Unleash Your Inner Hero: A Comprehensive Guide to Solo Role-Playing
Solo role-playing games (Solo RPGs) offer a unique and engaging way to experience the thrill of tabletop RPGs without needing a group. It’s a fantastic creative outlet, a chance to hone your improvisational skills, and a deeply personal storytelling experience. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer looking for a new challenge or a complete beginner curious about the world of RPGs, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start playing RPGs solo.
## What is Solo Role-Playing?
At its core, role-playing is about collaboratively telling a story. Players create characters and, guided by a Game Master (GM), make choices that shape the narrative. In solo role-playing, you take on both roles – the player and the GM. This means you’re responsible for creating your character, making decisions, and also determining the outcomes of those decisions and the world around them. While it might seem daunting, solo RPGing offers unparalleled freedom and creative control.
## Why Play Solo RPGs?
There are numerous reasons why someone might choose to embark on a solo RPG adventure:
* **Flexibility:** Play anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. No scheduling conflicts or coordinating with other players.
* **Creative Freedom:** You are the sole author of your character’s destiny and the world they inhabit. Experiment with different characters, storylines, and settings without limitations.
* **Improvisation and Storytelling Skills:** Solo RPGs force you to think on your feet, develop compelling narratives, and embrace the unexpected. This process is a great way to develop your creativity.
* **Deep Character Development:** You have the space and time to explore your character’s motivations, flaws, and growth in detail.
* **Learn the Rules:** A great way to learn a new system if you’re intimidated by playing with others right away.
* **Try out Characters:** If you have a character idea you want to test out, solo play is a great way to see how they function without committing to a long campaign.
## Getting Started: The Essential Tools
Before diving into your first solo RPG session, gather these essential tools:
1. **A Role-Playing Game System:** This is the foundation of your adventure. Choose a system that interests you, considering factors like genre, complexity, and availability of resources. Popular options include:
* **Traditional RPGs (Adapted for Solo Play):** Games like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and Savage Worlds can be adapted for solo play using oracles (more on those later). These systems offer rich lore, detailed rules, and a wide range of character options.
* **Specifically Designed Solo RPGs:** Some games are designed specifically for solo play. These often include streamlined rules, built-in oracle systems, and prompts to guide your adventure. Examples include *Ironsworn*, *Thousand Year Old Vampire*, *Colostle*, *The Wretched* (and other games that use *The Wretched* SRD), and *Starforged* (an *Ironsworn* spin-off).
* **Rules-Light Systems:** Systems like *Risus*, *FATE*, or *Mini Six* are less rules-heavy and easier to adapt to solo play. They emphasize narrative and character development over strict mechanics.
2. **Character Sheet:** Whether it’s a physical sheet or a digital document, you’ll need a place to record your character’s attributes, skills, equipment, and other relevant information. Most RPG systems provide character sheet templates.
3. **Dice:** Dice are used to introduce an element of chance and determine the outcome of actions. The types of dice you’ll need will depend on the RPG system you’re using. A standard set of polyhedral dice (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20) is a good starting point.
4. **An Oracle:** In solo RPGs, an oracle replaces the GM in providing answers to your questions and determining the direction of the story. Oracles come in many forms:
* **Dice-Based Oracles:** These use dice rolls to generate random answers to yes/no questions or provide prompts for scenes. Examples include the *Mythic Game Master Emulator* (GME), *CRGE*, and various online oracles.
* **Card-Based Oracles:** These use decks of cards (such as tarot cards or oracle cards) to provide inspiration and guidance. Each card has a specific meaning or image that can be interpreted in the context of your game.
* **Word/Phrase Generators:** These tools provide random words or phrases that can be used to inspire scenes, character traits, or plot twists. You can find many online generators or create your own using a list of words or phrases.
* **Random Tables:** Many RPG books include tables of random events, encounters, or items. These tables can be used to add unexpected elements to your solo game.
5. **Notebook/Journal:** Keep a record of your character’s journey, including important events, encounters, and decisions. This notebook will become a valuable resource for tracking your progress and remembering key details.
6. **Inspiration:** Gather any resources that inspire you, such as maps, images, music, or writing prompts. These can help you visualize the world and characters in your game.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Playing a Solo RPG
Now that you have your tools, let’s walk through the steps of playing a solo RPG:
**Step 1: Choose Your Game System and Setting**
Select an RPG system that appeals to you and a setting that sparks your imagination. Consider the following factors:
* **Genre:** Do you prefer fantasy, science fiction, horror, or something else?
* **Complexity:** Are you looking for a rules-heavy system or a more narrative-focused one?
