Seems like I preface every post with "I'm new at this, but/so/how/and...". As such, I've probably got no right to be "teaching" how to solo role-play. This post is a much-edited retelling of the notes I took when first learning, but I'm interested to hear your veteran takes on it. I can't accept too much credit for the content, however, as most of the ideas within are simply regurgitated info from, well.. you guys and gals.
Maybe the last thing we need is another "intro to solo" post, particularly from a novice, but I plan to go through my notebook and log the majority of it as guides, tutorials, reviews, and actual plays. All from the newbie perspective at this point, of course. I hope someone finds it useful or at least entertaining. Thanks in advance if you check it out! ;)
http://wispsoftime.com/content/rolling-solo-chapter-1-beginnings/
Friday, September 1, 2017
Seems like I preface every post with "I'm new at this, but/so/how/and...". As such, I've probably got no right to be "teaching" how to solo role-play. This post is a much-edited retelling of the notes I took when first learning, but I'm interested to hear your veteran takes on it. I can't accept too much credit for the content, however, as most of the ideas within are simply regurgitated info from, well.. you guys and gals.
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Most of us are novices or people who would like to become novices.
ReplyDeleteEveryone with an AP shows us how its done.
the d6 oracle table (no-and, no, no-but, yes-but, yes,yes-and) in tiny solitary soldiers comes from Freeform Universal RPG (FU) by Nathan Russell, both games are among my fav :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, lino pang. I've seen "FU" referenced before, but most often saw the d6 method referred to as Tiny Solitary Soldiers. I'll check out FU and update the post to give credit where it's due. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. It is always good to spread the word.
ReplyDeleteanother interesting type of solo engines are the "scripted" systems like John Fiore's 9Q, these methods help to create a solid, coherent adventure
ReplyDeleteSpencer Salyer - Something to add, just because you're new doesn't mean you do not have something to contribute. A new perspective can often catch something that an old hat might have overlooked or taken for granted. For example, Rewind contained some items that needed further clarification because not everyone thinks like me (yet.) :-)
ReplyDeleteI've definitely heard of the 9Qs and Perilous Intersections, but haven't gotten to read through them yet. As I understand it, they're more of a "framework" than an engine? Or do I have that wrong? (ie. You could use them to structure things but use an engine to answer questions?) I look forward to checking those out in the near future, either way!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I really like the bonus section you put at the end. Good point about how learning solo gaming skills has greater potential than just solo play.
ReplyDeleteSpencer Salyer yes, according to the author 9Q needs a random idea generator but there are other games of this kind that have all the mechanics included, for example UNTOLD, perilous intersections...
ReplyDeleteand bivius sourcebooks (that are not completed yet grrrr)
Perilous Intersection's framework is slightly looser than 9Qs and will produce quite different results. Both will have you guessing from beginning to end despite the overall appearance of scripting.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't think you have a right, then don't think of it as Teaching. What you're doing is Sharing how you do it, which is at least as instructive, but gets away from all that authoritative jargon. :)
ReplyDeleteI think in some ways, the experiences of a tiro can be more useful for someone who wants to get into solo gaming than all the advice from the veterans. As Todd Zircher said, there's the fresh perspective. But there is also great benefit in seeing the learning process firt-hand.
ReplyDeleteYour individual play-style will assuredly bring something new to the table, and the old guard are always excited for new ideas. Also, there's a certain sense of nostalgia when we read about someone just starting out.
Thanks for all the good feedback, guys. I look forward to continuing this journey, sharing it with you all, and sharing in your adventures as well. ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat write-up. Added your blog and that post to the list of the solo resources on my site. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sophia! I'm honored. ;-)
ReplyDelete