Given that I am a big fan of CRGE and Mythic GME, any game is quick to pick up. If I had to pick a dedicated solo rpg, it would be Quill since the word lists and all are built right into it. The other choices would be The Beast or English Eerie since you can deal out the cards and go, but technically, they should be played over the course of several days.
Honestly? Untold is probably the easiest. There's very little crunch. Character creation and progression is entirely narrative, and the emphasis is almost exclusively on promoting player creativity and involvement. Big fan.
Probably Scarlet Heroes, or any dungeon crawler like that. Yoi generate a single random character very quickly and generate a dungeon as you go. Can't get faster than that unless you go with a statless character and a yes/no oracle.
solo rpg: Macchiato Monsters: OSR with 6 stats, roll under stats check, risk die for resources. oracle: CRGE, simple with the "and unexpectedly" twist.
My current fastest is Gamemaster's Apprentice. I have four of the decks, and it's just grab the deck and start. My only problem with them is the action tends to be a little listless for solo play IMO.
This seems like one of those questions everyone will answer differently, and depends on what's your definition of "solo rpg". Of the responses already given, some might call them "solo rpg" while others might call those engines, oracles, etc., so that may well depend on your definition. That being said...
In terms of both speed and simplicity, so1um is an excellent example. The rules all fit on one side of a sheet of paper, including character creation, checks, combat, and gear... And a d6 oracle with a follow-up roll to give further direction to those results (which can do a lot more for you than simple yes/no).
You can get up and running super fast with Rpgsolo.com also, and I always recommend folks to check out the "my first zombie play" pinned in their forums as an excellent example of solo play.
The one you know the best. I can get a white wolf/vampire game going in about half the time I can with Risus or any other "lite" rpg, because I already think in its terms.
Mamading Ceesay TBH, I memorized most of the rules. Much of it is pretty simple, although it still helps to have the charts on hand (those I printed out). I guess the short answer is "Yes."
Bivius, Miso, and Zathrum are the fastest games I've played. I'm prone to Bivius, as that has a damage system. And I like Zathrum for stealth games. Miso seems to go best with heroic games.
Spencer Salyer I knew it's a subjective question with no single right answer, which is why I phrased it as I did. I expected and welcome the diversity of answers. I wanted to hear what people's informed opinions are on the options available.
Mamading Ceesay I'm a Mythic GME guy, just because it was my first, & I don't think anyone has done it better since. I always use UNE for my NPC's as well. I consult BOLD often to fill in back stories. I like Rory's Story Cubes for inspiration as well. :)
lino pang this rpg is inspired by many sources (Mythic GME, Game Master Apprentice & Other for cards, Fate & FU RPG for Rules). But, He develops them ! ;)
I've found a quick to play system yet still having enough rules for my taste is Tiny Dungeon for which they just Kickstarted a 2nd edition. I also tend to use my own solo engine as oracle, location provider, trap maker, bad guy generator, NPC emulator, etc. which I have posted on my blog and website under the Homemade Tools tab at www.playeveryrole.com. playeveryrole.com - Play Every Role – Blog, Tools, and Solo Play
Any OSR rules & a random dungeon generator is my fastest set up. Épées & sorcellerie is probably the fastest of the lot for me, since characters start with standard equipment packages.
I also have a Scarlet Heroes hexcrawl that's easy to pick up and put down.
Just as long as no storylines develop; then things start to become complex and require thought.
Mamading Ceesay I haven't gotten a chance to play So1um yet. I'm on a fairly long adventure using Bivius and the other two games I mentioned in my post.
I downloaded To the Stars, Stellar Cadets! It's a really simple and complete system that runs on a single d6. I'm thinking of trying it out soon. It looks really fast to set up and play. A d6 + stat to match or beat a difficulty of 7. And it's not a PbtA derivative.
Given that I am a big fan of CRGE and Mythic GME, any game is quick to pick up. If I had to pick a dedicated solo rpg, it would be Quill since the word lists and all are built right into it. The other choices would be The Beast or English Eerie since you can deal out the cards and go, but technically, they should be played over the course of several days.
ReplyDeleteHonestly? Untold is probably the easiest. There's very little crunch. Character creation and progression is entirely narrative, and the emphasis is almost exclusively on promoting player creativity and involvement. Big fan.
ReplyDeletesorry for this :)
ReplyDeletesolo rpg: Bivius (vanilla version) because it has 8 rules and 1 table
solo engine: Zathrum because it has 4 tables, needs 1d20
Dread. Because the system I rolled the questions of "will the tower fall" caused it to fall every skill test.
ReplyDeleteTake an Oracle and use it for all resolution, no separate system.
ReplyDeleteWorks better for story-oriented games though
Probably Scarlet Heroes, or any dungeon crawler like that. Yoi generate a single random character very quickly and generate a dungeon as you go. Can't get faster than that unless you go with a statless character and a yes/no oracle.
ReplyDeletesolo rpg:
ReplyDeleteMacchiato Monsters: OSR with 6 stats, roll under stats check, risk die for resources.
oracle:
CRGE, simple with the "and unexpectedly" twist.
Gamemaster's Apprentice cards. Literally pick up and play.
ReplyDeleteMy current fastest is Gamemaster's Apprentice. I have four of the decks, and it's just grab the deck and start. My only problem with them is the action tends to be a little listless for solo play IMO.
ReplyDeleteJmz Haz Do you use them with the ALONe solo engine designed to work with the Gamemaster's Apprentice cards?
