# Beginner's Solo Combat Guide - Video Premier

More detailed version will be in the module...

The Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Mt...RYeq1n&index=2

001 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: Intro

This video starts my Solo D&D Combat Guide, explaining how to successfully wage Solo Warfare by accepting the fundamental challenge of always being outnumbered. Follow Gorok the Half-Orc Fighter in his journey to achieve mastery.



002 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: Know Thyself

The Solo Warfare series continue with the first cruel teaching of the Arena: If you do not Know Thyself, the battlefield teaches you!



003 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: Know Thy Plan

The Solo Warfare series continue with the second teaching of the Arena: Know Thy Plan, so that you won't be surprised. Adaptation is key!



004 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: The Soldier's Turn

The Solo Warfare series continue with the Soldier's Turn as he learned his plan. Now it is time to start Dominating the Arena... Especially against that nasty Vorlag the Vile!



005 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: Action Economy Warfare

The Solo Warfare series continue with a deep dive into Action Economy Warfare.



006 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: Know Thine Enemy

The Solo Warfare series continue with the type of enemies you may encounter as a solo combatant and the places they crawl from which is as important to know as any other part of "the Arena."



007 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: On Gear Acquisition

The Solo Warfare series continue with the core of the game: Item Acquisition after level 1. There are 4 ways to achieve this, even though you are both the DM and the Player.



008 - A Guide to Solo D&D Combat: The Path to Mastery

Thus we end our little Solo Warfare guide with an open Path to Mastery to bring YOUR world into life.

Need to create this entry stems from the bloated 1st INDEX page that can't include any other links or even words anymore. So, you can find all links to my Oracle Reviews in date order here. Hopefully, new additions will be made as SmiteWork devs add more Solo Systems to the selection.

Contents Based on 3 Popular Oracles for FGU (Paid-Modules). Mythic Game Master Emulator v1 (Web / Free) + The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox (D&D 5E Only, Paid) + Mythic GM Emulator v2 (Paid) + The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox 2 (D&D 5E Only, Paid) - Universal NPC Emulator (Paid Supplement) - ​Solo Systems with Built-in Oracles [WIP] Hopefully, later... But maybe the Solo Adventure Resource: The Dungeon Oracle by Paul Bimler. Griogre's Random Dungeon Tiles and Descriptions: A great solution for quickly jumping into play, you create a dungeon as-you-go. Fits for ANY setting with dungeons, and also good for Group DMs who wants to quickly create a fully tested dungeon and use it in their campaigns. Possible others; SoloDark (I have), Cthulhu 7th - Alone Against the Dark (Gifted to paid users after FGVTT gone free). Cyberpunk RED Single Player Mode (I have). And Star Trek: Captain's Log Solo. Thousand Years Old Vampire by damned [free]: This is a basic ruleset for the Thousand Year Old Vampire, Solo Journaling RPG which can be found here https://thousandyearoldvampire.com/ and here https://timhutchings.itch.io/tyov Not to forget, Bimler's Solo Adventure series. Especially the last one: Flight to Undermountain. And Uncertain Life - Solo Adventure (for 5e) converted into FGU. An expansive list of solo systems that could go well with FGU, but not yet converted. Such as; Forbidden Lands (Solo Hexcrawl), 4 Against Darkness (Solo Dungeon-crawl), Symbaroum Solo Rules, and more. But as I said, hopefully, later...

​
1. Mythic Game Master Emulator v1 (Web / Free)

Starting with a free one for soloists who recently jumped into the Soloing RPGs or on a budget. This first entry explains how to use the "Fate Chart" aka the oracle of Tana Pigeon's Mythic GME version 1. I believe it sheds light on the web version of the emulator created by "pbegames".

To compare with the Mythic GME v2 FGU module, this entry only details the usage of the "Fate Chart" and not any other parts of the emulator. Meaning, all the other info and tables on the actual usage of the whole system within FGU are in that module. They are described in review #3.

To examplify, you'll only learn the main terms and their immediate usage of them in the website version of Fate Chart v1. Detailed info on;

• How to use Chaos Factor to control the action level;
• What are Scenes and the details on Scene Progression;
  
• Streamlined tools like Likelihood Odds, Events & Event Focus;
  
• Most importantly, huge variation of word tables to be used in Freeform Association;
• And many more articles are only in the Mythic v2 module.
  

