RPGaDay 2021 – Solo

Roleplaying games are usually a group experience. A GM and players sitting around a table storytelling together is a great way to play. But what if you can’t get everyone together for the session?

‘Solo roleplaying’ usually refers to a game you can play alone, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m thinking of a game that involves a GM and a single player. This could be limited to a one off session, or the format of an entire campaign.

The one off session is a great way to introduce variety to an ongoing group campaign. It doesn’t have to be a full session, either. You could begin or end a group session with a scene or two restricted to a single player. This is one way to bring a new player into an existing game. It’s also a fun way to handle things when characters divide their efforts.

When running any sort of solo session, knowing your player and their character is vital. You want to provide them with an engaging session they can handle. It doesn’t have to be easy, but it shouldn’t be a struggle – unless they have NPCs to call on for aid.

If you’re really keen, you could turn your solo adventure into something the player can run on their own. Writing a Choose Your Own Adventure style adventure would be a lot of work. Try to keep things restrained and only present your player with limited options. This will save you from writing dozens of segments your player will never read.