A Beginner's Guide to Solo Role Playing (solo RPGs), by the Dungeon Dive
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- #solorpg Join the Dungeon Dive Patreon - Thanks for the support!
/ thedungeondive
Dungeon Dive FB Group
/ 2571172249675057
The Dungeon Dive Guild
boardgamegeek....
Get your Dungeon Dive T-Shirts!
www.teepublic....
![Cody Johnson - I'm Gonna Love You (with Carrie Underwood) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yy9PuYMU29g/mqdefault.jpg)
0:00 - Explanation of the Categories
05:40 - *Simple* and *Scripted* games
- _Fighting Fantasy_ gamebooks
- _Fabled Lands_ gamebooks
- _Destiny Quest_ gamebooks
07:26 - *Systems* (some *Scripted* & some *Sandbox*)
- _Radzone_
- _Four Against Darkness_
- _Alone Against Fear_
- _D100 Dungeon_
- _Marching Order_
- _The Drifter_
14:12 - More traditional RPGs (less *Scripted*, often need additional *Tools*)
- _MÖRK BORG_ + _Sölitary Defilement_
- _Cairn_+ _Escape the City_
- _The Outcast_
- _Runecairn_
- _Disciples of Bone & Shadow_
- _Scarlet Heroes_ (+ e.g., _White Box_)
27:00 - *Journaling*-focused games (usually lighter, creative-writing)
- _Broken Cask_
- _Colostle_
29:30 - Skirmish Games with a focus on narrative.
- _Five Leagues From the Borderlands_ (or _5 Parsecs from Home_)
- _Core Space_
- _Rangers of Shadow Deep_
31:42 - Indie Games that cross-cut categories
- _6x6 Tales_
- _Ronin_
- _Fallen_
- _Expedition to Skull Island_
37:20 onward - *Tools*
- I might come back to edit and add these, time will tell.
Excellent!
you are the hero we need
Well done, thank you!
No convenient time stamps, but I was curious and listed the tools section out:
Tools: Books
- Untold Encounters of the Random Kind
- Loke Battle Mats
- Table Fables I & II
- Tome of Adventure Design
- Mythic GM Emulator
- Wanderings: A Gothic Roll & Read Table
- Realm Fables Sandbox Creator, World Generator, Miscellany, & Preformed Settings
- The Dungeon Alphabet
Tools: Cards
- The Fantasy Trip: Labyrinth Encounter Cards & Outdoor Encounter Cards
- Sidequest card decks
- Pixel Loot card decks
- Encounter Building Cards
- GM Decks
- The Quiet Year
- The Outlander: Deck of Random Encounters
- Pocket Lands: Playing Cards
@@Grodnark Nice! I had briefly considered going back and adding them, but it turns out once a comment is Pinned on a youtube channel it can't be edited. Thanks for the addition!
I'm the creator of Disciples of Bone & Shadow, just wanted to say thank you for mentioning my game! The whole video is fantastic, and absolutely thorough view of all almost all available solo systems that are worth mentioning, and how to progress from one another. I personally think it's also best to start with something like 4AD or D100 Dungeon, and then move on to more complex systems. By the way, Disciples of Bone & Shadow does have a pretty extensive example of play at the back of the book, several pages long, detailing a character's initial journey. In any case, thanks again for showcasing my work!
Thank you! I totally failed to mention that let's play example. Glad you mentioned it here.
@@TheDungeonDive no worries, you've covered so much material in under an hour, it's a fantastic video. Now when people ask me where to start with solo RPGs, I have this video to show them.
Your game looks amazing! Is there any chance of the print edition coming out again?
@@Takerfan4ever303 theoretically yes, but since I no longer own the game's rights and are not involved with it, I can't say for sure. I heard that Exalted Funeral (they own the rights now) wanted to republish it, along with all the other unreleased material that they have, but who knows. Sorry I can't be of more help!
I really want your game printed too. Let’s make a petition lmao.
Wonderful video - taught me so much about RPG gaming in general, regardless of the solo element. Fascinating stuff with some wonderful tips to get up and running with solo gaming - thanks :)
Glad I could help!
Fantastic video as always!
Glad you enjoyed it!
