I think part of the reason I took up solo RPGs and journaling games is to find a use for the massive collection of notebooks, journals, and stationery I have.
Literally. I am the kind of guy who has never ONCE considered that I have an empty notebook lying around. As soon as I need a notebook, I buy it, and then only after realize I have 27 in my office closet. And they're all blank. Every. single. time. I just buy a new one, it's like I have notebook-based amnesia
I listened to your corporate performance review (while taking apart a space ship in Shipbreaker--cool game btw) and, because it gave me boss PTSD, when I stopped twitching, I said to myself, "Okay, Whangbar, you're nothing but a solo-game snowflake. You only put in three hours last week. Those are rookie numbers." So I reassessed my primary action items, turned off the phone, and last night cleared Level 1 of 2d6 Dungeon. I think I drank two pots of coffee doing it because I had to reread the rules first and find some graph paper. I had fun, which was a strange feeling. Then, intoxicated with some strange basic human emotion, I felt compelled to buy a bunch of 2d6 Dungeon items on DTRPG . . . and other things. Now I am sleep deprived and $50 in the hole, but my commitment to the values and mission of the organization has never been stronger.
That performance review was great for many people including myself. I must say though, over the last week I have not been very good.... I will fix this in the week 100%
Love the repurposing! My MIL is really into miniatures (1:144 scale) and it’s always fun to see how she can reimagine mundane things into a completely cool part of her miniature thing. Listening/watching while I knit (a cool sweater) and it’s amazing how so much of this video applies to my other hobbies too.
Video 69 of me liking and then commenting on every new upload to tell the viewers that the Man Alone Podcast is absolutely some of that sweet, unhinged audio/vocal-honey. Psssst. …nice. My toddler-brain has been waiting way too long for this one.
It’s as though you knew I was reorganizing my basement in a desperate attempt to make recording solo roleplay less of a chore. Very handy seeing behind the curtain to see your setup considering it always feels like you have a Batman utility belt of everything you need at all times. I’m implementing some of this in real time, Appreciate you!
Re: Types of solo players. Not exactly the same as the lady with the clock: my 5e group I was a player in last 6 sessions over 3 months and it was torture scheduling people to play, trying not to be emotionally invested in playing when I really was. I found Starforged play-by-post and we played for 3 wonderful months and then everyone quit suddenly in the middle of a mission. Ok, I’ve learned to let it go. I’m in a Shadowdark game that plays 3 hours every Friday night. I turn down everything else that conflicts, such as my work holiday party. 6 solid weeks of gaming bliss. Friday (2 days ago), the GM cancels since he didn’t have time to prep, and another player says he can’t make the next two games. Here we go again? I think it will not fall apart, and I’m not in charge of scheduling this time, but I know I can game by myself whenever I want instead.
I looked it up: a tiny purse without a strap or handle is called a clutch. So you have a "tactical" rpg clutch. It's a tidy way of carrying the goods, very nice. Your field notes cover/carrier was pretty dope. I currently transport my solo stuff in a cheap Amazon brand laptop bag. Lotta pockets and I can throw my notepad computer in there with paper supplies, zines, a single book, dice and a fold flat tray.
I'm a big fan of a good three ring binder and a three hole punch. Load it up with graph and hex paper, and take printed charts and supplements, punch them and slap them in the binder for handy reference. This helps me keep all of the maps and charts I make in the session together and organized for the next session. I'm also a big fan of having a couple of spiral bound sketchbooks handy for drawing, scratch paper and general notes that will end up getting turned into AAR/journal stuff. Keeping things together and organized makes it easy to start and wrap up a session which makes it easier for your next session to get started.
Weird, but I like gridded 3x5 cards in addition to lined and blank ones. Wondered about the scifi gm apprentice deck, looks like imma throw down on those. Also totally a dice goblin. Love the variety presented. Thanks for a great overview of you play tools!
After getting the fate mill and then wanting the dyadic d20s I went ahead and got all their currently available (three more) products. The nuul dice just look cool too.
Some right good tips. Starting a new job soon that will likely include some time sat around alone. So that little zipped thing with the notepad and little deck of cards would be right good
Taking a leap of faith on the rOtring 600 with some nice Pentel Ain lead in HB was an identifiable life moment of pure bliss. Cannot recommend it enough.
Wasn’t sure if you were just being facetious but in case you weren’t, that’s not a ruler. It’s a scale. Specifically an architect scale. It’s used for architectural drafting or measuring anything drawn to a certain scale. 1/4” = 1’-0 scale for example.
