From nv91-asa@nada.kth.se Fri May 16 01:52:26 1995 Status: RO X-Status: Received: from netcom6.netcom.com (root@netcom6.netcom.com [192.100.81.114]) by mail.nada.kth.se (8.6.10/8.6.10) with ESMTP id BAA05051 for ; Tue, 16 May 1995 01:52:20 +0200 Received: by netcom6.netcom.com (8.6.12/Netcom) id PAA27326; Mon, 15 May 1995 15:19:48 -0700 Received: from isuux.isu.edu by netcom6.netcom.com (8.6.12/Netcom) id PAA27290; Mon, 15 May 1995 15:19:33 -0700 Message-Id: <199505152219.PAA27290@netcom6.netcom.com> Received: by isuux.isu.edu (1.37.109.16/16.2) id AA124216322; Mon, 15 May 1995 16:18:42 -0600 Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 16:18:42 -0600 From: SCOTT_RICHARD Newsgroups: alt.games.whitewolf,rec.games.frp.misc Subject: Tarot For Storyteller Organization: Idaho State University, Pocatello Apparently-To: wod-l@netcom.com, gm-l@netcom.com, rscott@mail.coin.missouri.edu Sender: owner-wod-l@netcom.com Precedence: list Reply-To: wod-l@netcom.com TAROT FOR USE WITH THE STORYTELLER SYSTEM There are several ways I see that you could use a Tarot deck to base the mechanics of the Storyteller system on. I have based this around a fairly common deck and nomenclature, so if you have a different type of deck than the 78 card deck with 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana then you will have to do some modification. The systems described here move from roleplaying focused to more mechanic focused. First, you have to choose how many decks you will use, there are three ways I can see you could do this. 1. One deck each. Easiest and most fun way to do it. People may think they are more in tune with their own personal deck, too, so have more fun with it, trust it more, or have no-one to blame but themselves when the wrong card comes up :). This allows for the possibility of the same cards being drawn in opposition, etc. 2. One deck for the players, one deck for the Storyteller. These will be gone through reasonably quickly and might lead to grumbling by the players about hopeless shuffling, etc. :-) However, this option is cheaper, of course, for those that don't have $US10-12 to shell out for a basic deck. 3. One deck, period. Cards are always drawn from the same deck, whoever is acting, whether PC or NPC. 4. Split decks into Major and Minor Arcana, and let the Storyteller decide when you are eligible to draw a Major card, or perhaps allow it if a willpower point is spent, to change the story more, if the Major Arcana are used. Drawing Cards for an Action You have two choices here that I can see :- I. After drawing a card, place it on a discard pile, or face up underneath the deck, and go through your whole deck this way until finished. Then reshuffle. This has the advantage of you knowing what results can come up cardwise, and you aren't going to have the equivalent of massive runs of weird luck, go or bad. II. After drawing a card, shuffle the deck. This leads to more randomness and unpredictability, and is basically the opposite of I. Different Resolution Systems A. Fully Interpretative System When an action needs to be resolved, draw a card. The card you draw and your interpretation of it is the result of the action. Major Arcana should have more significance than Minor Arcana, whether good or bad. The Tarot offers lots of room for ideas from its symbolism and archetypes. You will, of course, need to be familiar with the cards, or get a reference book to help you here. Well worth doing, and a cheap book for under $US5 is Eden Gray's 'A Complete Guide to the Tarot' ISBN 0-553-27752-9 This is your standard Rider-Waite type deck in here, so something different and you will want to look elsewhere for help. I will list some basic meanings at the end to help as a start. Optional Rules (i) Suits The Tarot suits have significance as below :- Swords Physical Actions Cups Social Actions Wands Mental Actions Pentacles Special Abilities, Magic, Other (disciplines, etc.) So, if you draw a card that is of the suit associated with the action your are attempting then you should have more success, within the limits of interpretation. A purely interpretative system has the problem of relative strengths of characters to take into account, so this will be up to the storyteller and players to adjudicate. (ii) Reversed Cards The Tarot cards may fall reversed, unlike a normal deck of cards. If they do so, meanings change. However, as a storytelling wrinkle, you may decide as the Storyteller to interpret a card reversed as to mean a lesser effect of the normal card. This is all up to you and your players interpretation of course. Another option is to let the Storyteller interpret reversed cards for the player, and the player interpret cards the normal way around. (iii) Suit Oppositions The Tarot Suits have inherent opposing qualities, listed below :- Wands <--> Cups Swords <--> Pentacles Therefore, if a card of the opposing suit to the action you are attempting is drawn, then there should be a lesser effect than a neutral suit. This rule would probably be best used with the suit rule giving a stronger effect for suits associated with the action. (iv) Suit Rankings and Trumps A more mechanistic modifier of this free-flowing system, you could take into account the ranks of the Minor Arcana, ranking them from King (high) to Ace (low). For example, an NPC and a PC both try an action. The NPC draws an 8 of Pentacles, the PC a 9 of Pentacles. The PC 'wins' or succeeds more than the NPC does, if their strengths are relative. The suit associated with the action would be the trump suit, and would 'beat' other suits. Ties are possible here if each person has their own deck, but just handle that as per normal. (v) Ability Modifiers and Suit Rankings Here you can take into account the appropriate abilities of the characters involved. Add the ATTR+ABIL number to the number on the card you draw. Here, P=11, N=12, Q=13, K=14. Do the same for an opposing character, if appropriate. Here