Thinking About Running A 4e Solo Game

I guess you could say it is logistical, but in theory character driven storytelling should be easier as well if there is only one character to worry about.

Mostly, I prefer to give myself the best chance to not get bogged down and have the game become complicated if one or more players stops posting. I would hope that it would be easier to keep interest, and keep a good posting rate, if you only have to wait for one person.

No worries about it being off topic. Really, it is sort of on topic.

In any case, I like your concept, Rayex. I guess the only detail that I would clarify is that the " Empire " would refer to the former Empire of Nerath, though I suppose it could be the edge of Bael Turath alternatively. I guess if I were to go with you that the game would probably start in a village or town some distance from Skeid, where Freedom has just arrived. You have certainly left it open in terms of hooks that can be introduced though, hehehe...
 

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Well, here's an idea for you... i'm not sure how to do those nifty spoiler Show button things, though, so I'm sorry if this is a long post to scroll past later, hah!

Name: Drynn Gi'nor
Age: ~18
Race: Human
Class: Rogue (Artful Dodger, etc... everything sly and slick)
Unaligned follower of the Raven Queen (naturally)

Profile & History
Drynn Gi’nor has one place for his loyalty: himself. He is loyal to himself and only those whom he considers worthy of his trust––a very short list. He was born in the small province of Ahvet, in the Empire of Nerath. By the time he was sixteen, Drynn was already wearied by the transformation of Nerath from a beautiful and prosperous nation into a brutal and stifling empire. Whispers of rebellion grew from every dark corner and alley. All people, thieves and scoundrels, priests and warriors, those loyal to themselves and those loyal to a higher authority, seemed bound together by some indescribable force. Perhaps it could be called patriotism, nationalism. Or, perhaps, it could be called survivalism. No one in Argon, the capital of Ahvet Province, resisted this movement, least of all Drynn Gi’nor.
Drynn had been apprenticed, so to speak, by the local thieves’ guild, the Disciples of Nataku. They had been grooming him to wreak havoc in the capital of Nerath. Unfortunately the war broke out openly much sooner than anyone had expected. Recruited for the Nerathian Army as soon as he turned seventeen, Drynn resisted their will for him at every turn. After three months of grueling physical and combat training, Drynn deserted. Quickly as he could, he ran back to Argon.
Ahvet was a changed land. People no longer had time for festivals, farming, and grand social escapades. It was a land consumed by the machinations of rebellion and war. The thieves’ guild had become the headquarters of the rebellion, and they were quite happy to see Drynn, their prized pupil, come home.
The War-Council wasted no time in putting Drynn to work. Within a week he had infiltrated a barracks in the neighbouring town of Asch. His abilities with the blade and shadows were the only things he needed in order to remove a major threat to his people. Surging with pride, adrenaline, and zeal for his cause, Drynn is ready to pursue his goals. He places his trust in the War-Council, in his comrades, the Disciples of Nataku.
Drynn Gi’nor stands ready to win this war.

Appearance & Personality
Standing five feet and nine inches tall, Drynn usually slouches a bit. He wears his dark, reddish-brown, hair pulled back into a pony tail, except on the rare occasions when he goes out socially. His face is stern, but not cold. His green eyes have depth, but are not wells of water. His pale and ruddy complexion is contrasted by the dark greys, blacks, and greens of his clothes and cloak.
Drynn always carries as many weapons as he thinks necessary for the job, and to look intimidating. He does enjoy the theatrics of being a rogue a bit much at times, but he admits it as his one character flaw besides pride. He carries himself with strength and dignity when he walks in the open but when he moves through the shadows no one needs to see the shield of his pride, so he lets it fall to the ground below as he leaps from rooftop to rooftop.


My thoughts on this character:
Basically I want him to have some good talent in subtlety and assassination skills but he's still young and makes mistakes. I want him to make a major mistake (or series of mistakes) that he has to repent of and make atonement and reparations for. Also, I want him to help fight the war which, eventually, his people lose.

Aside: I got this idea from the backstory of a character I'm playing in an IRL campaign. Drell Gi'nor is a human fighter, the son of Drynn Gi'nor, the assassin who fought against Nerath. Kind of cool, I think ;)

Let me know if you want more information; I can keep writing this stuff all day!
 

This is 1/2 shameless bump and 1/2 addendum. I realised that I really don't have much of a motivation for this character... so here it is:

Shortly after beginning his training with the Nerathi Army, Drynn received a letter from Katrine, his intended bride. She was with child and would be giving birth within six months. The question she and Drynn ask, now that he has returned to Ahvet, is whether or not it is a safe place to raise a child? Should they leave this province, leave Nerath? Or should they make Nerath into the country it should be. Drynn believes he can have an influence on the destiny of this nation; he believes that Fate is guiding him to deliver Nerath from its own self-destruction.
 


I'm potentially interested, but I cannot guarantee my availability to *run* a solo in the near term. How much of an impediment is that?
 

I'm interested in running a solo game but haven't much experience in DMing. Although, i think that the slower pace of a PbP game would help me in that ;)
 

Being able to run a game for me is not a condition of playing, and probably will not be the deciding factor in who I choose.
 

Good to know ;)
D'you want any more from those of us who have already written character concepts? (Expansion, perhaps?) or are you just waiting on the potential of more submissions?
(I'm just really excited about this idea...)
 

Just waiting for more submissions. I guess I will announce who I have chosen around July 10th (two weeks since I first posted). Maybe the hard deadline will get people who might be interested off of the fence.
 
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I guess you could say it is logistical, but in theory character driven storytelling should be easier as well if there is only one character to worry about.

Mostly, I prefer to give myself the best chance to not get bogged down and have the game become complicated if one or more players stops posting. I would hope that it would be easier to keep interest, and keep a good posting rate, if you only have to wait for one person.

No worries about it being off topic. Really, it is sort of on topic.

Thanks for the response. In retrospect I actually played a short solo game; albeit unintentionally (everyone else stopped posting) with Lost Soul. It -was- fun and intense and I was sorry it ended.

At the same time the epol game I was running basically almost died because the players got down to 2 or so and they were like "we want more players" (to his credit my ultimate survivor did an awesome pimping job for an unattractive game).

I want to apply, but I think I'll have too much time pressure. But I'll keep it in mind for a future possibility maybe.

Good luck with players (and finding people to DM you)!
 

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