I love the tables in Knave 2e! When I first got the PDF, I was drawn to the section on a generating spells. It gave me the idea to recreate the spell generator as a computer program, which took me about a week. Now, I have EVERY table in the book in automated form and it's super easy to add new tables and combine them with existing stuff. I'm trying to think of a way that I can share my work with the community in a way that's respectful to Ben and all of his work.
Very sharp and honest overview of the book. I bit too thin on the system for my taste. Books with tables are easy to find. I'll pass on this one and keep playing Dragonbane solo.
Really nice review. I agree on almost everything you said. I am running a solo game with this now and had to bring in some Shadowdark and Worlds Without Number to help me along.
I love the conciseness of the book as well. It feels like a very focused tool, rather than a bloated tome. The A5 size is also great. One handed deployment to be able to DM while standing (or anywhere).
This video was great. Actually, your videos have taught me a ton about solo playing, so thank you! Re: Knave 2e and solo, I have a few modified rules that I use for my own solo play. For character creation, rather than the 3d6, I will roll 3d4 and take the lowest for each modifier. My logic is that for group play, a party of schmucks can survive a few scrapes, but a solo character, I assume has survived the funnel already and maybe has proven to have more skills than a Wretch. I dropped the character I just described into the BFRPG Morgansfort campaign and got my clock cleaned on the first encounter anyway!
Even if you don't play Knave, it's a tremendous resource for any game and it's awesome for Solo play. I'm using it for a game of We Deal in Lead to generate a bunch of things.
Not really a solo player but I really like how you dig into the use of the tools and tables in the book. It helps me use them better when designing my own stuff for any system.
Backed this hoping for a lot more. It does have a lot of great tables, great layout and very cohesive art & presentation. But overall it's really just yet another in a long line of hundreds of D&D reskins. Filing off the serial numbers, simplifying, adding houserules and ideas gathered from other many games. I backed knowing that's what the core of it would be, but was really hoping Ben would be putting a lot more original game design into it. The large amount of tables is really the only thing that feels new here, and like you mentioned even these tables feel incomplete, like a lot more meat was left out of the book. I do love the game designer notes at the back, but again even this feels like it could have covered a hell of a lot more.
Funny enough, I virtually always use Fiasco for my solo games! I simply steal their relationship/need/location/object system as the start for my solo campaign, since I find it does intertwined character relationships best. Sometimes I'll use it's structure for solo one-shots, as well.
another excellent video! this book is pretty banger! though I have really come to prefer the d20 roll under, as Ben himself says, grab whatever mechanics you want! I do like the Shifts in this, and how armor is done. as an overall package, this ones great for the library - I'd shadowdark (a bit similar) does better with fleshed out tables for more narrative drive, whereas Knave is like a massive oracle. thanks for pointing out the Little GM Emulator - looks great
No problem! An oracle is a thing used to play RPGs solo. It can be used to simulate the role of a GM. Some are simple tables that help answer yes and no questions, others are more complex. I will very soon be doing a video covering a whole bunch of different oracles. Think of them like a Magic 8 Ball for RPGs. I also have this beginner’s guide to solo RPGs. ua-cam.com/video/iYHt1pdScK0/v-deo.htmlsi=akPpOPUq0PQRRam5
Tome of Adventure Design has an overwhelming number of tables (like 300 pages worth). There is some good stuff but I can't imagine referencing it at the table.
The tables are cool however, my wife got me this on kickstarter and she went all in..and when it arrived I read through it and just kind of felt like…”Is this it? “. Really underwhelming.
@@p0ck3tp3ar Honestly it ended up feeling TOO light. I am a big fan of questing beast, after all his insight and reviews I expected more (In terms of innovation and interesting design). It's purely personal preference and not any sort of slight. It is just far too bare bones for me tables aside.
@@DeadMarsh I would have liked all of the monsters on the d100 table at least to have stat blocks in the book. That would be a pretty good starting point for you to 'hack' your own creatures. You could roll up a weird set of creature appearance and traits, then either pick a monster from the book to use as the baseline for its stats or roll randomly for them. I would also have been happy with a d100 table that's just random sets of monster stats, with the tens digit being its level.
So, let’s imagine 3 PCs with the same stats but three different character ideas (fighter, ranger, thief). Being equipment-dependent, the thief character chooses a career or two which grants him said equipment….but the fighter just, well, buys the equipment…… So then what? I’m fully admitting confusion here…. 🤷♂️
@@TheDungeonDiveOh! I now see that careers add a +5 to worthwhile rolls… so it does differentiate and matters more than equipment. Well…. That’s something, at least.
