Yet Another Oracle

Yet Another Oracle

I've been working on a JavaScript Oracle tool that integrates many of the ideas I've played around with. The tool is not in its final version, so it has some warts (some of the text windows might become pages, or be hidden altogether, etc).

Chris Stieha has very kindly given me feedback many many times on a jillion things, and I am looking for one or two extra play testers so I don't bother him all the time. :) Anyone who might be interested in playing around with it and sending me feedback (questions, comments, bugs), please hit me up in this thread with your email addy (or hit me up at solorpggamer at gmail dot com), and I'll send you a private link.

Chapter 2 of my "PC emulator" experiment. Daron sets out on his own for answers...

Chapter 2 of my "PC emulator" experiment. Daron sets out on his own for answers...

A solo Scarlet Heroes urban adventure.

A solo Scarlet Heroes urban adventure.

https://dansgamingblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/the-slums-of-haicheng

Tried something a bit different--I decided to follow Lone Crusaders advice and use Mythic to emulate PC actions, which allowed me to give a module a try. Here's the first part of my experiment with this style. Does anyone else run modules? Or use emulator to dictate PC actions?

Tried something a bit different--I decided to follow Lone Crusaders advice and use Mythic to emulate PC actions, which allowed me to give a module a try. Here's the first part of my experiment with this style. Does anyone else run modules? Or use emulator to dictate PC actions?

A cool dice mechanic that seems like it would make the transition between GM and player more natural and fluid. Brought to you by the author of Otherkind and Apocalypse World, and expanding on the dice concepts from the former.

A cool dice mechanic that seems like it would make the transition between GM and player more natural and fluid. Brought to you by the author of Otherkind and Apocalypse World, and expanding on the dice concepts from the former.

http://www.lumpley.com/archive/148.html 
http://www.lumpley.com/archive/148.html

This is doodle of an idea for a framework for narrative yet (slightly?) objective mysteries.

This is doodle of an idea for a framework for narrative yet (slightly?) objective mysteries.

Does it work? I don't know, I haven't play-tested it yet.

Still, I thought it'd be of interest if anyone feels like reading it over and putting in some pennies.

Bonus, there's a link in the post to my solo-narrative-gamebook theorizing from a few months ago if that's of interest.

What do you think?
https://exposit.github.io/katamoiran/2017/02/23/to-make-a-murder/

Two Oracle ideas floating in my head

Two Oracle ideas floating in my head

I'm working on an oracle that is based on rolling 2d6 with a +3 to - 3 modifier. Because I want symmetry in the odds, I've decided that any result of 7 (the mid point of 2d6) will be a "special" result of some kind. This special result will be one of two things: A ripple(see links below) from a previous branching story point being felt NOW, or something else.


Let me talk about the ripple first, which I already know how I will implement, before I talk about the "something else," which I'm hoping to work out here. What the Oracle will do is spit out a previous story branching point at the player. The story branching points will most likely be whatever questions or statements the players put to the oracle-- including ones that get 'no' answers. When the Oracle spits such a branching point at you, it means that a chain of consequences has rippled through time as a result of the turn that point took. If you got a 'yes' for that particular question/statement, the ripple happens as a result of that coming in to existence. If you had got a 'no', the ripple instead happens as a result of that NOT coming into existence.

The player is responsible for figuring out how that affects their present moment. Whether they use the oracle to figure that out or use something else is their concern. Whether they want to figure out what the chain of events was or they are satisfied with knowing only the impact it has on the NOW is also up to them. I'm pretty set on this idea, but feedback is always welcome.

Something else

I also want to have another kind of "special" result. This result can stil be a yes or no, but with a twist. The twist itself is more about adding some interesting color or flourish that you perhaps would not have thought to add with a plain yes or no. "no, but" and "yes, but" are too open ended for what I want.

For example:

"Is he blonde?"
Do not want to prompt ideas that have nothing to do with hair color:

"yes, but he's really smart!" / "no, but he's really dumb."

Do not want to completely negate the "blond" part:

"no, but he has red hair"

What I want to encourage:

"yes, but he dyes his hair black(i.e. technically no)." / "no, but he dyes his hair blonde (technically yes)"

Another example:

"I jump. Do I make it over the chasm?"

