Solo RPG tutorial (the basics)
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- How to go from the blank page to having a character in a story with a goal and a timeframe in mind (no gameplay)
intro (0:00); choosing a ruleset (1:38); how not to get stuck after character creation (3:03); creating a story (11:13); the environment and encounters (20:48); time management (24:25)
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NPCs in solo RPG: • NPCs in solo d&d
The mindset of the solo GM: • Thinking Like a Solo GM
The solo GM's best friend: • So you've made a chara...
(and many other vids in my RPG playlist)
Basic Fantasy RPG available from: basicfantasy.org
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After watching your videos for a few years I finally decided to run a solo session; I was very pleasantly surprised with just how well it flowed and how immersive it became. I appreciate all the inspiration you’ve provided!
Thanks for commenting. I’m so glad to hear that! I hope it is the first of many.
I like the way you are building story from a "trinket".
Starting with a character and a "prompt" or inspirational concept and building from there is rewarding solo play for me as well. Set a goal and a limiting factor and you have a challenging game as you demonstrate. Nicely done.
I enjoy this video and many of your others I have seen. Just want to say thank you for sharing.
Fred Daniel Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Glad you enjoyed.
I really like the concept of keeping an eye out for anomalous features of a rule set. Thank you.
This is actually a really helpful video!
I always ran into the problem of trying to make a grand campaign from the start.
But the way you describe it seems just so much more useful and fun!
Thank you for this video!
Commander Boreal Thanks for watching and glad you found it of use. It’s a common impulse-to start by planning something big because we want to get a “big” experience. More often than not, if you start small and actually get somewhere a larger story will emerge organically.
I've been studying solo roleplay for a year now, and I can safely say that the only thing you need with solo roleplay is answering question. You will always get stuck in solo roleplay, so that's where generator are needed to answer the question where you stuck. Always question and answer everything as if you're in a point of view of your main character. So, no meta question like trying to answer question your main character have no knowledge of. Also, focus only on one (or few) universal generator, rather than using a lot of table which you will most likely not using it.
There's no one way to 'do' solo RPGing. For me, I do pretty much the opposite of what you are suggesting: I use many different types of tables; I try to avoid asking generators the answers to questions as much as I can; and I'm always wondering about the meta state of the world my characters are in...
This is great! I happen to be using BFRPG for my first solo play right now. What a timely help this is.
Getting back into RPG’s after about 30 year gap, found your video while searching for BFRPG on UA-cam. I love your solo approach! I was getting excited too when you gave your thief the holy symbol! Thanks so much for the inspiration, because I have so many ideas for when my wife and sons are doing other things.
Thank you so much and welcome to the channel! I have so many solo RPG vids on the channel check out the solo RPG playlist. If you have any suggestions for rules that you would like to see me treat, please do let me know.
Excellent video! Useful for solo gaming or just writing your own stories. Loved it!
I'm so glad I searched for solo TTRPG content and so glad I saw this and the few other vids I've watched so far. I enjoy game design and solo game design A LOT. You're a great speaker and your love for the art really shows. I like your ideas, like the rpg wallet, and I respect your knowledge of the systems and creativity to refine/redefine them. BIG THANKS. Cool stuff.
Well welcome to the channel and thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate that.
The crochet hook pointer is something I'll have to use in my own character building process. Also, this is a great video that's helping me wrap my mind around doing my first solo. And of your videos that I've watched so far, I haven't not-learned something from your videos. I just hit subscribe. Thanks for doing these sorts of reviews and tutorials.
Thank you so very much for the comment and I'm so glad you're finding the material of use. If only the crochet hook could help me in combat...
I have been playing traditional rpgs for 30+ years and only last copple of years opend my eyes for the new kind of rpgs - and just now I try to learn solo Rpg. You offer great content! Thank you.
Holy Symbol.....maybe the ruleset forgot to put it in there, but typically a holy symbol is required by cleric types to turn undead/cast spells.
This was an incredibly helpful video. It’s amazing how well you broke down how to get started, which is a huge issue for me. You are a great thinker and teacher
So glad to hear this! Thanks for commenting.
