Deck of Many Things

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Of course, the biggest problem is the party casting summon monster I, having a monkey draw a card and hand over anything that's useful.

Best of my knowledge that wouldn't work RAW. "The character with a deck of many things who wishes to draw a card must announce how many cards she will draw before she begins." I don't think a summoned monster would be able to do that. Also, even if the summoned thing could announce, they would have to announce for themselves how many cards they are drawing and then drawing the card triggers the effect on the card-draw-er. I don't see how you could transfer the "announcing" and the " card drawing" onto another creature.

Peace,
Necro

It has int 3.  It's smart enough to know common. 

And I'm not talking about transferring the announcing or drawings or whatever - just the bennies. 

Monkey draws a card, maybe he gets a wondrous item or jewelry or a castle.  If he does, great.  He'll be nonexistent in a few rounds and you can pick up the items or the deed to his house then.

On the other hand, if the monkey gets imprisoned or soul stolen or changes alignment... who the heck cares.  He's a summoned monster, he has a lifespan of a coke-addled mayfly.

[veekie]

The classic answer to that is that the card drawer got the benefits....on its home plane.

[zugschef]

The classic answer to that is that the card drawer got the benefits....on its home plane.

ok... then just dominate someone...

[Necrosnoop110]

Of course, the biggest problem is the party casting summon monster I, having a monkey draw a card and hand over anything that's useful.

Best of my knowledge that wouldn't work RAW. "The character with a deck of many things who wishes to draw a card must announce how many cards she will draw before she begins." I don't think a summoned monster would be able to do that. Also, even if the summoned thing could announce, they would have to announce for themselves how many cards they are drawing and then drawing the card triggers the effect on the card-draw-er. I don't see how you could transfer the "announcing" and the " card drawing" onto another creature.

Peace,
Necro

It has int 3.  It's smart enough to know common. 

And I'm not talking about transferring the announcing or drawings or whatever - just the bennies. 

Monkey draws a card, maybe he gets a wondrous item or jewelry or a castle.  If he does, great.  He'll be nonexistent in a few rounds and you can pick up the items or the deed to his house then.

On the other hand, if the monkey gets imprisoned or soul stolen or changes alignment... who the heck cares.  He's a summoned monster, he has a lifespan of a coke-addled mayfly.

(1) You could only hand over 2-3 of the rewards the rest of the rewards in the deck cannot be handed over (e.g. xp bonus).

(2) This is why you need a reactive DM. This is an artifact. I'd allow such shenanigans on a regular magical item but not on an artifact. I'd just declare that it doesn't work. Or I'd make all the material rewards focused for the monkey. i.e., bananas instead of gold, monkey sized magical prosthetic hand you can attach to his tail, etc. 

[Necrosnoop110]

The classic answer to that is that the card drawer got the benefits....on its home plane.

ok... then just dominate someone...

In this kind of situation I'd either rule that that flat out doesn't work or all benefits and harms just transfer to the caster, as with a dominated creature it is the caster who "truly" announces and draws, the dominated subject is just an extension of the caster.

I don't even think that these kinds of rulings I'm suggestion to stop these types of shenanigans are even in the realm of pure houseruling. I'd argue that they are good refereeing of the intent of the deck of many things. It's meant to be a "monkey's paw" type of deal and it is artifact level magic.   

[Kethrian]

Yeah, the deck should only give its effects to the one who actually draws the card.  If you have someone draw for you, they get all the goodies, you get nothing.

[Esgath]

The deck of many things is made of awesome

[veekie]

The classic answer to that is that the card drawer got the benefits....on its home plane.

ok... then just dominate someone...

In this kind of situation I'd either rule that that flat out doesn't work or all benefits and harms just transfer to the caster, as with a dominated creature it is the caster who "truly" announces and draws, the dominated subject is just an extension of the caster.

I don't even think that these kinds of rulings I'm suggestion to stop these types of shenanigans are even in the realm of pure houseruling. I'd argue that they are good refereeing of the intent of the deck of many things. It's meant to be a "monkey's paw" type of deal and it is artifact level magic.   

Easiest bit is the declaration of intent. You must announce how many cards you wish to draw, and the deck could just count the order for the minion to draw as such a declaration. So when you order the minion to draw, say 7 cards, the minion draws 7 cards....and then 7 more cards shoot out of the deck.

[nijineko]

i would love to see a character summon a monkey, have the monkey draw, and get the outsider enmity card... since the summoned monkey is technically an outsider...


having the monkey become the campaign villain would be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.