You are a treasure trove of info. Thx. 💁🏻🖤
Great overview! Thank you very much!!
Great video with great variety and some books that i dident knew about.
I kinda think you miss Ironsworn. Talking about solo role-playing and not talking about Ironsworn for me is rly a big miss. Not only becouse of good and easy strocture but becouse it can be used as tool as well.
It is a full system with all you need to play.
ToAD is a big no no for me to. Like you sayd, is to mutch and the awansers are to defenitive. So if you use the same table multyple times you can get the same results and feel repetitive (thats why i love Ironsworn tables).
Mythic is a big hit or miss for me to. It is true that Mythic can turn most of ttrpgs into solo by emulate the game master, but not every ttrpg will gave you the satisfaction of doing that. One, if you play with the amount of PC that the ttrpg is designed for it may turn into a big table full of characters sheets and to mutch to handle. If you instead go for the solo PC route you will have the work to balance the system that was not designed for, or you risk to die in you first encounter.
So i will play Mythic with a more simple narrative system.
Theres another one game that i like that is in between promp base with choose your own adventure that i like to recomend. The game gaves you some replayability and it is easy to play. It is called Dungeon Hero and it is on itch.io
Haven’t played Ironsworn yet so can’t vouch for it. Getting a complete version of everything with the next KS delivery.
Totoro is interested in:
Broken Casket
Colostle
Expedition to Skull Island
Marching Order
Ronin
I think Expedition to Skull Island is right up your alley.
You talk about solo dungeons, but overlooked the grand-daddy and 1st one where the game supported it Day 1... Tunnels & Trolls
I didn't mention approximately 5,876 games and supplements. :) I made a choice NOT to include T&T on this, mainly because I'm not a big fan of the system. But yes, it has a ton of CYOA-style, paragraph supplements for sure!
@@TheDungeonDive, it was just curious as they were the first... I still enjoyed the video
There are just so many games out there, and so many good ones! I could probably do this full time and still not have enough time to cover everything I'd love to. :)
@@TheDungeonDivemaybe it’s time for a part two “advanced version”? :).
I have a friend who wants to Play dnd style games but has a hard time reading. Is there a way to find an app that can digital roll and read the prompts building the story as he goes. Something simple to start or save mini games
That’s well out of my league.
Thanks for the shout out. My book THE SOLO GAME MASTERS GUIDE is available from Modiphius. I look forward to being on your channel to talk about it.
Would love to see that Geek Gamers here, or Daniel there - thanks
Cool will get it ASAP. Thanks you and the dungeon dive along with solo rpg guy helped open new vistas. I love reading and a solo rpg game is like a good book you live throug.
I got the pdf and I must say. This is the best course on solo rpg along with your video and the dungeon dive video. All you need to get started on epic rpg adventures. Why no board game can successfully scratch this itch? The closest is descent legends in the dark. I find the game keeps exploration and surprises like an rpg. Set up is a bit fiddily but I don’t mind it.
Wow, I didn’t even know this kind of thing existed! I’ve been into board gaming for years and more recently solo gaming, but this is like discovering an entire new floor in a house you’ve been living in. 🤯
There’s so much to discover!
such a good analogy, i feel the same way!!
Every time I watch one of your videos, I end up with about 100 new tabs open to all the fabulous games you refer to! Thank you SO much for introducing me to all the things! :)
My pleasure. :)
Warning this excellent video will make you bankrupt!
Theres a LOT of cheap or even FREE solo resources out there - as Im typing this comment I see Barbarian Prince stuff is free to download
Ahhg this is my problem, I don't have a group found yet to play so I wanna try solo, but I do not have the extra money to buy a book that might not even work for me!
I wish it was easier to find full info for literally just how to play, for free. I don't understand how you decide what the dice say makes this move happen where.. I'm clueless lol
Only halfway through the video and already bought 4 books 😂😂
Thanks for mentioning The Drifter, DD! Breaking the games down to categories is a brilliant way to help others choose what will be most enjoyable for them. Thanks again!
Where do I find the drifter?
