck for in-game use), and decided I would like to have a 78-card Greater Deck of Many Things. I decided 78 cards, because that's how many you get in an order from plaincards.com, and it'd be a shame to waste the extra cards.

So, in addition to the standard 22 cards in the DoMT, I need 56 cards that are original creations.

So what I'm looking for are some concepts for cards. Not even necessarily what they do, but themes that are appropriate for a medieval fantasy setting that would make a good image to put on a card.

Here are some cards I've come up with off the top of my head:

Lord - Gain a noble title and vassalage to a king or emperor somewhere in the world. (Bonus adventure options if the liege is in opposition to the character's goals)

Janus - Cannot tell the truth. Remove Affliction counters this.

Hammer & Anvil - One magic weapon you own scales with your level (i.e. your +1 magic weapon becomes +2 at level 6, and +3 at level 11, etc.)

Wolf - Become a werewolf. Acquire the shapechanger subtype, low-light vision, movement, regeneration, immunities, bite attack, Blood Rage power, and Change Shape power as per the MM entry for werewolf. Also acquire Greater Werewolf Moon Rage, which can be countered by Remove Affliction (this does not cure the lycanthropy).

Tower - Utter ruin befalls the last person you quested to help.

Pennant - Gain the service of 3d10 minions two levels lower, who magically appear (a la Fighter).

Any ideas?

 

[Nytmare]

What cosmology are you using in your game? I'd probably use the domains and aspects of the gods of your world as a framework for the cards.

 

[Quickleaf]

Are you doing illustrations/graphic design for these yourself?


Wild Hunt - Haunted by nightmares of being hunted for two nights (gains no benefit from rests), on third night abducted by spectral cavalcade and taken into the Feywild. Must be rescued.

Siren - Irresistibly drawn toward a certain dangerous place.

Prince & Pauper - Society at large confuses the PC with an NPC who is their diametric opposite. Only by working together with the NPC can the matter be sorted out.

 

[Keenberg]

Open Grave: The character is haunted in their sleep by the ghost of a dead NPC or former character. This character gains no benefit from extended rests.
The haunt cannot be fought in any manner, wished away or gotten rid of by any means other than the holding of a significant memorial event, or the construction of a memorial site. The effect lasts until the person has been properly memorialized. (minor/major quest hook.)

 

[Nytmare]

I'd also be inclined to make the cards broader story arcs instead of just encounters and one shot effects. You could pattern them around one of those lists of basic plot lines.

Here's a list of 36 by Georges Polti:

1. Supplication (in which the Supplicant must beg something from Power in authority)
2. Deliverance
3. Crime Pursued by Vengeance
4. Vengeance taken for kindred upon kindred
5. Pursuit
6. Disaster
7. Falling Prey to Cruelty of Misfortune
8. Revolt
9. Daring Enterprise
10. Abduction
11. The Enigma (temptation or a riddle)
12. Obtaining
13. Enmity of Kinsmen
14. Rivalry of Kinsmen
15. Murderous Adultery
16. Madness
17. Fatal Imprudence
18. Involuntary Crimes of Love (example: discovery that one has married one’s mother, sister, etc.)
19. Slaying of a Kinsman Unrecognized
20. Self-Sacrificing for an Ideal
21. Self-Sacrifice for Kindred
22. All Sacrificed for Passion
23. Necessity of Sacrificing Loved Ones
24. Rivalry of Superior and Inferior
25. Adultery
26. Crimes of Love
27. Discovery of the Dishonor of a Loved One
28. Obstacles to Love
29. An Enemy Loved
30. Ambition
31. Conflict with a God
32. Mistaken Jealousy
33. Erroneous Judgement
34. Remorse
35. Recovery of a Lost One
36. Loss of Loved Ones

 

[Halivar]

Nytmare: That's a great idea!

Quickleaf: Those are great. I'm stealing them for sure! To answer your question: I will probably have to find some copyright-free images to use. If there is something super special, I can design it myself.

Keenburg: I like it. Great roleplay potential.