Solo Campaigns

[Thriondel Half-Elven]

I just wanted to know what everyone thought of solo campaigns. With one DM and one player.

Is it easier or harder?

[cplmac]

I have never been the DM for a solo game, but I did play a PC in a solo game once before. I was given a character that was a fighter/mage/ thief. It was back when I first started playing. It wasn't too bad, but I had noone else to help with figuring out the "puzzles".

[Webhead]

Personally, I like them for certain kinds of games or campaigns. I have run a couple of really fun solo games in the past, a couple in the fantasy genre (D&D) and a couple in the super hero genre (M&M). The very first RPG campaign I ever ran was actually a solo Star Wars game and it was excellent!

Solo games are great for allowing the deep exploration of a single character because that character is the entire focus of the story. But, solo games have to be designed from an understanding that they are just that...solo, and thus the challenges that the PC faces need to be within the scope of one individual. Granted, you can heartily mix in NPCs and that is often an excellent idea, not only because they can lend a hand with challenges, but also because they provide a means of inspiring role play and character development for your PC. In one of the supers game examples, the solo PC always traveled with his brother, who had super powers as well, and the PC was part of a larger team who could occasionally tag along to help when the mission called for it.

Solo games can be a great way to play. All it takes is a little work from the GM to get the most out of the solo experience and a player who is willing to be the real driving force behind the development of the game.

[Arch Lich Thoth-Amon]

Did them often when i was a teen. I especially liked roleplaying dnd, top secret, traveller, and some others. Heck, when you had a few hours to kill, couldnt think of anything better.

Also, Webhead is correct. It does allow for 'the deep exploration of a single character because that character is the entire focus of the story.' Well put, btw.

[ignimbrite]

played in: 1 on 1 Adventures #6.66 The Pleasure Prison of the B'thuvian Demon Whore by Expeditious Retreat Press. It was hilarious! The protagonist was Krunk the barbarian who had a loincloth that gave him a +4 studly bonus to Charisma! HAHAHA I loved playing that guy.

[Arch Lich Thoth-Amon]

played in: 1 on 1 Adventures #6.66 The Pleasure Prison of the B'thuvian Demon Whore by Expeditious Retreat Press. It was hilarious! The protagonist was Krunk the barbarian who had a loincloth that gave him a +4 studly bonus to Charisma! HAHAHA I loved playing that guy.

Ha! I have that module, and a few other 1 on 1's. I've been meaning to either play or run it but the opportunity has yet to present itself. Glad to hear it was hilarious.

[Valdar]

I've never been able to make it work, so kudos to those that have. I enjoy the social aspect of getting together as a group too much, and coming up with adventures for a single player seems like lots of work for comparatively little reward (compared to DMing for a good-sized group).

[mrken]

While in College I GM'd Star Frontiers for one of my roomies. I didn't really think it was all that good but he seemed to enjoy it. Would ask me to skip class all the time to let him play.

After college I ran a campaign for about six or seven months for my brother. He enjoyed it quite a bit, but again it was not all that fun for me. Have done it a couple of times since and always the same, the player seems to enjoy it while I find it less so.

[Total Nerd v2.135 (final)]

played in: 1 on 1 Adventures #6.66 The Pleasure Prison of the B'thuvian Demon Whore by Expeditious Retreat Press. It was hilarious! The protagonist was Krunk the barbarian who had a loincloth that gave him a +4 studly bonus to Charisma! HAHAHA I loved playing that guy.

so... was that a 1st ed module?

[Arch Lich Thoth-Amon]

so... was that a 1st ed module?

It was 3E. Here's a bunch more to choose from: http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/e/e...1on1Adventures

[Grandore The Giant Killer]

As a player I've discovered Solos tend to be easier because you don't have a pack of other players doing lord knows what in the backround and screaming stuff like "WHERE ARE THE SOUR CREAM AND ONION CHIPS!?"

[ChaunceyK]

I just wanted to know what everyone thought of solo campaigns. With one DM and one player.

Is it easier or harder?

I played one once, thoroughly enjoyed it...Blade of Vengeance. It was standard D&D from back in the 80's.

You play an elf (so you're a fighter/mage essentially, since elves were a class of their own) who returns home to find your village torched by a red dragon. So you're off to kill the dragon with some roadblocks along the way. Pretty standard concept, but it was fun. What I liked was not having to consult with any other players, having it be all about me for a change.

Based on this one adventure, I'd say it was easier, but then again, I didn't feel the puzzles were terribly difficult. The most difficult puzzle that I can remember involved a bridge that returned you to the direction you tried crossing it from...shouldn't take alot of imagination to figure out how to get across.

[ChaunceyK]

As a player I've discovered Solos tend to be easier because you don't have a pack of other players doing lord knows what in the backround and screaming stuff like "WHERE ARE THE SOUR CREAM AND ONION CHIPS!?"

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone remember a D&D video game that had a trailer or an easter egg or something that involved a bunch of heroes & monsters actually PLAYING an rpg? I remember one of them poking around in the kitchen looking for snacks, and ending the dialogue with "If there are any girls there, I wanna DO THEM!!!"

Funny, funny video...gotta be on YouTube somewhere, but I can't remember what game it was from so I can look it up.

[Grandore The Giant Killer]

You my friend would be talking about Dr. Demento's D&D.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUz8F2xU7tc

Very funny video using that for cats playing D&D.

[Kalanth]

I have run and played in solo games and they are generally really entertaining. When I was younger and had more time we would use those solo campaigns as background / introductions for characters. It would add depth and story to a character and really gave new spice and life to the tired old "you meet in a bar" routine.