Even though I disagree on some points (I did bounce off Mythic at first as well, but am now *really* into it and find it actually pretty simple to use), this is an excellent guide. I think it just goes to show that everyone _will_ have different preferences in Solo Roleplaying, and that's absolutely fine if not even the beauty of it. No one has to like everything, and everyone can just find what works for them. Some people use miniatures, which I don't like at all (I did not grow up in a very DnD-heavy circle of players, where miniatures seem to be the norm); some people like published settings, others want to build a world; some like theatrics more, some like wargaming more - and in solo roleplaying, you can just choose what you like.
Every playthrough video Ive seen of Mythic seems more involved with Mythic than the game its actually acting as an emulator. IMO Mythic becomes the game rather than the game itself. But the trouble is that Ive seen other GM Emulators which seem too simplified. I suspect a very trimmed version of Mythic would hit the sweet spot. It is all taste in the end though
This is a fantastic video for those of us who love rpgs but really don't know anyone else who can or will play. I am 53 and have never had brothers or sisters growing up and never had any of my friends being interested in D&D or any other rpg. Up to this point I've been stuck having to play things like the Gold Box MS-DOS D&D games on PC or reading books like the Lone Wolf series to get my fix. These options are great. I recently discovered Tunnels & Trolls never realizing they had solo adventures all those years back. Thanks for this video. You also gained a new subscriber.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and found it useful. T&T has a TON of solo content! So many of those paragraph adventures!
I thought I had a good grasp of a lot of the solo RPGs out there, but I’ve apparently been missing out on the basics this whole time. Very well put together.
Thank you.
Thank you so much! I am 30 this year and just discovering this stuff. Many things for me to come back and look at as I go through my solo journey.
You are so welcome!
This was so informative and a well organized video! I’ve wanted to play for a while and figured giving a solo game a try!
Glad I could help!
Daniel, you really knocked it out of the park with your quick and clear characterization of the various solo role playing games! Bravo!
Thank you!
Ok, You have a new sub from me! Love the information, and break down. I had no idea of solo play games! I always just waited until I had friends over of like mind. Which was very few, and far between since I recently became fully disabled. So this opens up a whole new world for me let me tell you! Awesome! Just happened to hit the algorithm just right, and you popped up. I clicked, and the rest is history! Thanks!
👍👍👍❤❤❤
That’s great! Not that you’re disabled, but that you found this new avenue of gaming! There is so much to explore in the solo RPG realm. Hope you find the game for you.
A lot of cool resources shown here. Also gives a lot to think about. I’ve never even contemplated about all the different resources, and whether they work for me or not.
Oh wow! What an amazing video. Once again DD, you prove that you are making high caliber and helpful videos. You cover some friends of mine in here and its awesome to see. Thank you again for the kind words about Fallen and the Campaign Notebook! Also, want to point out, the author of Solitary Defilement has just released another cool solo item, called Basilisk, that you may enjoy.
Thanks for the heads up on Basilisk!
There's a review for it on the channel.
ruclips.net/video/2qLT-wnFaP0/видео.html
This was a good spectrum breakdown list. Really easy and quick to understand.
Thank you. Loved it.
Tons of golden advice! I'm still at the scripted/journaling rpg gameplay stage. Still to dip my toes to more sandboxy games, so I don't know if perhaps the current stage is more what's bring me most joy.
💖💗💓 Excellent discussion and very interesting way of classifying various solo ttrpg materials. Incidentally, I had the exact same experience with _Mythic_.
"untold encounters of the random kind", "scarlet heroes" and basically any adventure system - from dnd to frostgrave, to dungeon world - and you are set. Anything else is "extra". Mythic was a huge disappointment, also had terrible art.
Fantastic overview of solo roleplaying! I really wish I had this video when I was starting out a couple months ago. I've watched a lot of your videos, but I think this is my absolute favourite!
Please help spread the word! I’d love to see this video get some really solid exposure. :)
@@TheDungeonDive Of course! I've already shared it with some of my friends - it's an excellent resource.
I've been playing rpgs since 1979, but there's so much on the market these days that I don't have time to winnow through it to find cool new things to explore. I really appreciate this walk-through, and now I have some titles I want to check out for my own gaming purposes. Very useful vid. Thanks so much!
Glad you found it helpful. :)
Can't decide whether to go into solo RPGs, but love watching you and geek gamers discuss them...thinking of erasing into 4 against or a Crtical IF game book. Good vid.
