Inspiration Cards

These house rules replace the standard Inspiration rules in the PHB.

Players receive one card at the beginning of each game day if they have no cards;
Players may receive one card after taking an action, provided that action somehow ties into one of your character’s personal characteristics. If your Ideal is “I will do anything to save a person in danger,” and you want to swing across a ravine on a vine to rescue someone who is about fall into the ravine and hanging by one hand, that fits. You can draw a card.;
Players may receive one card for creating ‘problems’ for their characters, related to their Flaw or by claiming a setback. To claim a setback, you must either impose disadvantage on one of your own ability checks, saving throws, or attack rolls based on one of your Personal Characteristics OR make a decision that creates a significant story setback, obstacle, or hindrance. When you want to Claim a Setback, simply ask the GM. For example: “I’m easily distracted by shiny objects, so I’m distracted by the giant pile of treasure. Can I Claim a Setback and take disadvantage on my saving throw against the dragon’s fire breath?” Or: “This guy wants to help us, but I distrust all strangers. I’m going to be rude and accusatory of him. Can I Claim a Setback for that?” And then the GM might have the stranger refuse to help or get offended or start a fight.;
You may discard as many cards as you like, at any time;
Cards carry over perpetually;
You may hold a maximum of five cards at one time. Any cards that you gain when you have a full hand are lost;
Unless otherwise specified, using an Inspiration Card takes no action, and may be done at any time;
Using multiple cards is allowed, as many as you wish to use;
Cards may not be traded. However, there are cards that can assist other players (such as the Supporter card).

OTHER WAYS TO EARN A DRAW:

BY THE NINE HELLS! - Use a phrase anchored in this world (ex. “Taller than a elan on stilts.”, “By the Stone of Anbis!”, “Knee-high to a raitara.”
I KNOW A GUY - Tell your party about an NPC you know who can help you achieve your goals.
THIS REMINDS ME OF THE TIME WHEN … - Your character has a flashback, recalling how they solved a similar problem to what they face now.
CAN’T WE ALL JUST BE FRIENDS? - Make friends with an NPC.
AND THAT’S HOW YOU DO IT - Use one of your class features and describe what happens in at least three sentences.
TALL TALES - Embellish heavily the story of your last adventure to NPCs.
MATERIAL GIRL - Buy a trinket, accessory, or clothing that your character would like (not weapons/armor/adventuring gear).
THE LORE YOU KNOW - Learn some lore, history, or rumors from an NPC or Library/Temple/School.
BRING IT IN! - Convince an NPC to hug you.
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER - Create a piece of minor lore that fits in with the campaign, can be expanded on, and helps you out in your current situation.
THAT’S NOT A KNIFE - Outsmart or get the better of an NPC or beat them at their own game.
IT’S IN MY PART - Draw upon your background feature in a clever and interesting way that helps you or the party out.
RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS - Give a gift or do something for an NPC without a reward.
SELF-DISCOVERY - Realize something about your character that develops them personally, either helping them or hindering them in the future.
BY THE WAY - Inquire or reference the back story of another PC in a way that causes them to have to expand on/RP their character. For example, “Hey rogue, were you not a part of the thieves guild? What happened and what can you tell us about them now that we are involved with them.”

Inspiration Card List:

