It's time to see where we are, where we've been and where we're going
The Rise of Solo at Rand Roll
In January 2023 Rand Roll switched to focusing on System Neutral random tools and tables.
Part of that was to support many different rpgs and also to explore British RPGs. Solo RPGs were already a natural pairing for random tables and online generators.
So a series of Rolling Solo Actual Plays was begun, focusing on British RPGs, trying out various random tables, emulators, card decks and other tools. Then another set or solo rpgs began with Ironsworn, focusing on "International" RPGs (basically anything that didn't fit in "British RPGs"), alternating between the two.
Solo RPGs are now the biggest category on Rand Roll, as articles have expanded into Solo Creator Interviews (such as Tana from Mythic GME 2e, Steve or Errant Adventures and Jamie Thomson of many gamebooks), Tools Guides, Gamebooks, PDF Guides and some Random Tables.
And that's going to continue, with more interviews, actual plays and tools updates, my first gamebook and other solo random tables.
The Progress of the Actual Plays
The first Actual Play was actually my first attempt at Solo RPGs during Covid. It started brutally with eight deaths in the first session at the Caves of Chaos.
But then they truly started with Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition, and since then the format has grown, settling to a 4-part format, introducing the RPG, other solo tools, and the character(s). Scenes have been added to separate the action, and notes on how the RPG and other tools are working. The most recent has a scene intro by the point of view character for each scene.
Our RPGs so far have been.
- Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition with Rory's Story Cubes
- Dungeoneer (Advanced Fighting Fantasy 1e) with Rory's Story Cubes and a homebrewed emulator
- Troika! with Mythic GM Emulator 2e
- Warlock! with random tables based on Warlock of Firetop Mountain
- Ironsworn, using just Ironsworn!
- Dragon Warriors with TriCube Tales
- Dragonbane using the provided DB solo tools (by Shawn Tomkin)
- English Eerie, my first Journaling experience
- Fléaux! with Plot Unfolding Machine
- Advanced Fighting Fantasy with my own emulator (soon to be published!), Knave 2e Tables and Pendulum city builder.
There have been a few character deaths and one Total-party Kill (TPK). It's been fun!
And with Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2e, it closes a cycle, began with WFRP, but more relevant were Dungeoneer (AFF 1e), Troika! (based on AFF) and Warlock (inherited lots from Troika! and WFRP).
Now it's time to try a few more modern games!
Actual Play Future Looks Bright
Next actual plays will keep similar format to Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2e, trying out more emulators and random tools.
British RPGs Planned / Hopefuls
- Electric Bastionland / Into the Odd
- Dolmenwood
- Doctor Who 2e
- Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2e
- Barbarians of Lemuria
- Swords of the Serpentine
- Heart: The City Beneath
- some version of Maelstrom
International RPGs Planned / Hopefuls
- Scum and Villainy
- Thousand-Year Old Vampire
- Ironsworn: Starforged
- Knave 2e
- Forbidden Lands
- Brindlewood
- Coyote and Crow
- White Hack!
- Ultraviolet Grasslands and the Black City
Finishing Up
Let me know if you have a suggestion for an Emulator, random tables or RPG to try (probably message me on instagram or reddit is best).