An excellent overview, thank you. I've struggled a long time with finding a satisfying solo RPG, because scripted games often have too little agency yet sandbox games are often too random. I envy your ability to take whatever result or event occurs and fit it into a narrative as you go, whereas I find it jarring to have events spring up that are only slightly related (or often, not at all related) to my decisions and actions.
Some randomness is welcome of course (e.g., if certain hexes have a higher chance of rain, which would slow my travel and screw up hunting and possibly ruin gear, that's great) but many sandbox games aren't that finely crafted. I also don't enjoy world-building as one goes. If the majority of the game is rolling dice to see what is in the next hex or behind the next door, that seems pretty much like a scripted game to me, just with extra steps.
I guess the best balance for my tastes would be a sandbox game with a variety of locations that are more scripted, yet the sandbox part would need to have a good amount of reason behind its randomness (like logical encounter possibilities depending on terrain) and the scripted parts would need to have a variety of meaningful options or logical possible outcomes. It could be I'm asking for too much...but perhaps the campaigns for D100 would come close? Or The Drifter? Though that one seems to be less scripted.
Anyway, thanks for the helpful video! And please everyone, let me know your suggestions for games that might fit what I'm looking for.
Maybe try a sandbox hexcrawl style game, but spend a few sessions before you start playing and flesh out the world with interesting locations and NPCs. Maybe look into games like Miru, Twelve Years, Sacrifice, or Glide. I'll have videos on those coming soon.
Thanks for the kind mention Daniel! Much appreciated. We now have Rad Zone Totality as well that has more NPC content and tables. Thanks again, Toby
seems like we need a Dungeon Dive Database... like a bgg style... with these categories... or does that exist already?
This is an absolute masterclass, no words for such a great job. Bravo!
Thank you.
A system I've started using is NoteQuest: Expanded Worlds. It has everything from the base system plus some additional rules for travel, mapmaking, and travel encounters. It didn't take me long to pick up, even after going through the expansion.
Ok, this video really helps with the analysis paralysis of choosing a solo game. My preference would be a Simple System of Strutured play in a Sandbox. I think only d100 dungeon fits the bill. Any other suggestions?
Definitely try D100 Dungeon. Start with just the core book, and as you make your way through the supplements, the game becomes more complex and interesting. It's a jewel of a game.
I would say 4AD does as well, but you do have to add several supplements to get there. D100 has more rules to keep in mind though, than 4AD. So if you're coming to the game from video games, where all the paperwork is abstracted or kept track for you D100 maybe be a lot, depending on what you like.
Have you tried the Hexplore It board games?
Amazing video as ever, Daniel. I’m very much not a newbie to solo rpg and you still came up with stuff for me to look into.
Wow, a super useful video. New to the solo gaming hobby in the last 50mins I have learned enough to keep me going for years. Thank you.
me: ehhhh I duuno really what I'm looking for-
you: yeah so i placed everything into groups with keywords to make this easier!
me: i dunno who you are but i must marry you
lol! I hope I helped you out. :).
Great vid! Timestamps would be very helpful for this one!
Another great discussin Daniel. Thank you! WIll you be doing a review of The Drifter?
Eventually
So true about Mythic book!
No role-play game experience. The most I have done would be writing some extra stuff as I played Pokemon. Using the stuff happening in the game as the guide and writing out the battles. Giving the Pokemon some degree of personality... Although that adventure was not long lived.
I have for a while enjoyed poking at Novel AI. However its become very clear to me that I lack even the smallest degree of writing talent. I am able to make small movies in my mind. But write anything that do not degenerate into utter nonsense is just not happening.
I have wanted to try something like D&D, for quite a while but it has never really worked out that way. Not to ignore I am not the most social of beings. So hearing that solo games is a possible thing! Well here I am! Hoping to combine the wonders of these games with the amazing powers of AI. At least I would hope the structure of these solo role-play rule stuffs would get things moving in a more productive direction.
