Finally!!! Someone who actually shows the journalling side of this hobby, i'v been trying to get into solo roleplaying and everyone i watch play doesn't journal they just record a video so I was always stuck on that part so thank you so much for this, I can now finally get started, subbed!! :)
Glad I could help, that was the hardest part for me too when I started. It took me a while to find the right balance. Exactly this is why I started this series, to show how it might actually be in your living room, without a UA-cam camera set-up. In my other series on this channel I also journal less, but then again they are not meant to be tutorials.
I think this maybe my second watch of your video. Just have to give you a thank you for the way you offer advice for novice solo rpg players I created a campaign setting years ago, hoping to play 5e or PF with my kids. Fast forward to now and they just ain't interested. So earlier this year I tried playing solo, first session went ok playing a published scenario from the D&D adventurer magazine that I modified to fit in the world I created.I just changed the NPC and location names. After this I was scratching my head for what to do or where to go next for months. I think one of the supplements you've used here or mentioned in your other videos gave me a little bit of direction. Since then I've been trying to get in as much play time as possible and started to integrate more and more conversation between the characters in my journal. What would have originally started out as a goblin attack at a festival ended up being a rat infested inn followed by going to a nearby lumber camp to stop bandit raids,to finding out that the thieves guild are the ones doing the raids, to get supplies to be able to go into an old ruined priory dedicated to the god of thieves to obtain a piece of magic armour to go and raid a stockpile of a new gunpowder based weapon. That the thieves guild want to sell to the nations military instead of letting them go to their intended destination of a rival nation. All the while having to fight a small band of goblins,"bandits" A Giant spider and 1d4 spiderlings at the end of every turn and a necromancer thats brought the previous residents of the priory back to life. The party, I should have only had one character really. Is made up of a halfling rogue, human fighter and his teenage Spellcaster daughter. A high elf wizard and wood elf cleric. I gave the fighter a dodgy backstory that his daughter isn't actually his but the orphan of a family that his regiment killed during a war with the neighbouring country. After levelling up his daughter has suddenly taken on Warlock abilities and can't explain why.The wizard is an escaped POW that only she and a new NPC, who is part of the thieves guild know. Even though the story arc is getting a little deep and I've rail roaded myself and the party a little,if thats possible, I've found that keeping the GM/DM materials quite basic has let my imagination go amd if the quest hook from a random table doesn't fit with the setting at the time ive just rolled again. Most of the ideas came from about four lucky rolls on a random words table. In a way it has also added flesh to the world I created incase either of my kids ever decided they wanted to give TTRPGs a go. .
@@taifunkchichris Thanks for this detailed comment. It was my pleasure and I am glad you got use out of the video. I still remember my first tried, struggling to make sense of it all. Most important rule: It is your game, your fun. Nobody is watching (usually) and nobody is judging. Keep playing👍
Basic Fantasy RPG is also completely free. Print on Demand at cost or Free Downloads of All Basic Fantasy materials, adventures, and created content. All 100 percent Free. Including the new 4th Edition book, recently released. Highly recommended
Thank you for uploading an efficient video that shows a very practical way to do it. Most of the other videos ramble too much and spend too much time flipping through books and rambling some more and then going off on a tangent…lol
I've been searching for a simple straight forward example on how to start solo roleplaying and this is by far the best one that is out there. You released this video really at the perfect timing! Also what an amazing start, a 1 on the first skill check 🤣
Thank you for uploading this video. I've been trying to find a cohesive way to learn to do solo DnD and although there are good resources, I learn by checking out examples and demos, otherwise I get confused. Also I adore your dice tray with the beetle, Egyptian art is something I like a lot. Kudos!
Me gusta la forma en que juegas y los materiales que utilizas son muy precisos para una sesión de rol en solitario. Saludos desde el fin del mundo, Chile.
Yeah a dice roller on your phone works... but there is something special about rolling physical dice, that is as esoteric as playing ttrpg's in person is more special than online.
@@tombraider862 Yes, I am a pure analog guy when it comes to tabletop gaming, not only solo but rpgs and tabletops in a general. My worst scenario is you play a group rpg and everybody at the table has a laptop in front of them and everything is done digitally with a VTT. 😥. Sad thought.
First off the video is excellent in content. I do have one suggestion though. When you are writing there is a lot of dead air. You should consider talking while you write to fill the dead air. If you have trouble multitasking you can literally just say whatever word you are writing as you write it. Anything to fill that dead space.
Once again the algorithm is a bit of a mind reader (worryingly so sometimes). I want to design my new campaign setting for a game I intend to start playing soon. I find there is nothing like actually playing to detail a place (I am a bit of a planner but also quite a lot of an improviser). A solo run might help me plan out a few bits and bobs of the game and can be fun. Curious to watch the video. I like the random idea generator. I have made similar ones before on excel. Takes a little bit of work to set up and I know not everyone likes devices around the table but I've found it very useful in previous games to kind of give me a start for ideas. Really helped me think outside my normal box. Limits are great for creativity.
