TEXT: 1
  The Second TaroT 
  VariaTion 
  an alTernaTiVe ForTune deck For 
  caSTle FalkenSTein
  
  2
  dramaTiS PerSonae
  Devised by Mister J Gray
  With Gratitude to Captain Michael Alyn Pondsmith
  Editorial Insight by Lord Lucus Palosaari and Captain Troy E. Daniels
  Illustration and Layout Beautifully Rendered by Admiral Rick Hershey
  The Members of the Gaming Society of the Fat Goblin are Ben Dowell, Eric Hindley, Ismael Alvarez, J Gray, 
  Jason Owen Black, Jeffrey Swank, John Bennett, Justice Mora, Kalyna Conrad, Kiel Howell, Kim Frandsen, 
  Matt Roth, Michael Ritter, Rodney Sloan, Lucus Palosaari, Rick Hershey, and Troy Daniels.
  Grateful Appreciation is Given to the Allies of the Second Compact, who include Lady Roxanne Silver 
  (Mistress of the Babbage Engine) and the Most Honorable Raquel Gutierrez (Marchioness of Santos)
  The Developer of the Line is Mister J Gray
  The Publisher of this Fine Work is Rick Hershey of Fat Goblin Games
  The Second Tarot Variation: An Alternative Fortune Deck for Castle Falkenstein © 2017 Fat Goblin Games
  About FAt Goblin GAmes
  Based in South Carolina, USA, Fat Goblin Games was founded in 2011 to create Pathfinder Roleplaying Game 
  compatible products. With a focus on high quality production values and providing a creative environment for our 
  writers, Fat Goblin Games has quickly become a recognized force in the world of third party publishers.
  With hundreds of support books, visual aids, campaign settings, and quality stock art, Fat Goblin Games 
  continues to provide exciting content and fantastic worlds in which gamers can immerse themselves.
  Visit us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and check out our website at  fatgoblingames.com.
  This game references the Castle Falkenstein Roleplaying game, 
  available from R.Talsorian Games, Inc. Castle Falkenstein and 
  all associated logos and trademarks are copyrights of R. 
  Talsorian Games, Inc. Used with permission. 
            
  Published under license from 
  R. Talsorian Games, Inc.
  The Second TaroT 
  VariaTion 
  an alTernaTiVe ForTune deck For 
  caSTle FalkenSTein
  
  3
  TwiSTing The ForTune deck
  In Castle Falkenstein, success or failure can all come 
  down to a draw of the cards. Players begin each session 
  by drawing a hand of four cards from a Fortune Deck. 
  Over the course of the session they play their cards 
  strategically to enhance Abilities in an attempt to 
  accomplish heroic deeds.
  In the Second Tarot Variation, the ordinary deck of 
  playing cards used for the Fortune Deck is replaced 
  with a Tarot Deck. Over the centuries the Tarot 
  Deck has been used both for playing games and for 
  divination and thus these colorful cards, which are 
  rich with imagery and symbolism, can add a new twist 
  to the Great Game. With a Tarot Deck performing 
  Feats in Castle Falkenstein becomes more than just a 
  calculation of numbers but a chance for surprises 
  and storytelling.
  The Second Tarot Variation assumes the Tarot Deck 
  being used utilizes the arrangement of cards as 
  presented in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (also known 
  as the Rider-Waite deck). The system might need to be 
  adapted when used with other variations of the Tarot.
  The minor arcana
  The Minor Arcana portion of a Tarot Deck 
  corresponds to a regular deck of playing cards. It has 
  four suits, numbered cards, and face cards, though 
  there is one extra member, the Page, in each court. 
  Just as in a normal Fortune Deck, in the Second Tarot 
  Variation each suit represents a specific type of activity 
  and the face cards have a numerical value.
  minor arcana acTiViTy TyPeS
  Tarot Suit
  Playing Card Suit
  Ability Type
  Cups
  Hearts
  Emotional and Romantic activities 
  Pentacles
  Diamonds
  Mental and Intellectual activities
  Swords
  Spades
  Social and Status-related activities
  Wands
  Clubs
  Physical activities
  minor arcana ValueS
  Card
  Value
  Ace
  15
  2 thru 10
  2 thru 10
  Page
  11
  Knight
  12
  Queen
  13
  King
  14
  Please note, because the Minor Arcana includes one more face card in each suit but no Jokers, when using the 
  Second Tarot Variation the Fortune Deck includes four cards worth 15 points instead of just two.
  
