A great set of tips. This is a very structured list of do and don't for solo campaigns. I have found myself over the years pondering many of the same things, and you present excellent solutions in each case.
I can also see how these tips and guidelines are really baked into Kal-Arath. There is a very specific and opinionated setting hiding in those random tables. Every person's game of KA is going to be completely different, but also exactly alike. It's a wonderful balance you've achieved
As a new player, Ironsworn is all I have yet to play. Rules were easy to follow. Lodestar is a great physical book if you don't want the core rules book. I ended up purchasing Delve along with all of the cards and lodestar. Although I'm sure you know it's free to download.
So when you play solo do you journal in a prose style, like with dialogue between your PC and NPCs? Or is a more theater of the mind game, and then you bullet point what happens as you go along?
A rough sketch of the setting instead of a fully established world with seven unique names for the days of the week, a pantheon of gods and ten holidays throughout the calendar year?? Great article chock full of great advice! 🙌🏻
Excellent article and thoughts! Really enjoy the ideas of “getting out of a rut you put yourself in to.” Solo play can be a lot of fun or a creative exercise and experience.
I know this is a slightly older article at this point, but it really is full of excellent advice. So much so that I recently got stuck and came back to this as a possible solution, and sure enough, it worked.
Now if only I had your talent in creating art for my solo game sessions…
Excellent article. One thing I like to do to make the world feel alive (for those boredom/”why should I care” situations) is to have a ”Campaign clock” that tricks every once in a while and when it fills, something (bad) happens. Totally stolen from Starforged. But yeah, that really makes it feel like the world is not just there at a standstill, waiting for your character - one of those warring factions will win the war unless you intervene, or, that sick you were getting medicine for? He died because you wouldn’t say no to x+ side quests instead of focusing on getting his cure.
Cheers Paul thanks for reading!
Good stuff here, and wonderful motivation for a Monday morning.
I hope you get some gaming in today! Solo or otherwise
A great set of tips. This is a very structured list of do and don't for solo campaigns. I have found myself over the years pondering many of the same things, and you present excellent solutions in each case.
I can also see how these tips and guidelines are really baked into Kal-Arath. There is a very specific and opinionated setting hiding in those random tables. Every person's game of KA is going to be completely different, but also exactly alike. It's a wonderful balance you've achieved
Thank you so much!!
Nice. I have been thinking of giving an Ironsworn solo campaign a whirl.
As a new player, Ironsworn is all I have yet to play. Rules were easy to follow. Lodestar is a great physical book if you don't want the core rules book. I ended up purchasing Delve along with all of the cards and lodestar. Although I'm sure you know it's free to download.
Excellent article and excellent tips! (#1 fangirl 🤪🤪🤪)
It feels good to have a fan haha!! Thank you
lol! As long as you know I’m not a psycho!
Wouldn’t dream of such a thing. I’m just so pleased you’re enjoying it.
Great article. It contains a lot of very good advice.
My fault!! Yes this was going to be in the new KA zine but I decided it was too long and better to just give away free. I’ll fix this thanks.
I modified my comment. Glad to be of help.
Great article with many great tips. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great articles and amazing tips. Now i need to see all your journal pages with explanations hahaha
I’d be happy to share more of them!
So when you play solo do you journal in a prose style, like with dialogue between your PC and NPCs? Or is a more theater of the mind game, and then you bullet point what happens as you go along?
Great advice, thanks a lot for this!
A rough sketch of the setting instead of a fully established world with seven unique names for the days of the week, a pantheon of gods and ten holidays throughout the calendar year?? Great article chock full of great advice! 🙌🏻
lol!!!
Excellent article and thoughts! Really enjoy the ideas of “getting out of a rut you put yourself in to.” Solo play can be a lot of fun or a creative exercise and experience.
Good stuff. Appreciate this post.
I know this is a slightly older article at this point, but it really is full of excellent advice. So much so that I recently got stuck and came back to this as a possible solution, and sure enough, it worked.
Now if only I had your talent in creating art for my solo game sessions…
Tons of useful advice for me here. The red die yes/no is genius.
Excellent article. One thing I like to do to make the world feel alive (for those boredom/”why should I care” situations) is to have a ”Campaign clock” that tricks every once in a while and when it fills, something (bad) happens. Totally stolen from Starforged. But yeah, that really makes it feel like the world is not just there at a standstill, waiting for your character - one of those warring factions will win the war unless you intervene, or, that sick you were getting medicine for? He died because you wouldn’t say no to x+ side quests instead of focusing on getting his cure.