Well, I finally got a real hold on my solo system. It's going to support traditional and solo methods. I think it's very unique in that your possessions, underlings, stats, XP and plot currency are all the same thing.

I'm going to engage in my next Solo Voyage project. The project in question is testing out a handful of GM Emulation PDFs such as Mythic or the Covetous Poet.

I'm going to engage in my next Solo Voyage project. The project in question is testing out a handful of GM Emulation PDFs such as Mythic or the Covetous Poet.

While I work on that, I figured I'd make a poll. What is your favorite GM Emulator?

Well, I wrote out rules for anyone interested in playing Dread solo (well, it's more playing Dread without the Jenga tower... which certain situations do call for), which I had stewing in my head since I played it in October.

Well, I wrote out rules for anyone interested in playing Dread solo (well, it's more playing Dread without the Jenga tower... which certain situations do call for), which I had stewing in my head since I played it in October.
http://solorpgvoyages.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/how-to-play-dread-with-the-mythic-gm-emulator/

Kenny Norris asks in his SoloRP mailing list the question of how do people handle NPC's that may have secrets and half-truths a GM would normally handle. I asked Kenny if we could discuss it here, and he agreed it would be okay.

Kenny Norris asks in his SoloRP mailing list the question of how do people handle NPC's that may have secrets and half-truths a GM would normally handle. I asked Kenny if we could discuss it here, and he agreed it would be okay.

I can think of three ways in order of easy to hard:

(1) Amorphous NPC - ask only what you need to know about the NPC and let the NPC slowly take shape across the game. Hopefully a tool you are using will provide a surprise, and since the whole of the NPC is not set in concrete that "secret" can then be revealed.

(2) Disguise - based on some roll, such as Mythic's "doubles" throw out some portion of the NPC and replace it with the real motivation. This can be hard because there will be past/future fallout based on the NPC's earlier actions.

(3) Metagame - this is hard, but take the hat of the GM, and then play cat and mouse with the PC. Allow only the world to revolve around the secret/half-truth while the PC has to act according to the lie until such a time that the secret is revealed. I've found that while this is hard, it can be a really good tool to becoming a great roleplayer of the PC.

What are your thoughts on NPC secrets?

I'm in the process of creating my first product for sale. As I've received so much help from Lone Wolf Roleplaying in the past I thought I'll post my survey as to what should be in the course here.

I'm in the process of creating my first product for sale. As I've received so much help from Lone Wolf Roleplaying in the past I thought I'll post my survey as to what should be in the course here.

If you fill it in and want to try and win a free copy of my course please enter your name in Q8 but in brackets LW Roleplaying and everyone who enters via here will be put into your very own prize draw.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H8NDGQS

Here's an in-depth guide for personalities. I use it similarly to the Pendragon rpg personality traits when emulating party members instead of a GM (or just to help craft a PC back story). Of course, you could use it in a similar fashion as the Universal NPC Emulator too.

Here's an in-depth guide for personalities. I use it similarly to the Pendragon rpg personality traits when emulating party members instead of a GM (or just to help craft a PC back story). Of course, you could use it in a similar fashion as the Universal NPC Emulator too.
http://rpg.ashami.com/

Here is my Solo Master Screen. I made it with goal to ease my life while playing dungeon crawls. Have you done something like this before?

It's been a long time since I've spent any real time here, and I hope everyone's okay. :)

It's been a long time since I've spent any real time here, and I hope everyone's okay. :)

For a client of mine I done a video of a #SoloRPG and they loved it. I'm wondering if people would enjoy watching some solo roleplaying. Not only for tips, tricks, seeing how I do it, but also as an enjoyable distraction.

I'm surprised that nobody here has mentioned RA Montgomery yet. Very sad. The man basically did more than anyone else, except my father, to instill a love of reading at a very early age. One of the unsung literary greats.

I'm surprised that nobody here has mentioned RA Montgomery yet. Very sad. The man basically did more than anyone else, except my father, to instill a love of reading at a very early age. One of the unsung literary greats.

RA, you teach millions of children to think, reason and love to explore and learn. You pass way loved by more folks than you can ever know. THE END

Here's a post describing how to use the Lords of Waterdeep boardgame as an adventure generator. It's similar to the Alladin technique.

What do you think about mixing wargames and RPG rules?

What do you think about mixing wargames and RPG rules?
I had idea to do this in Oolong campaign but I did not. Now I have opportunity again in my Runequest campaign.

What I have in mind is following - sometimes, by luck or intention, your character can find itself in the midst of the bigger battle.
In this case, I will make my character a leader of one of the units in battle, play the battle using 2HW rules (as solo friendly) and than continue with Runequest campaign having result of the battle in mind.
The preparation for battle and the battle will replace Q7 and Q8 in this 9Qs game.
I will soon let you know the result of this experiment.

I've been reading up some on hexcrawling, and while looking at some resources, I stumbled upon this free d&d doc with copious tables. I can see this working alongside, say, UNE, and many of the other play aids people here have created and shared. Enjoy!

I've been reading up some on hexcrawling, and while looking at some resources, I stumbled upon this free d&d doc with copious tables. I can see this working alongside, say, UNE, and many of the other play aids people here have created and shared. Enjoy!

http://kellri.truculent.org/CDD%234%20-%20ENCOUNTERS%20Reference.pdf

My first webinar.

My first webinar.

I talked about creativity and random generators (and answered some questions).


#webinar #solorpg #soloroleplaying  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9gzO-NDF9E

My my, this looks like a very handy PDF if you're running a western game.

My my, this looks like a very handy PDF if you're running a western game.

