I appreciate your channel for covering all these Solo RPG. As someone who is new to Solo RPG and RPG in general, it is very helpful. As you said in this video a lot of indie games assume you are knowledgeable about certain aspects. Which for me has made it more difficult to jump into a lot of games. Wish more game creators would focus on creating the game for all possible people who come across their game to ensure they have an amazing experience. Until then, I will just keep watching all your great videos.
I just finished a playrhrough of this with one of my low "leveled" Cairn characters and I gotta say it was pretty amazing. Though, I did have to modify and edit the story a bit for it to make sense (kept getting the same rolls) but I feel like playing it either solo or in a group, no matter what you're able to get such a unique story each time! Escape the City really is a pretty simple but fun TTRPG. If you have friends to play with or a decent imagination, you will enjoy this. As I said, some of the rolls were a pain since I kept rerolling or getting the same cards, but still felt like I accomplished quite a bit. I believe my game lasted about 2 hours before I really felt like I could end (pause) my story. I will definitely be continuing my "campaign" where I left off. Can't wait to see where my characters go.
I'm loving that you are still using your cards ( journal/structure etc) in your videos. It really helps gets the points across and acts like a visual marker in the video to those points.
I just started scene 1 of my solo Cairn, using One Page Solo Engine app as the oracle. It’s so easy for me to dive into compared to DnD, I want to run this with other people someday…
Excellent video as usual. Really love the solo RPG coverage. Cairn is a fantastic game and worth the attention of anyone interested in RPGs no matter their experience. It's worth noting that Cairn is a fusion of two other excellent games, Ben Milton's Knave and Chris McDowall's Into the Odd. Those are also worth seeking out.
I bought the PDF of Cairn because this bit of text lured me in: Players act as hardened adventurers in a dark & mysterious Wood filled with strange folk, hidden treasures and unspeakable monstrosities. I didn't expect a fully fleshed out world, but I was disappointed that it only had a few creatures and a monster generator. It's a solid system, but it really needs a pairing like Escape the City to be complete. What's a similar add on, but with a forest or wilderness setting?
A lot these small indie RPGs are very light on the world building - just not enough pages. I would look into Fallen, from Perplexing Ruins. I have a video showcasing a bunch of stuff for that.
Hello! Not sure where you bought the Cairn PDF, since it is free to download pretty much everywhere games are found, and on the website. Speaking of which, have you seen the website? It includes an adventure site generator, 200+ monsters, a d666 spell table, etc. Might be helpful.
@@yochaigal Thank you! I'll be sure to check out the site. I must be mistaken about purchasing it. I enjoy reading different game systems, so I suppose I'm confused about the price.
I like this game and I played it - tried but as you mentioned in your other video, it doesn't really tell you how to play all the time. I like Fabled Lands and RPGs that deal with miniatures and structured play. Do you have a recommendation of a solo RPG either from Exalted Funeral that's a lite gameplay.
The Cairn rulebook talks specifically about how the ability scores can be reduced through damage, but it only gives explicit rules for how this is done for the STR stat. There are descriptions for what happens when DEX and WIL are dropped to zero, but no specific description of rules for how this happens exactly. Your video is one of about ten that I've watched since buying the game, and I have yet to hear anyone address this pretty obvious omission at all. It seems like its a fairly important part of the game, and yet it's not elaborated on in the rules, on the Cairn website, or any of the ten or so reviews I've watched. Is it just something that can be handwaved? What am I missing?
Edited. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive rules teach or overview. Just a sample of solo play. I often play with house rules and make up stuff as I go. :)
I appreciate your channel for covering all these Solo RPG. As someone who is new to Solo RPG and RPG in general, it is very helpful. As you said in this video a lot of indie games assume you are knowledgeable about certain aspects. Which for me has made it more difficult to jump into a lot of games. Wish more game creators would focus on creating the game for all possible people who come across their game to ensure they have an amazing experience. Until then, I will just keep watching all your great videos.
Thank you! Glad to help! More "beginners" videos are also coming soon. :)
I just finished a playrhrough of this with one of my low "leveled" Cairn characters and I gotta say it was pretty amazing. Though, I did have to modify and edit the story a bit for it to make sense (kept getting the same rolls) but I feel like playing it either solo or in a group, no matter what you're able to get such a unique story each time! Escape the City really is a pretty simple but fun TTRPG. If you have friends to play with or a decent imagination, you will enjoy this. As I said, some of the rolls were a pain since I kept rerolling or getting the same cards, but still felt like I accomplished quite a bit. I believe my game lasted about 2 hours before I really felt like I could end (pause) my story.