SMH... The point is to give players a simple system that can fit on 2 sides of an 8.5x11" sheet that's quick to learn and play. For GMs and designers, it provides tremendous tools to make on-the-fly conversions, emergent story, etc. The fact that there are no boards, figures, etc., is important because unlike the WotCs and Paizos, independent designers don't need to design around being able to accommodate upcoming content. I understood and was ready to play Knave within less than 10 minutes of reading the rules. By contrast, I still don't totally understand Pathfinder 2e even after having the books for over 2 years now.
I believe you don’t understand the hobby. When played seriously an entire table of players can become so deeply immersed in the fantasy that powerful feelings are experienced. I suggest you look into the content of more serious (aka not goofy) GMs.
Your solo perspective on games is very helpful and why I stay subscribed. 😊👍
I appreciate that!
I just found this place through the Rogue second edition video less than a month ago and I really like it here.
Love solo focused content! Thanks for this!
I love the tables in Knave 2e! When I first got the PDF, I was drawn to the section on a generating spells. It gave me the idea to recreate the spell generator as a computer program, which took me about a week. Now, I have EVERY table in the book in automated form and it's super easy to add new tables and combine them with existing stuff. I'm trying to think of a way that I can share my work with the community in a way that's respectful to Ben and all of his work.
Ive been playing Knave 2e solo since we backers got the pdf. It holds up incredibly well for long-term solo play. Love the game. Great review.
Very sharp and honest overview of the book. I bit too thin on the system for my taste. Books with tables are easy to find. I'll pass on this one and keep playing Dragonbane solo.
There is "A Lonely Knave" Written by Peter Rudin-Burgess. It's 2 pages, rules light Oracle.
Really good review of the material, and I loved your grading system for games 👏
Perdeo's Identifying Wood has gotta be one of the spells of all time
Wield it with responsibility.
Thanks for the review!
Thanks for the game!
Got my copy from kickstarter last week! Can’t wait to put those tables to work for some solo play
Really nice review. I agree on almost everything you said. I am running a solo game with this now and had to bring in some Shadowdark and Worlds Without Number to help me along.
Sounds like a good combo!
I love the conciseness of the book as well. It feels like a very focused tool, rather than a bloated tome. The A5 size is also great. One handed deployment to be able to DM while standing (or anywhere).
Yeah, it does feel focused. That’s good.
This video was great. Actually, your videos have taught me a ton about solo playing, so thank you!
Re: Knave 2e and solo, I have a few modified rules that I use for my own solo play. For character creation, rather than the 3d6, I will roll 3d4 and take the lowest for each modifier. My logic is that for group play, a party of schmucks can survive a few scrapes, but a solo character, I assume has survived the funnel already and maybe has proven to have more skills than a Wretch. I dropped the character I just described into the BFRPG Morgansfort campaign and got my clock cleaned on the first encounter anyway!
Thank you for all of your hard work on bringing this wonderful content to us
Glad you enjoy it!
Even if you don't play Knave, it's a tremendous resource for any game and it's awesome for Solo play. I'm using it for a game of We Deal in Lead to generate a bunch of things.
4:38 What a nice surprise to see my Tables For One has made it into your binder :)
Heck yeah! I like that. :).
Not really a solo player but I really like how you dig into the use of the tools and tables in the book. It helps me use them better when designing my own stuff for any system.
I believe your careers also give a +5 bonus to your roll when trying to accomplish tasks that your career would give you knowledge about.
Backed this hoping for a lot more. It does have a lot of great tables, great layout and very cohesive art & presentation. But overall it's really just yet another in a long line of hundreds of D&D reskins. Filing off the serial numbers, simplifying, adding houserules and ideas gathered from other many games. I backed knowing that's what the core of it would be, but was really hoping Ben would be putting a lot more original game design into it. The large amount of tables is really the only thing that feels new here, and like you mentioned even these tables feel incomplete, like a lot more meat was left out of the book. I do love the game designer notes at the back, but again even this feels like it could have covered a hell of a lot more.
Funny enough, I virtually always use Fiasco for my solo games! I simply steal their relationship/need/location/object system as the start for my solo campaign, since I find it does intertwined character relationships best. Sometimes I'll use it's structure for solo one-shots, as well.
Nice! Thats a game, for me, that is entirely based on social interaction with other people. But I’m glad it works as tool for you.
I’ve been watching you for years and I can’t believe I haven’t Subscribed! I swear I was but I guess I wasn’t. Great videos and I’m loving Knave 2e.
Welcome!!
