For some time now I have been kicking around the idea of using tarot cards as a way of generating a living world. I at first had the idea that Major arcana would be very important characters in a setting. For instance Judgement would be the leader of a particular hyper bureaucratic society. I could then use spreads to determine events on a large scale that would have trickle down effects on the players. A once used road would now be under occupation by a neighboring kingdom. Players would have to pay a toll, or pledge loyalty if they wish to pass. Such an event would have been determined before the session was ran by the tarot cards I pull. However every time I have gone about creating this I have felt overwhelmed. After reading Chris McDowell's Mythic Bastionland I was inspired to give another go at it. As I was reading it dawned on me how great of an NPC resource it is.
I thought I could do this, two page spread for each minor arcana. Each of the suits could have a common theme and I could use the cards meaning as insight into who that NPC is.
Major arcana would be for forces or god like beings in the world. The world could represent a major crime syndicate.
Say players are walking along the road and they are greeted by a group of NPCs. Quickly do a spread 5 of pentacles, 3 of swords, 6 of cups, and judgement. The players encounter a merchant, and cleric being escorted by a guard on their way to resolve a land dispute. The cleric believes he has divine right over the merchants wares stand. The merchant claims his permit states he can sale his wares anywhere within 20 meters of the trade district. The guard is her to insure no more disorder is caused by the conflict, but is quite board and will pay the players to finish escorting the two.
I would have a state table with all the most popular systems for each of the characters.
