The Game Master's Deck of Boons and Banes: 40 Game-Changing, Character-Shifting Cards and a Companion Book for 5th Edition RPG Adventures -- Ginny Di, Other

The Game Master's Deck of Boons and Banes consists of 40 stunningly illustrated cards, 20 of which impose a bane of some sort on a character. A curse, for example, that constantly threatens to strangle a PC to death the more active they are. Or a blight that causes mold to grow over the PC's skin in thick, stinking patches. The remaining 20 cards convey a boon of some sort - a blessing from a higher power or the magic that courses through the natural world. For example, the PC may be blessed with a pair of guardian wolves that travel with them wherever they go and fight on their behalf. Or they might even sprout giant dragonfly wings twice a day, enabling them to escape danger or travel long distances with ease.

The exact composition of the deck players might choose to draw from is up to the GM, whether it be made up of all bane cards, all boon cards, an even mix of the two, or some randomly assigned ratio of good to bad. The boons are a great temptation - but drawing a bane could bring about a crippling result, so players will need to weigh the odds every time.

The companion book includes a description of each card's effect and how it impacts the PC who drew it. Within each entry, GMs will also find suggested side quests related to each care, as well as recommendations for scaling card effects up or down depending on the level of the characters drawing from the deck.

Author: Ginny Di
Publisher: Media Lab Books
Published: 10/01/2024
Pages: 88
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 5.00h x 3.00w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781956403886

About the Author

Ginny Di is a Denver-based tabletop gaming YouTuber, cosplayer and TTRPG influencer who loves telling stories, bringing characters to life, and helping viewers have more fun with their tabletop games.

Tim Foley was born in Flint, Michigan, and since attending college at the Kendall School of Design, has made his home in Grand Rapids on the west side of the state. A freelance illustrator for the past three decades, his work has appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world and books have included many titles in the bestselling young adult "Who Was" biography series, as well as Cooking for Wizards, Warriors and Dragons and the companion book, Drinking with Wizards, Warriors and Dragons.