The Deck of Many Things
In the vast realm of Dungeons & Dragons, there exists a legendary artifact that has intrigued players and Dungeon Masters alike since its inception—the enigmatic Deck of Many Things. This powerful magic item, which made its first appearance in the game's early supplements, has become synonymous with both great fortune and perilous consequences. In this blog post, we delve into the history and significance of the Deck of Many Things, exploring its various iterations throughout the editions of the game.
The origins of the Deck of Many Things can be traced back to the game's first supplement, Greyhawk, in 1975. Initially comprising 18 cards, including the standard playing card suits and two jokers, this enigmatic deck presented players with a chance to draw their fate. Over the years, the Deck of Many Things underwent several transformations. From the 13-card and 22-card decks in the original Dungeon Master's Guide to the 78-card tarot deck variant, each version brought its own set of benefits and drawbacks to those bold enough to interact with it. It continued to feature prominently in subsequent editions, such as the 3rd and 3.5 editions, before making its mark in the 4th Edition with unique properties for different character levels. Finally, in the 5th Edition, both the 13-card and 22-card decks were introduced as magic items, ensuring the Deck's enduring presence in the game.
Drawing cards from the Deck of Many Things is a double-edged sword, capable of reshaping a character's destiny in an instant. The effects of these cards range from granting immense wealth and power to bestowing curses, attracting powerful enemies, or even altering one's very existence. It is a gamble that tempts adventurers with the promise of extraordinary rewards but also carries the weight of potentially devastating consequences. The Deck of Many Things encapsulates the essence of risk and reward, adding a thrilling element of uncertainty and unpredictability to the game.
This all brings us to the recently announced 5e Deck of Many Things supplement - a set that includes two new books and a card deck. At $59.95, the illustrated deck of 66 cards, combining the original 22 cards with an additional 44 new options seems like a money grab. Aside from the 78 card deck Dragon #77 (actually called the Tarot of Many Things), the deck has always been playable with a standard deck of cards, no need for something special. In fact, I used to always have a deck in my miniatures box in case it came up as random treasure (it has 3 times in my life). By expanding to 66 cards, WotC is somewhat making this supplement essential if you wish to include the item in your game, especially since players are aware of the new product.
Meanwhile, accompanying the expanded deck are two books - The Book of Many Things, a comprehensive 192-page sourcebook, serves as a guide to unlock the mysteries of the deck, and the The Card Reference Guide, an 80-page companion offering insights into how to use the cards as an oracle deck for fortune-telling or to generate thrilling D&D adventures by interpreting the cards' symbolic meanings. Again, this seems like money grab fluff to expand on a one-shot item powerful item that should hardly ever turn up in your game.
So what does everyone think? Will you be purchasing or passing? Money Grab or No? Let us know in the comments below.