2. The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox (D&D 5E Only, Paid)

Paul Bimler's TSAT 1 is more for the practical soloists who want a quick system and lots of tables to play solo D&D 5E (2014 version). When I was learning to use the blog tools in the forum, I did a sloppy job for this one but I think what's explained there can draw a picture of what it really is and how it can be used. Also added a note for its link to delisted products in an edit.

Note: You can actually open the module in any ruleset if you don't mind using an extension (Universal Module) but some links in it (references to D&D modules) won't work.

3. Mythic Game Master Emulator v2 (Paid)

This is the one that started it all. I mean the whole solo scene, thanks to Tana Pigeon. Marmusman's perfect work on this module made it even more than a gold mine for its ease of use and neat presentation. Everything I counted in the free v1 version and more is in here.

Especially for soloists (or group GMs) who is looking for a way to Play Published Adventures Solo, this module is the established way. But don't think it is just for that, you can also use it to Group RP, as a Co-GM, or Writing Tool... Marmus also made a youtube video on how to set the Fate Chart up which is included in the entry.

4. The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox Part 2: The Toolbox Expanded (D&D 5E Only, Paid)

This is the second part of TSAT which completes the first one with its many tables (Like CR tables from CR8 to 20), and with many more additions. This one also can be used as standalone but it is better to used both if you have the budget for them.

More info will be added after I finished the review. For now, I'll just leave the dmsguild link here:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/353...fantasy+ground

5. UNE - Universal NPC Emulator (Paid Supplement)

Setting-agnostic UNE is a supplement for any ruleset that has characters in it. It is basically a word generator but think in terms of human traits.

"With just a handful of dice rolls, UNE can help create a surprising non-player character (NPC) with its own motivations. A few more dice rolls, and UNE can provide more direction to place the newly-created NPC smack dab in the center of the story."

So don't just think this is for NPCs-only. You can get a fleshed out idea of ANY kind of character in text form with it.

For soloists who want to check it before I write the review, it's here in the forge: https://forge.fantasygrounds.com/shop/items/1511/view

Welcome to the Library, dungeoneer, where we learn to deal with the printing press.

Scribbled Note: "To Griogre. Details are at the bottom. If you search " (!) " it takes you to the biggest problem I found (Toolbox's room size gen) for manual creation with image tile tables." ~Scribe Temperen

Practical

References

Template: Dungeon Generator, The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox, P. Bimler
Template: Complete Description, Dungeon Room Descriptions, Dan Harlan

Where to Begin?

Toolbox & DRD generators work PERFECTLY with each other. Providing 1 condition is fulfilled, that is, if Toolbox Gen rolls for matching elements with DRD's. Because complete DRD descriptions mostly generates a Notable item, whereas Toolbox only generates matching content sometimes. Both gens may or may not give an empty room prompt, though not always at the same time. More on the solution, later.

Comparison pic 1:


Toolbox prompted that an NPC is investigating something in the first room. Normally, a soloist would have to use Question & Answer method (Oracle) in the module to find out the object of the investigation. And that would add to the time consumed in gameplay.

But what if they don't match?

Comparison pic 2:


Simple. This is where the beauty of the wording in DRD shines. It says the room "appears..." NOT "is... empty." I can even imagine Group GMs who uses these gens for improvised dungeon crawlers while singing Trololo song in their minds. Print the DRD chat bubble while you secretly roll d6 to determine how to "surprise" your players with a wide grin.

Whether the contents of 2 generators match or not, just ask yourself "what would fit better in this part of the session?"

How to Use the Toolbox

Main Template is very simple: It only generates Dungeon Type, Dungeon Size and the Starting Area. But not without caveats. Players have to keep these 3 features in mind when creating related content. When pressed Generate button, you get prompts like;

Dungeon Gen Pic:


For example, if Dungeon Type is a Guild, you'd first determine who runs it and use appropriate random encounter tables for it. And it doesn't even have to be an enemy guild. Group GMs can also use it for creating random guilds, temples, mazes, etc.

If Dungeon Size is Small (less than 10), depending on the Rooms' Size, you would add 1-2 huge or few medium monsters in a room. If playing as Solo PC, more than 2 monsters can be overwhelming, especially at low levels. Not to forget, this info determines where to end the dungeon gen --because the Template don't know where to stop. That's why I use a system for renaming generated story links.

Renaming Story Pages

Creating a category folder in Story Tab and choosing it (while keeping Story tab open) makes you track generated content better.

