The summary of ‘No D&D group? Try solo play!’

00:00:00

In this segment, the presenter discusses solo Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) play, offering reasons someone might want to play alone, such as wanting to play more frequently, testing new characters, or simply preferring solo gameplay. They introduce “The Solo Adventurer’s Toolbox” by Paul Bimler, a resource designed for solo D&D gameplay that mimics a Dungeon Master-guided experience. The tools in this book replace the dungeon master with random dice rolls and personal creativity, making it an excellent resource for beginners in solo play. The segment also mentions a discount code for purchases on the Dungeon Master’s Guild platform.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses a collection of solo play books for Dungeons & Dragons, highlighting their suitability for beginners and flexibility in storytelling. The books provide practical systems for answering questions and generating ideas, ideal for those preferring a freeform experience over pre-built adventures. For more guided adventures, solo modules are available on platforms like DM’s Guild. The speaker advises purchasing the bundle, as the books complement each other well without duplicating resources. Players can create new characters or use existing ones to explore backstories. The solo gameplay mimics traditional D&D, with mechanics such as the Oracle for yes/no questions, the 6d12 method for quickly fleshing out maps, and random tables to maintain an engaging experience.

00:06:00

In this part of the video, the focus is on utilizing tables in solo role-playing games to create detailed and varied gameplay experiences. Players use random tables to generate elements such as monsters, treasure, characters, and settlements. For example, if there are no monsters due to a low roll, there might be significant treasure from a high roll. These tables cover typical fantasy scenarios and also include a large keyword table for more unique situations. Mechanics similar to traditional D&D allow for skill checks, looting, NPC interactions, and combat. Combat is more complex, requiring the player to act as their own DM, using tables to decide enemy actions and tactics. To enhance solo play, the video suggests scheduling dedicated game time, playing in a quiet space, and taking detailed notes to keep track of the game’s progress.

00:09:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the freedom and flexibility of playing a journal-based single-player game, emphasizing that the solo player has complete control over the game. They suggest keeping a character journal to track the progress of a long-term solo campaign and highlight that the player can adjust or ignore rules to ensure they have a good time. The segment transitions to a demonstration of a solo tabletop session, featuring two characters, Nymwen and Na’Krasha, who embark on a journey to deliver an ancient necromantic tome to a king. During their travels, they encounter disturbances, including an NPC named Trina, a female elf handmaiden, who asks to join their camp, which Nymwen declines.

00:12:00

In this segment of the video, a conversation starts with the character Oracle confirming Trina’s attractiveness but mentioning her strong religious beliefs. The narrative then transitions to an encounter where Na’Krasha, Nymwen, and Trina team up with Lord Foxclair and his servant on a journey. They decide to use a 6d12 system to determine various elements they might encounter, resulting in a trap being discovered too late; Na’Krasha almost falls into a hidden pit but skillfully avoids it.

Subsequently, the group encounters a nilbog, a small creature that mocks Na’Krasha. When attacked, Na’Krasha fails a charisma saving throw and is charmed, preventing her from hurting the nilbog and leading to humorous dialogue expressing admiration for the creature. The nilbog escapes using its Nimble Escape ability. Lord Foxclair cowardly flees, commanding Trina to help, and she charges at the creature with a branch, showcasing both chaotic action and character dynamics.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, Nymwen and her companions confront a challenging creature, a nilbog, that proves to be frustratingly resilient to their attacks. Despite their efforts, including powerful strikes from Na’Krasha and Nymwen’s arcane energy, the nilbog evades damage and mocks their attempts. Nymwen devises a strategy for a simultaneous attack, leading to Na’Krasha and Nymwen combining their efforts. Nymwen finally manages to fatally harm the nilbog after it uses its reaction, causing it to collapse lifelessly. Following their victory, they discover an abandoned campsite relevant to their quest, where Nymwen finds a familiar piece of metal linked to Trina, and attempts to covertly take it.

00:18:00

In this part of the video, Nymwen confronts and intimidates Lord Foxclair, suspecting him of deceit. Na’Krasha restrains Foxclair, who eventually confesses to lying about their travel directions and their campsite. After an interrogation facilitated by an “Oracle,” it is revealed that Foxclair helped cover up the queen’s death and ultimately murdered her to prevent her resurrection, which would have exposed his crime. Foxclair admits he also planned to kill the king next. The segment ends with a hint that the reasons behind these actions will be explored in the next session. The speaker then reflects on the pros and cons of solo roleplaying, particularly enjoying the combat aspect while finding roleplaying against oneself to be challenging.

00:21:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the use of a rolling table for monster actions, highlighting its utility in keeping gameplay smooth and impartial. While not a replacement for group D&D, solo play is presented as a viable alternative when a group is unavailable. The speaker finds solo play freeing and useful as a brainstorming technique for group campaigns. The Oracle, keywords, and rolling tables are particularly helpful in maintaining gameplay flow. The featured PDFs, despite their length, are praised for their ease of navigation and consolidated resources, making solo play approachable. The speaker recommends “The Solo Adventurer’s Toolbox” and encourages using a discount code provided in the description for purchases. Viewers are also invited to explore a playlist of the speaker’s other recommended DM’s Guild titles.