* **Availability of Resources:** Are there plenty of online resources, forums, and modules available for the system?
* **Personal Preference:** What type of stories do you enjoy telling?
Once you’ve chosen your system and setting, familiarize yourself with the basic rules. You don’t need to memorize everything, but have a general understanding of how the game works.
**Step 2: Create Your Character**
Develop a compelling character with their own backstory, motivations, and flaws. Consider these aspects:
* **Name:** Give your character a memorable and appropriate name.
* **Appearance:** Describe your character’s physical appearance, including their height, weight, hair color, and clothing.
* **Background:** Create a backstory that explains how your character became who they are.
* **Personality:** Define your character’s personality traits, such as their strengths, weaknesses, fears, and motivations.
* **Goals:** What does your character want to achieve in the world?
* **Stats and Skills:** Based on the game system, assign values to your character’s attributes and skills.
Write down all of this information on your character sheet. The more detailed your character, the easier it will be to make decisions and role-play them.
**Step 3: Establish the Starting Situation**
Determine where your character is at the beginning of the game and what they are doing. This could be anything from arriving in a new town to investigating a mysterious disappearance. Consider the following:
* **Location:** Where is your character at the start of the game?
* **Motivation:** Why is your character in this location?
* **Immediate Goal:** What does your character want to achieve in this scene?
* **NPCs:** Are there any non-player characters (NPCs) present?
Write down the starting situation in your notebook. This will serve as a foundation for your adventure.
**Step 4: Ask Questions and Use the Oracle**
This is where the oracle comes in. As you play, you’ll encounter situations where you need to determine the outcome of an action or get more information about the world. Ask the oracle questions to guide your decisions. Some examples include:
* “Does the guard notice me sneaking past?”
* “Is the merchant willing to sell me the information I need?”
* “What is the weather like today?”
* “What is the NPC’s attitude towards me?”
Frame your questions in a way that allows for a clear answer. If you’re using a dice-based oracle like the Mythic GME, you might roll a die and consult a table to determine the answer. If you’re using a card-based oracle, draw a card and interpret its meaning in the context of your game. For word/phrase generators, take the first or a random entry and work it into the scene. The key is to be creative and flexible.
**Example using Mythic GME:** You want to know if a locked door is trapped. You ask: “Is the door trapped?” You roll a d100. Let’s say you get a 35. Consulting the Mythic GME’s Chaos Factor, and assuming it is at its default of 5, a roll of 35 indicates “No.” Therefore, the oracle tells you the door is *not* trapped. You proceed carefully anyway, because you’re cautious!
**Step 5: Interpret the Results and Narrate the Story**
Once you have an answer from the oracle, interpret the results and narrate the story accordingly. Be creative and descriptive, and let the oracle’s answers guide your decisions. For example, if the oracle tells you that the guard notices you sneaking past, you might narrate the following:
“As I creep through the shadows, a glint of metal catches my eye. A guard, clad in shining armor, turns his head in my direction. He raises an eyebrow, his hand instinctively reaching for the sword at his hip.”
If the oracle tells you that the merchant is willing to sell you the information you need, you might narrate the following:
“The merchant leans in conspiratorially, his eyes gleaming with avarice. ‘I might have what you’re looking for,’ he whispers, ‘but it’ll cost you.'”
**Step 6: Continue the Cycle**
Repeat steps 4 and 5, asking questions, interpreting the results, and narrating the story. As you play, the world around your character will evolve, new characters will be introduced, and the plot will thicken. Don’t be afraid to deviate from your original plan and follow the story where it leads you. The most rewarding solo RPG experiences are often the ones that take unexpected turns.
**Step 7: Record Your Progress**
Regularly update your notebook with the events of your game. This will help you keep track of your character’s progress, remember important details, and stay engaged in the story. You can also use your notebook to jot down ideas for future sessions.
## Tips and Tricks for Successful Solo RPGing
Here are some additional tips to enhance your solo RPG experience:
* **Embrace the Unexpected:** Don’t be afraid to let the oracle lead you down unexpected paths. Some of the most interesting stories emerge from unexpected twists and turns.
* **Be Creative:** Solo RPGs are all about creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different characters, storylines, and settings.
* **Don’t Overthink It:** It’s easy to get bogged down in rules and details. Focus on telling a compelling story and having fun.
* **Use Visual Aids:** Maps, images, and miniatures can help you visualize the world and characters in your game.
* **Listen to Music:** Create a playlist of music that sets the mood for your game.
* **Take Breaks:** Solo RPGs can be mentally taxing. Take breaks to avoid burnout and stay fresh.
