Plot Aid Campaign Card Deck HEARTS

( 52 Normal Playing Cards ) ● Ace: An important card, whose in

game meaning is often affected by
Once every so often ( perhaps an in- the environment of the previous or
game week or so ), shuffle a normal
playing card deck and pull three cards. following ( enemy ) card. With
Or if you simply want scenario ideas, another hearts card it implies new
use the cards in the same way to or rekindled love, friendship, and
generate a set of random event ideas to affection ( maybe even the return
spice up your one off scenarios. of an absent character ); with
The first card drawn is called "Self" and diamonds, money and news of
is always drawn for the good guys... the distant friends; with festivities, and
solo gamers’ personal favourite 'side'. social or domestic rejoicing; with,
spades or clubs it stands for
The second card drawn is "Influence" disagreements,
goes to the left of the "Self" Card
already drawn, and represents recent misunderstandings, contention, or
events ( leading up to the present ), misfortune. Individually, it stands
plus indicates the growing schemes and for the home, appointed office,
machinations of the enemy. safe place, etc.

The third card "Manoeuvres" also

represents the enemy ( or enemies ); ● King: The game is currently
goes to the right of the central "Self" dominated by a well meaning man,
card and indicates current or very near with strong affections, possibly an
future events. Combined with emotional man, and given to rash
"Influence" and "Self" the three cards judgments, possessing more zeal
should suggest a current viable plot for
than discretion.
the solo gamer to play out, either in his
ongoing campaign journals, or on the
games table. ● Queen: The game sees a woman
take centre stage: fair, loving and
lovable, domesticated, prudent,
 and faithful; possibly overbearing relationship or marriage between
and persuasive. game characters.

● Jack: Not endowed with any sex. ● Seven: A faithless, inconstant

Sometimes taken as the Cupid friend who may prove an enemy.
card. Represents information and
good/bad judgement from a best ● Six: A friend or contact with a
friend, or as a fair person's confiding nature, liberal, open-
thoughts. The enemy cards placed handed, and quite possibly easy
previously and directly after this prey for swindlers; courtship, and
card are indicative of the good or being approached by devious
bad nature of the Knave card enemies.
interpretation.
● Five: Causeless jealousy in a
● Ten: A sign of good fortune. It person of weak, unsettled
implies a good heart, happiness, character.
and the prospect of temporary
security. It counteracts bad cards ● Four: Lack of trust.
and confirms things in the vicinity.
● Three: A dire warning card
● Nine: The wish card. It is the sign ( perhaps a warning from a
of riches, and of high social mysterious stranger, a scrawled
position accompanied by influence manuscript thrust under a door, or
and esteem. It may be affected by a second hand witness to an
the enemy bad cards. overheard conversation ).

● Eight: The pleasures of the table, ● Two: Unlooked for ( short term )
convivial society. An important prosperity... maybe a new
gathering. Another meaning benefactor, a lucrative payment, a
implies love and the prospect of newly appointed ( and favourably
looked upon ) officer.
DIAMONDS ● Five: Unexpected news. Business
● Ace: Treasure. Missing item. A success, a lucky break.
clue.
● Four: Breach of confidence.
● King: Fresh reliable news. Troubles caused by inconstant
friends, vexations and
● Queen: Flirtatious woman... one disagreements.
used to having admirers. A loved
one may wander in this direction. ● Three: Legal and domestic
quarrels. Temper or fight.
● Jack: A near friend or contact will
put his/her own interests first. ● Two: An unsatisfactory love affair,
awakening opposition from
● Ten: The potential threat of relatives or friends.
kidnap, innocent victims known to
the card drawer. CLUBS
● Ace: Wealth, a peaceful home,
● Nine: Lack of strength, loss of
industry, and general prosperity.
faith, loss of belief in self. Low
ebb. Disappointment.
● King: A dark, shadowy, mysterious
man enters play.
● Eight: Chequered Past surfacing.
The past surfacing to cause
● Queen: A dark, exotic, beautiful
potential harm.
and mysterious woman enters
play.
● Seven: Bad Gossip and slander. A
Set up.
● Jack: A New friend or ally.

● Six: Former Lover or partner

● Ten: Stolen Riches.
suddenly surfacing, making things
uncomfortable.
 ● Nine: Friction through opposition ● King: An attack against a friend,
to the wishes of friends, friends, or self.
colleagues, or associates.
● Queen: Bribery.
● Eight: Love of money, and a weak
passion for speculating or ● Jack: Weak, and unwillingness of
gambling. others to help do the right thing.

● Seven: Great happiness and ● Ten: An evil omen; grief or

momentary good fortune ( short imprisonment. Has power to
term goal achieved ) - but with a detract from the good signified by
price to pay. the "Self" card.

