Getting into the Mood for Solo RPGs

The best part of RPGs and Solo RPGs specifically is that there is no right or wrong way to play them.

Many of us have our preferences and tried and true methods for getting the most out of a solo session, but the best way to play a solo RPG is the way that works best for you.

But say you are coming off a long day at work or your children have just gone to bed and you are keen on getting in an hour or so of sweet solo RPG play. These are some great techniques for slowing down, concentrating on the game and getting into the mood.

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Music and Ambience

You get home from work or study and you’d like to play some of your solo RPG but you just aren’t quite feeling it? No worries, completely understandable and it happens to me all the time. My first step is putting on some awesome music and if I want to get a bit fancy, I try out some ambience setting techniques.

Put on a track that fits you and your game

If you’re playing an epic sci-fi adventure try a techno soundtrack. If you are playing an epic fantasy campaign, try the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. Music will set the tone for the session and put you in the world of your characters. What could be better than fighting a dragon while listening to an instrumental track from Return of the King? Or battling starfighters with some Star Wars music in the background?

Light some candles if it works, and have fun with it

If you are feeling even more advanced, you can further increase the ambience by lighting candles (if you can do it safely) or anything else that may increase the level of emersion in your story-making.

Spice up your solo game by playing in a pumpkin patch with candles. Why the hell not? Image by StockSnap from Pixabay 

Get a good writing tool, computer, notebook, nice pens

While not everyone records their solo adventures, many of us do. What you use to record the story can sometimes be as important or even more important than the story itself. There is nothing worse than having your old computer finally stop working right when you’re in the middle of an epic quest. That would be devastating.

A decent computer

My cheap little Chromebook laptop is where I do 90% of my solo gaming (and also this blog). I got it on sale a couple of years ago and I’ve used it ever since. It does everything I need it to do, which isn’t much for my solo games. Word processing, some light image work and an internet connection are pretty much all I want. Some more advanced solo applications may need a Windows computer, but I haven’t run into any problems at all with my Chromebook. It’s also light and small, so I can take it with me on trips and I even do some writing outside when the weather is nice.

If you are thinking about which apps to use for your solo games, JV House has made an exhaustive list of different combinations of note-keeping apps, Virtual Tabletops (VTTs), dice rollers, etc. Check it out to find something that fits you and your game! https://jvhouse.xyz/solo-rpg-setup/

Nice notebook and pen

If you prefer a more physical process, a good notebook and pen can go a long way. I’m not a pen aficionado, but I recognise that a nice, but inexpensive fountain pen makes the writing process smoother and more enjoyable. For notebooks, you don’t need fine Italian or Japanese products (but they are nice). A simple journal notebook is cheap enough and a bit better than a spiral notebook in my opinion.

Webcam and Microphone

I haven’t explored recording my sessions just yet but recorded (audio and video) sessions are amazing to watch and listen to. If you are doing it just for yourself, I imagine any budget camera or microphone would be acceptable, including your phone. If you intend to release your work publicly, I’ve read that you should try to get the best quality microphone that you can afford, within reason. I guess audio quality is something that improves with the price point.

Switch games to match your mood

One of the best parts about solo RPGs is that you can chop and change to fit the mood you are in. You’re not locked down into any one game and you don’t have to check with anyone before you start up a new one.

Want a deep and personal experience? A Journaling game may be great

Journaling games can be an incredibly personal experience. It is just you, a simple mechanic, a journal, and your thoughts. You can get into the story and explore the creativity within the game. It's also easy to play if you don’t have a computer and most games allow you to write a prompt in about 5 to 10 minutes.

Check out Thousand Year Old Vampire by Tim Hutchings, it is a fantastic game and experience. 

Want some action? Try a dungeon crawler

Get in there, fight the baddies, avoid the traps, get the gold, and get the hell out. Dungeon crawlers are for when you want that action and adventure. They can be hectic blood baths, but they are also creative and fun. Many have you creating the dungeon as your party progresses, so you don’t even know what will come next!

Check our Four Against Darkness as a starter dungeon crawler. 

Feel the need for an epic story? Try a story forward game

Lots of solo games allow you to create epic stories and craft engaging plots. If you want a game that has you chase down a magic ring or defeat an enemy star base, try out a story-forward game.

Check out Underground for a good example of a story forward game. You must travel deep underground to rescue a child you can’t even remember.

Try to reduce distractions

To get the best out of your solo sessions, you should be alone, which seems like a no-brainer. I know all our circumstances are different, but the more alone you can be from the world, the easier you may find soloing to be.

Put away that phone, (unless you need it for the game)

This is a must and an easy thing. Put that mobile phone away! Getting into your game can be hard, and it can be impossible if a Twitter notification goes off or you check Instagram every 60 seconds. Of course, some use their phone to play the game, either to record it or as a dice roller. That’s fine, use it when you must but think about putting on a do not disturb mode.

Consider throwing your phone into a field and finding it later (I'm joking, don't do that please.) Photo by Nijwam Swargiary on Unsplash

Be private if possible

This is a hard one for me, but I try it when I can. Be private if and when you can. That means different things to different people but if you can get into an empty room, or an empty corner of a room, try it. The game will flow much easier if you can be private.

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Those are the tips and tricks I try to use to get the most out of my solo sessions. I’d love to hear what works best for you and your games. Let me know in the comments and may all your solo sessions be engaging and epic.

If you want to see how a journaling game plays, take a read of my Tavern at the End of the World playthough. 

- Croaker