Do not want to prompt ideas that have nothing to do with making it over the chasm:

"yes, but an angry goat is waiting at the other side." / "no, but you hold on to a branch and make it safely to the ground below."

Do not want to completely negate "making it over the chasm". It has to be at least technically true:
"no, but you hold on to a branch and hang there ."
"no, but you fall safely into the river below."

What I want to encourage:
"No. Your feet did land on the other side's edge, but you are falling now because you lost your balance and your foothold."
"Yes. You missed the other edge due to a bad jump, but a handy jutting branch allowed you to climb up."

I would like to find a phrasing that encourages the thing being asked to be either true though technically false, or false though technically true. I find this kind of subtle and directed modification to the fiction fun.

I'm also duly noting that an oracle like that is not to everyone's taste, but rather than get sidetracked on a discussion about the merits of that, I'd rather that this discussion focus on finding a way to succinctly get that idea across as an Oracle result.

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For context you could read these posts, but it's "not exactly" necessary:

Ripples In A Pond
https://plus.google.com/108395059461267285712/posts/4eXHjfnCWXm

2d6 +3/-3 probabilities
https://plus.google.com/108395059461267285712/posts/7uBwhGBz5Yb

"Not Exactly" as an Oracle result
https://plus.google.com/108395059461267285712/posts/T94UKssaBLD

Current reading list...

Current reading list...
Voice, the secret power of great writing by James Scott Bell
Conflict & Suspense by James Scott Bell
Writing Monsters by Philip Athans

Why? Because becoming a better writer makes me a better gamer. :-)

A solo Labyrinth Lord adventure using Schweig's Themed Dungeon Generator.

A solo Labyrinth Lord adventure using Schweig's Themed Dungeon Generator.
https://dansgamingblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/23/the-dungeon-of-gevdrins-tower-a-solo-labyrinth-lord-adventure-using-schweigs-themed-dungeon-generator

http://adoptedbymentor.blogspot.com/2017/02/solo-aw-session-3-daddys-gonna-pay-for.html

http://adoptedbymentor.blogspot.com/2017/02/solo-aw-session-3-daddys-gonna-pay-for.html

This was a really fun experience, and I'm definitely going to do it again. It has worked out a LOT better for me than pbp. With this, I can take a week or two off, no probs. No compulsively checking updates to see if I've missed anything. A very relaxing way to game.

I love me some random tables...

I love me some random tables...

Originally shared by Ripper X

A free table that might help you get even more out of Random Encounters by simulating Wilderness Exploration.
http://advancedgaming-theory.blogspot.com/2017/02/system-neutral-1d100-non-encounters.html

So I went back to the drawing board on my Apocalypse World - Lady Blackbird - solo mashup.

So I went back to the drawing board on my Apocalypse World - Lady Blackbird - solo mashup.

This is the result. Anyone feel like playtesting?

Note that it's been edited about as far as I can right now (it's "shelf for a week" time), so expect typos and rough spots and math errors.

I'm going to be constantly adding new scenarios and character options as they come up in my own games -- this is kind of a living document, so to speak.

Anyway, any feedback would be gratefully welcomed!
https://exposit.github.io/katamoiran/2017/02/20/the-calypso-compendium/

A solo Ruins of the Undercity session.

A solo Ruins of the Undercity session.
https://dansgamingblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/22/a-lucky-find-of-gold

"not exactly" as in "not quite but close to being"

"not exactly" as in "not quite but close to being"

Equivalent to "no, but"?

Take the question, "I jump over the cliff. Do I make it to the other side safely?"

How would you interpret these answers:

"no, but":
"yes, but":
"not exactly (i.e. not quite, but close)":
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My answers (curious about yours):

"no, but" : "no, but you land on a rock outcropping six meters down the edge at the other side. "

Oracle: "not exactly"

Interpretation: "not quite but close. you only missed by an inch." (seems like a 'no' with some window dressing)

Now take the question: "Was he a professional boxer?

"no, but": "no, but he was a professional arm wrestler. "
"not exactly": "not quite but close. he won the amateur gold medal in the olympics. "

Is "no, but" more open ended than "not exactly"?

The Qumberina is sailing North towards Bamarsa and Dima. Eve and Caj are sidetracked into an attempt to steal a sacred object, but it doesn't go well...

