I came up with a quick option for playing solo with just a d6.Good for travel or minimising phone use.
Randomiser, Extras and Threads
I'm using a six-sided (d6) spinner ring. You could equally use a physical d6 or a phone app.
Extras - A list of characters, factions, locations and other entities that might pop up or influence your game. Your angry sibling, the merchant's guild, your missing mentor, the good people of Huntingdale, the evil god Mango...
Threads - Similar to many emulators, these are the plot lines which are important to the story and your character(s). "Who is behind the wagon thefts? Why is Jarma acting strangely?
Basic Oracle (Yes/No)
When asking a question for your solo game, roll on the Yes/No oracle.
| 1d6 | Simple Oracle |
|---|---|
| 1 | NO! |
| 2 | No, (and mark disruption) |
| 3 | No, But... |
| 4 | Yes, But... |
| 5 | Yes, (and mark disruption) |
| 6 | YES! |
When asking "are the gates guarded", "Yes" might be two guards, "Yes, but" might be two guards, but they're drinking and not paying much attention, "YES!" might be several guards, searching everyone who passes through. "No" is no guards, "No, but" might be no guards, but the gate is closed, "NO!" might be unguarded, and someone's left a key in the lock!
Boons and Banes
If the outcome is "very likely", add a Boon, if "very unlikely", add a Bane. Add other Banes or Boons if other factors are positive or negative. Each Bane negates a Boon.
If you have any Boons, roll an extra 1d6 for each and take the highest result.
If you have any Banes, roll an extra 1d6 for each and take the lowest result.
You ask the questions "Is Morwen happy with her present of a puppy?" it seems very likely as she likes animals, so you add a Boon. You roll two d6, getting a 2 and a 6, keeping the 6 as it's the highest result. Morwen is over the moon with her new friend!
Marking Disruption
Disruption is something unexpected happening, a random event or interruption. If you don't like this idea, then ignore Disruptions.
When a plain "Yes" or "No" result happens on the basic oracle, we mark disruption. You can use a tickbox for this. If the box is unticked, then tick it. If it's ticked, then there's a Disruption and untick the box.
| 1d6 | Disruption Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | A random (or most logical) Extra arrives or is mentioned |
| 2 | A random (or most logical) Thread is involved |
| 3 | An Extra (in scene or off-screen) takes action |
| 4 | Something negative, Roll on "Inspiration Table" |
| 5 | Something positive, Roll on "Inspiration Table" |
| 6 | What's the worst thing that could happen? It's that |
For other options than a tickbox, roll a d6 each time instead of marking disruption. On 1-2, a Disruption happens. Or a 1 for less Disruptions, and 1-3 for more disruptions.
Inspiration Table
When you want to know more details or want to spark ideas, use the following table. If you have access to story dice, random tables or online generators, you can use those instead.
| 1d6 | Something related to... |
|---|---|
| 1 | person nearest to you (or you last spoke to) |
| 2 | last Book/Film/Podcast/Video you consumed |
| 3 | current environment you are in (or an image nearby) |
| 4 | a random word ( or sentence) from a Book / Instructions / Other Text |
| 5 | latest (or next latest) message you received |
| 6 | something from yesterday (or last website) visited |
New Scenes
When it's time to progress your scenario, either...
Suggest a New Scene or Scenario: describe what you think should be the focus of your game next, then ask the Yes/No oracle "Is this how the scene starts?". Add a Boon if you think your character is in control of the situation, and add a Bane if they definitely are not.
Roll for a Random Event: Either on the Disruptions Table or roll on the Inspiration Table for how the next scene starts. Or combine both. Think about how this result relates to the current scenario.
Starting Scenario
If you have an adventure or scenario in mind, then use that. Otherwise think of a favourite film or book (or last one you saw) and use starting scene from that.
But then ask the Basic Oracle "is this how the game starts?" and get ready. Before starting, think of 1 or 2 Extras that the character knows to start your Extras and think of the main question to be answered as your first plot Thread.
Using as a Game
You can also use the oracle as your game system. Use the Yes/No Oracle to ask if your skill Tests succeed, adding Boons and Banes for positive or negative factors.
For a character, choose 3 skills, these could be nearly anything. Whenever a character uses the Yes/No Oracle where these would help, they add a Boon.
Coll the Archer might have skills of Archery, Perception and Stealth, whereas Sam the Chef might have Cooking, Management and Knives
Then add a Hindrance to your character. Whenever a character uses the Yes/No Oracle where this would apply, add a Bane.
Coll the Archer has a Hindrance of Uncomfortable in a Crowd. Sam the Chef has a Hindrance of Bad Temper.
Finishing Up
That's all for now. I'll publish it as a 1-page pay what you want PDF soon.
