The Gentleman Gamer: One-on-One / Mano a Mano / Solo Player Gaming

[pwninator345]

Though maybe not solo role playing exactly, I had a great time playing a solo game of Arkham Horror at my school's D&D club when only I and another person showed up for that week's meeting.

[clackclickbang]

@pwninator345 I've played Arkham Horror with one other person many a time. I've never won.

[huud007]

I personally have had great success running solo games with Marvel Superheroes or the James Bond RPG, but each of the settings were more episodic in nature, with a beginning and end during the session and little character development. Running an ongoing campaign with just 1 player would be quite difficult to keep engaging and enjoyable. I think as a GM, I would feel like I had too much on my plate to organize for simply one person.

[clackclickbang]

@huud007 Ah, the James Bond RPG! Takes me back..

[Krakilins]

I have a lot of experience with dungeons and dragons and I have run several solo's normally I do a npc partner of hirelings/friends made. I find it ok as long as you describe the attacks to give them variety and have a lot of fleshed out characters giving it almost a table top mass effect feel (with supporting characters I mean). I rather enjoy it. but as you said it can be a lot more narrative and simply.. non impulsive.

[clackclickbang]

@Krakilins Indeed. Description is a key point. If you just declare how many wounds of damage you've caused it gets very dull.

[NVLUTZ007]

I generally find that the most enjoyable part of roleplaying is being part of a group and watching players bounce ideas off of each-other and crack jokes. As a DM I try and make sure everyone at least once in the session feels like the spotlight is on them, but I also design most of the challenges to require groupwork. I prefer to do solo games as a sort of "prologue" into some campaigns, we develop a character,their backstory and then devise a personal goal or quest that leads them to the group

[clackclickbang]

@NVLUTZ007 I agree. Without the party element it can create to dry dialogue and less banter.

[HeathbrookBadhwar]

Playing my first solo game right now actually. VtM and It is going wonderful so far. Only 2 session in though, so I will let you know what I think in a month.

[clackclickbang]

@HeathbrookBadhwar WoD games are really good for soloists.

[SekraMage]

Most of the games I play are one-on-one; but usually done in more of a freeform style, with both participants making PCs and acting as co-GMs. It works well that way, I think because neither party gets bored and both are involved on both sides of the experience.

I'm about to get into a more structured solo campaign, on a play by post chatboard, something I've not done before, but I think it will go well.

[clackclickbang]

@SekraMage It also works over Skype, or so I hear.

[SekraMage]

@clackclickbang I hear that myself, although I have not attempted any gaming over Skype.

[clackclickbang]

@SekraMage You should do! With the Brigade bonding as it is, you may well be able to find some gamers among our number.

[SekraMage]

@clackclickbang Actually, I've been discussing the possibility of gaming over Skype with Ander.

[ParadoxTWC]

I by accident ran 1 on 1 games. Twice I did it for mage the awakening and that was for two players who missed the main game session so they were doing make ups for exp. The next few times it was supposed to be a game run with a few people but they all backed out at the last minute either for personal reasoners are they were just being ^%$&^&%ES! It was an over all success. I tried to have something less planned and as random as possible so that it was interesting for the player.

[clackclickbang]

@ParadoxTWC Random is always good. I improvise a lot.

[megamunga]

im starting role playing, i dont know anyone that does it and in my city there arent any stores or groups were they play, where should i start? i already have 4 people decided to try it. i like call of cthulhhu and super heroes role playing but should ia start with those or something more simple?

[clackclickbang]

@megamunga I would recommend by looking online and trying to join a Skype game, but if you want to start a club at a library or somewhere like that, a literature based game such as Cthulhu would be a good jumping off point.

[bobspldbakwords]

I have both played and run one-on-one games, I have found them to be fun in some instances. when running them they can be very enjoyable for a period of time, but at a point imo they can become dry, in that the player can no longer surprise you because he is solo, and without anyone to bounce ideas off of, they will eventually become predictable. As a player that can be very fun, as the spotlight is only on you, but at a point it will become dull without party members who are unique.

[clackclickbang]

@bobspldbakwords It's up to both the GM and the player to constantly come up with new ideas, which is very hard sometimes.

