Solo Rediscovery

A big part of my hobby since October 2015 has been solo roleplaying. Ever since I first grabbed out my copy of the Mythic Game Master Emulator and RuneQuest 6th Edition (now known as Mythras), creating the short-lived but fun-at-the-time Titan’s Abdomen setting, I’ve been tinkering around the edges of solo roleplaying.

Back in January I wrote about my plans for my solo hobby in 2018. My vision at that time was simple: more solo play, private notes, and just playing stuff I like the look of.

Well, friends, that hasn’t worked out at all. A month and a half down the line, I’ve not played a single game… despite at least three false starts. Yesterday I got curious about why.

Back to Kenny’s Notes

I miss Kenneth Norris. He opened a door for me (and, no doubt, many others) before life and personal stuff led him away from the public eye. Kenny’s short but intriguing .PDF, the “Guide to Playing Alone” is a classic! Yesterday I read it again.

“There are three key elements to exploring solo roleplaying:

1. Know Roleplaying
2. Know Thy Self
3. Know Thy Toolbox

In this guide I’ll help you explore all three and give you guidelines on how to start roleplaying alone.”

Those words ignited a curiosity back in 2015. They have re-ignited it again in 2018. Thanks, Kenny!

Above All, Know Thyself

The truth is that, using Kenny’s adaptation of Bartle’s Player Types – his thoughts about the types of players that roleplaying attracts – I realise that I have five basic interests:

1. I love to explore the unknown setting – the ‘soft’ elements of the game.
2. I enjoy exploring the ‘hard’ elements of the game too – the rules and mechanics.
3. I get a kick out of tactical combat.
4. I like to set clear goals and work towards them.
5. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others.

My solo play to date has largely been about exploring the ‘hard’ elements of the game – trying out new games and applying that knowledge to my social roleplaying. Along the way, I’ve been kicking butt in some cool tactical combats because that is one of the best ways to showcase the ‘hard’ mechanics of a game system.

The by-product of this solo play has been the creation and discovery of quite a few unknown settings. The most obvious example would be the combination of my explorations with Mythras Classic Fantasy and my natural desire to create and explore which became the impetus behind Mystamyr. I’d be crazy not to see the potential of that kind of creative energy, especially when it has led me to writing freelance for The Design Mechanism.

The desire, deep within me, is to continue that journey of exploration. The call is towards new frontiers… and towards something more personal to me.

Mythic Visitations

Last night I re-read the Mythic Game Master Emulator. I was drawn towards two major elements of that solo engine: 1) the ability of the engine to emulate the GM for any other game system; 2) the invitation to create not just solo one-shots but to evolve a solo campaign setting.

“All of your setting details can evolve from gaming sessions, without having to specifically generate world facts outside of the course of adventuring.” – Mythic GME, page 38

Thinking about it, I have come to understand that there is a deep well of desire to explore my own interior imagination. There are countless influences and ideas that I want to combine into… well, something else.

Solo play offers the chance to do just that: to play and explore, creating the setting and campaign as I go. Evolving something new and unique from the interior world that exists within me. It’s a place of mystery and darkness, great magic and wonder. And it’s my place.

Adventurous Logs

Kenny’s particular genius was in noting that the solo roleplayer needs to develop a means to log their journey and adventures. In the past, this manifested here as game reports – often heavy with crunch – which considerably slowed the creative process… but which were also received by many gamers in a positive light.

People have enjoyed reading the solo reports for various reasons. The most common articles read from the solo section are those introductory fumblings I made with Mythras Classic Fantasy, from first character creation through to my early foray into Castle Mystamyr. From this pattern, I conjecture that curious folk can find out how the game plays through my early attempts shared.

When I thought to take my solo gaming private it was because I cannot imagine anyone being interested in reading (in effect) written-up game fiction. My mistake, however, is in underestimating the power of writing such story logs. Without the impetus to record the game, it seems I also lose the desire to play it at all. Thus, going forward, I aim to write gaming logs just as if I would plan to share them… but without the crunch that so slows my own gaming experience.

In Conclusion…

Putting it all together, I aim to begin solo play once again. The plan will be to explore the great unknown vistas of my interior world… or, put less pretentiously, to combine some game rules, the Mythic GME, and a bucket load of imagination and see where it leads me.

Game on!