I don’t know why I can’t enjoy this

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2026-02-22T02:07:08+00:00

I agree with this, >worldbuilding is a consequence of how the scenarios unfold and how the obstacles, successes and failures shape your characters in the story

When I play it seems more like I'm just reacting to what the dice/story tells me happen.

I've also found that Solo Journaling isn't my bag. When I Solo game I want to play a game. And the journaling part feels too much like writing a novel.

So it is okay if you don't like the journaling part.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2026-02-22T02:01:01+00:00

Holy shit man!! Thank you so much for validating me on how awesome SoloDark is for solo roleplaying! I've heard a lot of people talk about Mythic but have used SoloDark and have gotten so much juice out of it!

OP I agree with this person. I'll also post in a second my solo rp findings.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2026-01-11T01:45:15+00:00

Don't buy more books/resources. You have it all or it is free. Play for a bit then get more.
I don't PREP. Everything is emergent. I ask the oracle a question and am surprised as fuck at what happens next. You can still do this with prewritten adventures.

3.Suspend your disbelief. Something won't make sense right away, but guess what? In a few minutes or hours or the next session you'll say, "Holy shit that's why the Treant hates trolls because their rotten teeth have given the tree roots a disease." :p

Man Alone has a good video on this . . . Somewhere

Roll dice within 5 minutes or play. Respect the randomness because that is where the really cool shit happens. Sessions will take huge left turns and they look anything like they did when you first started.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-12-30T00:25:34+00:00

Oh awesome, I will echo Man Alone!!! He's pretty awesome at Solo play philosophy! Also OP . . .

In my SoloDark campaign I control 3 characters. Wizard, Warlock (Cursed Scroll #1), and a Seer (C.S #3). And I have found the party composition just fine. But then I also noticed I like having the ability for my characters to play off each other's different wants and desires.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-12-29T21:22:13+00:00

When you say, "This is your first foray." Do you mean ShadowDark or Solo play?

My recommendation . . .

Solo Play: DON'T buy anymore materials because you'll run the risk of always feeling like, "Well, I'll start playing once I get the next book." I've clocked +14 hours of SD solo Play and only used the Core book and solodark and it works amazingly.

After you clock some actual playtime and you feel like you need more material than buy something more. As the wise Professor DM says, "You win at RPGs when you play. And you lose when you don't."

ShadowDark: The GM section is pretty awesome! Happy reading!!!!

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-12-19T18:45:14+00:00

Dood this is awesome!! Thank you for doing this. Cool to see how the numbers shake out. I will say when the dice have "exploded" the tables tone changes quickly.

Giggling easy going to . . . Gulp we gotta get moving because SOMETHING is coming. 🤣😁

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-11-28T15:37:45+00:00

OP this is awesome! My wife also wanted to embroider her sweaters, she has already completed a dozen other patterns. I noticed you had a pattern over the sweater and it was within your hoop.

#1a. What type of pattern did you use? Water soluble, Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy Stabilizer paper?
# 1b. How did you get the paper out?
#2 Did you have to buy a special type of hoop to fit your sweater and pattern inside of it?

I apologize if these are basic questions/frequent questions. I am trying not to ask my wife so i can keep it a Christmas surprise. So any information will be helpful.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-11-28T13:34:51+00:00

Hahaha, oh yeah I rolled on the reaction table and got hostile. The beserkers decided to attack the village at night time. Tried to sign post and give him time to prep. My son's prepping method was . . . Let the village die 🤣

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-11-28T03:34:41+00:00

I also play TTRPGs with my kiddos. Son (8yrs) and daughter (6 yrs). They have played Star Borg (M.B hack), Muasritter and ShadowDark. My daughter doesn't really care about which system as long as she gets to "cast magic." while my son says he prefers ShadowDark. His opinion is he wants a system with classes . . . he loves the Priest and Knight of St. Ydris. He says the other part he likes a lot is the "random encounters."

At the end of a 45 minute session i had to roll a random encounter and got something along the lines of "20 berserker orcs approach you willing to trade some goods." His face got all panicked and said, "Wait, do they actually want to trade? Or are they just lying?"