Originally shared by Jesse Cohoon

P5: People, Places, Powers, Possessions, Plot,
Instant content for your western games.
Any feedback on this free book would be greatly appreciated.
Enjoy

What do you do if and when when your random event/character generator stops feeling random? Like an NPC generator that gives out the same results or you manage to do all the random plots that the event generator has on its list?

How is everyone getting on with their #solorpg games?

How is everyone getting on with their #solorpg games?

I'm about to start a new campaign today after so long without gaming. Who knew setting up a business could be so much work!

Here is my take on a Conan in the late peak of his adventures, presented as a Scarlet Hero:

Here is my take on a Conan in the late peak of his adventures, presented as a Scarlet Hero:

Conan of Aqualonia    
Scarlet Hero, Level 12 Warrior
HP: 78 AC 4 (scale), AC 8 otherwise

STR 19 INT 13  WIS 17  DEX 16  CON 18  CHA 16

+1 Two-handed Sword (+17) 1d10 (+5)
Dagger (+16) 1d4 (+4)

Fray Die: 1d8

Traits (16 total pts)
Son of Cimmeria +2 (barbarian culture, cold survival, blacksmith)
Slave of Brutheim +2 (endurance, perseverance)
Thief of Zamora +2 (climbing, raiding)
Soldier of Turan +3 (footman’s culture, training, discipline, jungle survival)
Corsair of the Black Coast +4 (sailing, pirate culture, sea survival)
General of Aqualonia +3 (tactics, leadership)

Here's a guide for using Mythic GME and FU RPG by Mats Lintonsson .

Here's a guide for using Mythic GME and FU RPG by Mats Lintonsson .
I personally often use FU's dice system as an oracle instead of the yes/no-function of GME.
Mythic GME and FU certainly play nice together.

#mythicgme   #furpg

After some discussion about a collaborative solo-rpg game, I want to get a firm number of people who would participate and start getting email address. Respond to this thread, send me a PM, or email me at bmarkslash7 gmail com.

After some discussion about a collaborative solo-rpg game, I want to get a firm number of people who would participate and start getting email address.  Respond to this thread, send me a PM, or email me at bmarkslash7 gmail com.

If only a couple of people are interested, I would propose a sequential game, where one person has an adventure and then passes the system to the next person in line.
If many people are interested, I would propose a simultaneous game, where people check out (and yes, return) resources to use in an adventure.

I want to judge interest in a project that is Labyrinth Lord combined with permanence and rule changes ala Risk Legacy

I want to judge interest in a project that is Labyrinth Lord combined with permanence and rule changes ala Risk Legacy

Alex Yari 's (fun and awesome) Un-solo experiment started me thinking about non-solo components for solo-rpging.  One thing I thought about was exchanging characters or sending characters off to be in someone else's game.  Another thing we could exchange is a rulebook (taken from Dyson Logos's awesomeizing, see https://plus.google.com/+DysonLogos/posts/af3QCyCLCYf).  Within that rulebook, we could add house rules, change sections, include adventures that have occurred as well as characters that exist.  The basic idea would be to use the rules and information in the book for your adventure or two, add and change whatever you wanted, and then send the rulebook to someone else.

Interested?

A mate just showed me this kickstarter.

A mate just showed me this kickstarter.

It isn't for me, I don't think, but he is including a free introduction solo adventure PDF.

FYI :)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/seankreynolds/five-moons-rpg-by-sean-k-reynolds

So I had a couple of personal breakthroughs today.

So I had a couple of personal breakthroughs today.

First is the use of a dry erase surface. Writing on a paper has such a feel of permanence that I hesitated to simply jot things down as I played a session, so I kept getting drawn into prose which slowed down the action. However the new plexiglass on my wargame table also makes a great dry erase surface, which by its nature is transient. I was jotting and doodling away as I went, seeing my progress accumulate before my eyes.

The second was that I say down at the table with no plans or anterior motives. I didn't know the setting or the plot, much as I would were I setting down to a more traditional game with a GM. Roy cubes and the ME, and a few other tools lead the way. Here again the dry erase helped, because I simply jotted down the first logical thing that popped in my head.

I'll attach a couple of photos, including my untimely demise in a crypt I tried to shelter in during a sudden snow storm in th mountains. I was looking for a victim snatched by cultists, because apparently even random generators love the classics. Never found the poor soul.

Finally got this off my hard drive. Introducing Perilous Intersections, my solo RPG engine.

Finally got this off my hard drive. Introducing Perilous Intersections, my solo RPG engine.
http://noonetoplay.blogspot.com/2014/09/perilous-intersections-v-10.html?m=1

There is an upcoming blog for soloists: SoloRoleplayer.com

There is an upcoming blog for soloists: SoloRoleplayer.com

It is going to be run by me. My current blog Lone Cabbage will be closed.
http://soloroleplayer.com

[I wasn't sure where to post this, so if this is the wrong section, apologies.]

[I wasn't sure where to post this, so if this is the wrong section, apologies.]

I'm currently trying to put together a solid, relatively generic set of Idea Generators for use with solo roleplaying, and I'm looking for good examples to work off of. I already have the Action and Subject tables from Mythic, and I was planning on somehow incorporating the list of Dramatic Situations. What are other good lists or wordbanks to draw from? Does anyone else have IGs they particularly like?

How can we measure our solo roleplaying?

How can we measure our solo roleplaying?

At the moment I've come up with these:
Time gamed per week
Dice rolled
Session length
Sessions per week
How many memorable moments
NPCs encountered
Immersion

Can you think of other measures? (It doesn't matter if they're silly.)

Thanks

I just thought of something: you don't need to emulate the GM. You can be the GM, and emulate the players. This should be much simpler, as the range of responses of characters is much more restricted than the range of responses of the GM.