I will definitely be continuing my "campaign" where I left off. Can't wait to see where my characters go.
I'm loving that you are still using your cards ( journal/structure etc) in your videos. It really helps gets the points across and acts like a visual marker in the video to those points.
Lo-fi visual aides. :)
I'm currently playing a solo adventure using a hack of Cairn, Runecairn -- a souls like hack. It's excellent!
Where do you get the hack from?
I just started scene 1 of my solo Cairn, using One Page Solo Engine app as the oracle. It’s so easy for me to dive into compared to DnD, I want to run this with other people someday…
Excellent video as usual. Really love the solo RPG coverage. Cairn is a fantastic game and worth the attention of anyone interested in RPGs no matter their experience. It's worth noting that Cairn is a fusion of two other excellent games, Ben Milton's Knave and Chris McDowall's Into the Odd. Those are also worth seeking out.
Have both, just need to get to them! :)
another great vid of some great creators stuff! awesome to see
I bought the PDF of Cairn because this bit of text lured me in: Players act as hardened adventurers in a dark & mysterious Wood filled with strange folk, hidden treasures and unspeakable monstrosities. I didn't expect a fully fleshed out world, but I was disappointed that it only had a few creatures and a monster generator. It's a solid system, but it really needs a pairing like Escape the City to be complete.
What's a similar add on, but with a forest or wilderness setting?
A lot these small indie RPGs are very light on the world building - just not enough pages. I would look into Fallen, from Perplexing Ruins. I have a video showcasing a bunch of stuff for that.
@@TheDungeonDive Thank you. I must've missed that one.
@@chrisdonovan8795 you could use a setting like blackmarsh (free PDF at dtrpg). There was a woodcentric setting but I forgot the name...
Hello!
Not sure where you bought the Cairn PDF, since it is free to download pretty much everywhere games are found, and on the website.
Speaking of which, have you seen the website? It includes an adventure site generator, 200+ monsters, a d666 spell table, etc. Might be helpful.
@@yochaigal Thank you! I'll be sure to check out the site. I must be mistaken about purchasing it. I enjoy reading different game systems, so I suppose I'm confused about the price.
Great video, going to have to pick Escape The City! Also, I'm sure you've answered this before but where did those cards come from? They are awesome!
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/338001/Bestiary-Playing-Cards?src=hottest_filtered
Top tip : roll a D8 and half the result, you’re welcome!
:D
I like this game and I played it - tried but as you mentioned in your other video, it doesn't really tell you how to play all the time. I like Fabled Lands and RPGs that deal with miniatures and structured play. Do you have a recommendation of a solo RPG either from Exalted Funeral that's a lite gameplay.
If you like miniatures, maybe look into Forbidden Psalm.
The Cairn rulebook talks specifically about how the ability scores can be reduced through damage, but it only gives explicit rules for how this is done for the STR stat. There are descriptions for what happens when DEX and WIL are dropped to zero, but no specific description of rules for how this happens exactly. Your video is one of about ten that I've watched since buying the game, and I have yet to hear anyone address this pretty obvious omission at all. It seems like its a fairly important part of the game, and yet it's not elaborated on in the rules, on the Cairn website, or any of the ten or so reviews I've watched. Is it just something that can be handwaved? What am I missing?
Edited. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive rules teach or overview. Just a sample of solo play. I often play with house rules and make up stuff as I go. :)
I want that card deck! What is its name and/or where can I find a copy, please?
Nevermind, I found it: *_Pocket Lands Bestiary_*
Haven't had a chance to watch this whole video yet, so I apologise if you answer this in there. What is the deck you're using here?
Bestiary Cards from DrivethruCards.
Where I can get Escape from the city? Thanks :)
Exalted Funeral has it.
You can also get it from the Cairn store
store.cairnrpg.com/products/escape-the-city
Is it possible to get get the pdf? Postage costs to the UK are insane.
brookletgames.itch.io/escape-the-city
Escape the city sounds right up my alley! I like that it is not exactly 4AD and allows for player interpretation! Great stuff!
Yeah. It's far more of an RPG than 4AD is. It's not really a roll and write adventure game.