you can see who wins fairly easily. Take into account the trump suits, and the weak off suit, i.e. the suit in opposition to the action performed. Trump suit beats all suits, strong off suits beats neutral off suit beats weak off suit, etc. Trump Suit Strong Off Suit Neutral Off Suit Weak Off Suit Suit Swords Swords Wands Cups Pentacles Cups Cups Pentacles Swords Wands Wands Wands Swords Pentacles Cups Pentacles Pentacles Cups Wands Swords B. Minor Arcana Mechanics and Major Arcana Interpretation Here we will use a success system as per the rules, but based on the Minor Arcana cards as a randomising element. The Major Arcana will again be read interpretatively and should be taken as strong elements in the story when they come up in an action or resolution. After the equivalent dice pool for the action is determined, look on the table for that pool and draw a card. If a Minor Arcana Card, then read on the table for the number of successes achieved. A 'B' means a botch, and a '0' means a failure. Columns for all difficulties from 1-10 are included. Optional Rules (i) Trump and Opposition Suits See the above tables to determine the suit associated with your action, and the opposition suit. If the card is of the trump suit, then move up one spot on the column you are reading from. A botch is a still a botch, however. If it is an opposition suit, move down one spot on the column you are reading from. You may not botch due to this rule, however, if you move down into a botch area then the action just becomes a failure. The K+ reading means the K of the trump suit, the A- reading means the A of the opposition suit. (ii) Reversed Cards If a Major Arcana card is reversed when it comes up, see above. The then interpretation should be reduced somewhat for the character that the card is drawn for, but still be a powerful Major Arcana effect. Trump Strong Neutral Weak Card Normal +1 success +1 step no modifier no modifier Reversed no modifier no modifier -1 step - 1 success Note: rule (ii) sysem of course supersedes rule (i). (iii) Successes Greater Than Five If a Trump card is drawn and the action is being resolved on a colum where there is no chance for failure, then there is a chance more than five successes may be obtained, read from the table below to check. Trump Card A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 P N Q K Pool Six 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 Seven 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 Eight 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 Nine 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 Ten 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 Eleven 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Twelve 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Thirteen 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Fourteen 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Fifteen 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Sixteen 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Seventeen 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Eighteen 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Nineteen 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Twenty 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 +One Pool +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 i.e. if your pool is higher than twenty here, then just follow this progression, adding one for each higher pool. (iv) Pools greater than Fifteen For pools greater than fifteen, use the fifteen pool table and follow the below :- If your equivalent pool is greater than fifteen, then move up one step on the column for each pool. However, a botch is a still a botch with this modifier :- for every five pool over 15 remove one botch from the 15 pool table, starting with the first from the left. If this takes you off the table, then add one success for each step off the table. (i.e. higher than K+) C. Minor Arcana Mechanics Take out the Major Arcana cards and just use the Minor Arcana and the Pool Table rules and the optional rules given above if you desire. This lessens the impact of using Tarot, I think, but you may like it. You can still have reversed cards, unlike a normal playing card deck. (which I have rules for, write if you want them) POOL TABLES ONE POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 K 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Q 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 N 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 P 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 7 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A B B B B B B B B B B A- B B B B B B B B B B TWO POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 K 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 Q 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 N 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 P 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 10 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 9 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 8 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 7 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 6 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 5 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 B B B A 2 0 0 0 B B B B B B A- 2 B B B B B B B B B THREE POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 K 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 Q 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 N 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 P 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 10 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 9 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 8 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 7 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 6 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 5 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 