I just thought of something: you don't need to emulate the GM. You can be the GM, and emulate the players.  This should be much simpler, as the range of responses of characters is much more restricted than the range of responses of the GM.

You can pick any old module and emulate a PC party.

What do you think?

what happened to http://solonexus.blogspot.com ? Does anyone know how to get invited?

what happened to http://solonexus.blogspot.com ? Does anyone know how to get invited?
http://solonexus.blogspot.com

What if there was some online structure to support semi-solo games?

What if there was some online structure to support semi-solo games?
Players could play solo, but somehow interact with some shared artefacts that introduce some otherness to the solo experience: shared places could change, a twist could be introduced by another player, etc

I've been thinking about the type of people who get into solo roleplaying. From my experience I have come up with 10 different types.

I've been thinking about the type of people who get into solo roleplaying. From my experience I have come up with 10 different types.

1. Writers
2. GMs learning a new system
3. Introverts
4. Roleplayers with no group
5. Roleplayers with an infrequent group
6. Those who think it's a fun hobby
7. Those who want to play their own choice of game
8. Family Man (or woman, or carer)
9. Stranger in a Strange Land
10. Roleplayer with no time for regular gaming

Can anyone either by experience or knowledge help me expand this please,
Thanks!

(cross posted with RPG Geek Solo Roleplaying Guild)

Is there a comprehensive list of solo RPG and resources available somewhere? Did anyone develop a classification of the different types?

There's so much from fiction writing that can be used within solo RP. Writing my last comment I was reminded of Themes.

There's so much from fiction writing that can be used within solo RP. Writing my last comment I was reminded of Themes.

At their core themes are short sentances that describe what the story is about. There are many different ways to write themes. 3 simple examples are:
X leads to Y
X vs. Y


These themes help frame conflicts, story ideas, and even the characters.

Love vs. Honour needs different characters than Duty vs. Honour.

Love vs. Honour needs a person who loves and is deeply touched by honour (a Samurai falling for a peasant girl).

Duty vs. Honour is where a man has to choose what is more important to him and follow through. A Samurai who has a duty to his Lord but his honour forces him to protect someone weaker against his Lord's wishes.

Keeping this theme to mind during the character's adventures can lead to a more uniformed story which could help make things easier when you come across strange oracle results. A forest and cave Rory's story cube results in the Love vs. Honour could mean a cave in a forest where the two main characters meet. Or it could be the Samurai having to dig deep into the untamed regions of his mind to discover who he is deep inside.

Lately I've been experimenting with pictures (specifically, old illustrations and engravings) as a random idea generator. I've written up three posts on the subject, the first being a general overview, the other two an example of generating a campaign setting, and (Runequest 6) character creation using random pictures. The first post is linked in this post, the other two follow it directly.

Lately I've been experimenting with pictures (specifically, old illustrations and engravings) as a random idea generator. I've written up three posts on the subject, the first being a general overview, the other two an example of generating a campaign setting, and (Runequest 6) character creation using random pictures. The first post is linked in this post, the other two follow it directly.

I've played through the first 13 scenes of a RQ adventure with Mythic and using the picturesfor randomideas, and it's going well so far. I'll get them typed up and posted soon.

But for now, I hope this sparks some ideas for people.

I thought about this based on Geoff Osterberg 's last post sharing the blog post. A lot of discussion has been had on trying to emulate that feeling of having a GM with loads going on behind the GM screen. I know that Alex Yari and Kenneth Norris are big on looking at the theory of solo playing a GM, etc.

I thought about this based on Geoff Osterberg 's last post sharing the blog post. A lot of discussion has been had on trying to emulate that feeling of having a GM with loads going on behind the GM screen. I know that Alex Yari and Kenneth Norris are big on looking at the theory of solo playing a GM, etc.

Anyway, this Musing stems from the fact that I am next up as GM for my group. I am going to try something new, which is use Atomic Robo RPG's Brainstorms to push the adventures. Brainstorms are where the GM provides "unexplainable phenomenon" and the players use their Aspects to create facts and ultimately a hypothesis about it. We have a science guy, and occult guy, a crime guy, an espionage guy, etc. so I am hoping that Brainstorms push in wildly creative ways.

What this means ultimately is that I don't have much behind the curtain. Certainly I will be the ultimate decider of "what is real", but the players are going to have a huge amount of world control. 

This got me thinking further about how a GM preps a campaign. A bad GM will do it in a vacuum. A good GM considers the strengths and flaws of the PC's. The best GM asks what kind of stories the players like to play. Again, the GM is not this Chinese Wall of the world. He has to become contaminated with the player's investments. 

I think this idea of "GM control", especially one we try and "emulate" in solo RP is a farce. It's just as contaminated in a conventional gaming group as it is in solo RP. 

I would say though that solo RP has the benefit of pushing creatively towards stories that may never be told at the table because each solo RP'er knows that any story vector is open, whereas a conventional group needs to maintain interest. A story of love or heartbreak will never, ever happen with my conventional group, and that's a pretty classic story.

I think many here would agree that the most difficult part of solo gaming is emulating something that feels like a more traditional play situation. How do we avoid knowing that the NPCs are going to do in advance? How do we generate a world that we can still be surpirsed by? How do we avoid revealing the man behind the curtain, when we are the man behind the curtain?

I think many here would agree that the most difficult part of solo gaming is emulating something that feels like a more traditional play situation.  How do we avoid knowing that the NPCs are going to do in advance? How do we generate a world that we can still be surpirsed by? How do we avoid revealing the man behind the curtain, when we are the man behind the curtain?

This blog post over at The Gentle Art of Gaming isn't necessarily the full answer. For one it's aimed at solo wargamers (which I do also when an opponent isn't available) but I think it is a better way to tackle solo roleplaying. The gist of the post is this: Regardless of what ruleset or theme we use, ultimately we're playing a game of pretend. 