ReplyDeleteThis seems like one of those questions everyone will answer differently, and depends on what's your definition of "solo rpg". Of the responses already given, some might call them "solo rpg" while others might call those engines, oracles, etc., so that may well depend on your definition. That being said...
ReplyDeleteIn terms of both speed and simplicity, so1um is an excellent example. The rules all fit on one side of a sheet of paper, including character creation, checks, combat, and gear... And a d6 oracle with a follow-up roll to give further direction to those results (which can do a lot more for you than simple yes/no).
You can get up and running super fast with Rpgsolo.com also, and I always recommend folks to check out the "my first zombie play" pinned in their forums as an excellent example of solo play.
Hmm, fastest, once you get going, is probably the Doctor Who Solitaire Storytelling Game. It's directed, has a clear goal and is very replayable.
ReplyDeleteThe one you know the best. I can get a white wolf/vampire game going in about half the time I can with Risus or any other "lite" rpg, because I already think in its terms.
ReplyDeleteSwords Without Master (http://www.worldswithoutmaster.com/bazaar/worlds-without-master-issue-3): find an image, song, poem... anything. That's your character. Name it. Describe 2 behaviors and 1 ability. Creation is done. Resolution, like Miso or Bivius, roll two dice. Whichever is higher sets the tone of the narration. And that's it.
ReplyDeletegamingwhiledriving.blogspot.com - Azaril: Season 1, Episode 1, Scene 1
Mamading Ceesay TBH, I memorized most of the rules. Much of it is pretty simple, although it still helps to have the charts on hand (those I printed out). I guess the short answer is "Yes."
ReplyDeleteBivius, Miso, and Zathrum are the fastest games I've played. I'm prone to Bivius, as that has a damage system. And I like Zathrum for stealth games. Miso seems to go best with heroic games.
ReplyDeleteSpencer Salyer I knew it's a subjective question with no single right answer, which is why I phrased it as I did. I expected and welcome the diversity of answers. I wanted to hear what people's informed opinions are on the options available.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin Nehring Nice distinctions, how does So1um rate in comparison?
ReplyDeleteJames Carr That's a surprising choice. Not even on my radar in this context. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTodd Rokely I hear that. System "mastery"/internalisation makes a real difference.
ReplyDeleteMuses & Oracles (only in french) with these rules or any rules (The black Hach, other....
ReplyDelete9Q or Risus solo for a little dungeon ;)
Jacob Ross That's an option I wouldn't have considered. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteChris Stieha Sounds like a great combo.
ReplyDeleteI'm high on The Black Hack & all it's descendants right now. Mini Six is perfect too. Both paired with oracles of choice of course.
ReplyDeleteMoonSylver So what are your oracles of choice and why do you like them?
ReplyDeleteMamading Ceesay I'm a Mythic GME guy, just because it was my first, & I don't think anyone has done it better since. I always use UNE for my NPC's as well. I consult BOLD often to fill in back stories. I like Rory's Story Cubes for inspiration as well. :)
ReplyDelete+1 for Bivius
ReplyDeletelostpangolin.wordpress.com - downloads
Laurent Gosse my french is rusty, Muses & Oracles seems something like the GameMaster's Apprentice cards deck, right?
ReplyDeletelino pang this rpg is inspired by many sources (Mythic GME, Game Master Apprentice & Other for cards, Fate & FU RPG for Rules). But, He develops them ! ;)
ReplyDeleteonirarts.com - Muses & Oracles (in french only)
Alex Yari I do want to give Scarlet Heroes a try at some point.
ReplyDeleteTodd Zircher I haven't heard of The Beast, going to try and find it.
ReplyDeleteJames Smith That's an interesting take on Dread!
ReplyDeleteMamading Ceesay If you want to see it for yourself, here is the link: solorpgvoyages.wordpress.com - Dreading Dread
ReplyDeleteTodd Zircher Found The Beast, not the sort of thing that I would play but it's an interesting idea.
ReplyDeleteJames Smith Thanks.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it’s Microlite. I’ve run 3.5 for so long that I’ve become so familiar with the core mechanics/math that I can bend it as necessary.
ReplyDeleteI've found a quick to play system yet still having enough rules for my taste is Tiny Dungeon for which they just Kickstarted a 2nd edition. I also tend to use my own solo engine as oracle, location provider, trap maker, bad guy generator, NPC emulator, etc. which I have posted on my blog and website under the Homemade Tools tab at www.playeveryrole.com.
ReplyDeleteplayeveryrole.com - Play Every Role – Blog, Tools, and Solo Play
Any OSR rules & a random dungeon generator is my fastest set up. Épées & sorcellerie is probably the fastest of the lot for me, since characters start with standard equipment packages.
ReplyDeleteI also have a Scarlet Heroes hexcrawl that's easy to pick up and put down.
Just as long as no storylines develop; then things start to become complex and require thought.
Mamading Ceesay I haven't gotten a chance to play So1um yet. I'm on a fairly long adventure using Bivius and the other two games I mentioned in my post.
ReplyDeleteMamading Ceesay been wanting to check out ALONe myself!
ReplyDeleteI downloaded To the Stars, Stellar Cadets! It's a really simple and complete system that runs on a single d6. I'm thinking of trying it out soon. It looks really fast to set up and play. A d6 + stat to match or beat a difficulty of 7. And it's not a PbtA derivative.
ReplyDelete