  4
  The major arcana
  The Major Arcana portion of a Tarot Deck are 
  twenty-two unique and named cards, each fully 
  illustrated and rich with story and symbolism. In the 
  Second Tarot Variation they represent unpredictability 
  and can be used to twist a story in unusual ways or 
  to represent the forces of luck, divine intervention, 
  or perhaps karma. Each card in the Major Arcana is 
  assigned a unique trait and affects the resolution of a 
  Feat in some way. 
  Before play begins, Hosts intending to use the Second 
  Tarot Variation must decide on three factors involved in 
  how Players will hold and make use of Major Arcana 
  cards. Hosts themselves will find Major Arcana cards 
  of little use and should shuffle them back into the 
  Fortune Deck when drawn.
  First, the Host must decide if Major Arcana cards, 
  when drawn, will be held in a Player’s hand or apart 
  from it. Keep in mind the Second Tarot Variation does 
  not change the maximum number of cards a Player 
  can possess at once. Thus, if Major Arcana cards are 
  held in Players’ hands this reduces the number of 
  Minor Arcana cards which can also be held. This 
  helps balance the unique and possibly game-altering 
  qualities of the Major Arcana by reducing the number 
  of Ability enhancing Minor Arcana cards available to 
  play. Alternatively, the Host can rule Major Arcana 
  cards drawn from the Fortune Deck are held in their 
  own, unique hand. In this case, when Players draw a 
  Major Arcana card it is set aside and another card is 
  drawn from the Fortune Deck to help restore their 
  hands to four cards. Using this method, Players have 
  full access to both the plot twisting capabilities of 
  the Major Arcana and the regular, Ability enhancing 
  virtues of the Minor Arcana.
  Next, a decision must be reached on how many 
  Major Arcana cards can be held by each Player. If 
  Major Arcana cards are being added to each Player’s 
  hand, it is recommended no more than one or two be 
  allowed in a hand at a time. Any more than that could 
  well make it impossible for a Dramatic Character to 
  actually accomplish a feat due a lack of playable Minor 
  Arcana cards. On the other hand, if the Players are 
  holding their Major Arcana cards in a separate hand, 
  the Host may wish to allow a maximum of three or 
  even four cards in order to give everyone the full 
  benefit of a game where strategy and wild cards play 
  important roles in equal measure. In either case, if a 
  Player draws a Major Arcana card from the Fortune 
  Deck but already possesses the maximum number 
  allowed, the card should be shuffled back in and 
  another drawn in its place.
  Finally, the Host should come to a decision as to 
  how many Major Arcana cards can be played during 
  a single Feat. For most Hosts the limit will be one but 
  some may wish to allow more than one Major Arcana 
  card to play played on a single Feat during suitably 
  dramatic moments. 
  The cards of the Major Arcana, and the effect they 
  have on a Feat when played, are as detailed on the 
  Major Arcana Effects table.
  a Final word
  As with any rule in Castle Falkenstein, the purpose 
  of the Second Tarot Variation is to make the game 
  interesting, challenging, and entertaining. If these 
  variant rules interfere with the enjoyment of playing 
  an Adventure Entertainment, we encourage the Host 
  to tailor them to suit the campaign or abandon them, 
  either for a specific scenario or entirely, as need be.
  
