For the third method, I would highly recommend something like Ironsworn world truths - I've been trying to do a solo game in the Bronze Age in South East Asia, so I've been using an equivalent world workbook from a blog (Sundaland RPG) and it gives some nice constraints. Great video!
Ironsworn is a cool dm-less system. They do a great job of approaching the game without a DM. I agree, even if not playing Ironsworn, it can be a great worldbuilding tool
I love forbidden lands, such a cool setting, and so many mechanics and opinionated stuff in the box that make it feel like a lot of the DM work of creating the world, encounters, what happens during travel etc is all handled. The hard part I have with a lot of these games solo I play ttRPGS to explore and discover a world and roleplay a character in that world. I read up on all the lore and everything for Forbidden Lands, roll my first random encounter, and it's basically just a snippet of thematic text and expects the DM to expand on it. So... I also have like the Raven's Purge campaign etc, which have all these awesome events and flesh out the world even more, but because it's structured like a sandbox, I felt like I couldn't get around needing to read the whole thing for myself ahead of time and just DM myself, spoiling all surprise and discovery. Would love see a video on your thoughts on Forbidden Lands in general and a bit of a deeper dive of how to bring in this feeling of "discovering and exploring a world/setting" when you have a game with a more sandbox structure like FL.
There is a book from Troll Lord Games called Codex Slavorum. All the stats are used for Castles and Crusades but it has lore and some history of Eastern Europe.
I particularly like the Solitary Defilement adventures built for solo play for Mörk Borg, they're great launching off points to a solo Mörk Borg campaign and because they're designed for solo play they're easy to use!
I think there is a fourth way which is to use a system designed specifically for solo such as Four Against Darkness or D100 Dungeon (or D100 World Builder) - this is kind of like build as you go, but with a more external structure (quests, XP etc) provided by the books. I'm particularly excited to start the D100 Adventurer's Companion quests
Hey, great video! I appreciated hearing some straightforward approaches and methods to how people start playing solo RPGs as I'm doing some research for a video of my own to see how much things differ. Have you tried using a Game Master emulator like Mythic or oracle type tables? I've found that they are great tools for solo to ask questions about the world and develop the story for both build-as-you-go and existing adventures/sandbox style play.
Thanks for taking a look! Yeah I have used Mythic and tools like it - I am not as huge of a fan of those. I do love oracle tables, but the more specific the better for me! I like using random tables when I am trying to answer a very specific question.
I would really like to know how you do bookkeeping. I always start with simple/bullet points, ending and extensive storytelling. Then getting tired and that is the end. I liked Forbidden Lands, but as I tend to play true solo it's very hard to survive. Especially if you want the survival part of travelling and exploration, bookkeeping gets overwhelming. (It's great to hear a Czech reference!) Any advice is welcome!
The info is great, but please use b roll images and cutaways so you can cut out the parts of the audio where you pause, audibly breathe or swallow. It will help the flow and prevent distraction with the type of people bothered by such sounds.
The top mistake is playing solo to begin with. Instead of doing that download the Meet Up application instead. Find a game group. Meet real people. Make new friends. Play a real game face-to-face around a table and socialize.
I do that all the time. I game with a few different groups on a regular basis for a variety of games. 😊 Sometimes though I am at home and the family is asleep and I still want to get my game on.
Some of us have serious health conditions that stops us meeting up face to face, and being able to commit to regular online sessions. Quit with the gate keeping please on how we should play ttrpgs, thanks.
Would love to hear more about the 3rd method because using solo RPG as a tool for worldbuilding is really exciting!
Thats a cool idea. I will add it to the list!
For the third method, I would highly recommend something like Ironsworn world truths - I've been trying to do a solo game in the Bronze Age in South East Asia, so I've been using an equivalent world workbook from a blog (Sundaland RPG) and it gives some nice constraints. Great video!
Are you from South East Asia?
