So what's the deal with solo gaming?

[Reynard]

What if the solo RPG were only half-writing? Say, the maps, monsters, treasure, and some events are prepared, but you get to fill in the blanks, like combat outcomes and/or NPC interactions?

For me personally (again, I am not poo-pooing writing focused solo rpgs in general) the less I have to make up, the more fun the game is. So give me concrete random tables and oracles, and good tactical options for enemies (something like the way monsters work in Dragonbane could be useful). Don't ask me to flip a coin and make up 90% of the thing.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

What if the solo RPG were only half-writing? Say, the maps, monsters, treasure, and some events are prepared, but you get to fill in the blanks, like combat outcomes and/or NPC interactions?

At a certain point, this turns into a Fighting Fantasy gamebook -- which are great, to be clear, but low on "roleplay."

 

[BenjaminPey]

If I as a Player determine those things, then to me it isn't a game. It's a story I'm telling myself.

These can be randomly assigned, or even pre-written in a module you pick up, if you dislike having to choose your own challenges. (For me I think the fictional positioning is often enough to guarantee surprising outcomes, even when not relying on random generators or pre-written stuff. You just have to let the fiction leads.)

 

[Reynard]

At a certain point, this turns into a Fighting Fantasy gamebook -- which are great, to be clear, but low on "roleplay."

I mean, all solo RPGing is "low on roleplay" isn't it?

 

[Micah Sweet]

These can be randomly assigned, or even pre-written in a module you pick up, if you dislike having to choose your own challenges. (For me I think the fictional positioning is often enough to guarantee surprising outcomes, even when not relying on random generators or pre-written stuff. You just have to let the fiction leads.)

I don't see how any outcome you choose can possibly be "surprising". I thought that was the whole point of Oracle-style systems that generate results.

 

[BenjaminPey]

Oracles can surprise you, yes. But so does the fiction. Something is suddenly becoming obvious, something you haven't thought of before, and bam.
It's quite common when writing. and even more so with this kind of open-ended fiction where you write -- and play -- to find out.

 

[Simon The Hunter]

I do like a good random table (or lots of them) for my solo play...

 

[Micah Sweet]

Oracles can surprise you, yes. But so does the fiction. Something is suddenly becoming obvious, something you haven't thought of before, and bam.
It's quite common when writing. and even more so with this kind of open-ended fiction where you write -- and play -- to find out.

If you mean, "play to find out" in the narrativism sense .. that's not how I play RPGs, even solo ones.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I mean, all solo RPGing is "low on roleplay" isn't it?

I don't think so. Check my Thousand Year Old Vampire and Notorious playthroughs that I've posted on this site. TYOV is one of the most intense things I've ever done in gaming.

 

[BenjaminPey]

If you mean, "play to find out" in the narrativism sense .. that's not how I play RPGs, even solo ones.

I don't know how you play RPGs and only answered your question as to how can you be surprised. If you don't like surprises to begin with, well... why did you ask that?