Looking at it that way, we may be able to get around the emulation problem. Perhaps knowing it all in advance won't break the game, and their is enough inherent randomization in the dice rolls to surprise us and force us to adapt and discover new options. 
http://shiftymushrooms.weebly.com/getting-the-most-out-of-solo-wargaming.html

Does anyone know mechanics to model and simulate NPC emotions and actions?

Solo Game Draft

Solo Game Draft

I've been brainstorming a solo game based on some ideas I got from the thought experiment I carried out recently. The game tries to fictionalize inside the premise the act of content creation via the Tarot as an idea generator or randomizer, so you take on the role of a purported psychic reading a remote situation via the Tarot.

The link to the document is here. Be warned that the document is an HTML file so in order to get the correct formatting you need to download it. Otherwise you'll see all the ugly HTML markup.
  https://drive.google.com/#folders/0B_7MzENQrZSxQ2thSk0tbzgtMEk

You can get some background on my initial thoughts about the  game itself at this story-games link: 

http://story-games.com/forums/discussion/19683/first-attempt-at-solo-game-design-brainstorming-ideas-/p1. 

Thanks!

#solorpg   #lonelyfun   #solitairerpg   #solorpgdesign  
https://drive.google.com/#folders/0B_7MzENQrZSxQ2thSk0tbzgtMEk

So, I wrote up the rules for running a solo game using GME and Once Upon A Time and I figured I'd share it here. I put it through a few more playtests, though I haven't updated the ruleset to reflect that.

So, I wrote up the rules for running a solo game using GME and Once Upon A Time and I figured I'd share it here. I put it through a few more playtests, though I haven't updated the ruleset to reflect that.
http://boardgamegeek.com/article/16115673#16115673

I am looking for beta testers and commentators for my next release BOLD - book of legends and deeds. It's a generator that creates "waylays" which are essentially discrete story elements, usually a conflict. I've been using it in solo play to create an adventure using three waylays arced under a common theme, and it's worked quite well so far.

I am looking for beta testers and commentators for my next release BOLD - book of legends and deeds. It's a generator that creates "waylays" which are essentially discrete story elements, usually a conflict. I've been using it in solo play to create an adventure using three waylays arced under a common theme, and it's worked quite well so far.

Anyway I want to keep the document private for now. So if you are interested email me at zach dot best shift-2 gmail dot com. I'd really appreciate the feedback.

This is a post that I put on RPG.net and Thunderegg's Facebook page. You guys have all been supportive, so I'm posting it here, too.

This is a post that I put on RPG.net and Thunderegg's Facebook page. You guys have all been supportive, so I'm posting it here, too.

So I'm hard at work writing Species and Societies. It's going to follow the same general format as Character Webs. There is a section for rolling up new species, which can be sentient or animal. There is a section for detailing cultures and their governments. There is a section for creating the local political context by defining the relationships between two or more cultures. I will include a section showing it in play, of course.

I'm opening the forum to you, reader. What would you like to see in this book? I'm considering adding a section of OGL text, showing how the species rolled can be made into PC races (it's already sort of easy to do that). Is this something that you want to see? If so, which game systems would you like included in that section? Note that even with the inclusion of game rules, this book is still going to be universally useful, no matter which system you run. Is there anything else that you want? I'm easy; I like feedback and I like satisfying customers.

Also, is there anything that you can think of that would facilitate your solo adventures?

Solo RPG and "Just Writing": A thought experiment

Solo RPG and "Just Writing": A thought experiment

I wonder if some of you would indulge me and carry out this thought experiment for me:

Imagine you have an RPG group, and that you play regularly. You actually gather physically in one place to game on an actual table. It can be any RPG you like.

Here's the twist: there are a couple of restrictions on how you can communicate.

1. You have all agreed that you will only roleplay and communicate by writing stuff down in one notebook (or electronic device) you all share at the table.

2. You can only write things in character or in an authorial voice.

3. The only OOC communication allowed are written questions to the GM. Only questions about the world and NPCs that can be answered with a 'yes' or a 'no'.

4. The GM is an actual human but wish only contribution will be to answer yes or no questions. This is the only way in which you get to know what happens in the GM controlled world. (Basically, if an idea embedded in your question matches what the GM has in mind or appeals to her, you get a 'yes' and that means the idea is true in the fictional world)


Does this still feel like role playing? Has it crossed into the realm of a collaborative writing exercise? Is that in itself not roleplaying?

Tell me what you think.

I set up a new RPGGeek Guild based on solo roleplaying.

I set up a new RPGGeek Guild based on solo roleplaying.
http://rpggeek.com/guild/1999

In the last couple of days I've been thinking of Drivers.

In the last couple of days I've been thinking of Drivers.

I'm thinking that maybe my focus on creating a monomyth driver is a bad choice on my behalf. What I'm looking at is a 4-act driver.

In simple terms the 4 act is broken down thusly:
Introduction
Reacting
Acting
Closure

I would say more but at the moment I've got a busy week upcoming and have many emails to reply to.

I've only started using the term #lonelyfun recently. For a while, I resisted it because it sounded kinda sad, and not very empowering. It seems to have caught on some, though, so I guess it's part of my vocabulary now.

I've only started using the term #lonelyfun recently. For a while, I resisted it because it sounded kinda sad, and not very empowering. It seems to have caught on some, though, so I guess it's part of my vocabulary now.

