You don't have to roll dice. If you have a strong idea for something to happen, just make it happen!
An interview with the creator of the Bad Spot, a solo rpg podcast and youtube channel. Continuing the solo gaming interviews.
Disclaimer. Rand Roll is an affiliate of DriveThruRPG
Chat with Matt Risby of the Bad Spot
The Bad Spot is a solo actual-play youtube channel and podcast, mostly using Ironsworn: Starforged and other Ironsworn games. I first encountered the podcast a short while ago and finished Season 1 with Ironsworn: Starforged.
We start with gaming history, then podcast backstory, challenges and highlights, solo play and ironsworn tips. Among other things.
What was your gaming story before starting the Bad Spot?
I am relatively new to ttrpgs, having only played them properly since 2015. I had dabbled a little in the early 90s but had no idea what I was doing as a clueless 11-12 year old.
In 2015, I picked up the FFG Star Wars system (now called Genesys) and ran it for some friends who had expressed some interest in playing D&D. I preferred Star Wars and convinced them this was the way forward and that campaign ran on and off for a couple of years.
From there I discovered more and more smaller games and we played one shots of stuff like Fiasco and Ten Candles, but in 2017 we discovered pbta (Powered By the Apocalypse) games with Dungeon World and running a narrative first, collaborative storytelling game like was a big lightbulb moment for me.
How did the Bad Spot come about?
In late 2019 I discovered Ironsworn and during the pandemic, I played it co-op with a friend over zoom for a few weeks. I had been co-hosting a film podcast that ran from 2010 - 2018 and I was looking for another project to start a show about.
I initially thought my Dungeon World group would be able to do an AP (Actual Play) but the technical challenge of recording and editing a 5 person show was offputting and also a lot of people to rely on.
So when Starforged was announced, I hit upon the idea of doing an AP solo. It would scratch my podcast itch and also only be one person to organise!
What have been the challenges and highlights of creating the videos/podcasts?
My biggest challenge was learning that after a few episodes, sitting down and playing live then cutting out the pauses wasn't working. It was incredibly time inefficient and was a nightmare.
Once I realised people were engaging with the show and enjoying it for the story, I took a more deliberate approach and played my sessions over the course of the week, noting down the rolls, punching up the narration and scripting the dialogue.
That method has stuck and I no longer say my show is an AP, more an adaptation of an AP.
What has been your favourite moment while solo gaming?
I talk a lot about the moments where you can 'join the dots', where seemingly unrelated story strands converge just perfectly. I look for those moments in all my games and when they come off, it feels good!
What is the appeal of solo rpgs for you?
I think the idea that you can take your time to figure out what works best for the story. You can walk away and play the game at your own pace.
You don't have to quickly explain the existence of a character called Blort the Goblin because you couldn't think of anything better in the moment. You can really push the envelope of storytelling, whilst still playing a game.
What advice would you give people playing solo rpgs?
You don't have to roll dice. If you have a strong idea for something to happen, just make it happen!
What tips would you give people for using the tables of Ironsworn (and it's related games)?
Don't be afraid to re-roll a result if you can't make it make sense. Or just pick!
I spent far too long agonising over it in the past. I normally roll a couple of times and if nothing good comes up from that, I'll pick something that does.
(Matt also has How to Play Ironsworn & Ironsworn: Starforged video(s)
What are your next big projects that you can talk about?
I am co-designing a solo, standalone game set in the Cryptid Creeks universe for Hatchling Games. It comes to Backerkit in March and I couldn't be more excited.
It is based on Carved from Brindlewood (link to Brindlewood Bay), which is my favourite system, so designing solo rules for it is an interesting and daunting challenge!
Where can people find you online?
On YouTube. On Bluesky (@thebadspot.bsky.social). (The Bad Spot is also on Patreon)
Is there anything else you would like to talk about?
I've just started playing Malifaux and absolutely more people should be playing that game!
What is Malifaux?
Malifaux is a miniatures skirmish game that I have just got into. Set in an alternate Victorian age, it sees tense struggles between Exorcist Cowboys, Bandits, Moonshining Gremlins, Crime Syndicates, Miner's Unions, Otherworldly Monstrosities and Necromancers.
The setting is wild and the game ingeniously designed, using playing cards as its resolution mechanic rather than dice.
Finishing Up
Make sure to give The Bad Spot a watch or listen if you haven't already. More solo-rpg related Interviews coming up!
There are many more articles on Rand Roll. Plus a Rand Roll Discord and instagram of Random Tables. I also create Generators at Chaos Gen and have a monthly random tools Newsletter.
