I'm a new dm, so I haven't memorized the magic items list or their properties. I was on my second session, and they defeated a evil mage, and restored a sheep back into a wizard (long story). The restored wizard had a wand of true polymorph, and granted each of the players one item, a weapon that was rare or under or a magical non-weapon item. One the players got that look in their eye, and asked for a deck of many things. I granted this wish, and it wasn't until later that I found out what a deck of many things was. The player said I can't take it back, so I worked furiously to find ways to reduce its power. I have so far got that I would roll secretly 1d4, and the player can't draw more cards then that number, or the deck will be destroyed, but I need more restrictions. I will honor the players wish, and not take back the deck of many things, and please don't criticized me for giving him it in the first place. Please help me and thank you.
I'm a new dm, so I haven't memorized the magic items list or their properties. I was on my second session, and they defeated a evil mage, and restored a sheep back into a wizard (long story). The restored wizard had a wand of true polymorph, and granted each of the players one item, a weapon that was rare or under or a magical non-weapon item. One the players got that look in their eye, and asked for a deck of many things. I granted this wish, and it wasn't until later that I found out what a deck of many things was. The player said I can't take it back, so I worked furiously to find ways to reduce its power. I have so far got that I would roll secretly 1d4, and the player can't draw more cards then that number, or the deck will be destroyed, but I need more restrictions. I will honor the players wish, and not take back the deck of many things, and please don't criticized me for giving him it in the first place. Please help me and thank you.
Honestly. The deck of many things is usually a self correcting thing. Usually just letting it plays out works.
You do realize you control the Deck? Stack the Deck, have it disappear after d4 cards are drawn, have a minor "bad" thing happen (Fool or Ruin are good ones), and a couple of minor "good" things (Key, Throne, Gem and Comet are good ones) for the first three cards, then for the fourth card, Donjon.
Lesson: Be careful what you wish for, and, don't get greedy...
Rewrite the deck. The normal deck has the power of a lvl 10 spell, so one created by a mortal wizard should be inferior.
Also, the normal deck itself is unbalanced, it contains several TPK or game breaking effects usualy without any save, but the good effects are either delayed, mediocre or require aditional efforts.
Cannot recommend his Running the Game series highly enough.
He gives solid advice in general but his tendency to fudge the probabilty in player's favor isn't my favorite.
I'd sooner give the players the Deck when they are at sufficiently high level to deal with the consequences rather than perform sleight of hand routines to ensure that they draw the card I want them to draw.
another option (if stacking the deck) would be the talons card. Since it disintegrates all magic items worn or carried, that should also disintegrate the deck as well
I'm a new dm, so I haven't memorized the magic items list or their properties. I was on my second session, and they defeated a evil mage, and restored a sheep back into a wizard (long story). The restored wizard had a wand of true polymorph, and granted each of the players one item, a weapon that was rare or under or a magical non-weapon item. One the players got that look in their eye, and asked for a deck of many things. I granted this wish, and it wasn't until later that I found out what a deck of many things was. The player said I can't take it back, so I worked furiously to find ways to reduce its power. I have so far got that I would roll secretly 1d4, and the player can't draw more cards then that number, or the deck will be destroyed, but I need more restrictions. I will honor the players wish, and not take back the deck of many things, and please don't criticized me for giving him it in the first place. Please help me and thank you.
Honestly, if my player had the cheek to ask for a legendary item, I'd let them draw without blinking ;-)
Just out of curiosity, what level is the player, what class composition is the group and how long has the campaign been going?
EDIT: if you haven't given the actual item yet, you can bend the rules a bit since it says that the deck comes in either 13 or 22 card version. Choose 13 and just remove the cards that you think might break your game.
In your OP you stated the "player said I can't take it back." I get the impression that this player is taking advantage of your inexperience. I could be wrong but with that being said this is how I would handle it.
Perhaps this wizard misunderstood what the player asked for and instead the player was given a Deck of Manly Things, every time a card is drawn a razor, jock strap or some such manly item appears.
A Deck of Mini Things, a card is drawn and a miniature item of limited use appears.
A Deck of Many Thongs, sexy lingerie falls from the sky.