I was thinking of buying Lore which is a sort of generic BRP/d100/d100lite solo book. I would love to run Sigil & Shadow solo written by the lovely R.E. Davis. It’s a modern fantasy horror game which usually means investigating things, which is hard to do solo.
Regarding the tiny cards you have to replace often, I think an Air Deck may work for you! They're as tall as power cards but they're way narrower like the ones you have there. Might be worth checking out.
If you are going to get a hot glue gun for miniatures and such, be sure to get one that uses the mini glue sticks or at least has a tip with a much smaller diameter hole. I have both and the regular size gun is just too much.
I noticed you leave your Mac mini upright. It is not the best way to use it, because the thermal paste between the CPU and the radiator may leak and if that happens, your CPU will overheat, specially if you use it for heavy CPU demanding tasks.
Card dice sounds weird, but I'd love to have this. I don't mind normal playing cards and I love GMA cards, but I absolutely hate using them IRL because I shuffle terribly and drawn cards don't bring satisfaction nor feel of "fairness" because of that :(
W/r/t tarot they are probably thinking of Deuteronomy 18:10-13 which talks about forms of spiritism that we should avoid. Part of that is looking for omens and fortune telling. When playing and using randomness to generate we are not predicting the future but creating it for our character. You could argue we are not using it to contact the spirit realm to figure things out. However, those who do this work also use these same tools. Given the murderous hatred for humans that spirit creatures have, we are wise to avoid anything tied to contacting them.
I’m in a multi-day process of learning a “simple” game, Salvage & Sorcery. Glad to know that’s normal. I get tripped up by inconsistent wording like when it says “roll above” when I know they mean “roll equal to or above” or how the wording of its version of exploding means something different than the way it’s written literally (I think). It’s not Magic the Gathering where things are worded precisely now and clarifications get published to avoid arguments between players. (At least I assume so; I played in the 90s.) I’m thinking I need to just go with what I think they meant. I’m taking notes and rewriting the rules in just a few words. But then I get to a page like Extraction (58) and I’m like, wait, I have so many questions. Like, do you go forward or backward to the extraction point. It has to be forward, right? The player aids that are on the website aren’t mentioned in the book, but they do look great. The one page rules summary specifically. On the other hand (and I could be wrong since I haven’t read and analyzed it looking for problems also) it looks like other books might be more clear, like ones by Kevin Crawford (for instance), who has a way of taking the space to explain things fully and clearly. I know what you mean about the happy place/setup. I took my book and notebook to the coffee shop and the library to “study” the game. I realized what I really want is to completely clear off a table at home and set up my game there, so I did that. Once I did that, I was in the zone. (I also liked the coffee shop.)
Are you going to do an alien style mothership game? i would really love to listen to some gameplay akin to the morkborg play you did. Really got me into solorpg games
Well, gosh, its a good thing you DIDN'T make an INSENSITIVE HYPERSIMPLISTIC video about OTHER PEOPLE that was JUDGEMENTAL and WILDLY DISRESPECTFUL of other people and their circumstances. Because i would have reacted EXTREMELY POORLY to that. But you didn't. So i won't. P.S. Lay off box bands! They help board game guys fit a game and about 3 expansions in one box. P.P.S. i'd think something to audio record a session (for even the ones not going on the channel) would be in the mix.
I think part of the reason I took up solo RPGs and journaling games is to find a use for the massive collection of notebooks, journals, and stationery I have.
Literally. I am the kind of guy who has never ONCE considered that I have an empty notebook lying around. As soon as I need a notebook, I buy it, and then only after realize I have 27 in my office closet. And they're all blank. Every. single. time. I just buy a new one, it's like I have notebook-based amnesia
Waffling for the last 49 seconds to make the video exactly 1 hour and then going over by 2 seconds was the waffliest of waffles
lol I'm moderately to severely dumb
I listened to your corporate performance review (while taking apart a space ship in Shipbreaker--cool game btw) and, because it gave me boss PTSD, when I stopped twitching, I said to myself, "Okay, Whangbar, you're nothing but a solo-game snowflake. You only put in three hours last week. Those are rookie numbers." So I reassessed my primary action items, turned off the phone, and last night cleared Level 1 of 2d6 Dungeon. I think I drank two pots of coffee doing it because I had to reread the rules first and find some graph paper. I had fun, which was a strange feeling. Then, intoxicated with some strange basic human emotion, I felt compelled to buy a bunch of 2d6 Dungeon items on DTRPG . . . and other things. Now I am sleep deprived and $50 in the hole, but my commitment to the values and mission of the organization has never been stronger.
