Solo Game Master's Guide

by Geek Gamers

Create immersive solo RPG experiences with this dedicated guide from the acclaimed host of the Geek Gamers YouTube channel. This long-awaited solo GM guide is a crash course in solo storytelling: a toolkit to help your solo sessions shine as brightly as hers do.

Over the 170+ pages of this full-colour royal-sized (15.6cm x 23.4cm) hardback book, you’ll discover:

- System-neutral tricks for wondering “what happens next?”
- How to avoid the dreaded ‘yes/no’ dead end (and making oracles work for you)
- The biggest mistake most new GMs make… and what to do instead
- The 10 mindsets of a successful solo GM
- 70+ pages of essential random tables
- Step-by-step examples of soloing many popular rule sets including Achtung! Cthulhu, Scarlet Heroes, Index Card RPG, Mutant Crawl Classics, and the world’s most popular tabletop roleplaying game–along with the principles that make these sessions work.

Genres: Role Playing Games, Gaming

175 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for solo game masters (e.g. anyone who's playing a solo role-playing game). Yes, it has oracles and tables you can use as inspiration, but those are secondary. The focus of the book is really on how to keep your character's story moving forward and how to NOT rely on dice and random tables to tell a story. That leads to dead ends and uninspired stories.

While it's a great resource for solo game master, I'd recommend it for anyone who runs an RPG - Almost all the advice given here will improve your game, whether you're running for one or 10.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful handbook for table-top role player's who wish to adventure without needing a game master (you're your own). Filled with helpful advice and many, many "oracles" which help you make creative decisions while playing your game.

[Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read but it won't be for everyone.

I got this book on a deep sale and I really am glad I did, but I would have been put off if had I seen Cristian and Paolo's reviews first. So I'll leave this here in case it helps others.

Who will (probably) benefit most from reading this
• non-gamers, casual gamers, or people without a TTRPG background interested in solo-RP'ing
• gamers who have a system of choice already (e.g. Mythic or OSR or something else) and are finding themselves getting stuck.
• people who are overwhelmed by the options out there and want a quick-start guide
• visual learners and/or those who learn by reading

Where I fit
• no TTRPG experience
• some digital gaming experience
• more of a casual gamer
• looking for something to do with my family
• feeling overwhelmed by complex systems
• not as drawn to settings like Ironsworn or Scarlet Heroes, but a bit unsure of the price of books like Apawthecaria or Colostle.

Why this worked for me
The author introduces solo-roleplaying in a structured, unpressured format. She clarifies the role of game rules as an essential support structure for the experience you would like to have, rather than a be all and end all. If you are an OSR player / D&D adherent, you may be offended by this - but as a parent who is looking to share a hobby with my kid, I found this approach really helpful. I would rather have an engaging experience first and then enhance it with rules, oracles and dice-throws etc. later; than be so overwhelmed by the latter that I bounce off the former. YMMV.

If you are an experienced TTRPG player who is looking for a GMless solo system, then Mythic / Tana Pigeon deserves your money. Her work is brilliant. If you're an experienced TTRPG player who happens to be broke and wants a GMless solo system, then you might give Made Uppy Namey Emulator (Mune), Ironsworn, and the One Page Solo Engine a look. They are all great.

Where this book shines is in providing insights on the mindset required to have a great solo RPG experience, and what you might need to keep yourself going, and also why some things may get you stuck in a rut. Although I am sure that these ideas have been written down / podcasted elsewhere as well, this is the first time I came across them in such an organised fashion, and I found them really helpful in helping me 'reboot' my first solo game.

Alternative resources and community links
• r/SoloRoleplayingLinks/
• r/Solo_Roleplaying/
• Man Alone (solo RPG vlog on YT)
• Me, Myself and Die (on YT)
• Solo RPG Gear (on YT)
• Savage Worlds Playthrough Pt1
• Geek Gamers (on YT) author of this book
• The Domestic - Rivers of London RPG Solo
• Free Solo TTRPGs Appropriate for Beginners

Is the information in this book out there on blogs, Reddit, YouTube?
Yes, yes, and yes. If you've already spent a large amount of time doing your own research, and you're not feeling stuck then I think that this book is probably skippable. It doesn't offer new game modules (like Mythic) and the information it provides isn't necessarily revolutionary either.

That said, the author does include a preview of her the Wanderings: A Gothic Roll and Read table which could be great if you're interested in that setting and/or want to try your hand at journaling.

And a final note on this comment here:

The author is clearly part of the new wave of gamers thinking that RPGs are just storytelling devices. Spoilers: they are not.

I don't think this comment is helpful. There are many ways to play games, and there are many ways to enjoy an RPG. When I read this comment I was reminded of the attitude not so long ago that 'cosy' games and 'casual' games weren't real games, and that the people who enjoyed those things didn't belong in 'real' 'gaming spaces', never mind that Stardew Valley has now generated more than $300m in revenue.

If you enjoy structured rulesets and OSRs and happen to be reading this, then that is awesome. I am constantly amazed at the work that the OSR community and wider TTRPG community puts out. Blogs like this one (by the Collaborative Gamer) are particularly inspiring. I'm hoping that someday, I'll have the confidence to try out an OSR myself.

Until then, I'll invite the journaling-sceptics among you to take a peek at Man Alone's video here: Cartograph: Solo Map-Making RPG - Can this break the Man Alone "Journaling RPG" Curse?!

[Merije · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever tried solo tabletop roleplaying, you know it's pretty hard to be both GM and player. Geek gamers has an amazing youtube channel filled with tips and tricks, and this is the culmination of her years and years of experience.
Helps you dive right in, either with just this book or basically any system you can think of. Really amazing resource, both for complete newbies and seasoned solo players. Right now it's available only through the website of the publisher, Modiphius, but I have no doubt it will be on Amazon soon.

[António Massena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is "Solo Game Master's Guide" a good book? I'm my opinion, yes. However, I must warn you that the author focuses a bit too much on the storytelling elements (something I adore as a writer), that might not taste well for the players that seek something more than basic, yet interesting, mechanics.

Sure, many complain that you could get the information plastered in this book on reddit posts, or if you skim the internet. But for someone who enjoys to have the information compiled on a book, I enjoyed it. After all, would you learn from mythology from site to site, or YouTube video by YouTube video, or have it all condensed in one chunk?

So, I recommend this book for newby Solo RPGers (with the added bonus of the Appendixes, brimming with information and suggestions of other books of the same thematics), and also for writers who wish to improve their craft.

[Ankno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wer auf einer gewissen Streamingplattform nach Solo RPG sucht, landet früher der später bei Geek Gamers. Das Buch ist sozusagen das Destillat aus wahrscheinlich Hunderten von Videos, von daher ist es nichts neues, aber es ist schön und praktisch, alles an einer Stelle oder in einem Buch zu haben. Wer die Videos kennt, weiß, dass das wichtigste die Geschichte ist.. und dann einfach zu spielen.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice from someone who knows what they're talking about. I'm still at the stage where I read about solo RPGing more than I actually do it, but I think this stuff will help. I thought the advice to not start with a character was interesting.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on how to create interesting & enjoyable solo RPGs taking on the roles of both Game Master & player. It also provides a plethora of tables to enhance your games & move your story forward in new & exciting ways. Highly recommend

[cristian m · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good general advice, but lacks a cohesive framework. The advice itself is nothing you couldn't pick up from just reading some blog posts and reddit posts. Not worth it

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful source of information for anyone looking to get into solo roleplay. Sadly, I finished this book at work on my lunch break so I can't immediately put the ideas contained within to use.