Kismet | a Tarot-based TTRPG dev blog

Fate deals the hand. You carve your destiny.

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What is KISMET?

KISMET is a tarot-based TTRPG, where Fate deals you a hand, but you carve your own Destiny.

In KISMET, we use tarot cards instead of dice as our RNG engine, but with a twist. Drawing 8 cards from your minor arcana deck and 1 from your major arcana deck, players cannot draw new cards until either they have expended their hand, OR they happen to draw the right major arcana that would allow them to draw early.

The number value of the minor arcana card that you play will determine your typical "roll" in other dice-based systems, but the suit of that card can either increase or decrease your played value depending on the scenario in which you are trying to resolve. In KISMET, you can resolve scenarios either using Combat or an Aspect Check, but will reward and level up the primary Aspect (skills) used along its skill tree (more on skill trees later).

There are four Aspects in KISMET. Each of these Aspects interacts with the minor arcana suits in different ways:

Might (M: Fist) - Determines physical melee might as well as the ability to complete feats of strength (ie, pushing a boulder) and the ability to withstand physically taxing scenarios. Fated(F) with Swords (+2) and Affiliated(A) with Pentacles (+1). Ill-Fated(I) with Cups (-2) and Unaffiliated(U) with Wands (-1).

Deft (D: Wing) - Determines finesse melee, dodging, and nimble movements as well as Speed and general Dexterity. Fated with Pentacles (+2) and Affiliated with Swords (+1). Ill-Fated with Wands (-2) and Unaffiliated with Cups (-1).

Wit (W: ThirdEye) - Determines the ability to suss out information as well as understand the inner machinations of magic. Wise and Intelligent characters have a lot of Wit. Fated with Wands (+2) and Affiliated with Cups (+1). Ill-Fated with  Pentacles (-2) and Unaffiliated with Sword (-1).

Charm (C: Heart) - Determines likability and how other characters will interact with yours. Charm also determines how a character understands the intentions and hearts of others. Charismatic characters have a lot of Charm. Fated with Cups (+2) and Affiliated with Wands(+1). Ill-Fated with Swords (-2) and Unaffiliated with Pentacles (-1).