My reading the deck can only be used once per person since cards after the declared number have no effect. That said I would make sure the player knows that it may force them to retire the char(a: things that kill the PC, b: if they get a multi l jump(such as the jester at low level) I personally would allow them to roll a new PC and have their current char become a friendly NPC until the party level gets close to the jumped level(let them decide which they would rather play when the party is within a lvl, having a lvl 10 and several 5s made one of my games quite frustrating)
The deck of many things is not "rare or under", it's legendary. If you've already said yes, I'd just use a short deck or stack the deck. A ten card deck (take a 13 card deck and remove the suit of Diamonds) is probably fine.
Players don’t get to tell you you can’t take it back. You said rare or less, and this is not. There’s your out. Admit you made a mistake, and let the player choose again.
The campaign has been going on for 2 sessions, for a CG wild sorcerer, a LE ranger, and a CN rouge. Their all lv 5-6, and I have already given the deck of many things.
Thank you for all the comments! Here is some more background.
The player drew once every single day, because he didn't want to have it be destroyed. It made some interesting parts, like when he drew comet and almost died for his own glory, but it go annoying when he drew key and tried getting me to give him a legendary item. He is a real risk taker. He hasn't lost any thing to the cards. He even drew skull, which summons an avatar of death, and the conversation goes as following:
Me (DM): (This is going to be good with its 19 AC) Roll to h-
The Player: Nat 20. Also, I use all my spell slots to do extra damage, and use my effect to attack again.
Thank you for all the comments! Here is some more background.
The player drew once every single day, because he didn't want to have it be destroyed. It made some interesting parts, like when he drew comet and almost died for his own glory, but it go annoying when he drew key and tried getting me to give him a legendary item. He is a real risk taker. He hasn't lost any thing to the cards. He even drew skull, which summons an avatar of death, and the conversation goes as following:
Me (DM): (This is going to be good with its 19 AC) Roll to h-
The Player: Nat 20. Also, I use all my spell slots to do extra damage, and use my effect to attack again.
Me: Okay... roll to hit...
The Player: 21.
Hmmm interesting, the 3.5 deck only allows the a player to draw however many cards once (Cards must be drawn within 1 hour of each other, and a character can never again draw from this deck any more cards than she has announced.) but that clause didn't make it into the 5e text.
That said If they pull the give me a legendary item card, remember the deck itself is legendary ;) If its getting to be too much, hope for talons so the deck disappears itself or the age old treasure hunters start tracking the party.
Thank you all! We are playing dnd 5e. Also, I have changed some of the cards abilities to make them less destructive/gift-giving. Also, they can only do 1d4 draws per day.
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I'm a new dm, so I haven't memorized the magic items list or their properties. I was on my second session, and they defeated a evil mage, and restored a sheep back into a wizard (long story). The restored wizard had a wand of true polymorph, and granted each of the players one item, a weapon that was rare or under or a magical non-weapon item. One the players got that look in their eye, and asked for a deck of many things. I granted this wish, and it wasn't until later that I found out what a deck of many things was. The player said I can't take it back, so I worked furiously to find ways to reduce its power. I have so far got that I would roll secretly 1d4, and the player can't draw more cards then that number, or the deck will be destroyed, but I need more restrictions. I will honor the players wish, and not take back the deck of many things, and please don't criticized me for giving him it in the first place. Please help me and thank you.
Honestly. The deck of many things is usually a self correcting thing. Usually just letting it plays out works.
Blank
You do realize you control the Deck? Stack the Deck, have it disappear after d4 cards are drawn, have a minor "bad" thing happen (Fool or Ruin are good ones), and a couple of minor "good" things (Key, Throne, Gem and Comet are good ones) for the first three cards, then for the fourth card, Donjon.
Lesson: Be careful what you wish for, and, don't get greedy...
Matt Coville has a video on this exact subject:
https://youtu.be/b5pz46kEhIM
Cannot recommend his Running the Game series highly enough.
Rewrite the deck. The normal deck has the power of a lvl 10 spell, so one created by a mortal wizard should be inferior.