  5
  major arcana eFFecTS
  Card 
  Number
  Card Name
  Effect
  0
  The Fool
  Something quite unexpected occurs. The Host should draw a card from the Fortune Deck 
  and use its suit to guide them in creating a twist in the story. Swords might mean the 
  barmaid a Dramatic Character is attempting to seduce is actually a princess in disguise 
  while Pentacles might mean the Dramatic Character not only strikes down an interfering 
  guard but convinces him to change vocations and later rejoin play as an ally. If another 
  Major Arcana is drawn, the Feat simply succeeds in the most spectacular way possible.
  1
  The Magician
  The Dramatic Character finds a perfect moment of clarity and focuses all her energy on 
  the task at hand. She can convert the suit of one card in her hand to the suit of the Ability 
  being used. The converted card need not be played on this Feat.
  2
  The High Priestess
  Oh my, the Dramatic Character is looking particularly fetching today. Convert the suit 
  of one card, chosen at random from the Dramatic Character’s hand, to Swords. The 
  converted card need not be played on this Feat.
  3
  The Empress
  The Dramatic Character feels a rush of passion for the task at hand! When the Empress is 
  played with a Minor Arcana card, treat that card as if it were the Queen of its suit. 
  4
  The Emperor
  True confidence allows one to control the universe instead of the reverse. The Player 
  chooses one card, at random, from the Host’s hand and discards it. The Host cannot 
  draw back up to a full hand until a Host Character makes use of an Ability which matches 
  the suit of the discarded card.
  5
  The Hierophant
  It seems the Dramatic Character has come into a bit of money! When the Hierophant 
  is played with a Pentacle on an Exchequer Feat, treat that card as if it were the King of 
  Pentacles.
  6
  The Lovers
  All for one and one for all! Allow the entire party exactly one minute to trade cards or 
  exchange hands as desired. Cards representing drawn power for Sorcery may not be 
  included in this exchange.
  7
  The Chariot
  It isn’t luck the Dramatic Character possesses but honest skill. When the Chariot is 
  played as part of a Feat, the Player can choose to return one Minor Arcana card she just 
  played back to her hand after the Feat is resolved. 
  8
  Strength
  Like a knight of old, the Dramatic Character steps forward in the defense of others. 
  Increase the level of success of the Feat this card is played on (Partial to Full, for example, 
  or Full to High) but only if the Dramatic Character is acting to defend the honor of 
  another. 
  9
  The Hermit
  The Dramatic Character gains an intellectual insight into the problem at hand. Treat 
  any Pentacle played with the Hermit as if it were the suit of the Ability being used. If 
  the Ability’s suit is Pentacles, treat any Pentacle played as one higher for the purposes of 
  resolving the Feat.
  10
  Wheel of  Fortune
  There are occasions when luck is more valuable than mere skill. The Player discards 
  all Minor Arcana cards and draws until she once again holds four cards. She must then 
  resolve the Feat in question using her new hand.
  
  6
  11
  Justice
  The universe itself seems to be judging the Dramatic Character, perhaps based on past 
  actions. The Player must draw a card from the Fortune Deck until a Minor Arcana card is 
  revealed. If she draws Cups or Pentacles, she achieves a High Success on the Feat. If she 
  draws Swords or Wands, she instead Fumbles the Feat.
  12
  The Hanged Man
  For a brief instant, the Dramatic Character experiences a dizzying sensation as reality 
  itself seems to twist and warp. The Player and the Host must exchange their hands. The 
  Player then resolves the feat using her new hand.
  13
  Death
  Success often comes at a price! The Dramatic Character automatically succeeds at the 
  Feat. However, for the next three Feats the Dramatic Character attempts, no Major Arcana 
  cards can be played and all Minor Arcana cards are treated as if they are the wrong suit.
  14
  Temperance
  The intensity of the challenge grows but so, too, does the skill of the Dramatic Character. 
  The difficulty of the Feat is increased by one step (from Good to Great, for example) but 
  any cards not of the proper suit played to resolve the Feat have a value of 2 instead of 1.
  15
  The Devil
  Beware the gifts of the good neighbors. A nearby Faerie (or perhaps something else 
  unearthly!) comes to the Dramatic Character’s aid… but such help often comes with a 
  price! 
  16
  The Tower
  When accomplishing a task, be careful not to overdo it! The Dramatic Character’s level of 
  success increases by one (from Partial to Full, for example) but she injures herself in the 
  process and suffers 1 point of damage for every card she played while resolving the Feat.
  17
  The Star
  Wishes can come true but hopes can come crashing down. The Player should hazard a 
  guess as to the suit of the top card of the fortune deck and then flip it over. If her guess 
  was correct or if the card is from the Major Arcana, she gains a High Success on her Feat. 
  If her guess is incorrect, she instead Fumbles.
  18
  The Moon
  The Fates can be secretive and have a sly sense of humor. The Player must place a single 
  Minor Arcana card from her hand face down in front of the Host. The Host must then 
  guess the suit of the card. If the Host is correct, the Dramatic Character’s Feat fails. If the 
  Host is incorrect, the Dramatic Character’s Feat automatically succeeds.
  19
  The Sun
  The Dramatic Character is blessed with an abundance of prosperity. For the rest of the 
  session she can hold a total of five cards in her hand instead of the usual four.  
  20
  Judgement
  News of the Dramatic Character’s actions spreads like wildfire and not necessarily for 
  the good. When Judgement is played with a Sword on a Connections Feat, treat that 
  card as if it were the King of Swords. However, if the action being performed is illicit 
  or scandalous, any Swords played for the rest of the session have a value of 1, even when 
  played to enhance an Ability governed by Swords.
  21
  The World
  If an individual and the world are in harmony, anything becomes possible. When the 
  World is played to enhance an Ability in which the Dramatic Character is ranked Poor or 
  Average, treat the Ability as if she possesses a rank of Good instead.
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Castle Falkenstein (GURPS) [multi]/Castle Falkenstein - The Second Tarot Variation.pdf