The Qumberina is sailing North towards Bamarsa and Dima. Eve and Caj are sidetracked into an attempt to steal a sacred object, but it doesn't go well...

https://solounmondodicarta.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/eve-of-tschai-9-the-lizard-tempe-of-orugis/
https://solounmondodicarta.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/eve-of-tschai-9-the-lizard-tempe-of-orugis/

Probabilities and aesthetics question

Probabilities and aesthetics question

My question is about what feels more aesthetic to you based on the considerations below.

2d6 + a modifier range of -3 to +3 has the following probability spread (if I did my research correctly):

2d6-3
6-: 83.34%
7-9: 16.64%
10+: 0%

2d6-2
6-: 72.22%
7-9: 25%
10+: 2.78%

(-2 and -3 skew the spread, but -1 to +3 looks more symmetrical)

2d6-1
6-: 58.33%
7-9: 33.33%
10+: 8.34%

2d6+0
6-: 41.66%
7-9: 41.67%
10+: 16,67%

2d6+1
6-: 27.77%
7-9: 44.45%
10+: 27.78%

2d6+2
6-: 16.66%
7-9: 41.67%
10+: 41.67%

2d6+3
6-: 8.33%
7-9: 33.33%
10+: 58.34%

What feels more aesthetic to you? A modifier range of -3 to +3 which has an asymmetrical probability, or an asymmetrical modifier range (-1 to +3) that has a more symmetrical probability spread?

Where to start?

Where to start?

I've been very interested in trying my hand at solo roleplaying for a while now, and made a couple of quickly aborted attempts using some popular online oracle sites. I find myself a bit overwhelmed with possibilities and so I'm looking for advice on where/how to begin as a first time solo roleplayer.

I'm not expecting a "one size fits all" answer, but as someone who has played (mostly crunchy) group RPGs on and off for about 3 decades now, I'm looking for the group (ironically) consensus on where I should put my initial effort? Learn and use one of the simpler systems that's available, use a "crunchy" system I'm familiar with along with a simple oracle system/mechanic, or go full in with a more robust full solo system like Mythic (which I have and admire academically, but haven't actually played.

I know it's a very personal thing, obviously, but maybe if there's someone out there that is in the same gaming zone I am - I tend to want a kind of balanced middle ground between rules-heavy tactical focus (like Pathfinder, for example) and narrative driven play (like Fate or similar). I'm starting a game with my group using Open Legend RPG that I think may just hit that sweet spot for me. Has anyone tried that system in a solo game/campaign?

Sorry to ramble, just looking for any thoughts on what someone like me might do (or has done) to run a solo game they feel like sticking with. Thanks for any advice you might have.

Has anyone heard of the solo rpg mystery tool "Nine Steps and a Bloody Heart"?

Has anyone heard of the solo rpg mystery tool "Nine Steps and a Bloody Heart"?

https://lostpangolin.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/nsaabh.pdf

It strikes me very much like the "Cluedo" inspired system lino pang has mentioned before.

Below is a scenario based off of John Carpenter's "The Thing" to give an even better idea about how it works.

Here is a thought I had: use your favorite description/idea generator (Covetous Poet's was the one that sparked the idea) to fill in all the lists. That way you would have solid clues to investigate, but NO preconceived story/path/solution in mind. Question is: would the correct 3 random elements that add up to a "solution" = a coherent one?

That would be the challenge, I think. Trying to coax a story out of the various disparate elements that emerge. And what if they don't? Is that a bad thing? Some mysteries don't get solved. Sometimes the killer gets away...
https://lostpangolin.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/solo-mistery-the-thing/

Originally shared by Jacob Ross

Originally shared by Jacob Ross

New free adventure for Cosmic Warriors! Recreate stories in the vein of the martial arts tournaments from your favorite anime series. You can play solo or with a group. The story changes every time.
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/205514/Cosmic-Warriors-Heavens-Might?affiliate_id=319435

Managed to find some time to continue the quest, albeit without time to edit the post properly...

