From Summary of Suggestions for Solo TTRPG Improvements.pdf

  • Campaign sheets and tools
  • Mystery Mechanics
  • Social Mechanics
  • Streamlined worldbuilding tools
  • Accessible and Logical rules
  • Progressive disclosure
  • Tactical combat that’s light on crunch
  • Tools for getting into play quickly, generating prompts, etc
  • Downtime Mechanics
  • Fresh and thematic Generators
  • Solo party and faction dynamics

From Forecasting the Future of Solo RPGs

  • ~solo games where you switch points of view often, rotating between characters ~
    • rules for playing other characters in the scene in a procedural way
  • ~Paths / Flow Charts / Algorithms in TTRPG Mechanics ~
  • Game with mechanics for integrating Solo and Group play, narrowing the gap
  • Community games with a shared bulletin / world events for Solo players
  • Mechanics that force the character to do things the player might not want to do

What makes a great Solo RPG? 12 Factors that would make for a PERFECT Solo TTRPG game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jugv0yck1QM

  • makes me feel anything can happen
    • Should be able to surprise the player and provide tools to accommodate that
  • creates an interesting universe, not just character
    • Worldbuilding tools
  • offers oracles but doesn’t drown me in them
    • Enough oracles to answer questions but not too many
  • flow charts, cheat sheets + diagrams
    • Graphics that ground you in the gameloop when lost
  • trusts to make it work but doesn’t make me do their job
    • strikes a balance between procedure and breathing room
  • builds me a house but doesn’t decorate it
    • Gives the contours of a setting but doesn’t flood it
  • theoretically can play forever
  • very wide or very narrow
    • either very specific or has an open play space
  • gives me examples of play
    • Gives enough examples to make it clear how niche mechanics work
  • gives me milestones to look forward to and a system to make my own
    • clear long term goals
  • shows me how to document my journey
    • Reifies milestones into an output and preserves progress
  • gives me a reason to choose the game over real life
    • Has a clear hook and creates a desire to be in the world
  • save space and chuck safety tools