Still, every time I see or use lonely fun as a term this Akon song starts playing in my mind: Akon - Lonely :)

Apocalypse World style moves for solo engine

Apocalypse World style moves for solo engine

I'd been thinking about this and someone else has actually tried it independently:

http://www.story-games.com/forums/discussion/19594/an-idea-for-a-solo-tool-/p1

I recently discovered the concept of the "Heroes Journey", which I figure would make a great framework for a solo game. I introduce the concept on my blog: http://www.risingphoenixgames.com/blog/the-heroes-journey/

I recently discovered the concept of the "Heroes Journey", which I figure would make a great framework for a solo game. I introduce the concept on my blog: http://www.risingphoenixgames.com/blog/the-heroes-journey/
#hero   #story   #myth  
http://www.risingphoenixgames.com/blog/the-heroes-journey

I know a few people here play Pathfinder. I'm running a Pathfinder Society game next Friday. More info here:

I know a few people here play Pathfinder. I'm running a Pathfinder Society game next Friday. More info here:
http://paizo.com/events/v5748mkg0ataw
http://paizo.com/events/v5748mkg0ataw

Hi peeps I'm wondering if I can impose upon you some more!

Hi peeps I'm wondering if I can impose upon you some more!

I'm doing a little (2 question) survey and wonder would like to know if you could have 15 minutes of my time for me to help you with anything you want, what would you ask me?

Q2 is would you be willing to have a Skype convo as a follow up?

Ideally I'll prefer if you could post your questions in RPGGeek or RPG.net if not add them to the this discussion. I'll be willing to answer these questions for you, if you desire me to.

http://rpggeek.com/thread/1203920/survey-solo-roleplaying
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?731451-Survey-Solo-Roleplaying

Thanks guys! :-)
#lonelyfun
#solorpg  
http://rpggeek.com/thread/1203920/survey-solo-roleplaying

How Mythic GME got it Wrong

How Mythic GME got it Wrong

What follows is a draft of a (short) essay that will be posted to my blog sometime in the future.

My mind has been thinking about solo roleplaying terms recently. You might've seen it when I've started talking about avatars, heroes, and other related character terms. This post is not about that. This post is about: Solo Engines.

Mythic Games Master Emulator was my first brush with a solo engine. Though I didn't know it at the time. Forward a few years and I get into the whole solo roleplaying scene. Someone on the Lone Wolf group used the term solo engine. I do not know if they came up with the term or borrowed it from elsewhere but it seems to have stuck.

If Mythic called it a Games Master Emulator or GME why do I not call it by that name? Why do I prefer the term, and call it, a solo engine instead?

It's simple. There is no GM in a solo game. There is only the single player. In a social game the GM provides the framework of the game and helps drive the game (or story) forward. Linked to this the term GM Emulator makes people feel like you need a GM or have to wear 2 hats while solo roleplaying.

Solo Engine is a better choice because it gets away from using some of the terminology of social roleplaying. That terminology both helps and hinders in solo roleplaying. It helps because it makes solo roleplaying feel safer and is easier to pick up. It hinders because it makes solo roleplaying seem like a clone of social roleplaying. It is true that they share many of the same elements but there is a difference that needs to shown.

That's why I think the term Solo Engine is a better choice.

It gets us solo roleplayers away from talking about GM and Player. It makes us stop thinking that the GME will to do all of the 'work'.

We still have to do some of the work of the GM during the game. Some of the work of the GM can be outsourced to the Solo Engine. There is still some of the GM's work us solo roleplayers have to do.

Analogies are always good: a solo engine is like the engine in a car. Like a car engine the solo engine drives the action but needs inputs from an external force to make it go, stop, and change direction. The engine by itself is useless it needs a framework (chassis of the car) and a means of moving the framework (the drive system).

A solo engine helps you drive the adventure along with the rules. It helps drive the action but it still needs inputs and a whole lot more before its ready

I was reading this thread at RPG.net (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?730734-Blind-Man-s-Elder-Scrolls-or-Solo-Tabletop-sandboxes) interestingly enough about a blind RPG player who wanted to explore a world, in the manner of say, playing Elder Scrolls through solo roleplaying. I suggested context as a main component, and roryb bracebuckle echoed it. It got me to thinking.

I was reading this thread at RPG.net (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?730734-Blind-Man-s-Elder-Scrolls-or-Solo-Tabletop-sandboxes) interestingly enough about a blind RPG player who wanted to explore a world, in the manner of say, playing Elder Scrolls through solo roleplaying. I suggested context as a main component, and roryb bracebuckle echoed it. It got me to thinking.

All of my solo roleplaying have been within some predefined world or genre. So I've always felt I've had context, but now in thinking I want to say there are two sides of the context coin. There is macro-context that permeates the world and will generally be true of all players in that world, but there is also micro-context.

Often times I create micro-context on the fly. The Oracle suggests an NPC enters the scene, so early on I might have to create an NPC on the fly. Locations, enemies, etc. are often times all created or at least taken from a template at a moment's notice. They weren't there before.

My next big experiment is to use Chuubo's to go through the Hero's Journey, or as much as I can, based on The Writer's Journey book. Chuubo's has macrocontext with locations, some NPC's (that could also be PC's), and some enemies. I think before I start I am going to at the very least flesh out the Archetypes to create more microcontext before I even begin.

Going back to that thread at RPG.net, the OP talks about world building, and I wonder how much world-building - creation of microcontext - could improve the solo RPG, or at least create a variation in flavor. Has anybody created a lot of microcontext before playing and then entered that world?
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?730734-Blind-Man-s-Elder-Scrolls-or-Solo-Tabletop-sandboxes

So I'd like to share some Actual Plays for a solo Stars Without Number game I'm doing, but I was wondering which format folks preferred for presentation:  A more 'mechanical' take, with rolls results, etc,  or a more narrative approach, the play session written up as a short piece of fiction?

