so i just picked up the Three Dragon Ante cards and was reading my copy of the latest update to Ravenloft. In there, you can use the 3DA cards for fortune telling at madame Eva's place. my PCs are all only 10th level, and i decided since i really didn't like "the lightless Depths" adventure too much, i am going to skip the majority of it and run the City of Broken Idols instead. now, this is a higher level adventure and there are places where there could potentially be a TPK if they don't watch out. so to give them a few hints about what they might be up against, i wrote out a bunch of different prophecies about some of the main plot points/items/etc. that the PCs might find or face. Below is a list of these, and the cards corresponding with them.
so, this is what you do if you have the cards. take out 4 each of the gold, silver, copper, red, black, blue, and green. this is the draw pile. you also need the Dracolich, The Priest, The Druid, and The Dragonslayer. These are the face cards. Then, take out Tiamat and Bahamut.
Set up the 4 face cards in a circular pattern, with the dracolich at the top, the priest on the right, the dragonslayer on the bottom, and the druid on the left, across from the priest. then, put the two cards, tiamat and bahamut face down in the center of the others and leave them for the last.
Pick one card from the draw pile and place it on each card, face up. then, pick another card for each one and make it a crossing card. this gives you 2 cards per face card. it's up to you whether or you have two or not. it depends on how muych information you want to give the PCs. If you get two of the same card, just read another one of the fortunes of your choosing.
The Missionary—Card: The Priest
Face Card message:
“The servant of the Sun is shown in shadow. He seeks help in the dark places under the earth.”
Cards Explanation
gold “You will see him in the hidden rest of the followers of the sun.”
black/blue “There is darkness about him. Trust not the mask he wears.”
Green/red “Death and villainy I see in his wake. He is truly damned.”
silver/copper “His allies are many and, when darkness comes, show themselves to be noble.”
The Bow—Card: The Dragonslayer
Face card message:
“A weapon of light is held in the vault of the sun and moon.”
Cards Explanation:
Gold/red “Follow the three gods around the heavens. The stars, suns, and moons
Illuminate the path.”
Blue/green “Three gods of the ancients command the elements. They all must be
copper Appeased ere the weapon of light is given.”
silver/black “I see a city of pyramids ruled by the three old ones. Their vault is to the South.”
The Lord Of Madness, Khala—Card: The Dracolich
Face card message:
“The Tentacled Thing will be found in the chamber of pearl. His vile host is legion.”
Cards Explanation
Blue “Past the pit of volcanic mud lies he who sees with many eyes.”
Green/gold “The King of madness gazes at his enemies and brings fear to The heart of the most courageous.”
Black/silver “Beware his deranged bile he spits from fanged maw. Acid and Weakness pollute the hearts of those most worthy.”
Red/copper “The guardians of the King are beasts of fang and fin. All feast on The skins of sacrifice.”
Taboo Island—Card: The Druid
Face card Message
“Your travels take you to the temple of the old ones. Those who live near this place name it taboo.”
Cards Explanation
Red/ “All are cursed who go to the temple. Fiends of horror and fang rule its
Reaches.”
Blue “The land is watched by the horror lizard made giant by tainted waters.”
Black/green “The temple of the ancients is watched by the king of madness and his
Foul skin eating servants.”
copper “In the cursed village lie the guardians of wind and sky. The beasts of the
Island hold this place in their thrall.”
Gold/silver “Trust those of snake and wing. They will show you the one true path
Of light in the dark places under the earth.”
Other Cards: read these after the others have been explained. have one of the PCS (randomly rolled) pick one or the other, and read the following: "Now, one among you must pick. bane or boon, help or hinderance! Choose one of the two cards in the center. either will lead to glory, or certain death for all!"
Bahamut: “This is a boon. The platinum king is soon to return. He is want of
A kingdom, and glory will follow with him.”
If this card is drawn, then during combat in of the taboo island temple and the fight with the aspect, every PC will get a sacred bonus of +2 to AC, To hits, Damage, Skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws as long as Khala is alive. This stacks with any other bonus of this type.
Tiamat: “The five headed queen watches over all. There is only darkness here.
Your quest is doomed.”
If this card is drawn, then during combat with the aspect, every PC will get a profane bonus of -2 to AC, To hits, Damage, Skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws as long as Khala is alive. This stacks with any other bonus of this type.
When the Tiamat card is drawn, the fortune teller instantly ends the reading and grabs up her cards, says “This reading is done!” and runs off to get away from the PCs. As she runs away, the Tiamat card falls down and lands in the muddy ground in front of the party, a solemn reminder of the curse that is upon them.
so with this in mind i hope to give my PCs a few heads up in areas where it might be difficult. use them if you want and let me know what the reaction to this is. if i've done a bad thing here by letting a few things of info out, i'm sorry. i just played this out last night, and wanted to get some feedback from other people who are running it. anyway, just a thought.