Ironsworn is a cool dm-less system. They do a great job of approaching the game without a DM. I agree, even if not playing Ironsworn, it can be a great worldbuilding tool
I love forbidden lands, such a cool setting, and so many mechanics and opinionated stuff in the box that make it feel like a lot of the DM work of creating the world, encounters, what happens during travel etc is all handled. The hard part I have with a lot of these games solo I play ttRPGS to explore and discover a world and roleplay a character in that world. I read up on all the lore and everything for Forbidden Lands, roll my first random encounter, and it's basically just a snippet of thematic text and expects the DM to expand on it. So... I also have like the Raven's Purge campaign etc, which have all these awesome events and flesh out the world even more, but because it's structured like a sandbox, I felt like I couldn't get around needing to read the whole thing for myself ahead of time and just DM myself, spoiling all surprise and discovery. Would love see a video on your thoughts on Forbidden Lands in general and a bit of a deeper dive of how to bring in this feeling of "discovering and exploring a world/setting" when you have a game with a more sandbox structure like FL.
I actually had similar feelings playing Forbidden Lands. I would like to try it again and see how to work through some of those issues.
Another great video resource-thanks again. Solo is really intriguing to me, trying to get the ball rolling on a game.
Thanks for the kind words!
great overview and appreciate the modeling of how they work for you!
Thanks for the kind words!
There is a book from Troll Lord Games called Codex Slavorum. All the stats are used for Castles and Crusades but it has lore and some history of Eastern Europe.
Great to hear, thanks for the rec!
I particularly like the Solitary Defilement adventures built for solo play for Mörk Borg, they're great launching off points to a solo Mörk Borg campaign and because they're designed for solo play they're easy to use!
Good to hear! I am not a fan of Mork Borg for setting reasons, but I appreciate that people enjoy the game!
0:00 Intro
0:45 Use an existing module
8:20 Sandbox in an existing setting
13:43 Build as you go
19:11 Summary
Gracias!
I think there is a fourth way which is to use a system designed specifically for solo such as Four Against Darkness or D100 Dungeon (or D100 World Builder) - this is kind of like build as you go, but with a more external structure (quests, XP etc) provided by the books. I'm particularly excited to start the D100 Adventurer's Companion quests
Yeah good point. Playing an rpg designed for solo play works too!
Hey, great video! I appreciated hearing some straightforward approaches and methods to how people start playing solo RPGs as I'm doing some research for a video of my own to see how much things differ. Have you tried using a Game Master emulator like Mythic or oracle type tables? I've found that they are great tools for solo to ask questions about the world and develop the story for both build-as-you-go and existing adventures/sandbox style play.
Thanks for taking a look! Yeah I have used Mythic and tools like it - I am not as huge of a fan of those. I do love oracle tables, but the more specific the better for me! I like using random tables when I am trying to answer a very specific question.
I would really like to know how you do bookkeeping. I always start with simple/bullet points, ending and extensive storytelling. Then getting tired and that is the end. I liked Forbidden Lands, but as I tend to play true solo it's very hard to survive. Especially if you want the survival part of travelling and exploration, bookkeeping gets overwhelming. (It's great to hear a Czech reference!) Any advice is welcome!
The info is great, but please use b roll images and cutaways so you can cut out the parts of the audio where you pause, audibly breathe or swallow.
It will help the flow and prevent distraction with the type of people bothered by such sounds.
Appreciate the feedback! Im always trying to improve so suggestions like this are always welcome
The top mistake is playing solo to begin with. Instead of doing that download the Meet Up application instead. Find a game group. Meet real people. Make new friends. Play a real game face-to-face around a table and socialize.
Some people are uncomfortable with face to face games, or do not have the time to commit to them. We are all us.
I do that all the time. I game with a few different groups on a regular basis for a variety of games. 😊 Sometimes though I am at home and the family is asleep and I still want to get my game on.
Some of us have serious health conditions that stops us meeting up face to face, and being able to commit to regular online sessions.
Quit with the gate keeping please on how we should play ttrpgs, thanks.