Starting Solo RPGs For True Beginners - Table Talk

DeathStalker V's recommendations for true beginners to Solo RPGing. Utilizing games that teach you as you play is key!
Fabled Lands :
fabledlands.blogspot.com/
Treasure Hunter :
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
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[@TheFriedIndustry]

I have no idea how Treasure Hunter RPG isn't in my digital vault already! Now it is, thank you, Deathstalker V!

[@merusmetraton]

I got the 1st book of Fabled Lands last week and can't put it down! The mechanics are very straight foward, the story is engaging, and tho my characters go down hard like a DnD 1st Edition PC it doesn't feel frustrating. Thanks for the rec, Deathstalker 🤟🏼

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Excellent, make sure to poke around the cities, you might find me in a gambling den! Oh watch your head when you leave 🤣

[@debraespey3968]

I just got all 7 of the Fabled Lands books the other day. Just put in about 2 hours of play and I love it. Can’t wait to explore more.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Wonderful, one good thing about them is that the theme of the game changes in subtle tones as you go about and there is a surprise always behind the next adventure!

[@shaneconner5659]

Deathstalker V recommended Fabled Lands for me to try a few days ago. That was the best advice I have ever gotten in relation to this hobby to get started. I received the first book last week and have not been able to put it down. A also ordered Destiny Quest Book 1 and Heart of Ice at the same time but have not yet tried either of those. In the past I tried Tried D&D solo, Ironsworn, Basic Fantasy etc etc and hands down Fabled Lands was the best place for me to start. Thank you Deathstalker V! Now I can't want to get Legendary Kingdoms to try out.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Glad you are enjoying it! Make sure to find the back room gambling hidden in one of the cities, thats where I spend the most time while visiting Sokara 🤣

[@shaneconner5659]

🤣@@RandomEncounterShow

[@Phoenix_On_Fire]

I tried to start Ironsworn, also and 4 against darkness, Micro rpg, d100 dungeon. I get lost and board in the startup of them all. Now I have destiny quest 1 and started it, I have fabled lands on the shelf. I destiny quest has been good but not great. Oh I have mystic gm emulator engine or whatever also. Dayly Quest calander 2023 and 2024 I have also. I liked it for a couple months and now it's boring haha. Now to what I have loved the most....... Aidungeon app. I have been loving it and it's like I am basically writing an improvisational book in a setting I enjoy. I'll have to look at fabled lands since I have it and never opened it.

[@ok_ninja]

This was excellent. Thank you.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Luchiop]

I started solo roleplaying with Melee & WIzard by Steve Jackson games. With the solo modules. some of those are really fun and unique. Never upgraded fully to The Fantasy Trip.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

@@Luchiop I hear it has alot of solo material written for the fantasy trip!

[@Luchiop]

@@RandomEncounterShow tons! It'sa super cool system. Very deadly and boardgamey.

[@Rich_H_1972]

Really looking forward to getting those minis, Brunhilda looks awesome! 😁 Some great recommendations and advice there, DSV. Fabled Lands is a great introduction as it doesn't follow a singular story line so works really well as a solo RPG substitute rather than other gamebooks which, although they had choices, were ultimately linear as they'd lead to one (successful) endpoint - at least usually. Fabled Lands also allowed different character classes and specific routes through the book would lend themselves to one type of class/role over another.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

We should do a channel challenge to get you to change your youtube name to "RichardintheUK" 🤣🤣🤣

[@Rich_H_1972]

@@RandomEncounterShow 🤣

[@ncjrock1]

You got me at "go downtown breakup a back-alleys craps game." Gave you a subscribe. Thanks for the information. Ordered book 1 and 2 of Fabled Lands today. I did find Treasure hunter the roll playing game (book) on Amazon. I had to scroll down a bit.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Welcome to the fray!

[@yodennis2000]

Thanks for talking about Treasure Hunter. I've had this book for years and I've totally forgotten about it. I'm going to dust it off and see if I can run my son through a dungeon or two. New subscriber here!

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Most excellent and most welcome!

[@nydaloth]

Coincidentally I was playing Fable Lands War Torn Kingdom and was transported to the Cities of Gold and Glory when I saw your video. The game is as great as you say. Thanks for you other suggestions.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Excellent, glad to see so many enjoy Fabled Lands!