I can't tell you how helpful this was, thank you! Also, your voice is really lovely to listen to, you're so chilled x
Thank you so much. I’m glad you found it of use and I appreciate the feedback.
Basic Fantasy RPG is is B/X D&D with modern sensibilities, that coupled with Mythic Game Master Emulator, Variations I, and Variations II is great for creating a compelling narrative that a party of adventures can have in a sandbox campaign.
I haven't tried Mythic yet but I've just starting trying something I believe is inspired by Mythic. It's called CRGE Conjectural Roleplaying Gamemaster Emulator. It can be used for sandbox style play & also includes a Vignette framework for a 3 scene/3 act structure.
@@Mind_of_MATT thanks for the info. I have Mythic. I want to try CRGE also.
One reason I think I've been challenged in solo roleplaying is that the term 'solo roleplaying' carries with it several connotations and assumptions related to group roleplaying that don't actually apply. Your videos and book have helped clarify this for me. And with that realization, I think a better term for this activity is 'semi-structured creative writing.'
Thanks for the really interesting point you make in this comment. As I don't do much actual writing with my solo play, I wouldn't call it that but I see the point you are making. Perhaps just solo RP gaming would be apt.
So much great insight on matters I've struggled with in solo play
Wow. You have found an inconsistency in the rulebook (holy symbol's description is missing) and used it as a basis for the story. Meanwhile I would just gnash my teeth and get upset on the designers 'not caring enough.' I have much to learn.
Thank you for your videos, I enjoy your insight, your voice & the crochet hook. Keep it up!
So glad you did a video on the system i suggested! Quality content as always, nice insights there
Swell It was a GREAT suggestion-thank you. I didn’t go into too much detail about it but Basic Fantasy offers just the right amount of detail and abstraction to work quite well for the soloist. You were right.
Another great video chock full of useful information. I love the emphasis on narrative and sense of exploration (my favorite aspects of rpgs and often neglected in my experience).
So good! Keep these coming :)
That's a very valuable info. I already saved your solo rpg playlist for later. I also feel overwhelmed by huge campaigns so always go with the flow, merging worlds, using random events list e.g. 100 Forest Events or random generators offline. I try staying offline as much as I can for the immersion purpose but since I'm a newbie I gotta learn, slowly adding advanced mechanics once I'm ready. Currently I use Simple D6 system and 1 d6 dice before I start using advanced systems and mechanics. I make my world real and surreal with merged dimensions into 1 so it's easier for my learning process. I don't even have a character sheet and do a lot of messy notes. Guess I'll print some soon. I don't even have attributes yet aside from some random yet entertaining ones like "Lie Detector" if that exist in D&D. If i need more dice I just roll online or offline on a mobile app which isn't the perfect solution and I'll rather order some physical rpg stuff online so I don't have to get myself distracted sitting mindlessly like a zombie next to my desktop. Thank you for the guide, hope to learn a lot from you!
Welcome to the channel. Sounds like you have a lot of great ideas already and in many places in my vid I recommend starting with light rulesets or maybe even no rules at all to get a story going. Random lists are the soloists best friend!
@@GeekGamers01 I try my best. The hardest part is to take the first step. I procrastinated, went into analysis paralysis state until at last tried. There was another channel about solo RPG I liked (Artichoke Dip) but you get to the point instead rambling about systems, collections, which books to pick. Not saying such knowledge is wrong but being able to actually see what you see and talk about makes everything easier. Like what's ok to skip (not to carry a lot of items to keep the realism under control so there's carry weight limit).
@@paul_henderson Yes, just beginning can be the hard part and as I've said numerous times, you can get really far just with some basic steps--never mind a zillion books and supplements and things.
Not sure if you know these vids, or if they would help, but you might look at these:
"An Adventure Starter for you": ua-cam.com/video/hDND-lzxjyk/v-deo.html
"how to start a solo RPG session": ua-cam.com/video/im6gq4z5aRg/v-deo.html
@@GeekGamers01 No but thanks for the links, I'll definitely check all your content. Solo RPG tutorial is the 1St vid I've ever seen from you so it popped up somewhere when I searched for solo RPG and while ago saved to "watch later" playlist. So far I'm very surprised and satisfied how easy that hobby might become
Thank you for the thought process. It is really helpful. Also lovely character sheet.