[Webhead123]

I have had very good experiences on several occasions running solo-adventures or campaigns with friends. They are not quite a replacement for true group-play but one of the advantages is the real depth of focus and development that can be given to a PC. Without all the conflicts-of-interest, diversions and Monty Python jokes that would distract from individual PCs in group-play, solo characters can often experience very profound, personal and impactful events.

So, I enjoy them when I can.

[clackclickbang]

@Webhead123 One-on-one gaming gives much more of an opportunity for character development and defining of motivations.

[micahhenry]

In one of my gaming groups solo adventures are done over the phone (away from the table) during specific down time. This divides the group up (it's a city-based campaign) and allows characters to explore the setting outside of the group dynamic. A "session" will last sometime between 30 and 45 minutes, and helps the DM understand where my character stands with any development. It also lets me know what the DM thinks is important, and gets training/mundane gaming elements out of the way.

[clackclickbang]

@micahhenry Good use of one-on-one gaming!

[currentlyviewingyou]

@clackclickbang But being the only person who wants to GM, that's as close as I'll get to playing. :l



[currentlyviewingyou]

@clackclickbang I enjoy doing solo games. I normally find it hard to convince somebody new to try playing a game, whether it be DnD or VtM/R. I tend to have them undergo a session or two of soloplay for a unique chance to develop their character origins and try to get a feel for the game. Unfortunately, I've yet to have anybody that wanted to do more than a couple sessions.

Probably the main reason for my preference are the NPCs who, from time to time, accompany the players.

[clackclickbang]

@currentlyviewingyou Solo is a great way to introduce new players.

[Quadradic93]

I've done a fair bit of one-on-one, especially when I was starting out as a GM. I found that keeping stories/adventures short and simple, especially in a longer-running game. A more episodic feel works best, I found, supported by a small, familiar cast of characters. Balance is harder, especially if the PC is going solo (ie, with no hirelings or GMPCs), but having a more challenging combat experience encourages the PC to think outside the box, to try and find creative solutions to avoid battles.

[clackclickbang]

@Quadradic93 I couldn't agree more. It's all about a player's ability to think in more esoteric ways when they're playing one character. A fighter can't disarm a trap, but he may be able to destroy it.

[TheMediaBunker]

Thanks a million TGG for taking the time to answer my question; you truly are a gentleman.

You gave me quite a bit to chew over, and I will be looking forward to hearing your viewers opinions and advice as well.

Here's hoping that you are doing well, and that things only continue to get better for you.

Gratefully, Tim (hiding out in The Media Bunker ;-)

[clackclickbang]

@TheMediaBunker Not a problem at all, my good man.

[alokov]

Most of my experience as a GM is with solo gaming and I'm planning to start a neew solo game That actually might be part of why I suck at GMing lol.I know the idea of having to deal with more than one player freaks me out.I find that all of your advice is true and your criticisms too. I thinkthe problems can be worked around though.

[clackclickbang]

@alokov We'll have to see how Vampire goes! I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Onionkid99]

I've done some one-on-one and it went well enough, but I prefer having a group. In some other video Timwise said he prefers a group because he likes bouncing ideas and actions off all the other players. That's my view on it as well, since an RPG is a collaborative process I find the group to be more dynamic.

However a group game with occasional solo interludes is cool, especially in one 'o them intrigue-laden Vampire games.

[clackclickbang]

@Onionkid99 And of course it's a big social thing. When you're sat with just the GM it can feel quite lonely.

[thespiritcoyote]

keep it fresh... yes, more of a focus necessities in solo-plots... and possibly the burnout factor if judicial pacing is not applied.

[thespiritcoyote]

yes, I would say, I would not expect a single character solo-game to last long-term without some particular issues - but in that perspective I might have to reconsider what I consider a solo-game. I will let "one game" play off "another game" such that it isn't necessarily a "solo-world" just a few "solo games". the games do not even /have/ to be the same genre, if you can blur and refocus between perspectives of "consenual-reality dimesions"...

oddly I feel like a game of Dark Conspiracy now.

[clackclickbang]

@thespiritcoyote I suppose most video games fill that niche, so as long as your game feels like someone akin to BioShock you should be fine.