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Just a heads up, the treasure hunter rpg book is available still in print via Amazon Treasure Hunter: Complete Rulebook a.co/d/4t8PskX

[@KevinNgo89]

Do you have any other recommendations like Treasure Hunter? I think my son would really like something like this but the weird art is a bit of a turnoff for me. He is a bit young and I don't want to freak him out.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

@@KevinNgo89 Treasure Hunter is pretty unique, I do agree about the weird artwork for kids. If you are looking for some dungeon crawlers for your child to try out, I would say go with a board game. Kids normally love the toy factor of having miniatures and such (adults too!) There are thousands of dungeon crawling board games, the dungeons and dragons adventure games like Wrath of Ashardalon fit the bill quite well. Another suggestion if you are going to play as well, you can run Treasure Hunter as a Game Master, you read the descriptions and such on the map and your child tells you what they do as a character. This way they can enjoy the game without seeing the art work, and you can change things up to keep it family friendly. Such as changing "demons" into "monsters or "genies".

[@KevinNgo89]

@@RandomEncounterShow Thanks for the suggestion. Forgot to mention that we already do lots of solos together in the evenings. We mostly do BX solos from Pacesetter games as well as M!M! and T&T solos. We also do homeschooling for our kids so playing a solo is a "fun" activity that they get to do that also helps to improve their reading.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

@@KevinNgo89 That is fantasic, great parenting is something to be proud of! I will think on this a bit and see if I can't come up with something, I am sure some of our regulars will throw some recommendations as well.

[@DjigitDaniel]

Firstly, awesome shirt and IS THAT A DIDGERIDOO? LOL We have one, too! Also, the minis look amazing and the recommendations are outstanding. I didn't realize that the Fabled lands were organized geographically! I thought they were a series and chronological! This opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities. I have said it before and I will say it a million times: it is free and there are plenty of updates/ remakes, so Barbarian Prince should be on EVERYONE'S radar. It is a master class on hexcrawling and random encounter procedures in an open world game. Also, the first edition of Pocket Lands is free to download and provides a master class in geomorph style world building and procedural adventure/ dungeon design which can be a standalone game or plug into Four Against Darkness. The second edition of Pocket Lands, with the geomorph card system, is one of my prized possessions for solo gaming overland adventures. Great video, man. I was telling the wife after brunch that I was gonna watch on the big screen and she insisted on watching, too, so now we are getting a copy of Treasure Hunter via your link. LOL Love your stuff, brother. I'm definitely reaching out to you once my channel goes live. My buddies are now joining my wife in pressuring me into getting my butt in gear and start already... QUICK UPDATE: after reading the first few chapters of Treasure Hunter there is a need to warn folks that it is a "cummulative d6 sum" system that I have never encountered before... not sure why they went with this, but I'll definitely be using the book for ideas and design rather than for the dice mechanics. Adding up the sum of a fistful of dice every time I roll with modifiers... oooof. LOL

[@RandomEncounterShow]

I have a didgeridoo, did it appear on video?! 🤣 I love Barbarian Prince of course, it is definitely recommended but may be a little daunting for newbies. Glad I made it on the big screen, and even more glad my wife doesn't watch Lol.

[@samakechijowo]

I recommend 6x6 Tales, free to print and play in foldable zine format, consist of 3 blooklets (rules, journal & events) but robust on its system. Made by Jack D Games.

[@rockallnight]

I die so so much in Fabled Lands! I wish there was a guide on how to not suck at it. It's a bummer to roll up a character, do a few things, make notes in the margins of my sheet and then choose wrong and die. :( still kinda love it though haha great content!

[@RandomEncounterShow]

To all the fallen heroes of fabled lands, your struggle may have been in vain, but your memory resides atleast until we throw away old character sheets!

[@Hybban]

You sold me on Treasure Hunter. Just bought it.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Fantastic, may the treasures be flowing!

[@MagnusCross]

Awesome shirt man.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Ravens are always in style!

[@DjigitDaniel]

Agreed. Excellent shirt.

[@HeadHunterSix]

4:50 just earned a Like. Wonderful. :)

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Free dice!

[@marzokeen]

A very fine video. Do you happen to have a video that covers random generators for events, monsters, and such?

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Its been touched on here and there in my videos, but when we start our main solo series soon we will explore all such things in detail and how to get their maximum potential.

[@glowingturtle9673]

I purchased both books(Amazon), thanks for the suggestion! If you were comfortable with providing a mailing address, I would love to send you a printed copy of a solo, western game called The Drifter. Thanks again, Deathstalker!

[@RandomEncounterShow]

I love westerns! Hit me up via Facebook or email

[@stevecrompton9910]

Very interesting! However as far as I'm concerned, there are only two frpgs that are worth playing solo, T&T and Monsters!Monsters! Accept no substitutes! Lol

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Hey don't forget Mercenaries Spies and Private Eyes, you did alot of work there as well!

