Don't implement the Deck of Many Things unless you are ready to face the consequences.
this post was submitted on 06 May 2024
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As a player and a first time DM, I did not like it at all when my DM brought out the DoMT. First off, a player was given the deck outside the context of the game, so we're all (characters) sitting at a bar when out of nowhere one of us pulls this deck of cards out that none of us had ever seen before. Then (because RP goes out the window when you have the opportunity to use a new real-life toy) everyone in the party decided to pull one, causing one person to get 3 wishes, another to get a follower, and (after peer pressuring me) my character (a punk rock vampire!) to have his alignment changed to lawful good.
That was 3 sessions ago and since then every game has been non-stop gimmicks to cater to the results of the deck pull. One player is leaving (partly for this but for a few other reasons) and the game is slowly drifting apart; I completely blame the DoMT (and my DM's poor implementation) for the likely death of my first DnD campaign ๐
The DM of that game is a player in the game I'm running. He asked if I'd like to borrow the deck.. had to politely decline. "too complicated for a first timer" I told him. "and it's dumb as shit and only makes things interesting when you've made them boring," I did not tell him.
A master craftsman doesn't blame their tools.
Either advocate for your interests or get right with the fact that you failed to. It's no one else's responsibility to read your mind, especially when they're having a good time otherwise and possibly have no clue that you're bottling it up.
The DotM is an inanimate object and doesn't do shit. People do. So, do something.
I get your sentiment, but this is not my game. I'm in no position to retcon the DMs decision. I'm not the master craftsman, nor are they my tools... Rather, I'm a patron of the crafter, and as soon as I saw him pull out a particular chisel, I've noticed fewer people enjoying the crafts.
I get that the deck itself doesn't do anything, but it's a mechanic in a game that people play, thus it does effect the game and "does" something to an extent. The same way that having spell slots for casters "does" something. When you introduce new mechanics it definitely does "do" something. Idk, maybe semantics.
You're a "patron of a crafter"? I'm unaware of any transactional element to this situation, and if there is no money changing hands, then you're selling yourself short. You, as much as anyone at the table, per se, are just as much an equal contributor to the game itself and your individual enjoyment of such, with just as much a say in how that comes about.
In a perfect world, you should be able to bring this up with the group and be recognized for the courage and trust in their friendship (much less, the maturity) it takes to do so. If that's not how it shakes out, the table clearly isn't for you and you'd be better off continuing your search for a game worth your time & effort.
If, after all this, the DM is paid for their time? Get a fuckin' refund.