[MaccacarianGuy]

One on one gaming! For me, it's just not possible. It's too much an intimate experience. I tried it once, and I felt unconfortable. Embarassed, I would say. I think I could do a one on one session only if I am romantically involved with the person playing with me.

[clackclickbang]

@MaccacarianGuy Interesting viewpoint! Thank you!

[TabletopTitan]

I actually really dislike this form of gaming. I love games, but I love the social element more than the story or the combat. I like there being flesh and blood to argue, laugh, and scheme with. It can also feel a little awkward, at least for me.

[clackclickbang]

@TabletopTitan I do see rp as a good social recourse.

[polvotierno]

Seems better if the solo player had 2 or more characters to run... instead of just 1...

[C117012]

@polvotierno Trust me, roleplaying more than 1 character is, as a player, VERY difficult. Often one of the characters keep getting showed to the sideline.

[clackclickbang]

@C117012 I've found that. Well, I can manage two or three characters, but more than that can be tricky.

[clackclickbang]

@polvotierno The difficulty is in inter-party interaction.

[BattleBunny1979]

uncharted territory for me this. I may have to many nerdy friends that always wanna come over and play.

I always played in or with groups. 2 weeks ago i ran a trial session for a new player testing out playing over the internet. that was one on one. It went.. well ok-ish i guess.I think that, as a GM, I feed a lot of the interaction between players. one-on-one suddenly i am the only interaction. sometimes interacting with myself even. That made the game feel a bit ...forced at times.

I

[clackclickbang]

@BattleBunny1979 I see the problem. I've had the same issue with my solo games.

[Len1234]

I have ran a solo game and also played one, but both of them was a prologue to a group game.

[clackclickbang]

@Len1234 I think they work better as prologues than as campaigns, definitely.

[thanhool]

ok long story. ive been running a rpg group for two years now and ive only had two people playing with me and ive found its good to have at least one npc in the group and loads of combat

[clackclickbang]

@thanhool You like the combat?

[thanhool]

@clackclickbang its deadlands so it is fun and fast so that helps

[thanhool]

@thanhool granted i would like a deeper rpg experience, but with such a small group it will have to suffice

[eternity1776]

I did a solo game of Call of Cthulhu with my brother, using one of the scernarios from the free Monophobia pdf (If you dont know about it i highly recommend you look at it. There is a thread featuring it on Yog-sothoth com)

But to the point, i found the exprience very interesting just because of the fact the story was so much more personal. My regular group do not contain very good roleplayers, but when it was just one person he will always have a story that is personal, that will effect him.

[clackclickbang]

@eternity1776 CoC is a good game for solo play. It heightens the paranoia and the danger.

[GARYUKIP]

I did a solo game once, it was okay but there needs at least two players in my humble opinion.

[clackclickbang]

@GARYUKIP I agree. Two players at the minimum are needed to make a story with satisfactory roleplay for me.

[Deckof51]

My offer/request of solo play is still open, should you want it.

Personally, the homebrew stuff works as a solo because the stories are designed for solo players. I found that when the solo character was added to the group, he lost focus, purpose and aim.

[clackclickbang]

@Deckof51 And when I pluck the time out of my.. thin air.. you can have it!

[23penguins32]

My 1st 6 months or so of RPGaming was me as GM with 1 player. I do always as GM run solo session(s) for each PC prior to an official campaign start or if a new player joins an existing one. I was going to say I've done a full campaign, but, I'm doing so now. 1 for my daugher&1 for the other Druid. I'm really in new territory as it's not been going on long enough to truly analyze. Also new is the play-by-mission, as the Druids are given 'missions' by Druid Master Storm. Great topic. Let you know

[clackclickbang]

@23penguins32 Make a video about it and take a grue to town!

[23penguins32]

@clackclickbang I'm not going anywhere with a grue.

[atari67]

When I was a teenager, a million years ago, a friend of mine and I had a multi-year Top Secret campaign, where we both had characters and would switch off GM'ing. It's one of those things that would only work when you are a teenager, but it started with us as field agents, and eventually becoming time travelling mercenaries. It was the best of what roleplaying is all about - allowing your imagination to carry you, and the story just flowing from your actions. It was a lot of fun.