Managed to find some time to continue the quest, albeit without time to edit the post properly...
http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3852

I've never been good at keeping a blog going. I've also never shared any of my Actual Plays for a solo game since I usually keep handwritten notes. Using the True Novelist app makes it a bit easier, so I'm going to give it a shot. Not sure if I'm doing it right or how much of the mechanics to integrate into the posts.

I've never been good at keeping a blog going. I've also never shared any of my Actual Plays for a solo game since I usually keep handwritten notes. Using the True Novelist app makes it a bit easier, so I'm going to give it a shot. Not sure if I'm doing it right or how much of the mechanics to integrate into the posts.

Anyway here are the first two sessions of my John Carlson Files campaign, a paranormal investigation game using Fate Accelerated and Mythic GM Emulator. Constructive criticism and ideas more than welcome.

Post Zero: The Setup (http://diceandwords.blogspot.com/2017/02/post-zero-john-carlson-files.html)

Post 1: The John Carlson Files (http://diceandwords.blogspot.com/2017/02/post-1-john-carlson-files.html)

For a future blog post, I was wondering 'what primary reason do you play roleplaying games?' Others may be able to see your answers I was informed. I only can post 5 answers. Feel free to comment and mention further reasons. No answer is wrong.

Taking some mates with him, Flamepaw takes another swipe at the giant spider in the first room of the dungeon...

Taking some mates with him, Flamepaw takes another swipe at the giant spider in the first room of the dungeon...
http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3838

Write up from my first solo session using the Sharp Swords and Sinister Spells rules. I'm trying to play it with a swords and sorcery vibe....

Write up from my first solo session using the Sharp Swords and Sinister Spells rules. I'm trying to play it with a swords and sorcery vibe....

I stumbled across a web app today that might be useful for recording solo games. It's called True Novelist (https://www.truenovelist.com), and it's a KISS program at its core.

I stumbled across a web app today that might be useful for recording solo games. It's called True Novelist (https://www.truenovelist.com), and it's a KISS program at its core.

In the left column you have nested threads for scenes, characters, and places. In the center you have a basic word editor for writing about those things, and on the right you have some simple options.

Currently I am using it to work up a peanut gallery for a paranormal investigation game I've had kicking around in my head. Given the ease of moving things around in the nested threads also makes me think this could be good for a solo Microscope game I've been thinking about.

I am planning to convert a pre-made fantasy module for my Vancian / Tschai solo campaign. It is an experiment I haven't tried before, but I have read that several people find this interesting. I am curious to see how it goes, but Eve will not arrive in this area before another few weeks....

I am planning to convert a pre-made fantasy module for my Vancian / Tschai solo campaign. It is an experiment I haven't tried before, but I have read that several people find this interesting. I am curious to see how it goes, but Eve will not arrive in this area before another few weeks....

https://solounmondodicarta.wordpress.com/2017/02/15/vancian-blackmarsh/
https://solounmondodicarta.wordpress.com/2017/02/15/vancian-blackmarsh/

Contrary to some reports I've seen, there is between session prep for Apocalypse World. I briefly go over my prep for my solo campaign here.

Contrary to some reports I've seen, there is between session prep for Apocalypse World. I briefly go over my prep for my solo campaign here.

http://adoptedbymentor.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/solo-aw2e-under-threat.html

Originally shared by Jacob Ross

Originally shared by Jacob Ross

So here's the draft of Heaven's Mightiest for Cosmic Warriors. It's a solo scenario that you can play with a group, if you like. I'd love to hear any suggestions for it (more ideas for fighters, for instance). In a few days I'm probably going to put it up on Drivethru as a PWYW title.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y4m2Otopz53xpGKJuQmBtJy4aWv3F0xsdTr06ZH9Xfs/edit?usp=sharing

And here's my Valentine's Day Actual Play

And here's my Valentine's Day Actual Play
https://solorpgvoyages.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/my-christmas-vacation-with-an-alolan-ninetails/

[Our Last Best Hope] The Killer Asteroid

[Our Last Best Hope] The Killer Asteroid

Session Prep & First Session

https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?798339-Our-Last-Best-Hope-The-Killer-Asteroid

