So what's the deal with solo gaming?

[BenjaminPey]

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

I would not say that, no.

 

[Micah Sweet]

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?

I do like surprises. I just don't like narrative-based mechanics. Random, curated tables are more my speed.

 

[Reynard]

I would not say that, no.

Explain how. I see roleplaying as a response to input. Solo RPGs don't generally provide that.

 

[BenjaminPey]

I do like surprises. I just don't like narrative-based mechanics. Random, curated tables are more my speed.

Who talked about narrative-based mechanics? Playing to find out is a state of mind, a low-or-no prep, open-minded way to approach the game. There's no mechanics involved.

 

[BenjaminPey]

Explain how. I see roleplaying as a response to input. Solo RPGs don't generally provide that.

By... roleplaying? Being in the head of the characters, making them act as in their shoes, feeling what they feel and playing this all out (albeit or an audience of one?) There's the same kind of inputs as always: in the fiction, or in the mechanics.
Let me ask you this: do you think there's no roleplay involved in play-by-post?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Who talked about narrative-based mechanics? Playing to find out is a state of mind, a low-or-no prep, open-minded way to approach the game. There's no mechanics involved.

Not a fan of no prep either, but that term has been used to describe a variety of games that strongly feature narrativist mechanics.