Name	Usage	Effects
A Brief Respite	Any	You may recover the use of an expended hit die.
Accurate	Combat Only	You gain a +2 bonus on your next attack roll.
Advantage	Any	You have Advantage on any one skill, ability, or combat roll.
Aid of the Consul	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on a Wisdom-based roll.; Consuls: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fail on a Wisdom-based roll - or - cast Detect Evil and Good (1 round duration).
Aid of the Exact	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on a Strength-based roll.; Exacts: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fair on a Strength-based roll - or - cast Heroism (self only).
Aid of the Fierce	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on an Intelligence-based roll.; Fierce: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fail on an Intelligence-based roll - or - cast Shape Water (duration 1 minute).
Aid of the Mutable	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on a Dexterity-based roll.; Mutables: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fail on a Dexterity-based roll - or - cast Protection from Evil and Good (self only, duration 1 round).
Aid of the Oracle	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on an Intelligence-based roll.; Oracles: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fail on an Intelligence-based roll - or - cast Light.
Aid of the Proud	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on a Constitution-based roll.; Prouds: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fail on a Constitution-based roll - or - cast Guidance (self only).
Aid of the Pure	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on a Charisma-based roll.; Pures: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fail on a Charisma-based roll - or - transfer 1 hp per level to a willing target.
Aid of the Reliant	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on a Wisdom-based roll.; Reliants: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically fail on a Wisdom-based roll - or - grants Truesight for 1 round.
Aid of the Steadfast	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage or grant Disadvantage on a Charisma-based roll.; Steadfasts: Automatically succeed or cause a target to automatically failr on a Charisma-based roll - or all allies within 10' receive a +1 to their next attack roll or saving throw.
All Or Nothing	Any	Use in place of a d20 roll. If it comes up even, it is a natural 20. If it comes up odd, it is a natural 1. Not usable with Advantage.
Always Alert	Any	You have Advantage on either an Investigation or Perception roll.
Beginner's Luck	Any	For one roll you have proficiency in any one skill that you don't currently have proficiency in.
Blessing of the Elan	Unique, Favor, Varies	You gain Advantage on Survival rolls for 24 hours.
Can't Miss	Combat	You automatically hit with one attack.
Commanding Presence	Any	You have Advantage on either an Intimidation or Performance roll.
Eyes Front	Non-Combat	You alert everyone to possible danger. The party is immune to surprise for a scene.
Favor of the Codi	Unique, Favor, Varies	Law: In the pursuit of a criminal, you gain Advantage on any Investigation roll for a day.; Sound Mind: You gain Advantage on a Saving Throw to resist the Confusion spell, or effects that duplicate the spell.; Insight: You gain Advantage on an Insight roll.
Favor of the Darkman	Unique, Favor, Varies	Death: If you succeed at hitting a foe and max damage would kill that foe, it dies.; Life: You or one person in your sight automatically succeeds on a Death Saving Throw.; Harvest: You gain the effects of Detect Poison and Disease.
Favor of the Dawn	Unique, Favor, Varies	Home: While inside a home or similar structure, it is protected as the Protection from Evil spell for one day.; Children: You gain an insight to a current problem from the rhymes of a nearby child.; Serenity: You may Calm Emotions as per the spell.
Favor of the Justicate	Unique, Favor, Varies	Clues: You gain Advantage on an Investigation roll.; Justice: The damage you inflice on an attack will be at least equal to the damage your nearest ally has taken from a single foe during this combat.; Bear: You gain advantage on one Athletics roll.
Favor of the Lifefoe	Unique, Favor, Varies	Pain: A single target is wracked by pain, and is at Disadvantage on the next combat or ability roll.; Murder: On your next attack, you act as a rogue at 1/2 your level and gain sneak attack damage if possible.; Betrayal: You gain Advantage on Deception rolls against an ally or neutral NPC for one minute.
Favor of the Mist	Unique, Favor, Varies	Stride: You gain Advantage on a Saving Throw against plants that are magically created or manipulated to impede movement (such as Entangle).; Calm: You gain Advantage on an Animal Handling roll.; Direction: For 24 hours after using this card, the PC is unable to become lost in natural environments.