#soloactualplay #OurLastBestHope #TheKillerAsteroid #solorpg #soloroleplaying #actualplay #sharedscifi
https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?798339-Our-Last-Best-Hope-The-Killer-Asteroid

i point out this Humble Bundle sale because it contains Scarlet Heroes, which has long been on my wishlist at rpgnow, but which i've never bought because the price per (PDF) page seems unduly high. This bundle is all about RPGs playable by two people: GM and one player. i've "heard good things" about Scarlet Heroes' ability to be used for solo play, though. Currently the bundle costs $17.23 to unlock the level which includes Scarlet Heroes, making it only a tick more costly than that single book via rpgnow.

i point out this Humble Bundle sale because it contains Scarlet Heroes, which has long been on my wishlist at rpgnow, but which i've never bought because the price per (PDF) page seems unduly high. This bundle is all about RPGs playable by two people: GM and one player. i've "heard good things" about Scarlet Heroes' ability to be used for solo play, though. Currently the bundle costs $17.23 to unlock the level which includes Scarlet Heroes, making it only a tick more costly than that single book via rpgnow.

The bundle is on sale for another 6d17h, as of this writing:

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/BundleForTwo


PS: note that the "level up" price (just over $17 mentioned above) goes up over time!
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/BundleForTwo

Belated post is belated.

Belated post is belated.

So in this, we have a a battle on a ship.
https://solorpgvoyages.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/sgam-2016-lets-play-chainmail-part-2-dont-give-up-the-ship/

Mythic Oracle With Context-Based Keyword Generation

Mythic Oracle With Context-Based Keyword Generation

It was bound to happen. Just as chocolate & vanilla taste great together, so does Mythic GME with context based keyword generation.

You can use the keyword suggestions to write as usual, or more interestingly, to ask questions you didn't even know you had. :)

http://mypersonaloracle.blogspot.com/2017/02/mythic-oracle-with-keyword-generation.html

You can always use it as a vanilla Mythic oracle as well, but there's not much of a point when you have other tools that do the vanilla Oracles better.

It took a while longer but here is encounter 6 of my Edge of the Empire game using So1um and Miso RPG...

It took a while longer but here is encounter 6 of my Edge of the Empire game using So1um and Miso RPG...


https://solospelunking.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/edge-of-the-empire-beginner-game-adventure-powered-by-so1um-and-miso-rpg-session-5/

Now compatible with at least some older browsers/devices (worked on Safari on iPad 1)

Now compatible with at least some older browsers/devices (worked on Safari on iPad 1)

http://mypersonaloracle.blogspot.com/2017/02/context-based-keyword-generating-tool_13.html

Some prep for a "Our Last Best Hope" solo game.

Some prep for a "Our Last Best Hope" solo game.

#sharedscifi

The game doesn't have much of a system, except for those times dealing with a Threat or The Crisis.

Everything else is pretty much free form. That will make this game pretty much a writing session sprinkled with rolls against various dangers. I'm not much of a writer, so it's going to be more like storyboarding, I suppose.

I had some random input in setting these up, but most of it sprang from one roll that made Brett Mah seem religious. It kinda set a tone for the zeitgeist; a sort of religion vs science type of undercurrent in the interactions between the team's interpersonal relationships.

There are some elements I am on the fence about, like Dr. Corey's past with an airhead, muscle-bound boy toy. It makes her seem a bit of a maverick, but at the same time, she comes across as quite intelligent and confident (if poignant). Shacking up with a "mimbo" (a male bimbo) seems to undermine her intelligence to me.

There's also Brett Mah, who originally was going to be Catholic, but I ended up making Buddhist in order to make it clash with his secret (he killed an animal belonging to an endangered species in a hunting trip). The clash is inspired by The Walking Dead's "all life is precious" Zen philosophy of a character (Morgan). I see him and Dr. Guerra having a nice harmony as she is sort of a seeker.

My only problem is him being Buddhist & Asian and I don't want to turn him into a "Confucious say" stereotype inadvertently when he says something about his religion (specially with Dr. Guerra). I don't want to change his ethnicity though.

Dr. Guerra I'm pretty satisifed with.

Any feedback on these is appreciated, particularly the elements I pointed out. Let me know if you like them as is, or maybe suggest ways to fix them.

Thanks!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16EwlwqWirDyVpboVLOxuIhG_nn7mDwwrd5kapGCp0Hg/edit?usp=sharing

#solorpg #actualplay #soloroleplaying #soloactualplay #soloap

Hopefully the 1977 Traveller rules for creating a subsector constitute "actual play" of the game... they certainly play as a game!

