It is interesting how designing a very different solo variant offers opportunities to branch out on the theming of the game -- here we get a chance to see a whole different aspect of the dwarves' mining operation, for example. I might guess that this is why, like R1552, I can't think of many examples of games where the solo variant is quite so divergent from the multiplayer variant -- it's hard enough to make one coherent package of gameplay+theme+components, that if a big designer/publisher can do it twice, they're likely to sell them as 2 different games. Maybe an illustration could be something like the new _Twlight Inscription._ Sure, it's a new solo game with similar theming connected to _Twilight Imperium,_ but it's so different in terms of gameplay and components that it'd make no sense to put it in the same box (and I doubt that they were _trying_ to design something that could be sold as a supplement to the same box). I think your approach to a novel solo mode might be something that we're most likely to see from indie designers like yourself, but I still can't think of many great examples. I know you've discussed Nathan Meunier's _Mindburners_ in a previous video. I cooked up a revised Solo Variant on BGG that offers a weird case. On the one hand, my solo variant uses more of the components that are normally set aside in a solo game, and tries to make solo gameplay a little more "take that!" like the multiplayer game. So, that suggests that I was shrinking the differences that did already exist between the in-the-box solo mode and the in-the-box competitive mode -- though I don't think they were quite so different as your DDD modes. On the other hand, my solo variant does tweak the theming a bit to introduce a "competitor" who is not another player -- so it is a little different than the original multiplayer mode. I dunno if this mess is close to what you had in mind, but it's the closest I can think of.
That's a cool take on the solo variant. I'll definitely add it on next time I'm ordering from the game crafter. Unfortunately I don't know of any other games with solo variants that are different from the base game. At least I can't think of any right now.
Thanks for reminding me about your free print and play games. Do you have any insight to a specific paper to print cards on? I have tried various card stock that I have come across at the store but it always feels... bad. Too thick but not rigid, really matte like fuzzy looking. Thanks.
It is interesting how designing a very different solo variant offers opportunities to branch out on the theming of the game -- here we get a chance to see a whole different aspect of the dwarves' mining operation, for example. I might guess that this is why, like R1552, I can't think of many examples of games where the solo variant is quite so divergent from the multiplayer variant -- it's hard enough to make one coherent package of gameplay+theme+components, that if a big designer/publisher can do it twice, they're likely to sell them as 2 different games. Maybe an illustration could be something like the new _Twlight Inscription._ Sure, it's a new solo game with similar theming connected to _Twilight Imperium,_ but it's so different in terms of gameplay and components that it'd make no sense to put it in the same box (and I doubt that they were _trying_ to design something that could be sold as a supplement to the same box). I think your approach to a novel solo mode might be something that we're most likely to see from indie designers like yourself, but I still can't think of many great examples.
I know you've discussed Nathan Meunier's _Mindburners_ in a previous video. I cooked up a revised Solo Variant on BGG that offers a weird case. On the one hand, my solo variant uses more of the components that are normally set aside in a solo game, and tries to make solo gameplay a little more "take that!" like the multiplayer game. So, that suggests that I was shrinking the differences that did already exist between the in-the-box solo mode and the in-the-box competitive mode -- though I don't think they were quite so different as your DDD modes. On the other hand, my solo variant does tweak the theming a bit to introduce a "competitor" who is not another player -- so it is a little different than the original multiplayer mode. I dunno if this mess is close to what you had in mind, but it's the closest I can think of.
That's a cool take on the solo variant. I'll definitely add it on next time I'm ordering from the game crafter. Unfortunately I don't know of any other games with solo variants that are different from the base game. At least I can't think of any right now.
Thank you jason this is super helpful!
Thanks for reminding me about your free print and play games. Do you have any insight to a specific paper to print cards on? I have tried various card stock that I have come across at the store but it always feels... bad. Too thick but not rigid, really matte like fuzzy looking. Thanks.