Making Checks
The Target Card System is the heart of Deck of Adventures. Instead of rolling dice, you draw cards and try to match a target—the closer you get, the better you do.
The Target Card System
Think of the Target Card as a bullseye on a dartboard. When you attempt something uncertain, the GM draws a Target Card from the Table Deck. You draw from your Action Deck and compare the value—the closer you are, the better your result.
Example: Target Card is Ace of Spades
Key Insight: Distance wraps around! An Ace is only 1 away from both a King (going up) and a 2 (going down). The deck forms a circle, not a line.
Draw Range (DR) Results
The Draw Range (DR) is the difference between your drawn card and the Target Card. Deck of Adventures uses a fixed system—you always know what each DR means.
| Draw Range | Result | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| DR 0 | Major Success | Exceptional outcome! You not only succeed but excel. |
| DR 1-2 | Full Success | You achieve your goal without compromise. |
| DR 3 | Partial Success | Success with a cost—you achieve it, but something complicates matters. |
| DR 4+ | Failure | The attempt doesn't work as intended. |
DR 0: Exceptional outcome!
DR 1-2: Achieve your goal without compromise.
DR 3: Success with a cost or complication.
DR 4+: The attempt doesn't work.
Skill Modifiers & Drawing More Cards
Your character has Skills tied to Attributes. When you make a check, you draw cards equal to your Skill Modifier. More cards means more chances to hit that bullseye!
Example: Picking a Lock
The GM sets a Target Card: 7 of Hearts
Your character has Finesse +3 (high Agility)
You draw 3 cards: 4♦, 9♣, 6♠
The 6♠ is closest (DR 1 from 7). Full Success!The lock clicks open.
Higher Skill = Better Odds
A Skill Modifier of 1 gives you one shot. A modifier of 4 gives you four cards to find the best one.
Best Card Wins
When you draw multiple cards, only the closest one to the Target Card counts.
✨Critical & Perfect Success
When you hit DR 0 (exact value match), that's a Critical Success. But if your card also matches the Target Card's suit? That's a Perfect Success—the best possible outcome!
DR 0 — Exact value match
Example: Draw a 7♣, Target was 7♥
DR 0 + Same Suit
Example: Draw 7♥, Target was 7♥
Perfect Success in Combat
Attack Draws: On a Perfect Hit, make Bonus Draws equal to the attribute modifier used for the attack.
Optional Rule: A Perfect Success may also award an additional Power Card to the Table.