Welcome to the November Newsletter of The Lone Toad. Maybe the spooky month has passed but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about some scary stuff right? Zombies, ghouls, serial killers, alien parasites, commitment, all terrifying stuff you can explore in your solo RPGs.
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Tips for Playing Solo Horror RPGs
At first blush, a person could be forgiven for thinking solo horro RPGs are a bit silly. I mean, how do you scare yourself when you know everything that is happening? You know there is something hiding behind the door and you know what is under the bed and in the closet. But you can make a solo RPG experience spooky, and here are some tips I use when I’m trying to do it.
Use the 3-Act Structure
Think about any horror movie and you’ll probably notice many are created in specific acts or sections of the movie that have specific feelings. The first act is the setup and the slowest of the three acts. It will show us who the characters are and what the horror will be. Act 2 leads to a confrontation with the horror and is usually where a whole bunch of people are killed. Act 3 is the final confrontation between the horror and the few survivors left.
Think about how you can utilize the 3 Act structure in your horror RPG to slowly ratchet up the pressure.
Play what scares you
Want to have a real spooky horror RPG session? Follow the advice of horror authors. Horror authors have a concept, "Write what scares you.” If you are scared of spiders (Like me! But in my defense I live in Australia), include spiders in your plotline. If you are claustrophobic, get your character stuck in a dark, enclosed space.
At all times be safe though and try not to touch on any traumatic fears or experiences
Create Multiple Characters
In Alien, Ripley isn’t the main character until about halfway through the movie. Not until people start dying and the xenomorph is loose on the Nostromo does she take center stage in the movie. To recreate that create multiple characters or have some backup characters in mind, then bring on the horror! If your first main character trips while being chased or just can’t open the airlock, you can bring in your backup character.
If/When that happens, consider how this new character can take over the storyline and become the main character.
Suggested Games
Alien RPG
Alien RPG by Free League is such an excellent game. While it doesn’t come with a solo supplement, you’ll be able to find something useful online easily enough. I love the stress mechanic for ratcheting up the pressure and the Alien universe is excellent for playing a horror game.
Create several characters - it’s a deadly system and you’ll likely be losing or maiming your main character quickly.
Don’t roll too often - Stress builds up quickly in Alien so don’t roll at every opportunity, only when it really matters.
Xenomorphs - To say they are deadly is an understatement. They are terrifying and their attacks are random, usually with a 1 in 6 chance to immediately kill or incapacitate a character. Be wary.
Old School Games / D&D
Many OSR games and older D&D editions can make effective solo horror experiences. Their focus on character choices over pure character power means you have to play smart or risk getting disemboweled in the first act. Lots of options here for solo horror experiences.
Inspiration - There are so many excellent storylines, settings, and characters from OSR games you can pull from for a horror campaign.
Ironsworn / Starforged
It wouldn’t be a list on The Lone Toad without Ironsworn or Starforged on it. These games are incredibly versatile and can do horror alongside heroic fantasy or space opera.
Your Truths - When you are starting your game, pick or create truths that will push your characters to encounter the evil and supernatural.
Delves and Derelicts - Make them terrifying. Every tunnel should have something to absolutely scare the hell out of your character.
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Solo Horror Game Recommendations
Here are some solo horror games I recommend checking out for those dark winter months.
Do you have a solo-game you’d like to highlight? Message me and let’s chat!
Long Haul 1983 by SPC
Play a trucker who is driving through a world suddenly devoid of life. Call home when you can as you try to make it through. But something is always following you…
Dead Belt by A Couple of Drakes
What is more terrifying than slowly suffocating because you can’t afford your monthly oxygen bill? Dead Belt is a solo and 2-player game of economic terror set in the Dead Belt, where desperation combines with the supernatural…
Hostile Solo
A game built to mimic the feel of movies like Outland, Alien, Dark Star, Pitch Black, Event Horizon, and The Thing. Sounds like a perfect horror game!
Work in Progress
Dead Stick is released! Pay What You Want on itch and made for the RPG Talk Jam with the Aerial Dogfighting theme. It’s a journaling game where you are a groundcrew mechanic, tasked with keeping the sleek fighter planes and their pilots flying day after day.
I’ll be moving back to Sworn to Find Her with the aim of having play test material out before the end of the year. Want to Playtest Sworn to Find Her, based on the Ironsworn ruleset where you play a podcaster trying to solve a mysterious disappearance in a coastal Californian town? Leave a comment and I’ll make sure you are invited!
Other RPG Stuff
Me, Myself and Die! starts a solo playthrough of Dragonbane - Alone in Deepfall Breach. Check it out!
Plot Unfolding Machine Version 6 has been released. It’s a great tool by JeanseanVaars. It’s a great solo tool that I’ve used in the past.
Talk horror RPGs I’ve just started another chapter in my solo RPG campaign of Alien RPG. Check out the start of Alien Quarantine here!
An excellent review of Forbidden Psalm, the solo friendly table-top war band game set in the grim dark world of Mork Borg.
Next Month for Croaker RPGs
Over the next month I’ll be playing through and releasing my Alien Solo RPG campaign prequel and then I have a couple of reviews to start working on soon.
Be sure to check out the League of Incredible Soloists.
Thank you for Reading!
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