[clackclickbang]

@atari67 Top Secret? Ah, been a long time since I played that..

[mollytherealdeal]

I have played and run several solo games. The results have been inconsistent. I agree that the game session could become more predictable than with a group, but I do not like chaos as much as you do. I spend 3 hours of preparation for every hour of the play session.

I find it less fun. In my opinion, the ideal size of a party is from 3 to 7. Solo games are better as one time deals, for example to teach an inexperienced player the ropes before joining a group.

[clackclickbang]

@mollytherealdeal I prefer a larger group too.

[kommiczar18]

I have found that solo play can work very well with the World of Darkness settings as these tend to be more character driven systems. Wraith: The Oblivion is one game where I found having a solo player was more suited to exploring its themes of death and damnation. I ran "The Charnel Houses of Europe: The Shoah" with a solo player and found it to be one of the most intense and rewarding campaigns I have ever ran. I could not imagine getting the same experience with a large group of players.

[clackclickbang]

@kommiczar18 Wraith is at its best with two players and a ST I find. So that the Shadow can be easily exchanged.

[woodwwad]

Hell yeah it would have survived. Solo gaming works great. I played a solo game with my wife for 7 years. And in another game I played solo for several years with another DM. I really enjoy it. You are certainly a good enough DM to pull it off, so don't underrated yourself. I'm not a use fan of playing more than one pc, especially in the same place.

I disagree npcs should be just as everything as pcs & maybe more.

[clackclickbang]

@woodwwad I played the Shackled City adventure path solo with an ex-fiancee. That was fun. I was actually the player for once!

[woodwwad]

@clackclickbang Well, eventually I'll get you back & run something you'll get to play in. Hang in there brother man.

[Zarion13]

I've ran a number of solo campaigns, with great success. Lets see, have lots of detailed NPCs available for the PC to interact with. Have a detailed vibrant changing world for the PC to explore. Indulge the PCs interests, allow them to explore the world as they see fit. Remember that every fight doesn't have to end in death, its funnier when they wake up in the stocks or a dungeon. Try to get the PC involved in an organization; temple, knighthood, etc. Social RP is the key, IMHO.

[clackclickbang]

@Zarion13 Thanks for the advice!

[o1sin182]

I ran a series of very successful one on one games with each player to set up their backstory before beginning my current campaign.

If I were to do a whole campaign in that style I would try to set up a story that made sense. When I think of films that have only one main character the first thing that comes to mind are private investigator style films, so I'd probably try to run a game where the player is the PI and most of the story revolves around him investigating different npcs

[clackclickbang]

@o1sin182 I replied to someone else to say this, but I do agree. PI games are excellent for solo gamers.

[Orkman]

I've had a few experiences in solo games as unfortunately finding it hard to get people together and I've had some good experiences but only really in one genre and that is horror. The Bioshock roleplay we did was one such game where the feeling of truly being along surrounded by splicers and the only person who could keep me company was on a radio made it feel like i was in a horror scenario. I've also done it with sci-fi and fantasy games such as dnd but it just got boring quickly.

[clackclickbang]

@Orkman Inspired ideas. BioShock would of course work well like that. A nice sense of isolationism.

[ZigCopasetic]

One on ones are pretty decent when bringing an outsider into the story. When we get a new player depending on the game we play I or the DnD GM would run a one shot to introduce to the setting and to the campaign goal.

I've run a solo in L5R and it went pretty good. The player was a magistrate investigator that dealt with murders, his npc assistant was an eta that could touch the bodies. Eta are the lowest class in the game so the interaction was pretty good.

[clackclickbang]

@ZigCopasetic That does sound pretty good fun. Investigation games, whether noir or not, really do work for solo gamers.

[riprendandroar]

The begining of this video was fantastic!

I have both played and GM'ed a solo game's, with mixed outcomes,

I GMed a zombie survival game for a freind, an thought it worked very well! There was a true sense of loneliness which was reflected in his actions, and it made his last moments really dramatic, as he knew he was dieing and no one could help, twas a game we both enjoy!