B 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 B B B A 3 1 0 0 0 B B B B B A- 3 B B B B B B B B B FOUR POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 K 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 Q 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 N 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 P 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 0 10 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 9 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 8 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 7 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 6 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 5 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 4 4 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 4 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 B 2 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 B B B A 4 2 0 0 0 B B B B B A- 4 0 B B B B B B B B FIVE POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 K 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 Q 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 1 N 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 P 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 0 10 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 9 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 0 8 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 7 5 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 6 5 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 4 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 B 2 5 3 2 1 1 0 0 B B B A 5 1 1 0 0 0 B B B B A- 5 1 B B B B B B B B SIX POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 N 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 P 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 0 10 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 0 9 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 8 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 1 1 0 7 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 0 0 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 4 5 4 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 B 2 5 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 B B A 5 2 2 1 0 0 B B B B A- 5 0 0 B B B B B B B SEVEN POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 2 0 10 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 0 9 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 1 0 8 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 2 1 0 7 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 1 1 0 6 5 5 5 4 3 2 2 1 0 0 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 1 0 0 4 5 3 4 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 5 3 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 B 2 5 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 B B A 5 3 2 1 1 0 B B B B A- 5 1 0 0 B B B B B B EIGHT POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 8 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 1 0 7 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 0 4 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 3 5 4 4 3 2 1 1 0 0 B 2 5 4 3 2 2 1 0 0 B B A 5 4 2 1 1 0 0 B B B A- 5 2 1 0 B B B B B B NINE POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 8 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 7 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 1 0 6 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 4 5 5 5 4 3 3 1 1 0 0 3 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 B 2 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 B B A 5 3 3 2 1 0 B B B B A- 5 2 1 0 B B B B B B TEN POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 8 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 7 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 6 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 1 0 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 4 5 5 5 5 4 2 2 1 0 0 3 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 B 2 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 A 5 4 3 2 1 1 0 B B B A- 5 2 2 1 0 B B B B B ELEVEN POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 8 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 7 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 0 4 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 3 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 0 B 2 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 B B A 5 5 4 2 2 1 0 B B B A- 5 3 2 1 0 B B B B B TWELVE POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 8 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 0 4 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 3 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 B 2 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 B B A 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 B B B A- 5 4 2 1 0 B B B B B THIRTEEN POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 8 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 1 0 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 0 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 1 0 0 3 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 B 2 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 B B A 5 5 4 4 2 1 0 B B B A- 5 5 3 2 0 B B B B B FOURTEEN POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 8 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 0 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 1 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 0 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 0 3 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 B 2 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 B B A 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 B B B A- 5 5 3 2 1 0 B B B B FIFTEEN POOL Diff. