[RPG] n upper limit on the number of cards a character can declare to draw from the Deck of Many Things

dnd-5emagic-items

The Deck of Many Things (DMG, pp. 162-164) says:

Before you draw a card, you must declare how many cards you intend to draw and then draw them randomly […] Any cards drawn in excess of this number have no effect. Otherwise, as soon as you draw a card from the deck, its magic takes effect. You must draw each card no more than 1 hour after the previous draw. If you fail to draw the chosen number, the remaining number of cards fly from the deck on their own and take effect all at once.

But it doesn't seem to specify an upper limit to how many cards can be picked. Is there one? Because of how dangerous the Deck of Many Things can be, I've only ever seen people pick up to 3, but could you declare 10? 30? 100?

Best Answer

There is no practical limit

The first line of the description of the deck specifies:

Usually found in a box or pouch, this deck contains a number of cards made of ivory or vellum. Most (75 percent) of these decks have only thirteen cards, but the rest have twenty-two.

[...]

If you fail to draw the chosen number, the remaining number of cards fly from the deck on their own and take effect all at once.

In particular, the last sentence of this section suggests that the limit is either 13 or 22, as that is the total size of the Deck.

However the description specifies further:

Once a card is drawn, it fades from existence. Unless the card is the Fool or the Jester, the card reappears in the deck, making it possible to draw the same card twice.

So, once the Fool or the Jester card is drawn, it is no longer part of the Deck (and the Deck is permanently reduced in size). Otherwise, after each draw the card fades and reappears in the Deck.

As a result there is no practical limit on the number of cards you can draw, as the Deck replenishes itself.