Favor of the One	Unique, Favor, Varies	Hunting: You have Advantage on Survival rolls to track any creature for a single day.; Invention: You may add your Proficiency bonus to the use of any tool you are not proficient in.; Light: You gain Advantage on a Perception roll.
Favor of the Slayer	Unique, Favor, Varies	Combat: During a combat, you have Advantage on two attacks of your choice.; Inspire: A PC of your choice (other than you) may draw two Inspiration cards.; Athleticism: You gain Advantage on an Athletics roll.
Favor of the Spinner	Unique, Favor, Varies	Spiders: You gain advantage on a Dexterity Saving Throw against becoming entangled in mundane or magical webs.; Guidance: You gain the effects of the Guidance spell on yourself or one ally.; Insight: You gain Advantage on an Insight roll.
Favor of the Timekeeper	Unique, Favor, Varies	Wisdom: You have Advantage on any Wisdom-based roll.; Time: You gain the effects of an Expeditious Retreat spell for 1 minute.; Duty: When given a specific duty, you need not eat or sleep for 24 hours.
Favor of the Unholy	Unique, Favor, Varies	Wrath: During a combat, you may reroll 1's on any damage roll.; Darkness: You gain darkvision for one minute.; Misfortune: A target of your choosing gains Disadvantage on a roll.
Favor of the Untrusted	Unique, Favor, Varies	Charming: You gain Advantage on a Deception roll.; Randomness: Everyone discards their Inspiration Cards and draw replacements.; Madness: Select one target - they are afflicted with the effects of a Confusion spell.
Hard to Resist	Any	Any ability or spell you possess is harder to resist: +2 to the Save DC.
Heroic Interposition	Combat	You get between a target and their attack against an adjacent ally, replacing their AC with yours. If it succeeds, it becomes an automatic Critical against you.
Hitting Harder	Combat	On a successful attack, you do an additional die of damage.
I Got You Covered	Combat Only	You get a free action that may only be used to Disengage.
I Know Someone	Non-Combat Only	Without a need to roll, you know someone at your current location, who will assist your group as much as possible.
Leadership	Combat	For this encounter, if you are adjacent to an ally you grant them Advantage if you forsake your action for the round.
Love Interest	Roleplaying: Any	Play this card on a named NPC. You have earned their permanent love and attention. Each time you encounter this NPC again and they create a problem for you, draw a card.
Mistaken Identity	Any	Alert the DM when you draw this card. During this session, you may be mistaken for another individual - causing you potential problems. After this is resolved, discard Mistaken Identity and draw two cards.
Naturalist	Any	You have advantage on either a Medicine or Nature roll.
Nemesis	Roleplaying: Any	Play this card on a named NPC. You have earned their permanent ire and attention. Every time you encounter this foe again and they create a problem for you, draw a card.
Perfect Form	Any	You have advantage on either an Acrobatics or Athletics roll.
Recovery	Any: No Trade	You may recover the use of up to three expended hit die.
Regroup	Any	You may discard any number of Inspiration Cards that you possess and draw a replacement for each one (including this card).
Say When	Non-Combat Only	Play this before combat starts on a single foe. No matter your initiative roll, that foe must go after you.
Scholar	Any	You have Advantage on either a History or Insight roll.
Silver Tongue	Any	You have Advantage on either a Deception or Persuasion roll.
Slick	Any	You have Advantage on either a Slight of Hand or Stealth roll.
Supporter	Any	You may grant +2 to another player character for any ability or combat roll.
Survivor	Any	You gain a +2 bonus on your next saving throw.
Taunt	Combat	Play this card on a foe at any time during combat. For the duration, the foe will only target you for attacks.
Team Leader	Any	On a group check, only one person needs to succeed.
True Survivor	Any	You gain Advantage on your next saving throw.
True Woodsman	Any	You have advantage on either an Animal Handling or Survival roll.
United We Stand	Combat	If you are adjacent to an ally, neither of you can grant an enemy Advantage. Lasts until the end of the encounter.
Vigorous	Special	If you possess this card when you gain a level and choose to roll your Hit Points, after rolling you may either gain +1 to the roll (not exceeding maximum), or to roll again (accepting the second roll).
Vital Shot	Combat	When you strike a foe in combat, play this card. That foe has Disadvantage on combat rolls for 1d4 rounds.
Well Studied	Any	You have Advantage on either an Arcana or Religion roll.
You Go First!	Combat	Play this card during the first round of combat. You may immediately go before anyone else.
Zig Zag	Combat	You get a free action that may only be used to Disengage.

Posted Mar 12, 2018, 1:02 AM UTC