Thank you so much for your videos. I didn't even know it was possible to play rpg solo. Thank you!
Thanks for watching! There's a lot on my channel about solo RPGing!
Really like the direction of this series.
JediNinjaKnight Glad to know it. Thanks!
For overland travel i stick with the pocket lands rule set. Simple but theybadd depth to a sesion. I live a starting location and randomly using the cards build a map.
Many thanks for the video. I liked the time management aspect.
Guillaume Pages Thanjs very much and glad you enjoyed it. Time management is always a bit tricky to manage.
I'm going to use Morgansfort as my solo background. There is a lot of depth built into the BF monsters, how they attack, react ect. (I actually like the BF Monsters better than Pathfinders first Bestiary which seemed to be filled with bad guy's?) I want to focus on story and combat tactics with learning BF rules. I did some BF solo play but took many liberties that I found out later were wrong. So I'm using a game mat that should arrive today and looks like The Olde Island Fortress. Of course I have to get there!
Some good ideas. I play mostly with a few tables and an yes/no oracle. Sometimes it really works out, sometimes not so.
That’s the name of the solo RPG game!
Some really good ideas to generate stories. I'm going to try this in class with my students to help them create new stories. it might even get them into roleplaying
Dave Fuller Excellent to hear this. What class would it be used in and for what age student?
@@GeekGamers01 primary grade 6 english class. they struggle with thinking of stories ideas as they spend most of their time playing first person shooter video games. I hope they can be more creative
Dave Fuller That’s great to hear. I hope it works out (and I say that as a lover of literature even more so than a lover of games).
@@davefuller634 Have you had a chance to try it out now? If so, how did it work?
Fascinating. I have been reading the Twilight 2k rules in Alpha format from the KS. Considering doing a team campaign, but perhaps I could also supplement that with a solo campaign to flesh out the grand campaign idea I have fermenting... very cool and creative!
I absolutely think doing a little solo work could flesh out a regular campaign and play test some things. Soloing can be great GM prep.
Great stuff as usual!
You are left handed! So am I
Superb video as usual. Thank you for sharing.
Carlos B Thank you so much!
Great video - super helpful, accessible and practical :)
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
@@GeekGamers01 It was really inspiring, I bought 'the tome of Adventure Design' this morning form Frog God! Such a fantastic book! Now generating a randomized map to use for my next solo story :) Thank you for all your insights and suggestions!
I would like to contribute to new solo role players with a couple of my own tools that they may find useful.
The first is the "Toolbox" book of tables by Alderac Entertainment Group. It has everything from pickled things in jars to the contents of someone's pockets to places and terrain. It is ridiculously expensive to buy the softbound book but good ol' DriveThruRPG has it for $9.99 as of this posting.
Next we have Rory's Story Cubes. They're basically pictures on dice that you draw on for inspiration. There are several sets and I think they're great additions. We even use them with my 3-year-old son to make up stories. :) You can get them at your local store or off Amazon.
Thanks for these suggestions and for watching and commenting. Welcome to the channel.
I love your channel !
I really Love your Videos.
Greetings from Germany.
Please go on with your great job.
I am fan.
Glad you are enjoying the channel!
These hands movements 👉👇👌
I like to start by creating the macro world and the conditions in that world. Then the micro the village, people my character knows and how they relate to my character and his actions. Then I create my character and make his background relate to the macro world.
Love this video and going to get this game. Your points are very valid about the rule sets. I am somewhat familiar with RPGing but am getting someone into it that is not. Swords& sixsiders looked promising however it is great for someone use to gaming but feel it is not good for beginners because I feel like the rules are actually too slack for them to really understand the concepts. Especially when trying to set up an adventure.It would be great for a quick read and Runthrough once familiar with gaming.
Thanks for your comment. I think Swords & Sixsiders could be useful as an intro because of the idea of the d6. I think that non standard dice are intimidating for people not used to RPGs. I also like in s&s the simple rules for monster creation and such. Hmmm... this is giving me an idea...