There are many world settings I would like to try out. The medieval setting naturally, with those classic magic elements... Pretty much d&d or at least something close. The other thing I would really love to try, is something set more in an alternative version of the real world. A system that would allow me to make character stats that would seem semi realistic and preferable be usable for various parts of history. Getting to play a role in Rome, perhaps even changing the course of history. Perhaps enter one of the well known wars of the more modern era. Be a pirate, a Viking or perhaps just an adventurer. Perhaps one could be an orc or an elf who somehow got teleported to our reality.
There are so many options. I just feel I need some help to keep my feet on the ground and give me some direction.
This video seem very useful and I will likely look around more on your videos for a deeper look at quite a few of these.
I did a similar thing with 90s wrestling games as a kid me and my mates reignited the wwf dnd videogame crossover in the early 00’s with the smackdown games . We had a royal rumble in a hotel where wrestlers were eliminated by being thrown out of doors and windows we would start in the lobby fight through the kitchens in the elevators and stairwells. My character was chokeslammed through a wall by the big show from the third floor. Match ended on the roof where you had to call a helicopter once you were the last one left in the hotel.
I also had a crucifix match with vampiro where i set him on fire whilst he was tied to a cross… also at some point in the campaign vince McMahon made a clone of me and unmasked him as my rival after beating me in a money in the bank match. The failed clones were more interesting though. The wwf clone saga haha😅
This is a great video and i enjoy seeing all the creators in the comments.
The earliest ttrpg experience i had was solo playing a copy of Space 1889 i found at my library when i was a kid. Very unstructured and i always won. I have been DMing lately and toying with the idea of making my own solo RPG. This video is truly invaluable. A lot of great looking games for research and inspiration.
Im going to need more shelves.
What an absolute gem of a video. Thanks for laying out all this info in such an easy to understand format.
Glad you enjoyed it!
As a new player to solo RPGs this fantastic video is a great help, I now know where to start and what to pick up from what seems like a daunting array of material to a noob like me! ……👍🏻
Glad to have helped. Just last Friday I put up a video for 3 systems I recommend for a beginner. Might be helpful as well.
Awesome video! Thank you for some unique games - I am very interested in the Disciples of Bone and Shadow - never heard of it before.
I no longer own the publishing rights, nor am I working on the game (I'm the author), but here's the link to EF, who is the current publisher www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/disciples-of-bone-shadow-conquered-sun-edition-pdf
Thank you will definately check it out.
Totally agree with your opinion on the tome of adventure design. Way too deep for me.
Very intrigued by Fallen. Thanks for the suggestion!
Wow! What an overview! So many great games and tools! Thanks so much.
What a collection and love the categorisation! It willl definitely helps soloist find the games they want to try.
But more importantly, it can help game creators pick and choose different mechanics from these games to get the right balance they want to achieve. Great stuff :)
Hi, Mel. I really enjoy your own channel. Great to see that you watch the Dungeon Dive!
@@davidk6269 Thanks David :) I only got back into gaming after watching the Dungeon Dive videos. So in a way, DD kickstarted my channel :)
Folks looking for Alone in the Crowd for Mork Borg will want to know that it's part of the Solitary Defilement bundle. This includes more general tools and several adventures, and is great.
Thank you so much for this vid. I am looking to get into solo RPG games and the vid is invaluable. Subbed :)
I think this video has done more for me than any other in lowering the threshold to solo roleplaying.
I’m looking forward to a gentle start soon, with Alone Against the Dark, because who doesn’t enjoy being eaten by unnameable beings, then Thousand Year Old Vampire, and maybe Sacrifice after that…
Now it’s just a matter of finding time, what with two small kids, and all the rest of life.
Glad it was helpful.
So, I thought I'd already commented on this video as I'm looking at this as a valuable examination of the Solo RPG arena as it is now and how we can include a version where the story has more importance. I've been researching the Solo RPG phenomenon for over 2 years now, experimented a little with it with Vindication Chronicles/Scribe and my own Ælemental Zine-O-Phobia system but even after watching only this first intro episode, I'm seeing that my method of 'parsing pre-written adventures' cannot stand on itself and WILL need some solo journaling AND RTG (Random Table Generation) aspects. So, yeah, Daniel, you are now doubling as my Muse in further designs...
Thanks for the kind words, Marcel. Do you have anything available for me to check out?
Mörk Borg- Dark Castle 🇸🇪
I am Really interested in all of these. I have to see how many of them are available as an e-book.