Also, the normal deck itself is unbalanced, it contains several TPK or game breaking effects usualy without any save, but the good effects are either delayed, mediocre or require aditional efforts.
Attack: [roll]3d20dl2+6[/roll] Damage: [roll](if([roll:-1:critical], =0, 1d8, 2{1d8}.expand()))+4[/roll] Sneakattack: [roll](if([roll:-2:critical], =0, 2d6, 2{2d6}.expand()))[/roll]He gives solid advice in general but his tendency to fudge the probabilty in player's favor isn't my favorite.
I'd sooner give the players the Deck when they are at sufficiently high level to deal with the consequences rather than perform sleight of hand routines to ensure that they draw the card I want them to draw.
another option (if stacking the deck) would be the talons card. Since it disintegrates all magic items worn or carried, that should also disintegrate the deck as well
Honestly, if my player had the cheek to ask for a legendary item, I'd let them draw without blinking ;-)
Just out of curiosity, what level is the player, what class composition is the group and how long has the campaign been going?
EDIT: if you haven't given the actual item yet, you can bend the rules a bit since it says that the deck comes in either 13 or 22 card version. Choose 13 and just remove the cards that you think might break your game.
In your OP you stated the "player said I can't take it back." I get the impression that this player is taking advantage of your inexperience. I could be wrong but with that being said this is how I would handle it.
Perhaps this wizard misunderstood what the player asked for and instead the player was given a Deck of Manly Things, every time a card is drawn a razor, jock strap or some such manly item appears.
A Deck of Mini Things, a card is drawn and a miniature item of limited use appears.
A Deck of Many Thongs, sexy lingerie falls from the sky.
GOOD LUCK!
My reading the deck can only be used once per person since cards after the declared number have no effect. That said I would make sure the player knows that it may force them to retire the char(a: things that kill the PC, b: if they get a multi l jump(such as the jester at low level) I personally would allow them to roll a new PC and have their current char become a friendly NPC until the party level gets close to the jumped level(let them decide which they would rather play when the party is within a lvl, having a lvl 10 and several 5s made one of my games quite frustrating)
The deck of many things is not "rare or under", it's legendary. If you've already said yes, I'd just use a short deck or stack the deck. A ten card deck (take a 13 card deck and remove the suit of Diamonds) is probably fine.
Players don’t get to tell you you can’t take it back. You said rare or less, and this is not. There’s your out. Admit you made a mistake, and let the player choose again.
I mean, if you want to be Petty every card is void ;-)
Thank you all for the answers! I might implement some of these things in the campaign. I didn't expect so many answers in so little time. Thank you!
The campaign has been going on for 2 sessions, for a CG wild sorcerer, a LE ranger, and a CN rouge. Their all lv 5-6, and I have already given the deck of many things.
Yeah, I'd just see what happens and be prepared for new plothooks from it ;-)
Yep.
honestly. Very few people draw once. And get Star. And then stop drawing.
usually you draw something that hits you bad.
Blank
Thank you for all the comments! Here is some more background.
The player drew once every single day, because he didn't want to have it be destroyed. It made some interesting parts, like when he drew comet and almost died for his own glory, but it go annoying when he drew key and tried getting me to give him a legendary item. He is a real risk taker. He hasn't lost any thing to the cards. He even drew skull, which summons an avatar of death, and the conversation goes as following:
Me (DM): (This is going to be good with its 19 AC) Roll to h-
The Player: Nat 20. Also, I use all my spell slots to do extra damage, and use my effect to attack again.
Me: Okay... roll to hit...
The Player: 21.
Hmmm interesting, the 3.5 deck only allows the a player to draw however many cards once (Cards must be drawn within 1 hour of each other, and a character can never again draw from this deck any more cards than she has announced.) but that clause didn't make it into the 5e text.
That said If they pull the give me a legendary item card, remember the deck itself is legendary ;) If its getting to be too much, hope for talons so the deck disappears itself or the age old treasure hunters start tracking the party.
Thank you all! We are playing dnd 5e. Also, I have changed some of the cards abilities to make them less destructive/gift-giving. Also, they can only do 1d4 draws per day.