Cool. I would love to see some ideas of playing either of these games 2 player
with no GM needed.
@@julielane3073 Stay tuned... maybe I will. I have an idea for a vid for which Swords and Sixsiders could work as well as anything else (maybe even better). thanks for writing.
Rogues and Ranger types are usually the best characters to play solo, since both are natural survivalist to begin with.
3dcarrarafreak Great point!
It depends a lot on the system, and there becomes a greater emphasis on hirelings in solo play when you get past initial quests that require specialization or greater focus on "survival".
Also, I recommend looking at how Scarlet Heroes handles cross-class skills. It's a pretty interesting take on the idea.
Buy Tunnels & Trolls or Monsters! Monsters!.
They STARTED the solitary genre (1975) and are still published.
It's system was made for solo.
Yes those are great and I have played lots of T&T. That solo play is vastly different than what I’m discussing in this video & on my channel. Great suggestion tho
Doing a simple search of the PDF (which is free from the basicfantasy.org website) reveals the holy symbol is used to repel a vampire (p125) or by the Cleric to turn undead (p49).
I think you missed her point.
when i saw peoples like me, im so happy now omg i have a BATLLE PASS in my game and RANKED MODE lol.
Oh to be able buy that tome anymore...at least within a reasonable price
Not sure if you consider this price reasonable but it is $60 on the Mythmere Games website for the second edition.
Hey! So glad to connect. Love your channel! I have noticed that you use two yellow hex boards. One of them has different characters etc on each four sides, the other one I think you used on your Wilderness video? Where did you get those boards? Do you know what I'm talking about? :-) either way, good work! Amazing channel!
These are from The Beastlord. Glad you enjoy the channel!
Thank you for your solo vids, they have been very helpful in the creation of my own campaign. Have heard of the Night Witches rpg? The story sounds really fun, especially since it is based on real events. Just wondering how you may go about soloing this rpg because it doesn't use minis or maps but more "in the mind" and story based.
NonprofitAce So glad you have enjoyed my vids. That’s great to hear. And no I have not heard of the RPG you mention. I will look it up!
I can help with the Holy Symbol if you like. If you wish to leave it vague I understand.
Would like to keep it vague, thanks! :)
Got it (-:
Bruh, that's why it's called a "solo game"...
Very good intro to tabletop rping, the basics, & starting simple. Will you be doing a follow up to this video?
Maul xx Yes. I’m working on the next one now-on dealing with creating a wilderness to travel through. Probably a third after that on encounters. Glad you enjoyed it.
@@GeekGamers01 Great! It seemed you were heading in that direction. I definitely want to tune in to see these videos. Very useful & interesting.
Gracias por tus vídeos son muy buenos
what i would like to know is how best one do a solo rpg in an already created world - like Harn perhaps- in order to do something in the world, one would have to steep themselves as deeply in the lore and the locations as a GM but then that would mean knowing too much - and also it would be an enormous cost in time and money to get all the resources and read them all
That’s a great question! My Symbaroum video is probably the one that works within an existing world and I plan some more vids on Symbaroum soon. You are right that the approach would differ and would require prep of another sort. Symbaroum solo: ua-cam.com/video/IKAr_PvhdBg/v-deo.html
@@GeekGamers01 thanks for the reply. I think what I am most drawn to the idea of a kind of sandbox in the Harn setting where ones character or group have some goal and it is up to me to figure out how to achieve it within all the rules that govern time, distance, money, law etc in that world and then whatever added random events interrupt this as well as the challenge itself
Of course it is more interesting if it can be framed with larger political events in that very game of thrones like work that is Harn .
Though with Harn and like with alit of RPGs, the core products never contain all the world lore and maps so I presume there is some expectation that one does still invent somethings maybe
The other hurdle I have been trying to figure out is how one stocks shops, it is unrealistic to just have random items in a shop and then does one have to work out the larger economy of the region - how often are shops restocked and where from and what do they receive - perhaps one need not go so far unless it's some big campaign. I can see how much easier a more basic rpg is lol, but now that I have learnt about Harn it's kind of set a benchmark vfor what I want to do
Your description of living in the sandbox and having to do something is why I typically play one off sessions and not anything longer. In most cases I am content to have a very abstracted idea of the world being simply the way it interacts quite locally with my characters. Like in my Cairn video... there was no “world” there beyond the reasoning for their journey.
