Is it possible to make your own solo rpg? I have zero experience with rpgs but I like to come up with stories, and I want to try and play a story as I make it, but I don't know how that would work or if it's impossible to actually do. Is this a thing, and if so what is a good way to do it? Anyone tried this, what was your experience?
Yes. Done it plenty of times. If you want to make any serious money from it, don't even get started. The market is oversaturated.
I wasn't planning on making it public, it's just for me to play. I am asking if it's possible to play it and have fun if you are the only one creating everything, or does the inability to create surprises ruin it?
The trick is to make it to where you don't know ahead of time which of a myriad of choices are going to be the one to drive the adventure forward. Random tables that you can roll on keep it from ever being totally predictable.
What do mean by random tables? Like I said I don't really have any experience with rpgs. Also would it be a good idea to just make a very generic story with a big bad evil and then just wander around the world making everything up as I go and doing my best to commit to whatever I roll? I really just want to worldbuild as i go and have adventures in that world.
>What do mean by random tables?
Lists of things with ranges of results on your randomization method next to them defining which the randomizer outputs.
Okay cool, thanks for the feedback. I think I have an idea of how to do it now.
Then, for example:
Roll 1d6 for your next hex on the map:
1.) Forest
2.) Swamp
3.) Mountain
4.) Desert
5.) Plains
6.) A settlement.
This same concept would work for monsters, if things work out like you want them to, etc. There's a ton of these that get shared in the solo-RPG general.
Damn I probably should have just asked this in that thread instead of making a new one, my bad I didn't see it.
Of course it's possible, but it takes a lot of consideration about genre-fitting mechanics and associated probability distributions for outcome biasing to do it WELL. If you're using TTRPG mechanics to elaborate upon or direct stories away from your "raw" writing, a full solo RPG is usually excessive.
I think that this intermediate space is a subset of "gamebooks". The old "Choose Your Own Adventure" series from which the modern "CYOA" writing prompts get their name doesn't have such mechanics, but there DO exist ones where you roll stats that inform the results as sort of an "RPG-lite" experience.
Another area to look into would be the ruleslight storygame crowd, as they're the main purveyors of simple and blunt genre-fitting mechanics.
The surprises would be the probability distribution work. Most typically rolling dice, but drawing cards also works, especially for single-time events from a defined set.
>The surprises would be the probability distribution work. Most typically rolling dice, but drawing cards also works, especially for single-time events from a defined set.
Oh okay, I didn't consider that, that actually seems like a great way to do it. I can make a list of a bunch variables in different categories and then roll to see what sorts of characters and situations I will encounter, then just use my imagination based on that. Is there a good guide for basic rpg game play mechanics so that I can make it functional without too much trial and error?
I can play my games and have fun with them.
The Anon you responded to can likely play his games and have fun with them.
Someone who doesn't like game design won't be able to make a game or have fun doing it.
Someone who doesn't like to play by thenselves won't be able to have fun with it.
Fun is different for everyone, and you can only find out what you have fun with by trying it.
As far as surprises go, my surprises come from random generation. Is the next room going to be an empty hallway with secret doors, or will it be full of hostiles? Roll the dice.
Reminder to wash your benis
Tell us how they don't involve deciding the behavior of someone who isn't yourself and aren't play structures testing skill and luck.
This. They stretch the already stretched definition of “game” when it comes to storyshit.
You arent roleplaying in that case. You’re playing against the system, in which case, its a glorified wargame, which rpgs always were. Unironically, the only way a game can be a true RPG is by vidya like lifeweb.
Roleplaying is representing the behaviors of someone who isn't yourself.
So, tell us how solo games don't have the player represent the behaviors of someone who isn't himself.
There is no such thing as role playing mechanically, because that is a part present in all games. You might be choosing stuff that fits your character, sure, but its not a meaningful enough distinction.
What sets RPGs apart is narrative. The flavour part of an rpg. You can roll for stonemasonry or whatever in any game suited for it, but only an RPG would put it in a context where this action has a history and intangible consequences behind it.
A solo player can only operate based on the mechanics he has, he cannot add story elements that are unsupported by the system lest he just starts playing pretend.
What you think is "no true Scotsman" in terms of roleplay doesn't change what roleplay is.
Narrative isn't even relevant to gameplay, at least, not primarily, so to base a term for a game on such a thing is nonsense. If you recall from before, tabletop games are a structure of rules based on player skill and luck, and the skill of weaving a narrative is certainly never challenged nor rewarded to any consistent, measurable degree.
If anything, whatever it is you're proposing, is less of a game than solo games are.
A solo rolepaying game involves one player testing his own skill and luck through the decisions of a character who isn't himself according to its structure of rules in a consistent manner.
This point remains uncontested in spite of your waffling about "thtory" and "nurruhtive"
Behold, an RPG
The point
remains
uncontested.
homosexual.
Without narrative, there is no distinction.
Black person.
Behold, another RPG.
Most people just write shit on Ao3 in situations like this. May as well develop a literary skill during your self masturbatory wank sesh! Just put a self insert into your fanfiction and you're good!