Sredni Vashtar
2017-03-14, 05:42 PM
I personally love the Deck of Many Things. The infamy of the artifact and the chance that it could be readily used by the party for (hopefully) their benefit gives it huge story potential in my eyes, but as written, it's a very high level item (as artifacts typically are). This suggests that the PC's who come across it need to be around the mid-teens in level. The Deck's reputation as a campaign killer suggests that it's best suited for one shots. Combined, that equals a high level one shot.
Which is fine for some people. Personally, I prefer D&D at the low-to-mid-level, and I like the Tolkien-esque feel of a general nobody stumbling across an item of great and terrible power. Hence me attempting to scale down the Deck.
But enough digression...
The Deck of Many Things
Balance - You fall under the effect of a Geas spell, instructing you to obey your next intelligent enemy. The enemy knows this when they encounter you.
Comet - You can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this boon. Alternately, you can take a Feat of your choice instead. (If you are using the optional Feat rules.)
Donjon Your soul is imprisoned by a powerful entity. You instinctively know the name of the entity, and it may contact you to demand a service while it possesses your soul. If you are slain while your soul is still imprisoned, you can only be restored to life by a Wish spell.
Eurayale You are cursed. You suffer disadvantage on all Saving Throws until the curse is lifted. The curse may only be lifted by a Greater Restoration or Wish spell.
The Fates Avoid any situation you choose once.
Flames A fiend becomes your enemy, dedicating itself to your suffering. The fiend is chosen randomly, but its CR will always be equal to your Character Level.
Fool You are cursed. You lose 2 points of Wisdom until the curse is lifted, and you must draw again. The curse may only be lifted by a Greater Restoration or Wish spell.
Gem You gain possession of a gem worth 500gp.
Idiot You are cursed. You lose 2 points of Intelligence until the curse is lifted, and you may draw again. The curse may only be lifted by a Greater Restoration or Wish spell.
Jester You learn two cantrips and a 1st level spell from a random classs spell list. You can cast it at its lowest level. Once you cast it, you must finish a long rest before you can cast it again. Your spellcasting ability for these spells depends on the class you chose. You may draw two more cards.
1d6 Class Spell List
1 Bard (Cha)
2 Cleric (Wis)
3 Druid (Wis)
4 Sorcerer (Cha)
5 Warlock (Cha)
6 Wizard (Int)
Key Your weapon (your choice) becomes magical and gains a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to half your Proficiency Bonus.
Knight You gain the service of a Fighter two levels lower than you. The Fighter is of the same race and gender as you.
Moon You are granted one Wish.
Rogue An Assassin two levels higher than you stalks you. The Assassin can be of any race, and will not stop until either of you are dead.
Ruin All but (1d4 per character level) of your non-magical possessions are lost. You get to choose which possessions you keep.
Skull An undead version of you appears and attacks. It has the same abilities and knowledge as you do, is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition, and cannot be turned. If others try to help, they get undead copies to fight as well. If you or others are slain, you are slain forever and cannot be revived, except by Wish.
Star Increase one of your ability scores by 2. The score can exceed 20 with this bonus, but cannot exceed 24.
Sun You receive a random uncommon magical item. You are immediately attuned to the new item if possible.
1d6 Magic Item
1 Boots of Striding and Springing
2 Cloak of Protection
3 Eyes of the Eagle
4 Gauntlets of Ogre Power
5 Headband of Intellect
6 Slippers of Spider Climbing
Talons 1d6 magic items in your possession (chosen randomly) lose all magical abilities, and you are no longer attuned to any remaining magic item in your possession.
Throne You gain the Inspiring Leader feat, and your Charisma score rises to 13 if it is lower.
Vizier You are able to cast one Divination spell of your choice as a ritual. The spell must be of a level that you would be able to cast if you were a caster of the appropriate class of a level equivalent to your character level. (For example, a 5th level character could cast a 3rd level Divination spell with this boon.)
The Void A Sphere of Annihilation appears five feet in front of you.
Which is fine for some people. Personally, I prefer D&D at the low-to-mid-level, and I like the Tolkien-esque feel of a general nobody stumbling across an item of great and terrible power. Hence me attempting to scale down the Deck.
But enough digression...
The Deck of Many Things
Balance - You fall under the effect of a Geas spell, instructing you to obey your next intelligent enemy. The enemy knows this when they encounter you.
Comet - You can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this boon. Alternately, you can take a Feat of your choice instead. (If you are using the optional Feat rules.)
Donjon Your soul is imprisoned by a powerful entity. You instinctively know the name of the entity, and it may contact you to demand a service while it possesses your soul. If you are slain while your soul is still imprisoned, you can only be restored to life by a Wish spell.
Eurayale You are cursed. You suffer disadvantage on all Saving Throws until the curse is lifted. The curse may only be lifted by a Greater Restoration or Wish spell.
The Fates Avoid any situation you choose once.
Flames A fiend becomes your enemy, dedicating itself to your suffering. The fiend is chosen randomly, but its CR will always be equal to your Character Level.
Fool You are cursed. You lose 2 points of Wisdom until the curse is lifted, and you must draw again. The curse may only be lifted by a Greater Restoration or Wish spell.
Gem You gain possession of a gem worth 500gp.
Idiot You are cursed. You lose 2 points of Intelligence until the curse is lifted, and you may draw again. The curse may only be lifted by a Greater Restoration or Wish spell.
Jester You learn two cantrips and a 1st level spell from a random classs spell list. You can cast it at its lowest level. Once you cast it, you must finish a long rest before you can cast it again. Your spellcasting ability for these spells depends on the class you chose. You may draw two more cards.
1d6 Class Spell List
1 Bard (Cha)
2 Cleric (Wis)
3 Druid (Wis)
4 Sorcerer (Cha)
5 Warlock (Cha)
6 Wizard (Int)
Key Your weapon (your choice) becomes magical and gains a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to half your Proficiency Bonus.
Knight You gain the service of a Fighter two levels lower than you. The Fighter is of the same race and gender as you.
Moon You are granted one Wish.
Rogue An Assassin two levels higher than you stalks you. The Assassin can be of any race, and will not stop until either of you are dead.
Ruin All but (1d4 per character level) of your non-magical possessions are lost. You get to choose which possessions you keep.
Skull An undead version of you appears and attacks. It has the same abilities and knowledge as you do, is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition, and cannot be turned. If others try to help, they get undead copies to fight as well. If you or others are slain, you are slain forever and cannot be revived, except by Wish.
Star Increase one of your ability scores by 2. The score can exceed 20 with this bonus, but cannot exceed 24.
Sun You receive a random uncommon magical item. You are immediately attuned to the new item if possible.
1d6 Magic Item
1 Boots of Striding and Springing
2 Cloak of Protection
3 Eyes of the Eagle
4 Gauntlets of Ogre Power
5 Headband of Intellect
6 Slippers of Spider Climbing
Talons 1d6 magic items in your possession (chosen randomly) lose all magical abilities, and you are no longer attuned to any remaining magic item in your possession.
Throne You gain the Inspiring Leader feat, and your Charisma score rises to 13 if it is lower.
Vizier You are able to cast one Divination spell of your choice as a ritual. The spell must be of a level that you would be able to cast if you were a caster of the appropriate class of a level equivalent to your character level. (For example, a 5th level character could cast a 3rd level Divination spell with this boon.)
The Void A Sphere of Annihilation appears five feet in front of you.