Cardcaptor Sakura Homebrew for 5e, part 1 - Book & Wand
During the COVID lockdowns, I spent time translating material from series I enjoyed into 5e content (usually while my partner and I had Critical Role in the background). I never really used any of it for anything, but maybe some of it will spark something for someone else.
One of the most complete sets of material was me translating Cardcaptor Sakura to 5e. The concept of catching cards and then using their abilities seemed like a good setup for a solo or one player game, but ultimately would probably be best executed in some other system or as a standalone class or subclass concept. This will just be the first in a series of posts, focusing on the Book of the Clow and the Sealing Wand.
If you haven't seen Cardcaptor Sakura, the series kicks off with Sakura discovering legendary magician Clow Reed's book of cards in her father's library. She opens the books and all of them (except the Windy) fly away and spread themselves out across her town. In the series itself, the book doesn't have any relevance outside of being a convenient place to store the cards, but when trying to convert the items to 5th edition, it seemed to me as the best way to get around attunement limits and introduce the specific familiars associated with the series.
The wand is much more central to the series and to the gameplay loop. The wand's transformation ability is mostly there for the flavor, but does have a few effects relating to different cards. The arcane focus ability reflects how Clow Reed designed the cards and wand as a way for Sakura to develop and channel her own immense magical powers - Sakura in 5e terms would be a Sorcerer, despite the emphasis on the book and the and. The sealing ability is the mechanical way to capture the cards, and the ability to hold concentration on one of the card's spells is to represent how it would transform with cards like The Fly and The Sword.
Two more posts on this, coming soon - one for Keroberos and Yue stat blocks and another on the Clow Cards themselves.
Book of Clow
Wondrous Item, legendary (requires attunement)
A magical book that seals the Clow Cards. The person attuned to this book does not use an attunement slot to attune to the Sealing Wand or any Clow Cards in their possession. These items do not count towards any feature that grants benefits for items attuned.
The Clow Book grants the person attuned to it a special Familiar named Keroberos, Guardian of the Clow Cards. When first attuned to the Clow Book, Keroberos uses the Keroberos I stat block. After the bearer of the book is attuned to either the Firey or Earthy Clow Card, use the Keroberos II stat block. After the bearer of the Clow Book is attuned to the Light, Firey, and Earthy Clow Cards, as well as each of the cards they rule over, use the Keroberos III stat block.
After the bearer of the Clow Book has attuned to all of the Clow Cards, they must best Yue, Guardian of the Clow Cards in battle. Failure in this battle usually has dire consequences, such as everyone in the immediate area losing the memory of the person they love most, as well as all knowledge of anything related to the Clow Cards. Bearers of the Clow Book who best Yue gain him as a special Familiar. Yue spends most of his time as a Archer with the ability to transform into the Yue stat block for Bearer of the Clow Book's level minutes per Long Rest.
Sealing Wand
Wondrous Item. Legendary (requires attunement).
A small charm that resembles a key, those attuned to it can transform it into a magical rod with a bonus action.
In its Rod form it can function as a focus for any form of spellcasting. After collecting 5 Clow Cards it functions as a +1 focus, after collecting 20 cards it functions as a +2 focus, after collecting 40 cards it functions as a +3 focus.
In its Rod form, the Sealing Wand can be used to seal Clow Cards. When a Clow Card is at 0 HP or is Incapacitated, the user can use an action to seal the Clow Card back into its card form. The Card will then become attuned to the person who did the most damage to it/incapacitated it.
Can maintain concentration on 1 spell cast by a Clow Card for the caster.