But there can be a rich experience inhabiting the world of an RPG & it sounds to me as if you’ve found how to do that. On the matter of the shops: Yep, that’s where you’d need to do GM prep... to create your own “random” list of offerings... if you wanted a rationale for them being there. Perhaps you could roll up a quick NPC shopkeeper & make that person part of your story
@@GeekGamers01 thats a good idea regarding the shopkeeper, perhaps it can set some core rationale behind what a shop might have then and all the ideas can logically form from that
i think the one-shot approach is good and maybe i shouldnt overtax myself as otherwise i will probably never end up getting anything off the ground, because of some kind of prep-creep. I am considering some other RPGs that might serve as well and ones that i could have more freedom to build a world as i go
- such as Dark Sagas RPG, Zweihaender, Rolemaster, or Dragon Warriors- that one is actually really appealing and the original core rulebook has the perfect amount of material to start things off
Can you still get the board you're playing on? I've tried to search for it.
There is no board in this vid as far as I recall so I’m not sure how to answer your question. Timestamp?
@@GeekGamers01 Sorry. I saw it in one of your other videos. It's from Outdoor Survival. Looks like a cool board to use. I'm going to pick one up on ebay.
merci!!!
Wonderful.
Can you recommend an alternative to tome of adventure design? that book is impossible to find in print
It is hard to find something that is so broad but for dungeons the DUNGEON DESIGN GUIDE series has a lot
Coppa doesn’t hit? Impossible.
Hi, I just heard you on Always Player One, and you were quite interesting to listen to! So I have a question that I'm sure you get often: what do you consider the best solo RPG for an adult (me) with absolutely no experience? I printed D100 and Alone against Fear, but I've gotten stuck on both. I love the idea of being able to try this new (to me) genre, but I have a LOT to learn, and I'd like something that could introduce me to the mechanics of RPGs in the simplest ways possible. Thanks!
So glad the podcast brought you here. As I mentioned in that podcast, I would recommend Scarlet Heroes as an essential purchase if you were just going to buy one thing. You might also look at Ancient Odysseys, which is a little bit more choose your own adventure but still capable of expanding to allow you to make your own dungeon crawlers.I also have a video on my channel about “easy and cheap rule sets for solo RPGing: ua-cam.com/video/peoJ-KC3SL0/v-deo.html
@@GeekGamers01 Thank you so much! I really enjoyed listening to you, and I appreciate the advice. I will be looking over the video you recommended as well, and I'm going to subscribe to the site. Nice work!
@@teachmarkey Glad I could help. I've got tons of content on the site so if you have specific questions feel free to ask and if I know I have a vid on the topic, I'll point you to it. Welcome!
@@GeekGamers01 Wonderful! Thank you!
Shadow Of The Demon Lord RPG's trinket tables stood out to me when I first read it.
Seen a few other RPGs with those since then, but I think the SotDL ones are still rather .. unusual.
NefariousKoel I’m not familiar with them but will see if I can get a look.
Is this still your advice for a beginner or is there something else you suggest 5yrs on?
Thanks
Truly I have not listened to this video in a while so can’t be 100% sure what it says. That said, my advice has remained pretty consistent over the years and you can look in my solo RPG playlist for more recent videos that address general topics. My book, the solo GM guide, also has up-to-date information about my solo approach.
@@GeekGamers01 ordered your book a few days ago and it has just turned up today.
@waynemason2076 Thanks for the support & I hope you enjoy it.
I am making 2 text adventure games without stats but this might get me to do things for stats...hmmm :/
I have the D&D starter set. Would it be possible to do this using that set? What are the differences?
Solo RPGing can be done with any rule set.
