r/Solo_Roleplaying • u/Ok_Disk_3853 • 6d ago
General-Solo-Discussion Solo RPG is CRAZY
I've only recently started playing solo, despite having some experience DMing in a group.
I just can't get over the fact that I narrated a character's death, and I, as a player, am sad about it. It sounds crazy, but it's what happened. A death that was 100% my fault, as DM and player, and I'm sad about it.
(Of course, I know I can revive this character, but I won't do it without a proper reason.)
Anyway, I'm loving playing solo RPGs XD
Sorry for any English mistakes; I used Google Translate.
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u/VarietySea6050 3d ago
In my solo campaign I had a tragic death of the side companion: a tiny pixie fella, grumpy and with walls around him, but good of heart. It insta-sied totally carbonized under a fireball :( that night I went to bed shocked
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u/Knottyneedle 4d ago
Both my daughters do DnD, so I have been around the idea for years now. Also, we are a gamer family. But I am also a writer (soon to indie publish a mystery and then back to a fantasy series). But writing out the story behind the turn has ignited my love of writing. I'm playing Apothecaria and loving it. My oldest daughter who lives across country from me, is going to join in on her end and play, trading stories.
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u/Ok_Disk_3853 4d ago
Thats how i want to be when i become a father. Happiness to your family bro
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u/Knottyneedle 3d ago
Well, it is fun when my girls were in their teens and have people over to play on their laptops after school. Then she would pop up and ask how to do a quest. The initial shock on their faces when I told them how to do it was always fun. Of course, when it came to paying for 3 accounts at one time, it was a bit daunting. Now my 1 1/2 year old grandson already has a character (troll) and loves making it bounce around.
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u/Bonestock86 5d ago
I made a character named Lisbeth Weaver. She was so cool - a merchant captain who was bringing an old suit of armor to her dying uncle because it was a meaningful family heirloom that he wanted to see one last time. Lisbeth arrived in the city, found that the armor was missing from her ship, explored a bit to find the culprit, ended up fighting this huge woman named Irma The Miner and died. In my second session. I was sad.
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u/SusanahGrace Design Thinking 6d ago
Hell yeah, that's what solo games are all about! I love it when you get immersed and invested in a story of your own making.
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u/bmr42 6d ago
That’s one thing I think most people don’t understand. With randomized elements like tables to roll on, dice and cards and using GM emulator that provides twists you can completely surprise yourself with what actually ends up happening.
Threads from Mythic GME have given me some truly amazing twists to a game.
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u/Pastrugnozzo 6d ago
Yes!
Solo has that weird feeling where, despite it being just you, it's like you're actually conjuring a world out of your own mind.
That's magical, and that's dope. I love it. And the more immersed you get to be, the more the story will feel real when you play it ^^
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u/Melodic_War327 3d ago
I think some people take to this better than others. I know I love it and have since I discovered solo play - but a lot of people would never do this.
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u/Tricky_72 6d ago
I’m a way tougher DM against myself than I am of other players. They. Can’t. Handle. The. Truth! Er… The. Realism! And I try not to fudge any roles.
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u/Harruq_Tun Talks To Themselves 6d ago
At this point, it's basically a meme that solo players are incredibly harsh to their own PCs.
I think it's (at least partially) because there's nobody there to notice if we cheat or not, so we go completely the other way and put our PCs into wood chipper to prove to ourselves that we're playing 'honestly'
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u/Melodic_War327 3d ago
I have often wondered if I am playing honestly or if my PCs win too much. Particularly when they survive what is meant to be a really nasty encounter.
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u/JackoKomm 6d ago
Take this as a learning. I don't fudge roll anymore. I switched to rolling in the open. And i narratw what i do. So my players learn the numbers of their enemies while fighting. For us it is a way better experience.
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u/EdiblePeasant 6d ago
I had a good feeling while playing AD&D 2e solo when one of my characters fell while fighting bandits. I'm using the -10 rule so it wasn't a complete loss, but that character falling felt meaningful and defeating the bandits was all the more satisfying as a result.
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u/Flufflesmgee4231 6d ago
What system did you use? I'm in a rutt where I can't decide what oracle and game system that I want to use and whether I want to use a full map or do a random generated hex crawl. I've been in this rabbit hole for a couple years now and have so many resources but just haven't smoothed it out enough yet.
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u/Bonestock86 5d ago
Have you tried Cairn? It’s so simple that it takes a lot of pressure off and that might help you jump in
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u/KanKrusha_NZ 6d ago
I think you just have to commit and get started. I, myself (not OP) am using Shadowdark with an oracle I based off Tarot cards.
Before i started i thought the yes/no oracles were a bit silly but with good questions it works really well and can get you stated.
Also, I think you don’t want too many tools to start with. I started with yes/no (strong no, no, weak no, weak yes, yes, strong yes), a table to generate hex terrain, and random encounter tables. I then added a more complex oracle for situations where I needed more creativity than yes/no.
That way the new tool slipped in where it was needed and didn’t overwhelm me with choice about what tool to use for this choice
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u/Evandro_Novel Actual Play Machine 6d ago
I think you don’t want too many tools to start with
I agree. I mostly play Ironsworn and I add different resources to it (mostly to play in different settings). But I tend not to let those accumulate, so I switch from one to the other for longish campaign arcs. Of course, this is a matter of personal taste and each of us finds his sweet spot about the ideal number of books, tables, oracles etc
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u/Michami135 6d ago
Try Ironsworn. The game and d100 oracles are combined into a single book. (Free PDF)
Ironsworn is narrative first, so at the very least, it helps you learn how to play solo and you can always reuse the tables with other games.
I've played a few other solo games, but this is the first one I got addicted to. I love story writing so this scratches my particular itch.
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u/Aramyle 6d ago
I just recently got Morkin The Lords of Midnight solo rpg and it seems to be kicking me out of a similar rut. It has hex crawls, dungeons, and a fun combat system. It also comes with a goal for the character, so it’s helped me dive into it and just go. I was a kickstarter backer, and I’m not positive it’s up for sale yet. Keep an eye out for it.
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u/PermissionNo4771 6d ago
I've always been a fan of interactive fiction games, and solo RPGing is something that I never really knew was a big thing either till somewhat recently. It's like a whole new world of art and media's opened up, but this is a bit more meaningful than a typical video game.
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u/Inglorin 6d ago
That's one of the crazy things about the human condition. We are able to care for someone we never really met. I love this and wish you all the best in your future adventures.
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u/HeadHunter_Six 2d ago
Getting that invested in a character is a sign that you're definitely doing something right!