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Card K+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 K 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 Q 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 1 P 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 0 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 0 9 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 0 8 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 0 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 1 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 0 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 0 3 5 5 5 5 5 4 2 1 0 B 2 5 5 5 5 4 3 1 0 B B A 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 B B B A- 5 5 4 2 1 0 B B B B BASIC TAROT MEANINGS Standard Meanings Major Arcana Meaning 0 The Fool Choice 1 The Magician Creativity and Power 2 The High Priestess Hidden influences 3 The Empress Abundance, fertility 4 The Emperor Leadership 5 The Hierophant Conventional rule 6 The Lovers Choice between loves 7 The Chariot Mind over emotion 8 Strength Love over hate 9 The Hermit Wisdom given 10 The Wheeel of Fortune Luck, randomness 11 Justice Balance and law 12 The Hanged Man Surrender to greater wisdom 13 Death Change and renewal 14 Temperance Adaptation, coordination 15 The Devil Temptation, material greed 16 The Tower Overthrow of selfish ambition 17 The Star Hope, health, and inspiration 18 The Moon Deception and hidden dangers 19 The Sun Success, freedom, union 20 Judgement Awakening of the spirit 21 The World Triump in all things Minor Arcana Wands Ace Start of fortune, family Two Business success Three Partnership, offered help Four Romance, harvest, home Five Competition, struggle Six Good news, success Seven Courage under difficulties Eight Journey, message, quick action Nine Strength over adversity Ten Heartache Page Young messenger or lover Knight Impetuousness Queen Domesticity, nature-love King Authority figure, good friend Cups Ace Start of love, happiness or fertility Two Love affair, deep friendship Three Health and plenty Four Discontent, reevaluation Five Regret, rejection of happiness Six Good memories Seven Wishful thinking Eight Leaving present status Nine Material wealth, wishes granted Ten Happy domesticity Page Captivating youth, studying, friendliness Knight Romantic youth, proposals or invitations Queen Romantic with intuition, good lover or parent King Reliable business or professional figure Swords Ace Victory, conquest Two Balance, indecision Three Separation, sorrow Four Change for the good, solitude Five Empty victory Six Trouble fades away, water travel Seven Plan may not come together Eight Restraints, restrictions Nine Sorrow, desolation Ten Pain, ruin Page Active youth, disconcerting messages Knight Well mannered youth, helpful, comings and goings Queen Person of strong character, fortuitous King Military or authority figure Pentacles Ace Start of wealth Two Juggling two things at once Three Skill in all things Four Inheritance, possessiveness of goods Five Destitute, alone Six Charity Seven Growth pause Eight Apprenticeship, new things to learn Nine Miserliness Ten Group wealth Page Studious youth, good news Knight Methodical and responsible youth Queen Intelligent, thoughtful, lavish King Captain of industry, generous, affectionate Reversed Meanings Major Arcana 0 The Fool Folly, indiscretion 1 The Magician Indecision, weakness 2 The High Priestess Conceit, sensuality 3 The Empress Infertility, material loss 4 The Emperor Control lost, serious injury 5 The Hierophant Unconvetional, new ideas 6 The Lovers Quarrels, infidelity 7 The Chariot Decadence, sickness 8 Strength Domination of the material 9 The Hermit Refusal to listen to wisdom 10 The Wheel of Fortune Failure, setbacks 11 Justice Injustice, inequality 12 The Hanged Man Arrogance, egotism 13 Death Disaster, political upheaval 14 Temperance Competing interests, bad combinations 15 The Devil Beginning of spiritual understanding 16 The Tower Freedom at great cost 17 The Star Pessimism, doubt, stubbornness 18 The Moon Imagination harnessed by pragmatism 19 The Sun Clouded future plans 20 Judgement Weakness, disillusionment 21 The World Success to be had, fear of change Minor Arcana Wands Ace Cancelling of new projects or trips Two Restlessness, obstinancy, fear Three Beware of offered help, treachery Four Lessened peace, prosperity and success Five Generosity, new business Six Rewards delayed, victorious insolence Seven Ignorance, pretense Eight Delay, stagnation Nine Weakness, sickness Ten Intrigues, separation Page Cruelty, unstable Knight Jealous would be lover, conflict Queen Domineering, obstinate, revenge King Intolerant, prejudiced Cups Ace False love or happiness, instability Two Violent passion, false love, folly Three Overindulgence, oversensual Four Shaking off contentment Five Return of enjoyment, new allies Six Living in past Seven Good resolutions, followup success Eight Interest in success and happiness Nine Misplaced reliance, false freedom Ten Loss of friendship, betrayal Page Little desire to create, dilettantism Knight Sensual, Idle, untruthful Queen Perverse character King Powerful, craft, violent Swords Ace Disastrous conquest Two Release, movement of affairs Three Still there is confusion, loss, sorrow Four Renewed activity, qualified success Five Pridefulness, possible loss Six Stagnation Seven Unexpected possible good Eight New starts and possibilities Nine Patience, unselfishness Ten Triumph over evil Page Impostor, frivolity Knight Extravagance, bragging, tyranny Queen Unreliable, narrow-minded King Distrustful, suspicious Pentacles Ace Miserliness, greed Two Can't handle two things at once Three Lack of skill, ignorance Four Prejudice, covetousness, suspicion Five Money regained after hard work Six Greedy, jealous, bad debts, class-conscious Seven Impatience, nothing to show for hard work Eight Danger of failure Nine Danger from thieves Ten Family misfortune, the old a burden Page Dissipation and excess Knight Static nature, dull tedium Queen Mistrust, suspicion, neglect King Stupidity, perversion, vice