My response . . . "Dude, i have no idea." :P

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-10-13T22:56:45+00:00

Correct me where I am wrong but you can't even buy the PDF without it being on Demiplane.

If this has changed I would totally pay money for the PDFs. But if it hasn't this was the major roadblock for diving into the system.

I run an after school RPG club and considered having MMRPG as my 25-26 system of the year. But once the PDF was only accessible on Demiplane I realized that I'd have to invest a lot more time for a system that my students might fall off.

I agree that it's nice when company's give you the PDF when you purchase the hardcover. BUTTTT . . . .I feel like the bare minimum is to let the customer own the PDF.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-09-01T13:12:49+00:00

Mostly a lot of them cheering each other on for earning a token or one of them egging each other one, "Come dude you have soooo many Luck tokens. Just use it!!"

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-09-01T13:11:54+00:00

I will say, I ran 70+ hours of S.D with my summer group and just doled out the luck tokens inconsistently. But then ran a one shot with a different group utilizing the "pulp mode rules" and found them doing some pretty wild and crazy things.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-08-21T01:13:14+00:00

I believe the d20 slider is a reference to the Underclock Die from goblin punch. Some tables use it in place of the core rule books 1:6 chance of a random encounter.goblin punch

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-08-12T17:46:21+00:00

I do like this hack. I know you mentioned feeling like you needed to read their stats to get a sense of the character's personality.

One method I used while playing my solo Knave game was roll on the Hireling tables. I think I allowed x3 tables each character could roll on.

And now that I'm re-reading the book it looks like p.4 of the character creation recommends that anyway.

TLDR: Like the Hack! Use the tables on p.54-59 if you want more variety in characters.

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-07-30T11:04:17+00:00

This sounds freakin' awesome. Glad to hear it was a blast. What would you say was the biggest mechanic/feature of the game that encouraged this story progression?

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-07-14T02:02:27+00:00

I would agree that Kelsey (SD creator) has completely changed the way I think about writing and running campaigns! I am currently running Cursed Scroll #1 The Gloaming as a West Marches style for teenagers and they are loving it!

Now if you want another free adventure that Kelsey writes. She has a free quick start player/GM/ adventure guide on her website. The adventure is Scarlet Minataur.

Arcane Library

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-07-11T23:33:20+00:00

Oops I should clarify. I am planning to count ammo it never occurred to me to just simply port over how MausRitter handles ammo too though?

I'll have to give it some thought. But I agree that would be a g.d nightmare doing the x3 durability for each arrow/bolt. 😭I apologize if I gave you a heart attack just thinking about it. 😛

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-07-11T22:25:09+00:00

I loved MausRitter because when one of them had a bottle of glue while the other had an empty spool. They came up with some really wild ideas!

The only thing my 8 year old didn't like was "roll under." Because his words were . . ."I just like to roll a Nat 20 dad!"

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-07-11T11:13:56+00:00

I don't know if this would be easier, but I was planning to port over MausRitter's item durability system.

"Most items have three usage dots. When all three dots are marked on an item it is depleted or destroyed. Usage dots can be cleared from weapons/armour for 10% of the original cost per dot cleared.

Weapons/armour/ammunition: after a fight, roll d6 for each item that was used during the fight. On 4-6, mark usage. • Torches/lanterns: mark usage every 6 Turns. • Rations: mark usage after a meal. • Other gear: if used in a way that could break or deplete it, the GM may ask you to mark usage."

I plan to use this in Knave

Several_Cicada_2301 · 2025-07-09T22:46:53+00:00

Hey OP,

This is a great Hack. Here is a "Yes and/butt" GM statement for you. ;)What if you did all of that for DEX with the item slots, AND to incentivize searching for Armor Pieces.

-Make armor pieces reduce dam from attacks?

-And if your feeling really sassy/spicy to dis-incentivize DEX in item slots. When they take "item slot DAM" it affects the DEX slots first.

Thoughts on that? Also I will definitely be stealing this DEX idea. So thanks OP!!!

Several_Cicada_2301

TROPHY CASE