I have a pdf scenario that i would like to provide. it was originally created for a rpg that was used. i was using TFT, i can see no reason that the scenario couldn’t be used within virtually any rpg. it has been used as a solo as well.
if you wanted i could arrange to get this to you. if i sent it to you i would need to provide a way to do this :-)
Thanks for the generous offer but I’m not seeking any scenarios now. If you’re playing with different rule sets perhaps you could port it into something else yourself. I appreciate your offer.
I absolutely love your videos. 🙂 I'm playing D&D 5e solo, but I'm also open to trying other d20 rpg systems, like Pathfinder 2e.
Would you recommend BFRPG to someone who's never played it before?
Yes. I have a vid on recommendations for solo RPG rulesets cheaply and that’s in there. But it’s good even if not free
@@GeekGamers01 I got some of the adventures including the Rules and Field Guide. 😊 I also have the Adventure Anthologies, which I heard is perfect if I want to play solo. 🙂
@@musingsofmessa I’m not familiar with those products but will check them out.
I am back for more inspiration
Yay!
Cha'alt!
Why dont you run a few adventures and show us how they run
Great question! I have a bunch of vids on the channel with gameplay demos but doing that takes a massive amount of time and as this channel is my hobby and not my living I don’t have that much time to devote. I do what I can to show what a game feels like but have had to limit my on-air play.
@@GeekGamers01 I understand, thanks for answereing my question
How well does the book work with old d&d models
I know this is an old post, but I'm responding for anyone curious. While not a 100% clone, Basic Fantasy is very similar to D&D Basic/Expert (1981) and can easily be used to play those modules with very minor tweaking (adjust to use ascending AC).
The holy symbol is for clerics
Yes! That was a major brain freeze on my part!!
There are not ways to totally random generate the story?
DarkZones3D6 I’m sure there are random story generators online if that’s what you mean.
@@GeekGamers01 I started learning d&d with ytb like 2 days ago. Still gathering info to make a picture
@@darkzones3d612 Got it. Personally I don't use online resources when I game BUT there are soooo many great ones out there that they are worth investigating.
@@GeekGamers01 you probably have a vid about this but best to start. I will probably try endless quest books. Thx for your vids : )
20:48 What is a "D 100 Table"?
A table with 100 listings that you can roll on to get a random choice. (D100 dice are either two d10s assigned to the ones and ten spots-with a roll of 000 being 100, or two 10a being 100-or rolling something called percentile dice (which it’s probably easier for you to google an image of than me to explain)
@@GeekGamers01
I think i got it now :)
D = Dice
100 = number of items
Table = list
I will google for it and check on amazon. I'm sure there are tons of amazing and magical dice out there waiting for me ^^
Thank you for your answer. Much appreciated
I'm currently designing a solo rpg game u said u can get that basic fantasy book for free I can't find it so could u tell me how to get it I haven't subscribed to yur page but I'm checking out yur videos
Darth Staydogg A google search for basic fantasy rules will turn it up or go to basicfantasy.org
😊
GURPS 4E + Mythic = !
Droid15243Z Yes! Some day...
I don't mean to be so negative about your show. I like your videos and I watch everything new you post, but I have some questions...
She don't make paper game
What is the purpose of solo rpg?
To play.
SKYRIM is solo RPGing.
I use the Mongoose Traveller ruleset for solo tabletop.
Pierre Abou Naoum To create stories
For me it is a little bit frustrating instead to be fun.... Prefere to play something with a context instead to spend time creating a story from the strach and stuck each time when what to do next...
Then maby a strict solo play like this is not for you, but there are loads of options out there. Like pre programmed solo adventure books, boardgames with solo options. After a while playing those you might start to want to create stories yourself in this world. Then this video and many more videos geek gamers have made can help you get started with that storytelling.
I gave you a thumbs down because I had to sit through 2 adds to start this video.
Why would someone want to play solo?
All the vids on my channel address this in some way or another. It's not for everyone, certainly.
Because they can’t find people to play or just don’t like to play with people.
@@hankdean15 For some, not for me. I can find people to play and I like to play with people. Solo RPG is a different experience--it doesn't have to be a substitute if you can't find someone.
It's an exercise for storytelling.
a dwarf thief??? also, a thief can't use a battle axe
Solo rpg the game for lonely people