But GMed a solo game of HEX, and can truely say it was the most stressfull game ive been involved in! no fun was had!

[clackclickbang]

@riprendandroar It was a little different..

Yay for the zombies but No! for the HEX game. What happened?

[riprendandroar]

@clackclickbang well there were 5-6 npc in very close proximity, that, as well as monsters and my freind kept talking to the npc's for advice, now they had very diffrnt personalitys and voices , and add to that it was the 1st time we played hex, so there were numbers flying everywhare, and netiher of us REALLY new what to do so it was rather stressfull but hell, what doesnt kill you!

[tetsubo57]

But such a well mannered buzzard pecking at our eyes.

I'm not sure that even a cast of thousands could equal Ander's ego... he would wrestle them into submission.

I think a solo VtM game is called a date.

I've run a few solo games. But none lasted all that long.

The Gentleman only talks to himself because he is the smartest man in the room.

I shall ponder this...

[clackclickbang]

@tetsubo57 Ander's ego is mighty. A separate life-form.

[ultimativerHexer]

I had to be Player in a solo-game once. It was a shadowrun-game and my group left me behind because they thought I was dead. So I had this one session where I had to try to get back to Seattle. It was very much fun, but I think it is because the GM knows me very well and knew which kind of story I would enjoy.

I have run a solo-round so far and it wasn't quite that much fun. I think I enjoy it as a Player, but not as a GM.

[clackclickbang]

@ultimativerHexer That actually sounds like quite a lot of fun.

[TtheWriter]

I've run a few solo games to teach new people how to play the game, but that's about it. Otherwise my players invariably get in over their heads and die... attacking a bandit group solo isn't especially smart. x.x

[clackclickbang]

@TtheWriter Very true, but then it requires the player playing an interesting and intelligent solo character in order to avoid obviously suicidal fights.

[panzer903]

one-on-one RPG is 90% of my role playing experience. In high school I had no money to buy real RPG so we just did what seemed fair (and argued the rest of the time). One campaign went on for better part of a year and we spent years after trying to relive that experience. I took a lot of inspiration from final fantasy 4 and 6 which probably explains why I bought Anima right after watching your review.

[panzer903]

@panzer903 (continued) personally I think you'd be great at doing one-on-one style games because you like running different style characters and like to just let the players do what they want. Freedom and interesting NPCs is key.

not sure if that was helpful or not.

[clackclickbang]

@panzer903 I should be a salesman..

That is helpful! Thank you!

[calistman222]

It's easier for schizophrenics.

[panzer903]

@calistman222 don't think schizophrenic means what you think it does.

[clackclickbang]

@panzer903 Multiple-personality disorder? Inconceivable!

[panzer903]

@clackclickbang Multiple-personality disorder is the right term but it has nothing to schizophrenia. I only know this because I looked it up once /laugh

[CitiCite184]

Great Video as always.

[CitiCite184]

gets boring because like you said the player only has one persons thought process to play with unlike in a game of four or five where there are more perspectives on the same situation. I found though if you as you say keep the game interesting and I also find that the more challenging not so much that the player is overwhelmed but a bit more than he would be used to facing if he was in a normal party. Keeping it exciting is the hardest part in my experience so keeping it fresh is important

[CitiCite184]

This is how I started playing RPG's in the first place, I only had some old AD&D books and Modules so me and one friend who was interested in the concept. So I ran him through A Keep on the Borderlands. He insulted the Guard Captain and had himself arrested withing half an hour of playing. It was a blast. Since then I've played a number of solo games with this same friend of mine multiple. I agree with you on the idea that solo play doesn't exactly work for very Story-aimed campaigns because it

[clackclickbang]

@CitiCite184 Thank you, and I agree of course. 

[Burori1]

I've done solo gaming before. It was a Dragonball Z game, where I was playing a Saiyan for hire, who was hired to help a female Saiyan of a high class rescue her brother, who had been caught by a dangerous foe. I believe that the atmosphere between me and the girl that played the female Saiyan helped us during the short game~ 8) I say short, because we sadly never got to finish that one.

[clackclickbang]

@Burori1 I had no idea there was an RPG of DBZ.