• Registered: 2012-11-12
  • Posts: 75

Topic: The deck of many things and random charts

I love all the charts and tables in the DMG and other books, but I don't use them because its a pain to pull the book out and look up the chart you want during the game. So I started using index cards to randomize these these line items; one name, or item, or NPC characteristic per card.

Take for example Appendix J:Herbs Spices and Medicinals on page 220 of the DMG. I would put "Abcess root" (sweet root) *respritory disorders on card #1, and "Acacia" (gum arabic) *tissue repair on card #2, "acorn" on card #3 etc. right down the line. Then when I need a random spice I just pull a card out.

I keep 60 cards in my deck, so for some of the lists I have to pick and choose and for others there are duplicates, but this puts all those charts and tables at your fingure tips and makes them much more usable during the game.

I glue pictures that I like on the front of the cards. Anyway I was wondering if anyone here had a similar idea and how they implemented it, and what items they put on their cards. Or any ideas of other ways that the deck could be used in game.

There's a youtube vid I posted with some further ideas here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76NiK036h3U if anyone wants to see more. The people who have watched so far seem to like the idea. And because its not something I have seen as a product yet I thought it might be a neat item for LotFP to consider producing.

  • From: Finland
  • Registered: 2012-02-28
  • Posts: 63

Re: The deck of many things and random charts

Why can't you just put random tables on little cards to save space? Cards look cool though but...

I once wanted a small rules to fit any place. So I wrote all the necessary rules in cards size of post cards. Those were sturdy and took not much space.

Oh btw take a look on this: http://magicseteditor.sourceforge.net/
You can easily make custom cards. I have made spell cards using this. It is neat. What ever spells character knows he gets them as cards with descriptions, effects etc. Great tool for newbies.

Here are a couple of card examples I made (D&D 3). There are typos etc. and I've done better. Those two pictures of cards are just examples.
http://cradleofrabies.blogspot.fi/2010/ … cards.html

"Man has come to dominate the planet thanks to two essential traits. One is intelligence. The other has been the absolute willingness to kill anyone and anything that gets in his way." (Stephen King)
My blog: cradleofrabies.blogspot.com

Thaumiel_Nerub's Website

  • From: Dallas, TX
  • Registered: 2010-08-16
  • Posts: 53

Re: The deck of many things and random charts

Thaumiel_Nerub wrote:

Why can't you just put random tables on little cards to save space?

A virtue of cards over random tables is that you can add a card far more easily than you can add to a random table, assuming every entry must have an equal probability of showing up.  I'd rather cut each 3x5 card in half -- or find smaller cards -- and write one entry each on those smaller cards.

Granted, you could put 6 slots on each card, and roll a die to determine which entry to use.  If a card has less than 6 entries and the roll hits an empty slot, reshuffle the deck and draw again.  (Anything else would bias probabilities.)  It's therefore best to have only one such card, maybe removed from the deck for convenience and replaced with a "Roll on incomplete card" card.

Also, you can write the full description directly on the card.  In a 3.5 variant I ended up with so many feats and class abilities I copied them onto index cards, just so I wouldn't have to flip between two or three books.  Then what does Type IV do with its plethora of Powers?

Frank Mitchell
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." -- Anatole France

fmitchell's Website

  • Registered: 2012-11-12
  • Posts: 75

Re: The deck of many things and random charts

The deck of cards is good because you don't need to stop and look anything up, you just draw a card. Once you have a random card you go down to whatever item you need; be it animal, fruit, mental disorder, body part, or name. I keep slots for all those items on each card. This also saves you having to roll. The video is only 10 minutes if you want a more detailed explanation, there's a link to skip the intro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76NiK036h3U just FF to 1:20, the first minute is all intro.

Last edited by Bluespruce786 (2012-11-25 05:31:14)

  • From: Finland
  • Registered: 2012-02-28
  • Posts: 63

Re: The deck of many things and random charts

Good points on using cards over a chart/table. It's like those collectible card games you can expand with booster packs.

"Man has come to dominate the planet thanks to two essential traits. One is intelligence. The other has been the absolute willingness to kill anyone and anything that gets in his way." (Stephen King)
My blog: cradleofrabies.blogspot.com

Thaumiel_Nerub's Website

  • Registered: 2012-11-12
  • Posts: 75

Re: The deck of many things and random charts

Bluespruce786 wrote:

The deck of cards is good because you don't need to stop and look anything up, you just draw a card. Once you have a random card you go down to whatever item you need; be it animal, fruit, mental disorder, body part, or name. I keep slots for all those items on each card. This also saves you having to roll. The video is only 10 minutes if you want a more detailed explanation, there's a link to skip the intro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76NiK036h3U just FF to 1:20, the first minute is all intro.

Thank you. It has worked well for me. Actual glossy cards, like something from a trading card game or tarot deck, would be very nice. I hope Jim decides to produce such a product.

But fo now the index cards work well enough, and they are easy to write on.

  • Registered: 2012-11-12
  • Posts: 75

Re: The deck of many things and random charts

I just found these guys https://community.thegamecrafter.com/pu … arot-cards It looks like they can make custom decks for pretty reasonable money. Maybe I just get them to print up a deck or 2.