Great video. Do you mind to post a video of you flipping through your oracle binder? I am really interested to learn about new oracle systems. Thanks
Yep! An oracle video will be coming soon. Just need to finish the one I'm working on first.
another excellent video! this book is pretty banger! though I have really come to prefer the d20 roll under, as Ben himself says, grab whatever mechanics you want! I do like the Shifts in this, and how armor is done. as an overall package, this ones great for the library - I'd shadowdark (a bit similar) does better with fleshed out tables for more narrative drive, whereas Knave is like a massive oracle. thanks for pointing out the Little GM Emulator - looks great
I got this a few days ago just for the tables!
So, streamlined BX with many tables & no solo specifics?
Off topic question on oracles and starting: is there a video about Radiance system?
There are, yes. I’ll be doing on in the next couple of months.
18:55 nice
Mr dungeon drive because you have reviewed so many games have you ever thought about creating your own RPG game? If you did I would buy it for sure!
I am slowly working on my own game - A Land in Peril. I have a designer diary playlist on the channel!
@TheDungeonDive nice I will check it out!
With shadowdark and solo dark coming out soon, will you be reviewing those as well?
Probably not any time soon. I already have so many fantasy RPGs. I’m sure I’ll get around to it at some point, but it’s going to be a while.
@@TheDungeonDive fair enough!
24:09 or better yet, put warfare just before buildings, switching the two
Thanks for the detailed review! Could I ask, where is this book printed?
Czech Republic.
Sorry I'm really new. What is an oracle?
No problem! An oracle is a thing used to play RPGs solo. It can be used to simulate the role of a GM. Some are simple tables that help answer yes and no questions, others are more complex. I will very soon be doing a video covering a whole bunch of different oracles.
Think of them like a Magic 8 Ball for RPGs.
I also have this beginner’s guide to solo RPGs.
ua-cam.com/video/iYHt1pdScK0/v-deo.htmlsi=akPpOPUq0PQRRam5
I love your massive collection of oracles. You’re as bad as me! 😄
Haha. Theyre all so cool!
Is it possible to have TOO many random tables? Maybe a random table to tell me which book of random tables I should use 😂😂
Oh trust me. I’m sure one of those exists!
Tome of Adventure Design has an overwhelming number of tables (like 300 pages worth). There is some good stuff but I can't imagine referencing it at the table.
@@robertcook139 I bought the PDF version for my iPad.
@@robertcook139 they are more useful for game prep, not at the table play, unless you're playing solo
The tables are cool however, my wife got me this on kickstarter and she went all in..and when it arrived I read through it and just kind of felt like…”Is this it? “. Really underwhelming.
It’s intended to be lightweight and compact with a high emphasis on generating content. It’s an alternative to complex and robust systems.
@@p0ck3tp3ar Honestly it ended up feeling TOO light. I am a big fan of questing beast, after all his insight and reviews I expected more (In terms of innovation and interesting design). It's purely personal preference and not any sort of slight. It is just far too bare bones for me tables aside.
@@DeadMarsh I would have liked all of the monsters on the d100 table at least to have stat blocks in the book. That would be a pretty good starting point for you to 'hack' your own creatures. You could roll up a weird set of creature appearance and traits, then either pick a monster from the book to use as the baseline for its stats or roll randomly for them. I would also have been happy with a d100 table that's just random sets of monster stats, with the tens digit being its level.
So, let’s imagine 3 PCs with the same stats but three different character ideas (fighter, ranger, thief).
Being equipment-dependent, the thief character chooses a career or two which grants him said equipment….but the fighter just, well, buys the equipment……
So then what?
I’m fully admitting confusion here…. 🤷♂️
If they have the same stats they should be the same class. A fighter should have more strength than a thief. Also, role play.
@@TheDungeonDiveOh! I now see that careers add a +5 to worthwhile rolls… so it does differentiate and matters more than equipment.
Well…. That’s something, at least.
I don't like it when doodies are laid out. Messy.
Stupid game, just like all book RPGs. What's the point? No board, no gaming figures etc. etc....
It is an RPG book. It is its own system for playing...all the pieces are in your imagination lol
SMH...
The point is to give players a simple system that can fit on 2 sides of an 8.5x11" sheet that's quick to learn and play. For GMs and designers, it provides tremendous tools to make on-the-fly conversions, emergent story, etc.
The fact that there are no boards, figures, etc., is important because unlike the WotCs and Paizos, independent designers don't need to design around being able to accommodate upcoming content. I understood and was ready to play Knave within less than 10 minutes of reading the rules. By contrast, I still don't totally understand Pathfinder 2e even after having the books for over 2 years now.
Are you lost?
LOL.
I believe you don’t understand the hobby. When played seriously an entire table of players can become so deeply immersed in the fantasy that powerful feelings are experienced. I suggest you look into the content of more serious (aka not goofy) GMs.
Por cierto Ker Nethalas en ESPAÑOL ! kickstarter o Verkami este proxximo lunes 8 !!
That’s great!