Working an idea over in my head, thought I'd share it here. What if solo gaming played like watching a Quentin Tarantino movie? Start with how it ends and then use your system's rules and various aids to figure out how it got there. It would also give focus to any inspiration or probability rolls.

Working an idea over in my head, thought I'd share it here. What if solo gaming played like watching a Quentin Tarantino movie? Start with how it ends and then use your system's rules and various aids to figure out how it got there. It would also give focus to any inspiration or probability rolls.

Still thinking it over, but it seems like this might help move my non-group gaming in an interesting direction.

My own solo gaming virtual space... How do you all run yours?

Hi everyone. I don't think I posted this here yet. I feel Storium is very similar to solo rpg, but you do have other players and a narrator posting back and forth. On the Yahoo group, someone else posted that you can use this to do solo roleplaying by using two accounts for yourself--one as the narrator and another as the player. But on top of all that, I feel it gives me a lot more motivation to play when I'm not in the mood for solo roleplaying because everything is packaged into a single easy to use rules lite game.

Hi everyone. I don't think I posted this here yet. I feel Storium is very similar to solo rpg, but you do have other players and a narrator posting back and forth. On the Yahoo group, someone else posted that you can use this to do solo roleplaying by using two accounts for yourself--one as the narrator and another as the player. But on top of all that, I feel it gives me a lot more motivation to play when I'm not in the mood for solo roleplaying because everything is packaged into a single easy to use rules lite game.
https://storium.com/

Tips for playing solo/experiences with playing solo

Tips for playing solo/experiences with playing solo

I often begin a solo session but mostly lose interest halfway. My only "successful" solo sessions where with using the 9Qs using rules-lite systems.
I think my problem is that I have difficulty with the Oracle. Using Story Cubes often gets me stumped because the results are so random. Trying to "control" the story line is unsatisfying because it doesn't feel like I have a GM who acts as input for me. The Mythic GME feels like a rigid restriction and too much bookkeeping.

How can I make it feel more like roleplaying instead of story-writing?
Which rpg systems do work for you (more simulation-oriented like DnD or more abstract-oriented systems like Fate)?
Which oracle systems/solo engines work best for you (Mythic GME/Story Cubes etc.)?
Which kind of method for logging (online, on paper...)?
How do you stay motivated?

Question for all of you, but specially for John Fiore .

Question for all of you, but specially for John Fiore .
Did you ever tried to assign constant Mythic Chaos factor to specific question from 9Qs?
And if it did crossed your mind, what CF would you assign to easch of the questions?

I would like to do something similar to The Great Blog Roll Call for solo roleplayers on my blog (lonecabbage.me.uk). I already have a list of blogs that I'm aware of and follow.

I would like to do something similar to The Great Blog Roll Call for solo roleplayers on my blog (lonecabbage.me.uk). I already have a list of blogs that I'm aware of and follow.

If you have a blog, know of a blog, please let me know so I can create an inclusive list of solo roleplaying blogs.

Thanks!

http://dyverscampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-great-blog-roll-call-2014.html

Would anyone here be willing to help me. I'm looking into redoing my Your Guide to Playing Alone and once redone would like people to see what you like/dislike/want to add (or remove).

Would anyone here be willing to help me. I'm looking into redoing my Your Guide to Playing Alone and once redone would like people to see what you like/dislike/want to add (or remove).

In doing this I would be open to helping you in return (with anything within reason).

Thanks,
Kenny

Did it ever happen to you to be drawn to roll dice when you do not have to, just in order to "use" the RPG you selected for your solo session?

Did it ever happen to you to be drawn to roll dice when you do not have to, just in order to "use" the RPG you selected for your solo session?
I just understood that I did just that.
I am playing with 9Qs, quasi-Star Wars session. In Q1, my heroes landed on the just terraformed planet, just to discover that their old opponent is a planetary Governor there, which is part of his punishment for his failure that occurred during his last meeting with my PCs (all this decided by Mythic and Rory's Story Cubes). So, my heroes decided to test if they can disguise themselves and mingle unnoticed among planet population (a Sith lord and 3 stormtrupers to stay unnoticed among population of newly terraformed planet? Very unlikely). Of course, PCs failed miserably, but they will later discover that governor of the planet does not care that they have arrived, and that nobody is trying to kill them or something.
This left me wondering, why did I tested at all? I could first ask if someone is looking for PCs and then test if necessary. The only answer I could give to myself is that I did not want to finish Q1 without any PC tests, which I could do without a problem. I simply rushed myself. Do you have similar experiences? Any advices?

How do you actually write down your solo rpg session?

How do you actually write down your solo rpg session?

How much do you write down? Novel style or just a few pointers? Do you use a txt file (or similar) or a physical notebook? Can you give me an example?

I'm asking because I always have problems with this. I don't want to write a novel but if I don't write down anything it doesn't feel like roleplaying at all.

edit: I found a post by roryb bracebuckle which addresses my problem: http://noonetoplay.blogspot.de/2013/12/solo-play-styles.html

#notetaking

With your help I made a list of solo systems/games/engines and other useful tools.

With your help I made a list of solo systems/games/engines and other useful tools.

http://dieheart.net/solorpg/ [^1]

If you want to add something, drop me a line and I'll add it to the list.

[^1]: I abandoned the Google Doc because it was a hassle to keep two lists and you had to sort and it all manually. My wordpress blog has a link library which is easier for me.

