So after a few one shots and a campaign, we started new characters. We still weren’t comfortable with 5E because we only played it twice before. I was DM and was reading the handbook, I saw the deck of many things and got interested. They were third level at that time so I couldn’t give them the actual thing, so I made this similar concept, except it was more like gambling. They would pay a dude some gold and pick a card ( which was highly nerfed ). And somehow they reaaally liked it and started drawing more cards. One of them hit the jackpot and got a lot of gold and once the others were out, they started asking him for loans, which they would have to pay back with interest. And it ended up with him as the bank and the others in crippling dept with no way to repay him and they started to sell their stuff and it all went downhill from there.
A windfall at level 1 means precious little by level 5. Just add some downtime, and inform the players that at the end, their debt is paid. Also, inform the lucky player that while the others worked, he was living the good life, and now he's .... well, either penniless or has an entirely ordinary economy for his level. Or hers. Theirs.'
Or transform the gold into a magic item the lucky player won while gambling away the gold. Like a Stone of Good Luck. Or whatever fits the amount in question. You said heavily nerfed, but I seem to recall the most gold you could get was 25000 for the unnerfed deck. Maybe? Which would be the 2e one, in my case.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The way you described the scenario just had me laughing myself silly
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Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
As DM, if addiction and temptation is present, I'd allow Charisma save throws. Charisma might be used when the addiction or temptation is tied to social habits or behaviors, such as gambling or the influence of another. A Charisma saving throw could reflect the character’s ability to assert their personal agency and resist peer, else social pressure or even manipulation. I see Charisma as a measure of self-control, force of personality, and ability to resist external influences. And that stat is always neglected, and why so many people are easily tempted e.g. IRL why 42% of Americans are obese with another 32% overweight (just one more cookie, I promise) and why there are millions of gambling addicts in the U.S. alone.
But hey, that's how it would (pun coming) roll at my table.
So after a few one shots and a campaign, we started new characters. We still weren’t comfortable with 5E because we only played it twice before. I was DM and was reading the handbook, I saw the deck of many things and got interested. They were third level at that time so I couldn’t give them the actual thing, so I made this similar concept, except it was more like gambling. They would pay a dude some gold and pick a card ( which was highly nerfed ). And somehow they reaaally liked it and started drawing more cards. One of them hit the jackpot and got a lot of gold and once the others were out, they started asking him for loans, which they would have to pay back with interest. And it ended up with him as the bank and the others in crippling dept with no way to repay him and they started to sell their stuff and it all went downhill from there.
Ouch.
Mystic v3 should be official, nuff said.
add a stat where all of them have to make a wisdom saving through to resist the addiction
A windfall at level 1 means precious little by level 5. Just add some downtime, and inform the players that at the end, their debt is paid. Also, inform the lucky player that while the others worked, he was living the good life, and now he's .... well, either penniless or has an entirely ordinary economy for his level. Or hers. Theirs.'
Or transform the gold into a magic item the lucky player won while gambling away the gold. Like a Stone of Good Luck. Or whatever fits the amount in question. You said heavily nerfed, but I seem to recall the most gold you could get was 25000 for the unnerfed deck. Maybe? Which would be the 2e one, in my case.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The way you described the scenario just had me laughing myself silly
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
As DM, if addiction and temptation is present, I'd allow Charisma save throws. Charisma might be used when the addiction or temptation is tied to social habits or behaviors, such as gambling or the influence of another. A Charisma saving throw could reflect the character’s ability to assert their personal agency and resist peer, else social pressure or even manipulation. I see Charisma as a measure of self-control, force of personality, and ability to resist external influences. And that stat is always neglected, and why so many people are easily tempted e.g. IRL why 42% of Americans are obese with another 32% overweight (just one more cookie, I promise) and why there are millions of gambling addicts in the U.S. alone.
But hey, that's how it would (pun coming) roll at my table.
Good luck.