* **Don’t Be Afraid to Meta-Game (Sometimes):** While the goal is immersion, sometimes you need to make a GM-like decision for the sake of the story. If a particular path is becoming tedious or uninteresting, don’t hesitate to introduce a new element or redirect the plot. Just be mindful of maintaining a balance between player and GM perspectives.
* **Consider Difficulty Levels:** If you find the game too easy or too difficult, adjust the difficulty by modifying the oracle’s responses or adding/removing challenges. Solo RPGs are about creating a fun and engaging experience for yourself, so don’t be afraid to tweak the rules to suit your preferences.
* **Create a Ritual:** Develop a pre-game ritual to help you get into the right mindset. This could involve lighting a candle, listening to specific music, or reviewing your character’s background.
* **Join a Community:** Connect with other solo RPG players online. Share your stories, ask for advice, and find inspiration.
## Adapting Traditional RPGs for Solo Play
While some RPGs are specifically designed for solo play, you can adapt many traditional RPGs with a few modifications. Here’s how:
* **Use an Oracle:** As mentioned earlier, an oracle is essential for replacing the GM. Choose an oracle that suits your preferences and the complexity of the game.
* **Simplify Combat:** Combat can be challenging to manage in solo play. Consider using simplified combat rules or focusing on narrative descriptions of the action.
* **Control Multiple Characters (Optional):** If you want to play a traditional RPG with a party, you can control multiple characters yourself. This can add complexity, but it also allows you to experience the full range of character interactions.
* **Focus on Exploration and Story:** Emphasize exploration, character development, and narrative over combat and min-maxing.
* **Utilize Pre-Written Modules (with caution):** While the fun of solo play comes from complete freedom, pre-written modules can provide a framework for your adventure, particularly for learning a new system. However, you’ll need to adapt the module to account for the lack of a GM. Be prepared to make decisions about NPC behavior and plot progression using the oracle.
## Overcoming Common Challenges in Solo RPGs
Solo RPGs can present some unique challenges. Here are some tips for overcoming them:
* **Decision Paralysis:** With no GM to guide you, it’s easy to get stuck trying to make the “right” decision. Don’t overthink it! Trust your instincts and let the oracle help you decide.
* **Lack of Motivation:** It can be difficult to stay motivated when you’re playing alone. Set realistic goals for each session and reward yourself for achieving them.
* **Story Stagnation:** If the story starts to feel stale, introduce a new element or character to shake things up.
* **Inconsistent World-Building:** With you being both player and GM, it is possible to forget or contradict information about the world you create. Taking extensive notes is essential for maintaining consistency.
* **Avoiding Bias:** It’s easy to unconsciously influence the oracle’s responses to favor your character or desired outcomes. Be aware of this tendency and strive for objectivity. If necessary, create a separate “GM persona” to make unbiased decisions.
## Advanced Techniques for Solo RPG Masters
Once you’ve mastered the basics of solo RPGing, try these advanced techniques:
* **World-Building on the Fly:** Create the world around your character as you play, using the oracle to generate ideas and inspiration.
* **Character-Driven Plot:** Let your character’s motivations and desires drive the plot of the story.
* **Multiple Perspectives:** Explore the story from multiple perspectives by switching between different characters.
* **Dream Journaling:** Use your dreams as inspiration for your solo RPGs.
* **Cross-System Play:** Adapt elements from different RPG systems to create a unique and customized experience.
* **Procedural Generation:** Delve into procedural content generation using tools or algorithms to automate worldbuilding, encounters, and plot points. This can add a layer of unpredictability and discovery to your solo sessions.
## Finding Inspiration and Resources
There are many resources available to help you get started with solo RPGs:
* **Online Forums:** Join online forums dedicated to solo RPGs, such as the Solo Roleplaying sub-Reddit.
* **Blogs and Websites:** Read blogs and websites that offer tips, advice, and reviews of solo RPGs.
* **YouTube Channels:** Watch YouTube channels that feature solo RPG playthroughs and tutorials.
* **RPG Communities:** Connect with other RPG players in online communities or local groups.
* **DriveThruRPG:** A great resource for purchasing solo RPGs and related materials.
* **itch.io:** Another good resource for finding indie solo RPGs, often with a “pay what you want” pricing model.
## Conclusion
Solo role-playing is a rewarding and creative way to experience the world of RPGs. With a little preparation and a willingness to embrace the unexpected, you can embark on your own epic adventures, create memorable characters, and tell unforgettable stories. So grab your dice, your notebook, and your imagination, and unleash your inner hero today!
Now, go forth and create amazing stories!