Wizards of the Coast revealed all of the new D&D game books coming out in 2023 at the “Wizards Presents” event in August 2022. One of the new books on the list was Keys from the Golden Vault, an adventure collection with a heist theme. Another was Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants, a supplement with a giant theme. Finally, Phandelver and Below: the Shattered Obelisk and Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse was updated.
At that time, The Book of Many Things was also revealed. It is a player-focused guide with new spells, character options, and magic items that is based on the legendary D&D artifact called the Deck of Many Things. The digital version of the book will come out on November 14, 2023.
However, if you pre-ordered the physical/digital package from D&D Beyond, you’ll be able to get the digital version early, on October 31, 2023.
The print version was meant to come out on November 14, but printing mistakes have caused it to be delayed, and there has been no official announcement of a new release date yet. That being said, you can still pre-order it right now on Amazon and D&D Beyond.
What can we look forward to seeing in this new D&D 5e book? Here is a more in-depth look at what we already know.
DNDWIKII was recently given an early look at The Deck of Many Things, a collection containing two books and a pack of cards for Dungeons & Dragons that will focus on the all-power artifact that has appeared in various D&D books and video games in the past. Here’s everything we know so far:
The Deck of Many Things Overview
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Price: $59.95 (estimated)
Length: 272 pages, between two books & a 66-card deck
The Deck of Many Things is a set of two books and a deck of cards that add to the unique item that you can find in other D&D games. There are 66 cards in the deck, 22 of which were in the first form and 44 that are brand new.The Card Reference Guide shows you how to use the cards, and The Book of Many Things is a sourcebook that gives you ideas for how to use the deck in your games.
The Deck of Many Things
The deck is made up of fully illustrated cards that don’t have any text on them. They’re just meant to look like the cards might show in the world of D&D. The 22 cards from the first deck are back, along with 44 new ones.
The Book of Many Things
This 192-page book goes with the deck and “illustrates the deck’s mysteries and gives players and Dungeon Masters everything they need to use it in-game.” This includes tips on how to use the deck, new monsters, adventure spots, character choices, magic items, and groups that were all inspired by the famous deck.
The Card Reference Guide
You can use these cards as a normal oracle deck or to make D&D experiences based on the cards, which are explained in this 80-page book. By putting out the cards and “reading” them like a fortune cookie, the deck can be used in one mode to make up adventures at random.
What is the Deck of Many Things?
The Deck of Many Things is one of the most powerful and well-known magic items in D&D history. It was first included in the 1975 Greyhawk expansion. That card has been used in many other games and things since then, and it even has its own Magic the Gathering card.
The deck is a famous artifact made up of 22 playing cards that look like normal cards but have symbols that look like those in the Tarot. For characters to use the deck, they have to say how many cards they want to draw. After that, a random number of cards is drawn, which starts a powerful magical effect that can either help a person a lot or destroy them.
Many DMs have banned the Deck of Many Things from their campaigns because it is too chaotic and powerful. It has spells like “wishes” that can change the game and even the ability to bend reality itself. However, players have continued to like it more and more over the years.
Ace of Diamonds (Vizier): Ask and receive an answer to any question
King of Diamonds (Sun): Gain 50,000 XP, and a wondrous item (determined by DM)
Queen of Diamonds (Moon): Gain ability to cast the wish spell 1d3 times.
Jack of Diamonds (Star): Increase one Ability Scores by 2 (can’t exceed 24).
Two of Diamonds (Comet): Gain one level if you single-handedly defeat the next monster you see.
Ace of Hearts (The Fates): Avoid or erase any event from the past as thought it never happened.
King of Hearts (Throne): Gain Proficiency in the Persuasion skill. Also get a small keep overrun by monsters.
Queen of Hearts (Key): Get a rare or rarer Magic Weapon.
Jack of Hearts (Knight): Gain the service of a 4th-level Fighter.
Two of Hearts (Gem): Get 25 pieces of jewelry worth 2,000 gp each or fifty gems worth 1,000 gp each.
Ace of Clubs (Talons): All worn or carried magic items disintegrate (powerful Artifacts vanish)
King of Clubs (The Void): Your soul is drawn from your body and contained in an object in a place of the DM’s choice.
Queen of Clubs (Flames): A powerful devil becomes your enemy.
Jack of Clubs (Skull): You summon an avatar of death which attacks you.
Two of Clubs (Idiot): Permanently reduce your Intelligence by 1d4 + 1 (to a minimum score of 1).
Ace of Spades (Donjon): Get trapped in a state of suspended animation in an extradimensional prison.
Queen of Spades (Euryale): Get cursed with a -2 penalty on all saving throws.
Jack of Spades (Rogue): A known NPC becomes hostile.
Two of Spades(Balance): Your alignment changes (lawful becomes chaotic, etc.)
Joker #1 (Fool): Lose 10,000 XP, discard the card and draw again.
Joker #2: (Jester): Gain 10,000 XP or you can draw two additional cards.
What is the Deck of Many Things 2023?
WILD CARDS FOR YOUR COLLECTION!
This updated version of the Deck of Many Things will add even more magical fun to your game. Along with the 22 cards that came with the original Deck of Many Things, you’ll also find 44 new cards that are both surprising and fun. You can add these wild cards to your deck in any way you want for the perfect mix of planned chaos.
INSPIRATION FOR PERFECT CHAOS.
You can’t force creativity, but the Deck of Many Things adds just the right amount of uncertainty to bring about that “light bulb” moment. Dungeon Masters have everything they need to make their campaigns completely chaotic. They can add new adventure hooks and key places or come up with creative new ways to decide random encounters.
Come up with dramatic situations, shocking turns, and brilliant moments that you and your party didn’t see coming.
YOUR DESTINY IS IN THE CARDS!
Are you brave enough to change your fate? You can change your luck with two new player backgrounds. In these backgrounds, drawing from the deck has either given you a miraculous turn of good luck or ruined you in one terrible move. You can find out about strange options by using a deck of cards to channel your magic and help it grow with one new feat and three magical spells.
THE STORY BEHIND THE MAGIC.
In this bigger form of the Deck of Many Things, you can learn more about the history of the popular magic item than ever before. How did the Deck of Many Things get made? What does it mean that an evil figure is shown on one of the cards? Everything you want to know will be shown to you for the first time.
2024 AND BEYOND
Fifth edition classes, mechanics, items, and enemies have been updated and made better in the 2024 Core Rulebooks. They also give players and DMs new choices. Care is being taken with all updates to make sure that anything from fifth version can still be fully played. The changes to the 2024 rules are meant to work with everything you’re playing now in fifth edition. As a result of nearly a decade of fan input, the 2024 core rulebooks will add a lot of new character options, spells, feats, monsters, items, and more. They will also make the game more fun, balanced, and easy to learn.