Pic: Using Sidebar


After you pressed "Generate" button in the template, the story entries will be automatically added to this folder. Then you can rename them as;

001 - [Dungeon Type] (Total Rooms number) - [Starter Area's Type]
002 - [The Starter Area Entry] - (Notable Content if any) - [Next Area Type]

If area is a room;

003 - [Room 01/Max Room Number] - (number of exits) - [Notable Contents if any]
003.A - Room 01 - Exit 1) [Type of exit; i.e: passage]
003.B - Room 01 - Exit 2) [Type of exit; i.e: door]
004 - Room 01 Encounter 01 [type; social/combat/trap] -
005 - Encounter 01 Resolved As (in the text window, a short note on how the encounter resolved)

This is where you go back to the last exit entry you used and continue generating from there.
006 - Room 02...

This system gives the story entries an order by utilizing FGU's entry ordering conventions.

Naming Order Pic:


Starting Areas

These can be 5 types and the tables for them are included:

Passage
Room
Door
Stairs
Open Entrance

From there, all you do is to follow the instructions while generating text for any of these 5 types and connecting them together to flesh out your dungeon's "skeleton." Other than that, there is no way to visualize the text with Toolbox alone.

Ways to use DRD Descriptions

1. Using Room Features

Door, floor, wall, and ceiling features described using material terms in DRD. The full description is plain and simple, which allows you to add any story or combat element you can imagine. Some examples;

* Epic Battles by implies of existence of monsters: like cobwebs (spiders) and frozen walls (frost giants).
* Suspense by imagining a rusty squeak out of a latch description. Especially when it is fitted into a metal door.
* Mystery by vivid imagery on door carvings. Elements in these carvings are chosen from symbolism of classic fantasy settings such as D&D.
* Horror by profane wall graffitis, etc. You can use this as they imply evil cults, devils & demons, and all kinds of nasty monsters.
* Tragedy / Intrigue by prompt of a burned notebook under a debris. Contents of such notables are not included but this will where your imagination shine.
* And other elements that are too numerous to count.

I don't know how but they also provide such CONTRASTS in one paragraph that I automatically think of 2 sides of an epic fantasy battle.
Example: A Tree Relief carved on a door VS. Profane Symbols on the walls of the same room (Nature VS. Evil), Druid Circle VS Death Cult.

So don't take these materials just to describe the room but also give them your own style, use them to create your own story.

2. Non-Combat Encounters

Sometimes DRD passes the ball to you in unbelievable ways but it all depends on rolls that give you perfect combos.

A writing on the walls reads "Carl died here, damn this place!" AND (Five bodies lay fallen in a pile near one corner.) Which one is Carl? Or Did Carl caused this before giving up the ghost? Who the heck wrote it? Remember 5W1H questions? You can leave it as is or start a whole new story arc from there.

Extra info will be in "10. BONUS: Environmental Storytelling Demo Play" entry.

Details

This part has in-depth explanations of Toolbox Gen and is mostly for Griogre. Most of you won't need this but feel free to continue.

More on Toolbox Dungeon Areas

Passage

This type used as a connector.

The template generates how long the passage is in feet and where does it lead to (door, room, etc) so that you can connect it to other parts. It also generates contents with a chance to get nothing in it. More on "contents" below.

Room

Pic of a Generated Room Text:


The template starts with Shape & Size.

Shapes are usual geometric shapes (octagonal & hexagonal, too) including "rough" (caves, etc) which will help finding matching images in FA Map Pack. I will check the entire Pack when I start the 5th info dump (Making Tileset Image Tables), so it's early to say anything about it now.

(!) Room Size, though... This will take more research for the 5th info dump to figure out how to fit the exact size in prompts by manipulating image tiles in Map Packs with FGU Map Tool.

Sometimes it prompts "Hexagonal room - 30 ft. across - 0 exits." It is easy to imagine such a room but not as easy to fit existing Map Tiles into the description.

The (Square / Rectangle) - (20 ft x 30 ft) kind are the easiest ones. I think all we have to do is to manipulate the size of the map tile image to fit it into appropriate amount of grids. 1 grid = 5 feet. So, the example room will fit in "4x6" grids. Thank you, whoever SmiteWorks wizard coded the Map Tool!

Note that sometimes the template takes it 1 step further and give me "1d6 + 10 ft room on all sides." It doesn't roll the dice automatically and print the result into the story entry, though.

And rarely, it gives prompts such as "x ft. in diameter - y exits." Triangle and triangular shapes also among the rolls.

But this one was the rarest: "Trapezoidal - 50 ft. roughly on each side - No exits other than the one you entered through." I don't think FA Pack have one of these.

