Editing Deck of Many Things

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Ohhhhh, holy shit. Where do we even begin with this? Well, let's start with the basics.

The infamous '''Deck of Many Things''' is a magical item that made its debut in the ''[[Greyhawk]]'' setting of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''. The exact size of the deck (and thus its contents and effects) varies with the edition, but throughout its existence, one thing has remained consistent: its potential for inciting [[The Henderson Scale of Plot Derailment|complete and utter chaos]] with the draw of a card, the likes of which can be generously described as [[TPK|a hazard to the adventuring party]], the setting, and [[RAGE|the players and DM alike]].

So how exactly does it work? Well, assuming your DM is foolish enough to allow you to obtain one, the deck is basically just an ordinary deck of cards, with each card corresponding to a specific effect. Some of the cards have good effects (gain a level, obtain wealth, etc) and some effects are bad (idiocy, getting your soul sucked out, etc). You can choose to draw however many cards you want, but players with at least some sense in them will opt for a small number, as the probability of drawing a card that will completely buttfuck you increases with each card. And if you happen to survive your ordeal, you may find that your character's life circumstances are so drastically different that it completely derails the campaign if it hasn't already. Whether it's your character losing every save throw, or turning into a greedy bag of dicks, the wisest option may simply be to just say no.

The very first appearance was in literally the first D&D supplement; Greyhawk (1975). It then went on to reappear in the first Dungeon Master's Guide (1979), the 2nd edition DMG (1989), the Encyclopedia Magica Vol.1 (1994), the 3rd and 3.5 DMGs, [[Dungeon Magazine]] #177 for 4th edition, and the 5e DMG.

==Cards of the Deck==
Of course, you can't have a magical deck of cards without each of those cards meaning something, so here's the drill on just what the Deck of Many Things features. Names in brackets list the "equivalent cards", so you can emulate drawing from the deck with any standard playing card.

* '''Balance''' (''2 of Spades''): 
* '''Comet''' (''2 of Diamonds''): 
* '''Donjon''' (''Ace of Spaces''): 
* '''Euryale''' (''Queen of Spades''): 
* '''The Fates''' (''Ace of Hearts''): 
* '''Flames''' (''Queen of Clubs'')
* '''Fool''' (''Black/Trademarked Joker''): 
* '''Gem''' (''2 of Hearts''): 
* '''Idiot''' (''2 of Clubs''): 
* '''Jester''' (''Red/Nontrademarked Joker''): 
* '''Key''' (''Queen of Hearts''): 
* '''Knight''' (''Jack of Hearts''): 
* '''Moon''' (''Queen of Diamonds''): 
* '''Rogue''' (''Jack of Spades''): 
* '''Ruin''' (''King of Spades''): 
* '''Skull''' (''Jack of Clubs''): 
* '''Star''' (''Jack of Diamonds''): 
* '''Sun''' (''King of Diamonds''): 
* '''Talons''' (''Ace of Clubs''): 
* '''Throne''' (''King of Hearts''): 
* '''Vizier''' (''Ace of Diamonds''): 
* '''The Void''' (''King of Clubs''): 

Apart from the very first version of the Deck, which had 18 cards, the Deck of Many Things have been traditionally divided into two formats; Imperfect (13 cards) and Perfect (22). An Imperfect Deck lacks the following cards:
* '''Vizier'''
* '''Comet'''
* '''The Fates'''
* '''Gem'''
* '''Talons'''
* '''Idiot'''
* '''Donjon'''
* '''Balance'''
* '''Fool'''

==Variant Decks==
The Deck of Many Things has been in D&D since the very beginning of the game, so of course there have been some more unique versions of it pop up throghout the editions.

===4e's Deck of Many Things===
The 4e version of the Deck of Many Things is a very different beast to its kin in other editions. At its basis, it functions as an artifact grade Tome - a special implement unique to [[Wizard]]s - in two differing tiers; a Paragon tier version in [[Dungeon Magazine]] #177, and a Heroic tier version in the adventure "Madness at Gardmore Abbey".

The paragon version works like this: aside from the ability to draw cards and trigger their effects as normal, it's a +5 tome that can also be used by [[Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)|Chaos Sorcerers]] as an implement. It renders the bearer immune to domination effects, can force an enemy within 10 squares to reroll  an attack roll/skill check/saving throw and take '''your choice''' of the two results once per encounter, and once per day, allows you to roll a D20 and swap it in for the roll of an ally or enemy - depending on whether you want them to roll high or low.

This version cleverly makes use of 4e's Artifact Concordance mechanic, making the bearer more likely to draw good cards if the Deck likes them and more likely to get the bad cards if it doesn't.

There is one particular difference in this version of the Deck compared to any others; you only ever get to draw '''ONE''' card from it; once that card's magic has blessed or cursed you, the Deck vanishes from your possesion and is gone forever, never to appear before you again.