Great video! Easy for solo rpg newbies like me to understand. Sorry if I’ve missed it, but if the random event you roll for does come up, how do you determine what the random event actually is? Do you just make something up, roll on the random word table, etc?
I usually determine the random event by interpreting random words using a so called "random idea generator" which can be anything that randomly generates stuff for you to interpret in the context of the current situation. Often these are word tables, but some use tarot cards, some use story cubes or other icon generators but you could also just use standard pre-defined random encounter tables.
@@garaleos I use different methods, depending on the system and party size. So when I play D&D using Legendary Characters damage output is normal per attack but I do get more actions. In my current Star Dark game I use Black Streams: Solo Heroes but only for incoming damage, since I have two characters. Long Story short: If I have only one char and play OSR I would use Black Streams Solo Heroes as written. In Shadowdark monster level would be the exact same as HD. If I play 5e solo I use Legendary Characters.
@@Solospelunking yeah I am giving my char 2 attacks per turn + movement and it's working fine. and also diving incoming damage by 5. and starting at max health of HD. so far so good. thanks!
@@garaleos Check out this product, it is free www.drivethrurpg.com/de/product/114895/black-streams-solo-heroes It explains it way better than I could. Anyhow, like they say, sometimes in my games it is more art than science. I use and try out different methods when I play.
@Solospelunking yeah it makes sense. so hit points = monster level. for shadowdark, at least it makes sense. it also allows using PCs that are not high on damage, instead of just fighters.
Finally!!! Someone who actually shows the journalling side of this hobby, i'v been trying to get into solo roleplaying and everyone i watch play doesn't journal they just record a video so I was always stuck on that part so thank you so much for this, I can now finally get started, subbed!! :)
Glad I could help, that was the hardest part for me too when I started. It took me a while to find the right balance. Exactly this is why I started this series, to show how it might actually be in your living room, without a UA-cam camera set-up. In my other series on this channel I also journal less, but then again they are not meant to be tutorials.
I think this maybe my second watch of your video. Just have to give you a thank you for the way you offer advice for novice solo rpg players
I created a campaign setting years ago, hoping to play 5e or PF with my kids. Fast forward to now and they just ain't interested. So earlier this year I tried playing solo, first session went ok playing a published scenario from the D&D adventurer magazine that I modified to fit in the world I created.I just changed the NPC and location names. After this I was scratching my head for what to do or where to go next for months. I think one of the supplements you've used here or mentioned in your other videos gave me a little bit of direction. Since then I've been trying to get in as much play time as possible and started to integrate more and more conversation between the characters in my journal. What would have originally started out as a goblin attack at a festival ended up being a rat infested inn followed by going to a nearby lumber camp to stop bandit raids,to finding out that the thieves guild are the ones doing the raids, to get supplies to be able to go into an old ruined priory dedicated to the god of thieves to obtain a piece of magic armour to go and raid a stockpile of a new gunpowder based weapon. That the thieves guild want to sell to the nations military instead of letting them go to their intended destination of a rival nation. All the while having to fight a small band of goblins,"bandits" A Giant spider and 1d4 spiderlings at the end of every turn and a necromancer thats brought the previous residents of the priory back to life. The party, I should have only had one character really. Is made up of a halfling rogue, human fighter and his teenage Spellcaster daughter. A high elf wizard and wood elf cleric. I gave the fighter a dodgy backstory that his daughter isn't actually his but the orphan of a family that his regiment killed during a war with the neighbouring country. After levelling up his daughter has suddenly taken on Warlock abilities and can't explain why.The wizard is an escaped POW that only she and a new NPC, who is part of the thieves guild know.
Even though the story arc is getting a little deep and I've rail roaded myself and the party a little,if thats possible, I've found that keeping the GM/DM materials quite basic has let my imagination go amd if the quest hook from a random table doesn't fit with the setting at the time ive just rolled again. Most of the ideas came from about four lucky rolls on a random words table. In a way it has also added flesh to the world I created incase either of my kids ever decided they wanted to give TTRPGs a go. .
@@taifunkchichris Thanks for this detailed comment. It was my pleasure and I am glad you got use out of the video. I still remember my first tried, struggling to make sense of it all. Most important rule: It is your game, your fun. Nobody is watching (usually) and nobody is judging. Keep playing👍
Basic Fantasy RPG is also completely free. Print on Demand at cost or Free Downloads of All Basic Fantasy materials, adventures, and created content. All 100 percent Free. Including the new 4th Edition book, recently released. Highly recommended
It is already in my arsenal 😉.
Thank you for uploading an efficient video that shows a very practical way to do it. Most of the other videos ramble too much and spend too much time flipping through books and rambling some more and then going off on a tangent…lol
Thanks, glad you got something out of the video.👍
Daydreaming with extra steps. Sounds fun.
It is 😄
Gameplay starts at @15:00 .He advises anyone can do it with pen and paper and some basic oracles.
I've been searching for a simple straight forward example on how to start solo roleplaying and this is by far the best one that is out there. You released this video really at the perfect timing!