That performance review was great for many people including myself.
I must say though, over the last week I have not been very good.... I will fix this in the week 100%
All I could think of as I read your comment is "why are we like this" lol. Like...why do I 100% relate to your comment? We need to be studied
@@amanisalone Truth. I think we are . . . being studied. The false meritocracy might be to blame. But I wouldn't know because I'm an achiever . . .
Love the repurposing! My MIL is really into miniatures (1:144 scale) and it’s always fun to see how she can reimagine mundane things into a completely cool part of her miniature thing. Listening/watching while I knit (a cool sweater) and it’s amazing how so much of this video applies to my other hobbies too.
Video 69 of me liking and then commenting on every new upload to tell the viewers that the Man Alone Podcast is absolutely some of that sweet, unhinged audio/vocal-honey.
Psssst. …nice.
My toddler-brain has been waiting way too long for this one.
Nice
It’s as though you knew I was reorganizing my basement in a desperate attempt to make recording solo roleplay less of a chore. Very handy seeing behind the curtain to see your setup considering it always feels like you have a Batman utility belt of everything you need at all times.
I’m implementing some of this in real time, Appreciate you!
Re: Types of solo players. Not exactly the same as the lady with the clock: my 5e group I was a player in last 6 sessions over 3 months and it was torture scheduling people to play, trying not to be emotionally invested in playing when I really was. I found Starforged play-by-post and we played for 3 wonderful months and then everyone quit suddenly in the middle of a mission. Ok, I’ve learned to let it go. I’m in a Shadowdark game that plays 3 hours every Friday night. I turn down everything else that conflicts, such as my work holiday party. 6 solid weeks of gaming bliss. Friday (2 days ago), the GM cancels since he didn’t have time to prep, and another player says he can’t make the next two games. Here we go again? I think it will not fall apart, and I’m not in charge of scheduling this time, but I know I can game by myself whenever I want instead.
I looked it up: a tiny purse without a strap or handle is called a clutch. So you have a "tactical" rpg clutch. It's a tidy way of carrying the goods, very nice. Your field notes cover/carrier was pretty dope.
I currently transport my solo stuff in a cheap Amazon brand laptop bag. Lotta pockets and I can throw my notepad computer in there with paper supplies, zines, a single book, dice and a fold flat tray.
I'm a big fan of a good three ring binder and a three hole punch. Load it up with graph and hex paper, and take printed charts and supplements, punch them and slap them in the binder for handy reference. This helps me keep all of the maps and charts I make in the session together and organized for the next session.
I'm also a big fan of having a couple of spiral bound sketchbooks handy for drawing, scratch paper and general notes that will end up getting turned into AAR/journal stuff. Keeping things together and organized makes it easy to start and wrap up a session which makes it easier for your next session to get started.
I found the playing card dice: Pick a Card Dice from Steve Jackson Games
We'll get to the procrastination video when we get to it. Jeez.
You have successfully click-farmed. I consider myself a luscious and fully-grown click. 🍀
Hope you got some decent sleep. Thanks for the amazing video.
Weird, but I like gridded 3x5 cards in addition to lined and blank ones. Wondered about the scifi gm apprentice deck, looks like imma throw down on those. Also totally a dice goblin. Love the variety presented. Thanks for a great overview of you play tools!
After getting the fate mill and then wanting the dyadic d20s I went ahead and got all their currently available (three more) products. The nuul dice just look cool too.
Great topic!
Damn, a Castaneda reference in a d&d video. I love the Art of Dreaming
Some right good tips. Starting a new job soon that will likely include some time sat around alone. So that little zipped thing with the notepad and little deck of cards would be right good
Taking a leap of faith on the rOtring 600 with some nice Pentel Ain lead in HB was an identifiable life moment of pure bliss. Cannot recommend it enough.
Wasn’t sure if you were just being facetious but in case you weren’t, that’s not a ruler. It’s a scale. Specifically an architect scale. It’s used for architectural drafting or measuring anything drawn to a certain scale. 1/4” = 1’-0 scale for example.
I’m an A5 leuchtturm1917 guy. Yeah they are overpriced but they make me feel special.