===Tarot Deck of Many Things===
Featured in [[Dragon Magazine]] #77, the Tarot Deck of Many Things is... well, what the fuck do you expect? It's a tarot deck that grants magical effects when you pull a card from it.

Released for [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] 1st edition, this version of the Deck of Many Things has '''seventy fucking eight''' different cards, each of which has ''at least'' two different effects, depending on whether you draw it in the normal position or the upright position.

This version was made official when it was reposted in the Encyclopedia Magica, Vol. 1.

===Tarokka Deck of Many Things===
When [[Ravenloft]] was upgraded from an adventure module to a campaign setting in [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], part of the background flavor was the creation of a themed Tarot-esque deck, the Tarokka.

In 1997, the Kargatane, a fan group supporting Raveloft and its fandom via an online website, released the first of their semi-official netbooks, The Book of Souls. On page 107, fueled by the argument that the standard Deck of Many Things didn't fit the Ravenloft atmosphere, we were introduced to a Tarokka-base replacement: the Tarokka of Many Things.

Of course, as this was both the time of [[Old School Roleplaying]] ''and'' the Ravenloft campaign setting, where DMs were encouraged to railroad and pick on their players, the Tarokka is essentially one giant Fuck You to any player who picks it up.

With a backstory of being created by the dying curse of a [[Vistani]] seer who was murdered by one customer after she confessed he was doomed, the Tarokka of Many Things carries far less power - and far more pain - than its standard cousin.

The Tarokka of Many Things has a 5% chance that it will disappear when a card is drawn. It is immune to the normal "chaos controlling" abilities of some [[kits]], such as jesters and wild mages, but a pureblooded Vistani has a 50% chance of being able to control what card is drawn whenever anybody draws a card from the deck in their presence. [[Half-Vistani]] ca do the same, but their muddied blood means they only have a 10% chance of succeeding at controlling the drawn card.

This Deck only activates when a card is drawn from it to test the future, and the effect of the drawn cards targets whoever is getting their future told. This means you can actually use this Tarokka to curse your enemies, but you've got to trick them into agreeing to let you tell their future first.

On top of this, the Tarokka of Many Things carries a curse; any character who carries the cards for a day or more must save vs Wisdom/Willpower to keep from drawing a card to tell somebody's future - theirs, or otherwise. Each failed save causes a -1 penalty on the next save, and also encourages them to draw more cards. Voluntary draws don't inflict this save penalty, and transferring ownership of the deck negates the curse. They have to transfer the whole deck.

As for the cards themselves...
* '''The Wizard''': Gain +2 Intelligence, suffer -1 Strength.
* '''The Rogue''': Gain +2 Dexterity, suffer -1 Wisdom.
* '''The Priest''': Gain +2 Wisdom, suffer -1 Charisma.
* '''The Warrior''': Gain +2 Strength, suffer -1 Intelligence.
* '''The Horseman''': Feet mutate to look like hooves, but 2/day you can run at triple your normal speed for Constitution score minutes without suffering any penalty.
* '''The Broken One''': You are Feebleminded, and even if cured by Heal, Restoration, or Wish, you permanently lose 1d4 Int and 1d4 Wis.
* '''The Hangman''': At the next settlement you enter, you will be accused of murder, with evidence that points to you and a compulsion that will cause you to believe you are guilty within 2d4 days. You're not guilty, but your party will have to prove your innocence.
* '''The Beast''': You develop physical traits reminiscent of those classically associated with being a [[werewolf]], such as increased hairiness and elongated canines. These changes are purely cosmetic, but will cause problems.
* '''The Ghost''': You immediately age 5d4 years.
* '''The Marionette''': You are immediately possessed by an Odem.
* '''The Raven''': You gain eerie jet black eyes and unnaturally pale skin, which inflicts a -2 Charisma penalty. You can fortell if any stranger you meet is going to die within the next 48 hours, which is indicated by a spectral raven (which only you can see) sitting on the doomed individual's shoulder. You lose this foresight if you somehow prevent a destined death, but the transformation is permanent.
* '''The Esper''': You gain a Wild Talent from the Telepathy school (or an ESP spell-like ability, if you don't want to muck around with [[psionic]]s). You must use this at least 1/day, or it starts switching on randomly and at inconvenient times.
* '''The Innocent''': You will automatically pass your next Powers Check.
* '''The Donjon''': You vanish into an unknown prison, leaving behind all your stuff, exactly as per the Deck of Many Things card of the same name.
* '''The Mists''': You are swallowed by the Mists and carried off to some random spot in the Demiplane of Dread.
* '''The Darklord''': You immediately suffer a failed Powers Check, and the Darklord of your current domain becomes aware of your present location.
* '''The Temptress''': You are automatically Charmed by the next sexually attractive person you see.
* '''The Artifact''': You immediately gain a powerful, but probably cursed, magic item.

It goes without saying that if you spring this item on your players, you deserve whatever they do to you.