Tweaked the Deck of Many Things into Rewards Corresponding to Each Character in my Party
Each character has a specific card tied to their role or backstory, and I’m planning to use tweaked versions of these cards as major rewards later in the adventure once my party is approaching the endgame.
Alter (drow assassin rogue / beastmaster ranger) — Rogue
Chosen for straightforward thematic reasons tied to her role, and loyalty being a core value of hers.
Badul (goblin hexblade warlock) — Key
Reflects his reliance on and connection to a pact weapon, and power being a core value of his.
Caul (half-orc berserker barbarian) — Star
Linked to a recurring dream in his backstory of a dark star calling to him.
Jorxkin (gnome illusion wizard) — The Fates
Tied to a past mistake as a professor at Dweomercore that killed an entire class of students, after which he asked Halaster to cast modify memory on him to ease his suffering.
Peter (human battlesmith artificer) — Talons
Represents both his dependence on magic items and the red dragon symbolizing fortune in his past.
Victor (aasimar mercy monk) — Comet
Reflects his struggle for survival as a doctor seeking a cure for his radiant blood which threatens to consume him, this trial being one he ultimately must face alone.
I’m keeping the core effects mostly intact. The Fates allows a single event to be erased. Star increases an ability score by 2, up to 24. Comet grants a bonus level if the next encounter is handled solo. Rogue creates a permanent hostile NPC. Key produces a powerful weapon. Talons destroys all carried magic items.
As these are all intended to be rewards, I did make a few changes. The Rogue card can be reverse-pickpocketed onto another target, causing one of their allies to turn permanently against them. The Key has already been rewarded as the warlock's starting magic item and pact weapon: a black blade that can consume other magic weapons to gain their properties. It scales as the campaign goes on, but it also inherits any curses or sentience from weapons it absorbs. Talons becomes a sacrifice the bearer may invoke at a moment of their choosing. When called upon, every magic item they have ever owned is reduced to nothing but in that same instant, they can force the same fate onto another creature, stripping them of all magical items just as completely.
Curious how others would handle balance or placement of these rewards in the adventure. Considering these to be a reward for graduating Dweomercore, defeating Ezzat, or even later upon completing Shadowdusk Hold. Depending on the situation I may have these rewards paired with legitimate draws of specifically 'bad' cards from the Deck of Many Things or as a bargaining chip for Halaster to use to try and deter the party from getting in the way of his plans.