Cards and Tokens (VTT)
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This product contains a free low-resolution Countdown Deck along with a Benny token (front and back images) designed for use on a Virtual Tabletop (VTT). You can also purchase a printed (or print-and-play) version of the Countdown Deck from here.
What is the Countdown Deck? It is a 56-card thematic Action Deck for Saga of the Goblin Horde ¸ and includes the following special features:
FOUR JOKERS
The Countdown Deck contains four jokers¸ one of each suit. Not only does this make combat even more crazy and exciting¸ it also completely eliminates ties (with a normal deck of cards¸ it's not clear which joker goes first).
Suited jokers are particularly handy for certain rules such as Interludes¸ which only reference card suits¸ and don't tell you what to do if you draw a joker -- or for rules like Chases and Kickball¸ which treat clubs as a complication¸ and include complication table entries for jokers.
COUNTDOWN NUMBERS
Who acts first¸ the Seven of Diamonds or the Seven of Hearts? Did you have to think for a moment? The cards are prominently numbered from 1 to 56¸ and highest acts first¸ so now you can see the initiative order at a glance without having to remember suit order. This is particularly helpful for new players¸ but even veterans may find it handy.
SAGA SYMBOLS
Each card has a unique "saga symbol " at the bottom¸ which can be used by the GM and players as an improvisational prompt. Here are some examples of how you might use them:
- During combat¸ the GM might use the symbol as inspiration for what actions certain NPCs take. Players could also do the same for their gang members.
- When using an Interlude to spin a boastful tale¸ the players can use the symbol for additional inspiration¸ or even use it instead of the suit. Alternatively the player could draw two or three cards and combine the symbols into a single story!
- The GM could draw five cards and use the symbols as inspiration for defining the five scenes in an adventure. This works particularly well in combination with the Saga of the Goblin Horde adventure generator.
- The symbols could be used for describing downtime activity¸ allowing each player to narrate what their characters were doing between adventures.
- The GM could use the symbols as inspiration for complications during a Chase or Dramatic Task¸ or use them to add flavor to other scenes such as combat or social encounters.
The saga symbols don't need to be interpreted literally; an "elephant " symbol could represent any sort of herd creature¸ or just something big¸ or it could be interpreted as strength¸ stamina¸ wisdom¸ memory¸ loyalty¸ etc. Likewise a " torch " symbol might represent fire¸ knowledge¸ destruction¸ heat¸ light¸ exploration¸ and so on.