Thank you! This is exactly what I've been looking for. I've been playing 5e for maybe 4-5 years, and I'd really like to play some solo games. I'm a lifelong writer, so journaling might be fun, but I also want to explore other people's unique stories and games. Thing is, I never had the patience for choose your own adventure books as a kid - I wanted a satisfying complete story, or to just write my own. But I'm a more seasoned reader and player now, so I'm excitedto try these types of games. I'm also watching videos on Index Card RPG and Pathfinder 2e.
Just excellent content! Well done, well explained and lots of clarity! So good, I'm going to watch it again right now.
Glad it was helpful!
Anyone else think there should be a Mythic - Lite? IMO Mythic as a GM emulator is more complex than the game youre emulating and it should be like an operating system running in the background supporting your rpg not dominating it
There is! One Page Mythic.
@@TheDungeonDive oh I didnt know that, thanks for the heads up
What an amazing video! A treasure trove of tools, which I plan on carefully checking out. My poor pocketbook. 😂 For narrative game play and campaigns, you should check out The Story Engine Decks for storytelling prompts, and The Story Engine: Deck of Worlds for worldbuilding prompts by Peter Chiykowski. They're awesome, love my sets.
Those have been on my list to check out at some point. Thanks!
What you have there is the Mythic Role-playing game system. The Mythic GM Emulator is available as a separate book. That’s the one I see people recommending. I bought both I use the Mythic GM Emulator with Tiny D6 because I also think the role-playing system is a little too complex.
Yeah - I showed the wrong book. That's been discussed here already.
As somebody who is getting back into dnd5e I really appreciate this!!
I have a friend who is an aspiring author and this video gave me LITERAL METRIC TONNES of inspiration for ideas and books for him to be able to use to get those creative juices flowing!
That’s great! Solo RPGs are great for writing exercises.
Thanks for making this video, DD! Really dig when you cover solo RPGs.
Thanx a lot
Greetings from Barcelona
Great video. I rather enjoy using Mythic, but I use the blue GM book when I solo play. Again great video!!!
I only have that on PDF, so used the red one as show and tell. :)
What an excellent resource, congratulations and so many thanks for putting it up! Subscribing and looking through your previous videos :)
I must say, YOU Sir became my favorite boardgames relates youtuber! Thank you for all the great videos! You awoken a memory from my childhood of a short magazine that was indeed a choose your own adventure booklet waaay before i knew what those are and since in Eastern Europe they were not that popular, in the early 2000s, I only wished there was some kind of RPG in book format, I remember wishing for "an adventure gamebook like Heroes Of Might and Magic 3" I believe were my words 😂. I almost shed a tear watching this video and remembering that passion I had! Just ordered Fabled Lands book 1 and the whole collection of Fighting Fantasy Books. I look forward to reading and literally living one of my childhood wishes. If something ever saddens you Sir, remember that at least you made a 26 yo guy from Eastern Europe relive his childhood and made him so so so happy! Thank you again and keep up the amazing work!
Right on, man! Thanks for this comment. Love it. :)
Love this video. Easily the best overview of solo roleplaying I have seen.
Thank you. I’ve learned a good deal from your videos. I appreciate your honesty in the reviews, I too was turned off by the Mythic books and deterred from playing solo from my expieremces with Mythic and Ironsworn. I found them far too complex for my needs. Great video!
Sure thing!
Wow, great and comprehensive overview. A lot of products I'd never heard about before, too - definitely some things I need to take a look at. Thanks for making this video!
Ohh one hour. I look forward to sitting down now with a drink and giving it a listen.
thank you. very informative and useful. I was quite impressed with ironsworn but found myself still a bit stumped on how to pull it off solo as I have no rpg experience solo or not. This was very helpful in finding new directions to start with. I think I need something with a little more direction or scripting, maybe some of these books you mention at the start.
Glad it was helpful! And yes, I do NOT recommend Ironsworn for a beginner.
Hm, I like the idea of solo rpgs, but I would love to use the power of machines to speed up the process. Instead of looking up stuff on print products and rolling the dice again and again, isn't there a standard software tool where I could copy and paste all my tables in?
I know I could just use excel, but any other ideas for tools?