Hopefully the 1977 Traveller rules for creating a subsector constitute "actual play" of the game... they certainly play as a game!
http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3806

Some more from my solo Apocalypse World/CRGE campaign

Some more from my solo Apocalypse World/CRGE campaign

http://adoptedbymentor.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/solo-aw-session-2-open-your-brain-to.html

My Abominable Experiments In Solo Roleplaying

My Abominable Experiments In Solo Roleplaying

A new blog to act as my repository for the JavaScript horrors I've inflicted upon the world of solo roleplaying.

http://mypersonaloracle.blogspot.com/p/context-based-keyword-generating-tool.html
http://mypersonaloracle.blogspot.com/

Is there a virtual tabletop or even a writing suite that someone would recommend for playing solo? Looked at vassal and FG, but not sure it fits the bill.

The fantastic reports of solo sessions with matt jackson's so1um point out the many qualities of this simple and elegant system.

The fantastic reports of solo sessions with matt jackson's so1um point out the many qualities of this simple and elegant system.
http://www.msjx.org/search/label/so1um

I am particularly interested in the table detailing the FU dice And & But results. I am thinking of extending it to 6 different outcomes, with no "monsters", since in my games monsters tend to be infrequent and often they are humanoids interchangeable with NPCs. So 1,3,4,6 could detail the "unique feature or situation" with slightly more specific hints, or could introduce something entirely different from the current entries. Any ideas for such an alternative version of the table?
Also, given the D6+"asymmetric D3" format of a couple of the outcomes, one could think of extending it to a table with a full 6x3 entries, but I guess that would be going too far...

This actual play doesn't have the play notes to how the content was generated. Everything however was random and I'm testing out a new interaction of the characters and a dialogue mechanism. Also I'm trying out a conflict topic mechanism. Underlining the text is a basic Fudge system building a polar set of seven attributes (rather than the ABS12), my ABS12 solo game engine, ABS2 fact generator, and my ABS12 drama escalator.

Here is the begining of another adventure using High Stakes.

Here is the begining of another adventure using High Stakes.
This one uses Fantasy + Steampunk settings

This was originally gonna be done in January, but stuff got in the way. Here's my game of 6 Hours to Midnight.

This was originally gonna be done in January, but stuff got in the way. Here's my game of 6 Hours to Midnight.
https://solorpgvoyages.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/midnights-shadow/

Originally shared by Sophia Brandt

Originally shared by Sophia Brandt

so1um Playtest #solorpg by matt jackson
using Urban Fantasy
http://dieheart.net/so1um-pt/

#so1um
http://dieheart.net/so1um-pt/

Context-based Keyword Generating Tool Updates!

Context-based Keyword Generating Tool Updates!

I've made some changes to make the tool a bit easier to use on mobile devices (you can click on the suggestions to add them to the writing box). I've also tried to optimize its performance a bit by only analyzing the text on first loading the page, and letting the end user choose when to analyze again (before, it would analyze the seed + new text every time the user typed). Works pretty good on my iPhone 6S. Not so good on my Samsung tablet (android 4.4.2), but I've been having performance issues with that device for a while.

The thing that seems to slow it down the most is the rendering of the links for each word, so in the future I will add a way for users to specify which words to filter out from analysis and prediction. Removing words like "a, the, of, in," etc, would help a lot as those are the ones that cause the most hiccups.

Anyway, you can play around with it at: http://mypersonaloracle.blogspot.com/2017/01/var-text-quick-brown-fox-jumps-over.html

I've been puttering along with my Oracle idea, stolen/inspired from the Ars Magica rules magic system. I made an initial set of chips and found it worked for me. So then I made a prettier version.

I've been puttering along with my Oracle idea, stolen/inspired from the Ars Magica rules magic system. I made an initial set of chips and found it worked for me. So then I made a prettier version.

The basic are that there are 5 realms (create, perceive, transform, destroy, and control) and 10 focuses on each chip. There is also a sun or moon in the background. The sun and Moon are the standard yes/no closed question mechanism.

