The Despair Deck

[I'm A Banana]

Saw this in-game-use chronicle on the front page today, and thought it'd be interesting to bring here and discuss.

I am kind of a fan, personally. The non-booster-pack aspect completely removes my major cards complaint, and the physical objects can help you keep track of these (seemingly fiddly) bits a little better. I also just generally like the idea of "here is a random affliction, and if you get over it, you get a power!" It's a cool motif to represent a struggle under some personal demon, and then a bonus from removing it.

 

[Dungeoneer]

Oooooooooooooooooooooh. Now this I like.

Wish the article had more specific examples of the cards.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

Yeah, I like this IDEA. Whether or not its implementation is any good is anyone's guess. Until we see it.

 

[lyon812]

I agree; these sound a lot more interesting than the random boosters of Fortune Cards. I like their thematic nature, being able to really emphasize the intangible nature of the Shadowfell.

Really, I think these could have been effective if they'd been utilized for Dark Sun, as well. Our group has struggled finding a way to enjoyable portray the harsh, desert nature; while it's been relatively easy to create urban and political scenarios that reflect it, every time we have to travel across the desert and do a string of skill challenges, everyone groans. I can easily see how the Despair Deck could be applied to a Desert Deck, or a Fey Deck, or a Hells Deck.

 

[KarinsDad]

Meh. It just sounds like one more condition to keep track of. The game already has too much bookkeeping.

 

[mudlock]

Come on people, you've GOT to be excited about this!

For no other reason than the sublime hilarity of being excited about something called a "deck of apathy"!

Seriously, that's irony gold.

 

[Klaus]

Despair =/= Apathy.

Despair is the lack of hope. So the irony is being hopeful about a deck of hopelessness.

I think this has a definite place in the game. I still have my Tarokka Deck, after all, with sweet, sweet art by Stephen Fabian!

 

[mudlock]

Despair =/= Apathy.

Despair is the lack of hope. So the irony is being hopeful about a deck of hopelessness.

"Another instance might be, perhaps a place where a dark blood ritual once ended horribly, players would only draw from a deck comprised of Madness and Fear cards, but not Apathy – you get the picture."

Meaning, you can totally have a Deck of Apathy. (And I'm SO EXCITED about that. (Or am I just being sarcastic? (Darn, no Deck of Sarcasm, because wouldn't THAT be useful.)))

 

[Dungeoneer]

I've thought about creating a deck of hipster irony, because THAT would be awesome.

 

[Dice4Hire]

"Another instance might be, perhaps a place where a dark blood ritual once ended horribly, players would only draw from a deck comprised of Madness and Fear cards, but not Apathy – you get the picture."

Meaning, you can totally have a Deck of Apathy. (And I'm SO EXCITED about that. (Or am I just being sarcastic? (Darn, no Deck of Sarcasm, because wouldn't THAT be useful.)))

Deck of nitpicking might be good on these boards.