I've been busy, so gaming of all varieties has been a bit slow. That has not stopped me from daydreaming and turning over ideas. Once of my new projects is to greatly simplify the tools I need on hand hand to feel comfortable. Right now I'm working out how much mileage I can get out of a deck of cards. Which lead me to a new oracle, both in our terminology and the more esoteric variety.
https://sibillareadings.wordpress.com/sibilla-basic-card-meanings/
The intent, based off what I've found online, was Cartomancy (divination) with playing cards. However, after looking over this chart I think that It might have a lot to offer a solo player.
In addition to the Oracle, I'm looking into various rule sets that use Card resolution and conversions of others that don't. My hope is that in time I can play just as comfortably with a single deck of playing cards as I do currently with a my wide array.
If anyone has any leads, ideas, or experiences with playing card oracles or game mechanics I'd love to hear about them.
https://sibillareadings.wordpress.com/sibilla-basic-card-meanings/
Thursday, March 15, 2018
I've been busy, so gaming of all varieties has been a bit slow. That has not stopped me from daydreaming and turning over ideas. Once of my new projects is to greatly simplify the tools I need on hand hand to feel comfortable. Right now I'm working out how much mileage I can get out of a deck of cards. Which lead me to a new oracle, both in our terminology and the more esoteric variety.
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Not a classic deck of cards, but the GMA are my first thought for "solo playing with cards."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.drivethrucards.com/product/125685/The-GameMasters-Apprentice-Base-Deck
I'm curious as to the same but with Tarot cards instead, specifically the task resolution part.
ReplyDeleteI already have plenty of ideas to test out using Tarot purely as an oracle during game play (as well as two other card oracles I found while pursuing Amazon.com). Now I just need the time to play...
Omari Brooks tarot are great oracles, I've always loved the art so I have a couple and have used them. But I have an addiction to buying playing so I figured I'd try to capitalize on that.
ReplyDeleteGeoff Osterberg
ReplyDeleteI think a particular deck of playing cards is going to be my next purchase, especially since the art on the face each card is unique:
drivethrurpg.com - INDEX CARD RPG Deck of 52
That sounds pretty neat. Never heard of the Sibillia cards before. As far as standard poker cards, I've mostly only seen them used as a random number generator in place of dice (I also noticed Walgreens has some neat looking decks, elementals and such).
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have seen other types of "multi-purpose" cards that include the poker suits and numbers on them as a convenience (I don't think the GMA decks do this?):
I recently backed a Kickstarter for a (rather dark looking) solo card game called Devil's Playground where the 54? cards also serve as tarot and poker cards. The stretch goals included some "cartomancy" instructions, which may be along the lines of what you're looking at here.
Estimated delivery is June (though I have to say, out of 5 Kickstarter's I have backed, only 1 -- the GMA fantasy deck -- has delivered on time, or at all....) Link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2043221598/dungeon-solitaire-devils-playground/description
I opted for the deluxe decks so I could also get the previous card game, Labyrinth of Souls, which is a rule book (I think can be used with any tarot cards? It's sold separately in print) and a 90-card tarot deck you can buy now (linked to post).
Matthew Lowes is the creator and might even be able to contribute to this topic.. I basically know nothing at this point, but thought these were relevant. :p
thegamecrafter.com - Dungeon Solitaire: Labyrinth of Souls
I just noticed on the creator's site, there's a free Tarot Card Reference sheet that goes along with the LoS game, but it might be useful independently. You can also download his first Dungeon Solitaire card game rules (using standard poker cards?) for free.
ReplyDeletematthewlowes.com - Games
I remember that there are some old posts in this community about the use of tarots with solo rpgs, you can search them for inspiration
ReplyDeleteSomeone else mentioned Inked Adventures in another thread, and I saw these map + dice playing cards when I hit their site.
ReplyDeleteetsy.com - Inked Adventures Map & Dice Playing Cards (dungeon maps for DnD)
As mentioned, The Dungeon Solitaire games solo dungeon delving games based on a poker deck and a tarot deck respectively. The Labyrinth of Souls game does have guidance for game based cartomancy and card interpretation. A creative player could definitely house rule the game mechanics to suit their solo rpg in a variety of ways as well. Info on the games and the free original, poker card based game, are available on my website (matthewlowes.com). I'm currently working on a followup game, Devil's Playground, that will feature an entirely unique deck, and will also include cartomancy rules.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to mention I've since played the Dungeon Solitaire games and gone "card crazy". I received the PDF of Labyrinth of Souls as part of the Kickstarter, but I wanted to try the original Tomb of Four Kings game first.
ReplyDeleteToFK uses standard poker cards (52 cards + 1 Joker). The "basic" Labyrinth of Souls game could be played with these as well, but the Advanced and Expert rules require the squires and major arcana "trump" cards from a standard tarot deck.
It's a pretty fun game, and the basics are easy to learn. After 2 or 3 games, I no longer needed to reference the rules, and if I just played without writing down every turn, I could complete a successful game in 5 minutes or less. The Advanced rules are a bit more involved and a longer-running (and I would say "more difficult" since it seems less likely to meet the win conditions, but not complicated) game.
I encourage you to try, or at least read, the ToFK game as it might give you some ideas for how to resolve conflict using cards. Hearts/cups are hit points, spades/swords are monsters, clubs/wands are doors, diamond/coins are trapped treasure. You play a card as an encounter and subsequent cards are "actions", using their face value to determine success or failure.
Anyhow... I had never handled tarot cards before, so I found some printable ones online and cut them out. I've since bought a nice looking set from Amazon (the "Wild Unknown" tarot) and now I'm knee-deep in learning how to interpret them, which I think will be incredibly useful for solo roleplaying.
I've got several other tarot decks picked out that I like the artwork on... but I'm trying to restrain myself since I've got the Dungeon Solitaire ones headed my way (also very cool artwork, but as I mentioned, a bit dark in nature).
Spencer Salyer, Great to hear you're enjoying the game! Cheers!
ReplyDelete