[@danjohnson887]

I'll have my revenge, AND DEATHSTALKER TWO... Yes indeed!!!

[@RandomEncounterShow]

⚔

[@workingforgear]

Great video. If I could sub twice I would, lol

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Glad to have you!

[@T_U3721]

Very interested in Treasure Hunter. I've checked out the product website but after reading the description I am still not sure if the book is for solo/gm-less play or it requires a gamemaster. As far as I can tell there are maps for each dungeon with description for each room. How can the solo player proceed without spoilers? Thanks!

[@RandomEncounterShow]

As I said it is not a full rpg, and it is an objective based game. You get a map and a goal to achieve, there is nothing random or surprising to be found other than the treasures. Its a great way to get the concepts of how things work for beginners, if you are looking for a more full experience stay tuned!

[@UndeadBrony88]

I had a question for you. So I'm brand new to ttrpg's. I've seen rpg's played, but nowhere to start. I have an idea to build a short campaign for my game. I have the BBEG main quest a few side quests to lead to the main quest to better defeat the BBEG. I just want to structure the game. I don't want to build the game up entirely, but just "setup" the NPC's and places to go. Any ideas that could help with setting the game up so as to not go "off" the rails to where it makes no sense of why your here and not where the games needs to be taken place. Hopefully I'm trying to make sense, sorry😅

[@RandomEncounterShow]

I will do a video soon on turning pre-established adventures into solo games. A few things before we get there that might help. Build a tool for your BBEG that you use in the background. As in like an events table. That way the bbeg stays active and part of the story even if your characters are not directly engaged with the BBEG. You can throw it on a timer like once a month as a check. If the BBEG does something you should think of how it would effect the game world and also effect your character (if it does). I build a table using the interests, actions and such that I forsee the BBEG needing to do to accomplish their goals. Theres also a chance that the BBEG does nothing or atleast nothing noticeable.

[@artvandelay8830]

The simple oracle by Deathtalker V, idea generators like Mythic's tables, Ironsworn, Tunnels & Trolls, and the new Dragonbane are my recommendations. However, the absolute noob would do much better with something like Fabled Lands, for sure.

[@defleshedbuttocks]

Dragonbane

[@GenuineMattyC]

Have yoi ever played Lone Wolf? It's a series of continuing adventures with the same character and it's fantastic.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Yep, its been a while but anything with Gary Chalk artwork gets my attention!

[@hariszark7396]

What I haven't seen in any video is RPGs other than fantasy for starting solo players. I mean, come on. Fantasy settings are not for every player. A lot of people want to play a horror, sci-fi, mystery or spy RPG solo game. What are their options?

[@RandomEncounterShow]

Did you miss that Treasure Hunter is a blend of genres? Swords, lasers and robots 😉

[@hariszark7396]

@@RandomEncounterShow No, I heard that. What I mean is a pure horror or sci-fi or mystery etc game. Not a blend of all. Besides, I didn't like the whole style and gameplay of that treasure hunting game anyway.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

@@hariszark7396 Star Smuggler from Dwarfstar Games is a traveller inspired cut down game thats great solo. Its free now days print and play but I haven't got to it in coverage.

[@hariszark7396]

@@RandomEncounterShow nice suggestion. I'll give it a chance. 👍 BUT yes, you should start reviewing more stuff than fantasy.

[@RandomEncounterShow]

@@hariszark7396 There are various things in the works but I myself am primarily a fantasy gamer. I do like some traveller and am working on a solo scifi miniatures skirmish objective game so in time you will get your wish!

[@dungeondumbo]

Interesting video as always Mr.D …never heard of Treasure Hunter, sounds fun. I’d seen the Fabled Lands series but never bought one or anything. I might have to grab a book and try it some rainy day. 🥸

[@Rich_H_1972]

Definitely worth picking up the first in the series. You can get really lost in them exploring the land and cities and uncovering things as events unfold. They're a great series of gamebooks.

[@shaneconner5659]

I've also got my eye on Legendary Kingdoms. It seems similar to Fabled Lands but with a (Optional) storyline objective and you control a party of 4. There's a demo you can download and try out.

[@Rich_H_1972]

@@shaneconner5659 I have those on my shelf but yet to play them. Looking through they do look solid... good production value, decent descriptions, good art, a nice system supporting it. Steam Highwayman is also a good series - 3 book trilogy.

[@atheistboomer7700]

Great video, thanks DSV As a complete noob, one thing I have found very frustrating in trying to learn how to start, is that very few of the vids out there actually use the system their supposed to be teaching! They use that system, for character creation, use Oracles, from different system, monsters from another, and maybe magic from a 4th! Very confusing!