I’m not sure. The slow, contemplative nature is something I enjoy, so I wouldn’t look for a solution like that. But it might be good for some! I know some people use things like ChatGPT to handle the GM part.
@@TheDungeonDive Thanks for answering and for all this amazing content!
I have tried chat gpt as a gm in the Dark Eye/ das schwarze Auge setting. It was okay-ish and did its job, but was just a bit too generic in its descriptions for my taste. But I think, with a bit of tweaking and Version 5.0 of gpt it could be a lot better.
I also thought about weaving together some C# scripts in unity before, but due to lacking programming skills ended up using Excel instead. But maybe I will try to go this route again (if I find time) since it could be expanded infinately - at least in theory. Using it for things like enemy AI, hit point calculations, loot generation, skill checks etc.
But I guess it could easily evolve into its own hobby or at a year long project if done in that scope.
But if my freetime was not only 5 hours a week I would really love to do a project like this. A unity project to be my GM for solo rpgs ...
Maybe usefull for other comment readers? Somebody recommended me those programs:
"Sojour Solo Virtual Table Top (vtt)
Roll20 is excellent
If you’re playing Ironsworn/Starforged you can use Iron Journal
and I’ve heard good things about the Auger.
Obsidian could maybe be useful too"
This is a great overview and way to frame/organize the different ways you can enjoy solo role playing. Thanks for filming this!
Thanks for the Battle Mat suggestion. I like the idea of procedurally generating dungeons and crawling through them abstractly until the mood strikes you to use something more concrete and maybe tactical.
I agree! I think that's one of my favorite modes of play.
I'm using the solo Scarlet Heroes rules to play a hexcrawl campaign of Basic Fantasy RPG, it works really well. Awesome video by the way, thanks for taking the time to make it.
Scarlet Heroes is so good. It’s a complete system and a tool system.
Thanks for all that info super helpful much appreciated
This is great and really thorough. Thanks mate. I love Thousand Year Old Vampire, and it's always worth a look :)
On my list. Of about 200 others. :)
Wow lot of comments! first video of your I stumbled onto through Gaming Geeks. But I would like to add the solo game. tricube tales (solo) and the card deck, though u don't need the cards you can do everything with dice and the free pdf. But I like cards =p. It's pretty rules lite but I feels pretty complete to me and not at all overwhelming. Anyhoo great video. Really wanna check out that Colostle.
Omg, this is great! Thanks a ton for this comprehensive introduction to solo gaming. Also, you just kinda added a ton of books to my shopping cart...
Glad it was helpful!
BRB, buying all the Pocket Lands PDFs (because shipping outside of the US is blech).
I've been wondering how to get started here for a while. Joined some facebook groups, read a few guides and websites and just could not get my head around how or where to begin. This however really helped me understand what's up from down so thanks a million.
Thank you!! Glad it could help. Please share the video with those groups!
Great video! Very helpful introduction to the range of material.
Ow wow, this is a wonderfully interesting video and filled with great tips.
I personally also never really liked Mythic for use as a DM-Oracle. Have you ever tried the "Motif Story Engine" by "Thought Police"? Though it's graphical lay-out is somewhat archaic, It is a suprisingly emergent system that works with just 3 d6, a basic engine and some story specific parts that can be added on almost seamlessly. It is a bit abstract though, but it is so easy, emergent, fast and low on bookkeeping that it was the first Oracle that I felt actually inspired by. I think in your flashcard system it would be: Simple-Tools-Sandbox.
Thank you! I have not yet tried Motif, but I want to. I really want to now after reading your comment. So thank you for that.
Have you tried Untold: Adventures Await? It uses Rory Story Cubes. I've used story cubes as a GM for inspiration.
I agree about Tome of Adventure Design. It's an amazing resource, but it's not meant for on the fly use.
I've read through Mythic, and tried it a little. Conceptually, it's tight, and thorough, but I feel like it can get really slow with the book keeping.
There is a card-based RPG called Expedition that have simple fighting system with scripted story system with choses and community made stories. I belive you can make custom cards and characters, along with enemies but can't figure out how. I tried tutorial mission and had fun with intense fight against spider where my hunter almost died.