The combination of a realm and a focus offers many possibilities. For example, say you run into an NPC who happens to be an old flame. You want know how they respond to seeing you. You draw the swirling heart which represents (among other things) emotions. Were that combined with "perceive" it may indicate that the the NPC still has feelings for you and colors how they interact.. However if it were combined with "create" we may have a situation where they are putting on a display of emotion, but it's not genuine.

I'm still working out the details, but I'm enjoying it so far. And I always enjoy having physical props at hand for any game, so this project is a good fit.

The next encounter of my Edge of the Empire Beginner Game adventure solo game is up on my blog. For those of you who have the game, it is encounter five against the stormtroopers and the first time I could really test the extended So1um combat rules. I was very happy with the result. It ran smooth and quick and was tense.

The next encounter of my Edge of the Empire Beginner Game adventure solo game is up on my blog. For those of you who have the game, it is encounter five against the stormtroopers and the first time I could really test the extended So1um combat rules. I was very happy with the result. It ran smooth and quick and was tense.


https://solospelunking.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/edge-of-the-empire-beginner-game-adventure-using-so1um-and-miso-rpg-session-4/

Returning to my science-fiction roleplay roots, here's the outcome of the character creation game...

Returning to my science-fiction roleplay roots, here's the outcome of the character creation game...
http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3792

Folks may be interested in this little thing. I know I am.

Folks may be interested in this little thing. I know I am.

http://whatwouldconando.blogspot.com/2017/02/hex-mapping-notebook.html

http://mypersonaloracle.blogspot.com/2017/01/var-text-quick-brown-fox-jumps-over.html

http://mypersonaloracle.blogspot.com/2017/01/var-text-quick-brown-fox-jumps-over.html

Just made some major updates to the predictive text inspired tool. Now you are able to replace the default seed text in the text area, as well as set the distance (counted in words) that you want to lookup ahead and backwards.

It also behaves a lot more like predictive text in that it will show words that start with the letters you are typing. So for the string "mem" I just typed, I got "membrane, memex, and mem" at the top of the results with their corresponding context (consisting of words found around them, arranged into phrases). Other words and their context are also shown based on whether they contain the word you typed (e.g. "mem") in them. This is just an extra I added to show more content.

The context of each key word shown (on the left column) is constructed as "phrases" (basically take the word and attach the five words preceding it and following it to form one phrase). The phrases are not always exactly as they were found in the seed text, because the only word allowed to be repeated in the context is the key word itself.

The reason is that originally I just wanted to show a comma separated word list in the context. Later I decided that it would be nice to see the partial phrases, while still getting a set of unique words (except for the repeating key word on the left column). you can still treat the words as a list, but I may change this in the future to toggle the display between phrases and plain lists.

If you're tech savvy and into python, there is a tool (that also inspired me) that someone made for writing scripts that sounded like the source material (you can get the GitHub link from the article below):

Article about python tool, with link to GitHub: http://www.dailydot.com/unclick/jamie-brew-predictive-text-clickhole-coding-comedy/

This one is a lot closer to how CreativeWriter works, but it allows you to add your own corpus of text for analysis (which is what I wanted, but available in mobile format-- thus why I built my own JavaScript tool).

If you have any feedback as to what would make this more helpful to you, or why you would or wouldn't use it, that'd be cool. I have a feeling that I'm the only one that likes the predictive stuff for playing.

#SoloPlayWithAlgorithms

Forgot to share this..

Forgot to share this..,

Originally shared by Peter Webster

Flamepaw tries to delve into the Monastery of the Fire Opal alone...
http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3786

Has anyone played any 2 hour wargames the solo games? I bought the pulp set, and would like other opinions on it please.

Originally shared by Jacob Ross

Originally shared by Jacob Ross

So I am writing up an expansion to Cosmic Warriors. Like the core game, it will be pay-what-you-want, but right now I don't have anything budgeted for new art (that comes if the core game starts racking up medals on Drivethru). It's going to be a martial arts scenario, with a dose of random elements so you can even play it solo like a gamebook (different every time).

I'm getting lots of inspiration from Dragonball Z and Street Fighter. New rules for bringing a friend to the battle (allies are like a combination of styles and NPCs). Story twists come up with surprises for a more memorable tale. Are there things that you want to see in it?