#list   #soloengines     #solosystems   #sologames

https://plus.google.com/105391424373264658810/posts/Q5xKLojRsdA

https://plus.google.com/105391424373264658810/posts/Q5xKLojRsdA
https://plus.google.com/105391424373264658810/posts/Q5xKLojRsdA

https://plus.google.com/105391424373264658810/posts/fxfCwGtFbRX

https://plus.google.com/105391424373264658810/posts/fxfCwGtFbRX
https://plus.google.com/105391424373264658810/posts/fxfCwGtFbRX

A quick re-post to the file directory to make this easier to find later:

A quick re-post to the file directory to make this easier to find later:

https://plus.google.com/108395059461267285712/posts/2mVqCfwKCLR
https://plus.google.com/108395059461267285712/posts/2mVqCfwKCLR

Quick re-post to the file directory to make this easier to find later:

Quick re-post to the file directory to make this easier to find later:

https://plus.google.com/115725920587018246269/posts/Wnf5Wonqy9f
https://plus.google.com/115725920587018246269/posts/Wnf5Wonqy9f

A quick re-post to the files directory make it easier to find later:

A quick re-post to the files directory make it easier to find later: 

https://plus.google.com/115725920587018246269/posts/cE5Yvn1uNF7
https://plus.google.com/115725920587018246269/posts/cE5Yvn1uNF7

Hi all (44)

Hi all (44) 
I linked over here from SoloRpg. I'm a long time follower of Mythic and maintain an interest in tools that build creative stories.

I assume everyone is already familiar with the Mythic GME and its random events. For those who might not be, it basically throws a twist at you whenever you roll doubles on 2d10. This provides some surprise and spice to the session.

I assume everyone is already familiar with the Mythic GME and its random events. For those who might not be, it basically throws a twist at you whenever you roll doubles on 2d10.  This provides some surprise and spice to the session.

In the Mythic GME yahoo group, the idea of using an alarm clock was tossed around as a way to create a bit more surprise to your sessions. The gist of it was that every time the alarm went off, it meant that the GME was surprising you with a random event (or perhaps just a random encounter). The nice thing about this is that it makes random events even more surprising (or so we thought).

So, in the spirit of DIY tools that the good folks here have shared, I slapped  together a small implementation of that idea.

One implementation is of the  Mythic random events as they are (taken from a file that was shared in that group). There is a second implementation which  follows the same structure, but aims at what I think is something a bit different: namely to provide "pushback" by  altering your fiction. Think of it as  the tool  telling you, "Hold up. That last bit you put in the fiction? It didn't happen exactly  like that."
 
I call them Fictional Alterations because I'm unimaginative. :)

The tools is pretty easy to use. Click on one of the two 'start' buttons at the bottom to get the engine going. Then roleplay as you usually would. You can type on the window log, or whatever you prefer (as long as you pay attention to the page).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_7MzENQrZSxaEtmdVVISGlrb1k/edit?usp=sharing

I also have a version of it on my blog, with the obligatory long winded companion post. (forget the chess thing in the link. I decided it was time to replace that useless entry :) There I try to explain how I think it is best used. 

If you play around with it, do tell me your impressions and how it might be improved. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_7MzENQrZSxeVR6LWhKcXhDVms/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_7MzENQrZSxaEtmdVVISGlrb1k/edit?usp=sharing

Here is a solo RPG tool I threw together. it includes an Oracle which answers yes and, yex, yes but, no but, no or no and. THe chaos and random event mechanic from Mythic and the random Setting and Plot tables from Instant Game.

Here is a solo RPG tool I threw together. it includes an Oracle which answers yes and, yex, yes but, no but, no or no and. THe chaos and random event mechanic from Mythic and the random Setting and Plot tables from Instant Game.

When chaos is high, impossible things become more likely and certain things become less likely. Uncertain things remain at 50/50.


It looks like you have to download it and then open it from the local disk in order to use it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5KVhFwu2na_Z21jOU5oWHd2YWc/edit?usp=sharing

I'm currently running a character for whom stand and fight is not an option. I think It might lead to an interesting story, as I have to think of ways to solve problems that don't just involve hitting things.

I'm currently running a character for whom stand and fight is not an option. I think It might lead to an interesting story, as I have to think of ways to solve problems that don't just involve hitting things. 

Example: Exploring an abandoned "haunted" house, there are rats in the Kitchen, and I can't take them on head on. So I need to find another way to get rid of them. I suspect I might come back with poisoned food, which will necessitate getting rat poison, not an easy thing considering that my character is a child.

I'm curious how you all deal with NPC choice. Especially in combat situations, where knowing what the NPC is going to do can have a big impact on what the best action for your character is.

This looks like fun. :-)

This looks like fun. :-)

Originally shared by Christopher Stogdill (Frugal GM)

Lots of fun to be had for free! There are some text-based RPGs and fantasy adventures for some solo gaming fun.

I'm trying an experiment. Playing a solo game using a dice less rule set called Active Exploits. Though I'm still rolling dice to answer GM questions, and work out the stats for NPC's and obsticles. Its working quite well.

I find myself waiting places a lot, and at the moment my holy grail for solo gaming is a system that: A) Takes my current location as the default setting, and B) Can be played with a minuscule footprint.

I find myself waiting places a lot, and at the moment my holy grail for solo gaming is a system that: A) Takes my current location as the default setting, and B) Can be played with a minuscule footprint.

I've mulled over adopting Risus and a highly-modified version of the MGE Event Focus table to create a Zombie Survival Solo for on the go. I imagine using an iPhone dice roller like Dice & Dragons or the always classy d20 in a Jar.  Any ideas for an existing game that does this well, or might be used for inspiration?

I can't remember if I might have seen this document linked on John Fiore 's blog before, but Steve Lopez (at https://fourcolorglasses.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/a-decent-primer-on-solo-rpging/#more-897) described it as a "decent primer on solo RPGing". It is focused on D&D 3.0 and up, apparently. Enjoy!

