I have been playing TTRPGs for almost 30 years. I've been the Game Master in nearly every game. I was the GM of my first game with my friends, none of us had ever played a game before and we started with Warhammer, 🤣 I've only been a player since then a small handful of time, which is one reason I started solo playing, there were so many games I wanted to play. This same kind of thing happens with players wanting to be GMs. Many times, a player has said, "You're such a good Gm, creative and good at improvisation, I could never do that." I always try to encourage them that it isn't too hard or impossible for them to take the reins and give it a try, and a few times I have had players take the chance and really get a lot out of it. I've only been doing solo-RPGs for about a half a year now (only found your channel a few days ago), and even I struggled at first, because the balance of being both the player and the GM took a little while to find. So, I can see how someone who has only been a player (or never even that) could have a hard time finding their voice as a GM in their own solo game. Since in a solo-RPG you have to be both player and GM. Not being too hard on myself as a player was a big thing I learned early on. I got in this mind set instead, "If I was just the GM, if this was some other player asking me if they could do this, or I could change that, what would I say?" And I realized that I was saying "No," to myself or my own ideas way more often than I ever would say it to my players in any other game I might GM for a group. Saying "Yes" to myself opened a lot of doors in my ability to tell stories with my solo play, and likewise realizing that I was making myself roll for things I would ever make players in any other game role for (so not doing that) was a big change too. A prewritten adventure does help with NPC and location creation as well. It's why if I'm going to start playing (Solo or even for a group) with a new game or system I try to start with a prewritten adventure, even if it's just using the locations and characters in it.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm new to ttrpg and as a solo boardgamer, I want to try solo ttrpg! Those are great tips, and I will try to follow them, using the solo system of Dragonbane ! Thanx again for all of your great work on that channel. Cheers from France!
@@CRP-Waltteri Merci for this video! (yeah, I'm French too, lol) A lot of people (including myself) need this self-confidence "push" about creativity. As you said, practice makes perfect (hopefully).
Great discussion! The thing that has helped me the most with learning solo ttrpgs is watching/listening to a wide variety of people doing it themselves--first to see how in general, and second to see how they are different. When I started having my own ideas for how it should progress at every one of their decision points, I knew I was ready to try it myself. I haven't done solo yet, but I did a duo GM-less game that went great.
I really think the key to solo RPGs is people designing adventures for other people to play solo. Procedural random content can definitely play a part in this process but designing for others is crucial to creating something. It should be a give and take relationship where we are trading something with each other.
If you want to try something new, try out a journaling game like a Thousand year old vampire. I was not much of a writer, but that game really changed my perspective on journaling. If you want something that feels familiar, check out Dragonbane RPG, I have two videos on my channel where I go through the system and also a video where I show how to use mythic GME to play Dragonbane adventures solo (mythic GME part 3) Dragonbane core set comes with core rules, solo rules and also with full blown adventure so its really nice package. If you would like to have a free entry game with more focus on open-ended adventure, Ironsworn RPG is arguably one of the most popular solo-rpgs right now. Core rules are free and you dont need any adventures with it.
Very good points and I really dig it that you brought up pre-written adventures! I like me some random tables to generate prompts for the imagination but pre-written stuff can be brilliant as well, especially if it has a more sandbox approach. Also I find OSR style procedures hugely helpful. Oh and I have to say I always appreciate people courageous enough to be vulnerable like this in public (which is kind of a GM pre-requisite as well). Kiitti kiitti!
thank you Paavo and I completely agree with you on the vunerability and GM side, you are sharing something to other people that you have put a lot of effort in so it is natural to feel a bit nervous about it. Tabletop rpgs are also tapping into the artistic side of things quite a lot.
been playing solo for most of my life (certainly since the early 1970s). For me, the story gtelling is key. I take photos of all my game play, and add them to my narrative write ups (which I chronicle in detail).
Just found your channel and trying my first solo rpg adventure. You have alot of very good information and thanks for all the great content. Trying some solo Blackoath Entertainment games that are made specifically for solo. Should be interesting and thanks again.
There can be only one Trevor. But there can always be only one of you and one of me as well. And that is great! That's why there are so many unique stories in the world.
Creativity is about mixing things together in a way that makes sense!
That's true! And sometimes it even does not make sense!
Your channel is a great format, down to earth, with plenty of interesting material, you don't need to alter that!
Thank you! It's really nice to hear that.
I have been playing TTRPGs for almost 30 years. I've been the Game Master in nearly every game. I was the GM of my first game with my friends, none of us had ever played a game before and we started with Warhammer, 🤣 I've only been a player since then a small handful of time, which is one reason I started solo playing, there were so many games I wanted to play. This same kind of thing happens with players wanting to be GMs. Many times, a player has said, "You're such a good Gm, creative and good at improvisation, I could never do that." I always try to encourage them that it isn't too hard or impossible for them to take the reins and give it a try, and a few times I have had players take the chance and really get a lot out of it.