Would love a brand or even a link to that dice box/tray. Can't find anything resembling it on Amazon or anywhere else.
I had chatGPT GM Dragonbane for me. It was surprisingly amazing.
I think I’ve seen those stock images in my annual corporate regulation trainings.
I was thinking of buying Lore which is a sort of generic BRP/d100/d100lite solo book. I would love to run Sigil & Shadow solo written by the lovely R.E. Davis. It’s a modern fantasy horror game which usually means investigating things, which is hard to do solo.
Man’s Tactical Alone
Regarding the tiny cards you have to replace often, I think an Air Deck may work for you! They're as tall as power cards but they're way narrower like the ones you have there. Might be worth checking out.
I usually keep a can of peas on hand, personally
Do a review of One-Shot Dungeon, please!
If you are going to get a hot glue gun for miniatures and such, be sure to get one that uses the mini glue sticks or at least has a tip with a much smaller diameter hole. I have both and the regular size gun is just too much.
Looks like Maxpedition brand at 31:00 in
Get in, roll some dice, and get out without a trace
Title of this video should've been "Most fun you can have with your pants on".
Man, you're quoting Carlos Castañeda, critical political theory, and so on. Kudos to you, good sir ;)
I noticed you leave your Mac mini upright. It is not the best way to use it, because the thermal paste between the CPU and the radiator may leak and if that happens, your CPU will overheat, specially if you use it for heavy CPU demanding tasks.
Card dice sounds weird, but I'd love to have this. I don't mind normal playing cards and I love GMA cards, but I absolutely hate using them IRL because I shuffle terribly and drawn cards don't bring satisfaction nor feel of "fairness" because of that :(
W/r/t tarot they are probably thinking of Deuteronomy 18:10-13 which talks about forms of spiritism that we should avoid. Part of that is looking for omens and fortune telling. When playing and using randomness to generate we are not predicting the future but creating it for our character. You could argue we are not using it to contact the spirit realm to figure things out. However, those who do this work also use these same tools. Given the murderous hatred for humans that spirit creatures have, we are wise to avoid anything tied to contacting them.
I literally use those same vending machine jars for my dice
HOW PERFECT ARE THEY
They are the only way I get the full value out of them, since normally they are like $17 for quinoa salad that tastes like ass lol
@@amanisalone no literally. though my dice did smell vaguely like Thai noodle salad when I trusted my dishwasher to sanitize it
I’m in a multi-day process of learning a “simple” game, Salvage & Sorcery. Glad to know that’s normal. I get tripped up by inconsistent wording like when it says “roll above” when I know they mean “roll equal to or above” or how the wording of its version of exploding means something different than the way it’s written literally (I think). It’s not Magic the Gathering where things are worded precisely now and clarifications get published to avoid arguments between players. (At least I assume so; I played in the 90s.) I’m thinking I need to just go with what I think they meant. I’m taking notes and rewriting the rules in just a few words. But then I get to a page like Extraction (58) and I’m like, wait, I have so many questions. Like, do you go forward or backward to the extraction point. It has to be forward, right? The player aids that are on the website aren’t mentioned in the book, but they do look great. The one page rules summary specifically. On the other hand (and I could be wrong since I haven’t read and analyzed it looking for problems also) it looks like other books might be more clear, like ones by Kevin Crawford (for instance), who has a way of taking the space to explain things fully and clearly.
I know what you mean about the happy place/setup. I took my book and notebook to the coffee shop and the library to “study” the game. I realized what I really want is to completely clear off a table at home and set up my game there, so I did that. Once I did that, I was in the zone. (I also liked the coffee shop.)
Title of this video should've been "You can't ever use stamps". :D
Are you going to do an alien style mothership game? i would really love to listen to some gameplay akin to the morkborg play you did. Really got me into solorpg games
solo-curious is totally a thing
Exactly 1 hour (and 2 seconds)
Thanks I bought two of the pencils. What do you think of the shadow dark dm and player journals?
Well, gosh, its a good thing you DIDN'T make an INSENSITIVE HYPERSIMPLISTIC video about OTHER PEOPLE that was JUDGEMENTAL and WILDLY DISRESPECTFUL of other people and their circumstances. Because i would have reacted EXTREMELY POORLY to that.
But you didn't.
So i won't.
P.S. Lay off box bands! They help board game guys fit a game and about 3 expansions in one box.
P.P.S. i'd think something to audio record a session (for even the ones not going on the channel) would be in the mix.
First.