I can't remember if I might have seen this document linked on John Fiore 's blog before, but Steve Lopez (at https://fourcolorglasses.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/a-decent-primer-on-solo-rpging/#more-897)  described it as a "decent primer on solo RPGing". It is focused on D&D 3.0 and up, apparently. Enjoy!
http://shiftkitty.angelfire.com/DDSolitaire.pdf

“Player Challenges” in a solo game

“Player Challenges” in a solo game

Here is another post which I had up on my blog. The basic gist of it is that I was looking for options that would allow one to have challenges that could not be solved by a roll against some stat. As an example of that, I shared a link to an early version of a game called Beloved, which uses what the author calls a “past you/present you” principle. In a nutshell, “past you” sets up what appears to be an “impossible” challenge, which “present you” then has to figure out the solution to. I think the game text does a better job of explaining how:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gnPx8AlhF1TMarQ165Y1vGM382c6epUvCu1-HkXvICI/edit?hl=en&authkey=CJDYi58F&pli=1# 

I also got some great suggestions from various folks, such as “character optimization challenges”, and combat AI.

Luckly, through google+, I found yet another interesting idea: using logic puzzles as the basis of quests. 

http://world-of-tiglath.blogspot.com/2013/12/logic-puzzles-as-plots.html

The author, +JeffreyMcArthurr, is doing two things that I find really interesting. One of them is splitting the puzzle’s clues so that the party needs to obtain them through NPCs. The other is using the logic problems as obstacles to obtaining information like maps, etc. I think the last idea is a bit easier to implement in a solo game, but as of now I’m not sure how the first idea would work in a solo game without a bit of meta-gaming, so maybe the group will have some ideas.

It’s not difficult to find logic puzzles in magazines, newspapers, etc. The only difficulty is finding ones that match the flavor of what you are playing, though I suppose a number of them might be easily adapted. 

(My original post, '"CHallenging the Player" in a solo game', can be seen here: http://solorpggamer.blogspot.com/2014/01/challenging-player-in-solo-game-is-it.html)

I'm very grateful for all the members that have joined the group, and even more grateful for the content that has been shared so far. Two of my main hopes for this little space are:

I'm very grateful for all the members that have joined the group, and even more grateful for the content that has been shared so far. Two of my main hopes for this little space are:

1. To have a repository of cool ideas that will enrich the solo gaming of all members, 
2. Having our collective brain power discover or refine principles that can make solo roleplaying even more enjoyable and interesting. 

I think the content posted so far by other members is definitely starting to fulfill that, so thank you!

As a way of further seeding discussion here, I thought it might not be a bad idea to share some of the posts from my blog that have garnered more attention or comments. I am hoping that they will be useful to members who have not had a chance to check out my blog.

Those of you who have blogs on this solo gaming, please feel free to do the same!

Here is the original post:

Player Character death in your solo game.

How do you feel about it? How do you handle it? 

I've seen it work great in some actual plays of dungeon crawls that have been posted on the Yahoo group for Mythic. After a while, I got the impression that all of those dead characters added a backdrop, and a sense of emerging history to the dungeon. 

Still, I try to avoid player character death in my own solo games. Often, I find myself fudging results so that the story can go on, rather than come to an abrupt stop. I'm not worthy enough to kiss Hitchcock’s shoe soles, so I won't even try to pull a trick like he did in Psycho by killing the Heroine early on. 

With that pre-amble, I wanted to share an idea that I've been playing around with. I have been calling it Consequence and Repercussion tokens interchangeably as the mood strikes me, but I think "Pick Your Poison" captures the feel better.  Here’s how it works: 


Whenever a result of an action your PC/Hero took leads to a result that spoils the story or fun in some way, you can opt to change that result in exchange for taking a Consequence/Repercussion token. However, what this token means is that at some point you must deal with a negative Consequence/Repercussion that is a direct or indirect result of your change. You can defer it, but you can’t get rid of it. At some point, you have to deal with the Consequences of what you did, and Pick Your Poison.

Here is an example in a noir game: 

Your Hero needs to convince the Gangster’s abused girlfriend to divulge damning evidence, but your random result says she refuses. You think that result sucks so you change it:

"she reluctantly yields some evidence", in exchange for taking a Consequence token. 

Now you have to deal with a Consequence/Repercussion of that action at some point of your choosing in the game. It will affect something or someone you care about, but you choose when and how.

Maybe you decide to deal with that Consequence/Repercussion after your Hero has apprehended the Gangster and sent him to jail. If you like tragic endings, You declare that a now badly disfigured Moll kills your hero in revenge (or attempts to kill your hero in revenge if you want to roll for it), because the Gangster found out she ratted him out and beat her badly. 

Alternatively, perhaps  you decide to deal with the Consequence/Repercussion immediately, and decide that the evidence implicates an NPC you deeply care about (maybe it’s your partner, or your love interest). 

One possible problem: you have to be careful to not accumulate too many Consequence/Repercussion tokens: if you defer dealing with them for too long, you may end up having to deal with many Consequences/Repercussions at once! This may be OK in some places, but at other moments it could threaten the feel of your story  if you care about that sort of thing.

Thoughts? Opinions? Other ideas?

http://solorpggamer.blogspot.com/2012/05/player-character-death-in-solo-game.html
http://solorpggamer.blogspot.com/2012/05/player-character-death-in-solo-game.html

David Billinghurst John Fiore

David Billinghurst John Fiore 

Just riffing off John's original Aladdin Technique post & subsequent comments re: capoeira. You guys might also like to check out Taekkyeon, one of Korea's traditional martial arts. They also "dance" as part of their practice, which is very interesting. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMeti6BoE3Y

Title

Title

http://solonexus.blogspot.com/

http://solonexus.blogspot.com/

Title