Good video. I'm definitely still learning and the sandbox style is most interesting for me. Forbidden Lands might be one you want to look at for sandbox fantasy. There's also the Book of Beasts coming that looks to have very good solo rules to lay over it. I want to work my way up to Forbidden Lands eventually. I'm with you on Mythic, it was too much for me just to be an oracle & some word prompts. The Tome of ADHD :) I may need to sit down & spend more time with it but I do just avoid it & don't want to open it.
Thanks! I find Forbidden Lands way too complex for what it offers. Too many rules. There are so many more options that offer the same thing, but aren’t hundreds of pages long.
@@TheDungeonDive It has it's own built in setting like DBS. But I definitely get it. I use very light rules myself.
Yeah. The setting is cool. I’ll probably use the hex map for something.
@@TheDungeonDive Maybe I can work my way up to Forbidden Lands. If not, I'll FKR it & use the setting, map & tables.
@TheDungeonDive I don't know if you'll see this, but I've been wanting to play RPG's since I was a kid but was never able to learn because none of my friends were into them. Your video's have given me confidence to play a couple solo (The Drifter & Deep Space D6 with the 'Long Way Home' expansion) and I had a blast! Thank you so much!
Ps. If it's not too much to ask, can you (or anyone else in the comments) recommend any sci-fi RPG's that are simple or moderately difficult for solo play? Particularly scripted hex crawlers, if they exist. I'd love to play something like Stars Without Number, but it's beyond my current level and would love to play something in the sci-fi genre that can get me more experience. Thanks again ^_^
That's great! I'll be focusing on some SF games in the very near future! I have a few cool ones that might interest you.
@@TheDungeonDive Really!? That would be awesome! Thank you so much! I've tried using websites like DriveThruRPG to find stuff by myself, but frankly I can't figure out how to navigate the content. Maybe it's because I don't have much experience but a lot of the product descriptions seem to be vague to me, so half the time I don't know if I'm looking at a hex crawler, a book etc. So yeah, super excited for your recommendations! I can't wait. Thank you so much! ^_^
I swear, the intro to your videos hits the nostalgia vibe hard
That was the goal of those compositions. They're from an EP of VHS jingles that never were.
@@TheDungeonDive ooh what's the album, if you don't mind me asking?
I never released the album they're from, but I've got a bunch of other music on Band Camp.
carlsagansghost.bandcamp.com/music
This video is the Bible of Lone Wolf Gaming!
Suddenly I buy 'The Warlock of Firetop Mountain' because of the cover :)
This video earned you a sub. Awesome work! Thank you!
Finally! All my hard work has paid off! I got a sub! ;) Thanks! Welcome to the channel. There is a ton of stuff here to discover and explore!
@@TheDungeonDive haha, yes. I’m a drop in the bucket. 🤣 But your content is awesome! Thanks for the hard work you put into these videos.
Not a drop! I really do appreciate it. :).
Excellent video! …I’d love to see more “Deep Dives” with your content!!
Am interview with Geek Gamers? A battle of the on screen hands! (Amazing video BTW)
Fantastic video! I’ve got a few new books on my shopping list now!
The only thing I find with solo RPG tools is that they’re nearly always aimed towards a fantasy setting. I love playing fantasy but I also love to dip into non fantasy settings too, mostly call of Cthulhu and Gangbusters but I find them a lot harder to solo than fantasy games
I tend to focus on fantasy stuff because it’s my wheelhouse. Next year I’ll branch out and look for specific tools for other settings / genres.
Thank you for this. Going to get alone against fear due to the horror elements . Thank you. Great content
It’s a great game!
Hi,
Have you ever come across an rpg game book that has text on left side pages and squared board of a castle floors on another? As if the book was a castle and your characters would go through it, one page per floor, including dungeons or cellar levels? It had your typical characters like knight and wizard, each with their abilities, but also a rat that could go through walls.
I remember it, but I can't figure out what type of system it would be or what it was named - when translated, it was your typical large notebook size. I have never come across a game like that again, with text on one side about the adventure and gaming board of floors on the other.
This is good stuff. Very useful, explained well and in a not boring way. Thanks for making this video.
No matter what system I solo play I always journal my adventure to have a nifty background for my adventurers.