Deck of Illusions 5e

Wondrous item, uncommon

This box contains a set of parchment cards. A full deck has 34 cards. A deck found as treasure is usually missing 1d20 - 1 cards.

The magic of the deck functions only if cards are drawn at random (you can use an altered deck of playing cards to simulate the deck). You can use an action to draw a card at random from the deck and throw it to the ground at a point within 30 feet of you.

An illusion of one or more creatures forms over the thrown card and remains until dispelled. An illusory creature appears real, of the appropriate size, and behaves as if it were a real creature (as presented in the Monster Manual), except that it can do no harm. While you are within 120 feet of the illusory creature and can see it, you can use an action to move it magically anywhere within 30 feet of its card. Any physical interaction with the illusory creature reveals it to be an illusion, because objects pass through it. Someone who uses an action to visually inspect the creature identifies it as illusory with a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check. The creature then appears translucent.

The illusion lasts until its card is moved or the illusion is dispelled. When the illusion ends, the image on its card disappears, and that card can't be used again.

Deck of Illusions

    Playing Card
    Illusion 
    
    Ace of Hearts	
    Red Dragon

    King of Hearts	
    Knight and Four Guards

    Queen of Hearts	
    Succubus or Incubus

    Jack of Hearts	
    Druid
  
    Ten of Hearts	
    Cloud Giant

    Nine of Hearts	
    Ettin
  
    Eight of Hearts	
    Bugbear
  
    Two of Hearts	
    Goblin
  
    Ace of Diamonds	
    Beholder

    King of Diamonds	
    Archmage and Mage Apprentice

    Queen of Diamonds	
    Night Hag

    Jack of Diamonds	
    Assassin
  
    Ten of Diamonds	
    Fire Giant

    Nine of Diamonds	
    Ogre Mage
  
    Eight of Diamonds	
    Gnoll
  
    Two of Diamonds	
    Kobold
  
    Ace of Spades	
    Lich

    King of Spades	
    Priest and Two Acolytes

    Queen of Spades	
    Medusa

    Jack of Spades	
    Veteran
  
    Ten of Spades	
    Frost Giant

    Nine of Spades	
    Troll
  
    Eight of Spades	
    Hobgoblin
  
    Two of Spades	
    Goblin
  
    Ace of Clubs	
    Iron Golem

    King of Clubs	
    Bandit Captain and Three Bandits

    Queen of Clubs	
    Erinyes

    Jack of Clubs	
    Berserker
  
    Ten of Clubs	
    Hill Giant

    Nine of Clubs	
    Ogre
  
    Eight of Clubs	
    Orc

    Two of Clubs	
    Kobold
  
    Jokers (2)	
    You (the deck's owner)

Commentary by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold

The Deck of Illusions is a wild time for just an uncommon rarity item. You typically get 34-1d20-1 cards, and while most magic items don’t require outside props, this one recommends using an altered actual deck of playing cards to engage with its abilities!

As an action, you can draw a random card from the deck and throw it to a space within 30 feet of you, conjuring into existence an illusion based on the drawn card. That illusion is of one or more creatures that act like a creature of that kind would act, and lasts indefinitely, or until the card is moved or the illusion is dispelled. You only get to use each card once, though, so choose wisely when you want this!

The best part of all this is you can control the illusion while you can see it within 120 feet as an action, making it akin to a Major Image spell. These illusions are obviously illusory, and thus can’t physically interact with stuff. They also can be investigated, revealing their illusory nature on a successful DC 15 Investigation check.

Each illusion is also bound to a space within 30 feet of the card; once they’re there, they’re there for good.

You can’t choose what creature you summon, but you can know what the contents of the deck are beforehand and your chances of getting specific cards.
The creature’s summoned are of whatever size the creatures are in their Monster Manual stat blocks. Some of these are HUGE, which can lead to some interesting moments in confined spaces.
The only duplicates in the deck are a pair of Jokers, that summon an illusory duplicate of deck owner.
There are duplicate results as well, though, with both the Two of Spades and Two of Hearts conjuring a goblin and the Two of Clubs and Two of Diamonds conjuring a kobold.
Four of the cards conjure more than one illusory creature at once; the King of Hearts (a knight and four guards), the King of Diamonds (an archmage and a mage apprentice), the King of Spades (a priest and two acolytes), and the King of Clubs (a bandit captain and three bandits).
Each kind of card tends to share a theme; Kings summon multiple creatures, tens all summon Giants, Queens summon traditionally effeminate creatures, and Nines conjuring large creatures just shy of Giant sizes.

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