I've only been doing solo-RPGs for about a half a year now (only found your channel a few days ago), and even I struggled at first, because the balance of being both the player and the GM took a little while to find. So, I can see how someone who has only been a player (or never even that) could have a hard time finding their voice as a GM in their own solo game. Since in a solo-RPG you have to be both player and GM. Not being too hard on myself as a player was a big thing I learned early on. I got in this mind set instead, "If I was just the GM, if this was some other player asking me if they could do this, or I could change that, what would I say?" And I realized that I was saying "No," to myself or my own ideas way more often than I ever would say it to my players in any other game I might GM for a group. Saying "Yes" to myself opened a lot of doors in my ability to tell stories with my solo play, and likewise realizing that I was making myself roll for things I would ever make players in any other game role for (so not doing that) was a big change too.
A prewritten adventure does help with NPC and location creation as well. It's why if I'm going to start playing (Solo or even for a group) with a new game or system I try to start with a prewritten adventure, even if it's just using the locations and characters in it.
Thank you for your comment and thoughts! Really nice experiences to share with everyone!
Thank you so much for this video! I'm new to ttrpg and as a solo boardgamer, I want to try solo ttrpg! Those are great tips, and I will try to follow them, using the solo system of Dragonbane ! Thanx again for all of your great work on that channel. Cheers from France!
Merci beaucoup mon ami! (That's the extent I remember from my studies) I'm glad you found my video helpful!
@@CRP-Waltteri Merci for this video! (yeah, I'm French too, lol) A lot of people (including myself) need this self-confidence "push" about creativity. As you said, practice makes perfect (hopefully).
Great discussion! The thing that has helped me the most with learning solo ttrpgs is watching/listening to a wide variety of people doing it themselves--first to see how in general, and second to see how they are different. When I started having my own ideas for how it should progress at every one of their decision points, I knew I was ready to try it myself. I haven't done solo yet, but I did a duo GM-less game that went great.
Playing duo games is so much fun with an oracle! It is also really good to play duo remotely!
Creativity is a scale - it’s like strength.
I really think the key to solo RPGs is people designing adventures for other people to play solo. Procedural random content can definitely play a part in this process but designing for others is crucial to creating something. It should be a give and take relationship where we are trading something with each other.
I love how solo-play has been getting more popular lately! It is a very unique experience and dialogue between the player and the game designer.
"Commit to ideas..." That's a common thing that I say about solo play, it's all day dreaming until your write it down, then it becomes history/fact.
Yeah. Finding the way to record your adventures that best suit you is important for the overall enjoyment of solo play.
I'm a GM and never tried solo playing but I think the video generally applies and it's the most wholesome thing!
Aww thank you! And I can definitely recommend solo play! Try it out.
@@CRP-Waltteri sure, can you recommended a system and module? I ran DnD 5e and CoC in the past, but I love to try new systems.
If you want to try something new, try out a journaling game like a Thousand year old vampire. I was not much of a writer, but that game really changed my perspective on journaling.
If you want something that feels familiar, check out Dragonbane RPG, I have two videos on my channel where I go through the system and also a video where I show how to use mythic GME to play Dragonbane adventures solo (mythic GME part 3) Dragonbane core set comes with core rules, solo rules and also with full blown adventure so its really nice package.
If you would like to have a free entry game with more focus on open-ended adventure, Ironsworn RPG is arguably one of the most popular solo-rpgs right now. Core rules are free and you dont need any adventures with it.
oh right! I also made a video about nice games that you can solo with oracle: th-cam.com/video/o_Xl_h9dCjU/w-d-xo.html
Very very very good video! Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts 👍
Thank you for your very very very kind comment 😊
Very good points and I really dig it that you brought up pre-written adventures! I like me some random tables to generate prompts for the imagination but pre-written stuff can be brilliant as well, especially if it has a more sandbox approach. Also I find OSR style procedures hugely helpful.
Oh and I have to say I always appreciate people courageous enough to be vulnerable like this in public (which is kind of a GM pre-requisite as well). Kiitti kiitti!
thank you Paavo and I completely agree with you on the vunerability and GM side, you are sharing something to other people that you have put a lot of effort in so it is natural to feel a bit nervous about it. Tabletop rpgs are also tapping into the artistic side of things quite a lot.
@@CRP-Waltteri Sure thing!
been playing solo for most of my life (certainly since the early 1970s). For me, the story gtelling is key. I take photos of all my game play, and add them to my narrative write ups (which I chronicle in detail).
Ouh that sounds a really cool way to keep notes!
Thank you for this material.
You are very welcome!
Just found your channel and trying my first solo rpg adventure. You have alot of very good information and thanks for all the great content. Trying some solo Blackoath Entertainment games that are made specifically for solo. Should be interesting and thanks again.
Yeah! I really like stuff from blackoath entertainment! I am actually going to talk about some of Alex's stuff on my channel soon!
Very important video, thank you!
Thank you
I'm no Trevor either. Solo play can be fun, just a different way to explore.
There can be only one Trevor. But there can always be only one of you and one of me as well. And that is great! That's why there are so many unique stories in the world.
❤
solo gaming really is that simple.
In its core yes! But I think people can be quite complicated which can sometimes make solo gaming complicated as well :)