● Six: Loss of income, blackmail, ● Nine: An ill-fated card, meaning

unpaid gambling debts, swindlers. sickness, losses, troubles, and
dissensions.
● Five: An advantageous
proposition. ● Eight: A warning with regard to
any enterprise in hand, this card
● Four: Falsehood and double- means evil; also opposition from
dealing. friends. Bad choices; walking into
a trap.
● Three: Real trust. Leap of faith.
● Seven: Sorrow caused by the loss
● Two: Care is needed to avert of a dear friend.
disappointment, and to avoid
opposition. ● Six: Rest after toil. Respite. Going
into hiding.
SPADES
● Ace: Ill-chosen friend( s ).
 ● Five: Temporary happiness, and a hearted man, with strong affections,
choice between personal desire possibly an emotional man, and given
and doing what's right. to rash judgments, great bravery,
occasional cruelty due to lack of
● Four: Illness, recovering from a understanding or stubborn denial to
wound. Temporarily out of action. face the truth, possessing more zeal
than discretion.
● Three: A journey. New adventure.
Queen. — The game sees a woman
take center stage: fair, loving and
● Two: A removal, or possibly death.
lovable, domesticated, prudent, and
faithful.
PART 2.
HEARTS. Jack. — Represents information and
Ace. — An important card, whose in good judgement from a best friend, or
game meaning is often greatly affected as a fair person's thoughts. The enemy
by the environment of the previous or cards placed previously and directly
following Influence and Manoeuvres after this card are indicative of the good
card. With another hearts card it implies or bad nature of the Jack's
new or rekindled love, friendship, and interpretation.
affection ( maybe even the return of an
absent character ); with diamonds, Ten. — A sign of good fortune. It
money and news of distant friends; with implies a good heart, happiness, and
clubs, festivities, and social or domestic the prospect of temporary security. It
rejoicing; with, spades, disagreements, counteracts bad cards and confirms
misunderstandings, contention, or things in the vicinity.
misfortune; individually, the card stands
for the home, safe camp, sojourn at a Nine. — Earth-quake, volcano
peaceful settlement, etc. eruption, flash flood, land slide, animal
stampede, or some other natural
King. — The game is currently disaster.
dominated by a ( intrinsically ) good-
Eight. — The pleasures of the table, a lucrative pay packet, the discovery of
pleasant social encounter. An important an ancient and previously unknown site.
gathering. Another meaning implies
love and the prospect of relationship or DIAMONDS.
marriage between game characters. Ace. — Treasure. Missing item. A clue.

Seven. — A faithless, inconstant friend King. — Fresh reliable news. Possibly

who may one day prove to be an a sigh of being on the right path.
enemy.
Queen. — Flirtatious woman... one
Six. — A friend with a confiding nature, used to having admirers. A loved one
liberal, open-handed, and quite possibly may wander in this direction.
easy prey for stronger minded people to
exploit; courtship, and being Jack. — A near friend or associate will
approached by devious enemies. put his/her own interests first.

Five. — Causeless jealousy in a Ten. — The potential threat of kidnap,

person of weak, unsettled character, possibly innocent victims known to the
possible dangerous twist. card drawer.

Four. — Lack of trust. due to being in Nine. — Lack of strength, loss of faith,
the wrong place and the wrong time. loss of belief in self. Low ebb.
Possibly a set up. Disappointment.

Three. — A dire warning card Eight. — Chequered Past surfacing.

( perhaps a warning in a mysterious The past surfacing, potentially able to
message ), or a second hand witness to cause harm.
an overheard conversation. Dangerous
beast rumoured to be roaming close by. Seven. — Bad Gossip and slander.
Ambush. Fierce encounter in the wilds.
Two. — Unlooked for ( short term )
success... maybe a new venture, a
Six. — Former Lover or partner ruthless; possibly with a soft spot
suddenly surfacing, making things ( weakness ) for one of the good guys
uncomfortable. or girls.

Five. — Unexpected news, a lucky Jack. — A New friend or ally.

break.
Ten. — Stolen Riches. Beaten to the
Four. — Breach of confidence. post by an enemy. Dangerous lurking
Troubles caused by inconstant friends. beasts.
Vexations and disagreements.
Nine. — Friction through opposition to
Three. — Legal and domestic quarrels. the wishes of friends, colleagues, or
Temper, fight, or unexpected wilderness associates. Dire warning and threat of
skirmish. curse.

Two. — An unsatisfactory love affair, Eight. — Love of money, weakness

awakening opposition from relatives, surfacing. Cowardice in the face of
friends, or jealous loved ones. adversity.

CLUBS. Seven. — Encounter with vengeful

Ace. — Ignorant and with wealth and beast.... enraged mother or carnivorous
power and enters the game, causing bull.
disharmony and needless suffering.
Six. — Snake in the grass. Blackmail.
King. — A dark, shadowy, mysterious Betrayal with devastating
new enemy of enters play. Possible consequences.
archaeological dig involved, or search
for something ancient and lost. Five. — A secret path or trail, possibly
guarded by ancient evil or wild
Queen. — A dark minded, exotically beasts/creatures; often accompanied by
beautiful and mysterious woman enters native superstition and vague rumour.
play. A sadistic beauty who is utterly
Four. — Falsehood and double- Nine. — An ill-fated card, meaning
dealing. Deception and deliberate false sickness, losses, troubles, dissension,
lead. plague, famine, etc

Three. — Real trust. Leap of faith. Or Eight. — A warning with regard to any
surprising animal friendship. enterprise in hand; this card implies
evil: also opposition from friends. Bad
Two. — Care is needed to avert choices; walking into a trap.
opposition and disappointment from
close friend or loved one. Seven. — Sorrow caused by the loss
of a dear friend.
SPADES.
Ace. — Ill-chosen friend( s ). Smiling Six. — Rest after toil. Safe House.
fair, but foul intent barely concealed. Going into hiding. Maybe accompanied
Often the target of such a person's by monsoon weather, sand/dust storm,
dangerous desires is blind to the true or flooding.
extent of their danger or the masked
intent of the bad person influence. Five. — Temporary happiness, and a
choice between personal desire and
King. — A dangerous motive driven doing what's right.
attack against a friend, friends, or self.
Four. — Illness, recovering from a
Queen. — Ancient Evil surfacing wound. Temporarily out of action.
unexpectedly, having been disturbed,
summoned, or ritually risen from the Three. — A journey. New adventure.
grave / tomb.
Two. — A removal, or possibly even
Jack. — Weak from Military allies, and death, accidental or otherwise.
general unwillingness to help do the
right thing.

Ten. — Cursed Tomb or Burial Site.