Also what an amazing start, a 1 on the first skill check 🤣
Thanks for the kind words. If you feel that way I succeded in what I was trying to do. Happy gaming!👍
Thank you for uploading this video. I've been trying to find a cohesive way to learn to do solo DnD and although there are good resources, I learn by checking out examples and demos, otherwise I get confused.
Also I adore your dice tray with the beetle, Egyptian art is something I like a lot. Kudos!
@@RebeDrawsStuff Glad you get something out of it👍
This is the way I do it using Hostile Solo, simple rolls that keep advancing the narrative.
Me gusta la forma en que juegas y los materiales que utilizas son muy precisos para una sesión de rol en solitario. Saludos desde el fin del mundo, Chile.
This is why Hero Quest is so good, simple and to the point but fun is had.
HeroQuest (1988), Talisman and the german RPG Das Schwarze Auge got me into gaming in 1988😄
12:02 castles and crusades, OSRIC(ad&d), worlds without number and basic fantasy all have complete free PDF rule sets.
Yeah, actually there is a lot of stuff available. I got Basic Fantasy in print from Amazon at cost as well as Worlds without Number.😄
@@Solospelunking I’ve bought too many systems but the most impressive one is Dark Albion by the RPGpundit. His medieval authentic books are amazing
These tools you shared are great. Thank you
You are very welcome. Glad you get some use out of it.
Yeah a dice roller on your phone works... but there is something special about rolling physical dice, that is as esoteric as playing ttrpg's in person is more special than online.
@@tombraider862 Yes, I am a pure analog guy when it comes to tabletop gaming, not only solo but rpgs and tabletops in a general. My worst scenario is you play a group rpg and everybody at the table has a laptop in front of them and everything is done digitally with a VTT. 😥. Sad thought.
Nice little xmas present!
Just what I was looking for! Nice! :)
Glad you get some use out of it.😊
First off the video is excellent in content. I do have one suggestion though. When you are writing there is a lot of dead air. You should consider talking while you write to fill the dead air. If you have trouble multitasking you can literally just say whatever word you are writing as you write it. Anything to fill that dead space.
Thanks for the feedback. Will do. 👍 In my other videos I do talk a lot though😃.
Great video. Helped me a lot.
Welcome to the wonderful world of solo rpg. I am glad I was helpful.
Once again the algorithm is a bit of a mind reader (worryingly so sometimes). I want to design my new campaign setting for a game I intend to start playing soon. I find there is nothing like actually playing to detail a place (I am a bit of a planner but also quite a lot of an improviser). A solo run might help me plan out a few bits and bobs of the game and can be fun. Curious to watch the video.
I like the random idea generator. I have made similar ones before on excel. Takes a little bit of work to set up and I know not everyone likes devices around the table but I've found it very useful in previous games to kind of give me a start for ideas. Really helped me think outside my normal box. Limits are great for creativity.
I hope you enjoy it and get something out of it. Thanks for stopping by 👋
@@Solospelunking I have yes. Been solo in a world I'm developing a game. Been a good tool for making it a living world rather than a handful of notes.
I see that Lamy Safari. I was just solo RPing Cairn with the exact same model...
Way to go!
Great video! Easy for solo rpg newbies like me to understand. Sorry if I’ve missed it, but if the random event you roll for does come up, how do you determine what the random event actually is? Do you just make something up, roll on the random word table, etc?
I usually determine the random event by interpreting random words using a so called "random idea generator" which can be anything that randomly generates stuff for you to interpret in the context of the current situation. Often these are word tables, but some use tarot cards, some use story cubes or other icon generators but you could also just use standard pre-defined random encounter tables.
Thanks for this. Sub'd
Good video
@@Joshuazx Thanks 👋
Almost 300!!!!!
Someone Subscribe.
This content is fantastic. Thanks Spelunker!
😊
Hi! Whats the damage output rule you use for solo? Trying to add something in that vein for shadowdark solo
@@garaleos I use different methods, depending on the system and party size. So when I play D&D using Legendary Characters damage output is normal per attack but I do get more actions. In my current Star Dark game I use Black Streams: Solo Heroes but only for incoming damage, since I have two characters. Long Story short: If I have only one char and play OSR I would use Black Streams Solo Heroes as written. In Shadowdark monster level would be the exact same as HD. If I play 5e solo I use Legendary Characters.
@@Solospelunking yeah I am giving my char 2 attacks per turn + movement and it's working fine. and also diving incoming damage by 5. and starting at max health of HD. so far so good. thanks!
what do you mean, though, with "monster level equal to HD" for Shadowdark?
@@garaleos Check out this product, it is free www.drivethrurpg.com/de/product/114895/black-streams-solo-heroes
It explains it way better than I could. Anyhow, like they say, sometimes in my games it is more art than science. I use and try out different methods when I play.
@Solospelunking yeah it makes sense. so hit points = monster level. for shadowdark, at least it makes sense. it also allows using PCs that are not high on damage, instead of just fighters.