All Things Solo

# Solo Gameplay Approaches

Game Master and Player Approach described here are not separate approaches. They complement each other and you'll need to use elements from both approaches as you play -with the exception of how you want to start your game, described in #1 of each approach.

Player Approach

Game Master Approach

1. Create a PC or two. (Or a PC and a sidekick) and give them a backstory with actionable, unresolved conflict and direction. 2. Determine WHERE in the world your PCs will start and what do they know about the area. 3. Give them a QUEST, maybe with a random table. OR just start somewhere in the world and interact with the environment that you rolled randomly with an Oracle, until your PC's goal reveals itself. 4. ASK more questions to flesh out the quest: What, Where, When, How, Why, Who? 4.1. Use a Word Table for Freeform Association, when you need details about the PCs and their quest. 5. Then set your characters out to achieve their goals. 6. Go scene by scene to divide your adventure into small, controllable pieces. Start with a simple scene, such as in a tavern & drinking alone, or in the wilderness & close to a crypt. Make it so that it potentially generates more content. 6.1. Assign a GOAL to each SCENE for your main character. 1 main goal that encompasses whole campaign, and 1 for each scene. End the scene when the goal is completed or failed. Then move on to the next scene. Only play the juicy bits, not every detail. 7. Use Encounter Tables accordingly to your PCs' whereabouts in COMBAT. If you don't have maps to work with, just run the combat in Combat Tracker and use Theater of Mind. And maybe describe the encounter in CHAT. - Map Image - Wilderness Encounters - Urban Encounters - Dungeon Encounters 8. Use a Word Table with FREEFORM ASSOCIATION for wide selection of inspirational details any time you need random FOCUS & DIRECTION for your characters, events, clues, environment, rumors, quests, etc. 8.1. Roll 2-4 words and reroll if they don't make sense. Interpret the words by the current context of your subject. i.e: character, scene, event, etc. If this is your first scene, the context is your PCs and/or their background stories.

1. Do NOT start your sessions with character creation. Without a context, a character is just an empty shell in the void. But if you have something that sparks your imagination beforehand, you can create a character accordingly. 2. Practice Your Role as Solo GM: "Link things using research, experience, inspiration with Freeform Association." 3. Create a piece of something in your world, that later on, will be related to PCs you'll create. Start small. Just something to spark your imagination. 3.1. Build background of a scene in the world, put some characters in it and make them interact. Develop a small piece of your setting such as a faction or building; just a small piece to kickstart your adventure. Write a piece of riddle/poem for a ruined temple. An idea for a villain from the past. Find a weapon, write its lore, and put it in a chest. Anything, really! 4. Then start from the Player Approach and fit your characters accordingly to the pieces you created in your world. And scene by scene, go from there. 5. Use a PC Conversion Table for encounters such as in TSAT 1 to balance combat to your lack of action economy. Or play 2+ PCs. 6. Collect or Create Useful Tables Beforehand 6a. Weather Tables - Random Weather & Season - Summer - Autumn - Winter - Spring 6b. Area Generation Tables - Random Wilderness - Cities / Buildings - Dungeon Generation 6c. Settlement Tables - List of Settlement Types - Shops - Dnd Speak 100 Tables 6d. Rumour Tables - Rumour Subject - Rumour Location 6e. Camping Tables - Random Encounter Table 7. To populate your areas with NPCs, use NPC Generators when you need them. i.e: - TSAT 1 NPC Generator - DMG: Random NPC Description

OPTIONALLY, Record (text, video) your Story Intro, scene descriptions, even dialogues or monologues into a module for later use. Maybe use a journal extension or Campaign Tab in Book Section to keep track of your adventures. Keep your descriptions short and simple.