I took a moment today to finish up a small project I worked on over the summer, a slim, phone sized PDF of the AG rules. Nothing major, just a reformatting so you can carry the slim rules around you where ever you go and ready to play at a moments notice.
Thoughts on the system, Solo d6 Fantasy: Expanded
I think this is an excellent option for solo play, it provides enough depth to provide an interesting session but remain lite enough that one can pick up, jump in, and start making adventures. I did not get into the magic, which if I play again, I will certainly ensure I add that back into the mix. I particularly liked the way damage is resolved in a single roll with the attack.
I thought I would not like the rolls being all player-facing (ie, the players roll to dodge attacks instead of the GM rolling to hit the PCs), but in reality I actually really liked it. Like REALLY liked it. From a player perspective this really feels like I am playing a game, I am rolling to see if I succeed vs the GM rolling to see if the monsters succeed. This may feel like a small thing, but especially in solo play this really made the game about the PCs. I
Thoughts on the adventure:
I thought this went smooth and mostly well. Wearing the GM's hat I attempted to make the encounters basically even or tough like I would GMing a group, but I think I under estimated the PCs a little and at no time did I really think the PCs were in jeopardy. If I play again, this is something I would like to directly change in my approach to encounters. Yes, I want the heroes to succeed, but I also want this to NOT be a certain thing. Like I like my 80s movies with a little tension and the good guys always, if barely, come out on top.
Would I recommend?
Absolutely. If you want a lite solo RPG system that essentially covers everything, this a great option. Small package, very big game.
Interesting ending. I am sure someone will cry how the boys essentially set the bandits on fire, but hey, all is fair in love and war. In the real world you would not leave people that want to kill you alive, unless you are just a stupid fuck. Then you would probably believe cashless bail is a good thing.
Update on the characters -
This is one of the things I like most about solo gaming, and one that shares a good deal with how I ran games for people. In my best gaming sessions I never fully fleshed out the encounter. I knew what would lead to the encounter, and then I just let fate, ingenuity, and off the cuff insanity take over and resolve the session. This meant I was often as surprised as the players as to the path the adventure takes (sometimes screaming towards).
I find in solo gaming much of my enjoyment comes from the unexpected and interesting (sometimes deadly) turns that our story goes. I think that is one of the facets of solo gaming that the naysayers simply do not understand. I have often heard people say 'how fun can it be when you know what will happen, and that is exactly the crux of it. I really have no idea where the adventure will head, nor how well my heroes will do. Maybe they will be big heroes, maybe they will all die, maybe they will befriend a giant or demon.
That level of the unexpected, keeps the game fun and interesting, and makes every single game unique.