Door

It is a simple 1 paragraph description of door material and D&D game terms -mostly one or the other. Meaning, if it's trapped or not, few details on the trap (if any), some modifiers for its Oracle when necessary.

This part is too simple but the terms might be hard to read for newbies. DRD's door gen (as standalone and in part of main gen) is extremely detailed and sparks imagination better -except it doesn't include reference to D&D mechanics (trap types, etc).

Stairs

Also a connector. Defines if it goes up or down, where it leads to (5 area types) and sometimes +/- modifiers for in-tool content rolls. So it requires Room / Passage tables within, to get the modifiers first. The 2 tables within contain non/combat encounters, or rubble, debris, etc.

Open Entrance

Just a simple roll to learn where it leads.

Contents

Aside from dressings, there are 3 main types of contents in Toolbox:

1. Loot: Links to 2014 DMG & Toolbox tables.
2. Clues: Various items -mundane and magical- and an open-ended detail for them. Also, things for 5 senses (mention of noises, etc).
3. Encounters: Combat and non-combat.

Welcome, my fellow dungeoneers, to the Class of Cartography. Herein you will find my notes on How to Create Random Dungeons by utilizing many FGU modules and tilesets.

Note: This intro of a series of experiments assumes too many things on your part. Knowledge of how to create tables & work with the FGU Map Tool; Game Mastery knowledge to determine level appropriate monsters in encounter tables; and possession of referred modules and tilesets. But that doesn't mean you can't make do with what you already have. To keep this entry short and on point, Info Dumps will be added to comments later. Then, you can learn all the details of different parts in the article.

TL;DR: Only important missing thing is file-names from Map Packs to create Tileset Image Tables. I will provide it later.

Products I Used:

1) Template: Dungeon Generator (in Paul Bimler's The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox): This is the main dungeon text gen.




2) Dan Harlan's Dungeon Room Descriptions (DRD): Room and mundane item text gen. From the cover;

"The door is made of oaken planks, it has a turning handle and two dwarven warriors are carved in relief on the sides of this door. This room has roughly hewn stone floor that has small gravel and dirt strewn around. The floor is plain and bare. The ceiling is cathedral vaulted and shows no signs of note. Carved in relief upon these walls are one after another the shapes of twisted and corrupted figures. Their faces half melted into masks of twisted pain and terror. The remains of a small leather bound book that has been burned lies discarded along one wall."

Bolded parts; All the relevant info for choosing dressing images. Details will be in info dumps.
Bolded-Underlined: This is the Notable Object part that can be used as a plot twist and may include using make-shift images.

2.5) J. Evan Payne's FlexTale Solo Adventuring Toolkit: For "QuickStart Map Generator" part.

3) Various Dungeon Tilesets;

• Default and Free Art Packs in FGU (LoS)
• Forgotten Adventures Map Pack (FA Map Pack, free)
• Black Scrolls - Sewer (Map Pack) LoS
• FGU Dungeon Map Pack (LoS) for brushes and fundamentals.

To be tested later;

• FlexCrawl Tilesets [bundle]
• Meanders

Example FA Assets that can be used in conjunction with DRD.


4) Tables of Tile Images (Feature / Dressing) (requires prep). It's simply creating d100 or focused d12 tables that roll for tile images themselves to pop up, so you can quickly add them into the dungeon map. Below ones are for extracting architectural info & terms to be used in creation of these tables -which is mostly for me;

• Toolbox Table: Dungeon - Random Architecture (limited info)
• DRD Table: Door Materials (can also be for walls, floor, ceilings)
• Other DRD Tables for the architecture terms (It is basically an architectural designer)
• Target INFO: Naming conventions, architecture terms, color / object / feature matches in FA Map Pack. From the results, I'll create file-name lists and divide them into categories.

5) Encounter Tables

• Table: Encounters - Dungeon (Toolbox), various encounters within.
• Table: 16.06 Encounters by PC Level (Toolbox, 5E CR table for 1-2 PC)

Prep Phase

1) Make multiple tables from Tileset images in FA Map Pack based on terms used in DRD. Info dumps in comments will include methods as well as notes. I'll also add TileImage-file-names.txt so that you can quickly copy / pasta them into FGU's Table > Import thingy.

Main Categories: Subject to change after I re-read Flextile Toolkit with me good eye.

A) Main Room Shapes & Sizes (square, plus, round, maze, etc)
B) Extensions (passages, tunnels, caves, connectors, etc)
C) Room Dressings (FA Map Pack has 1000s of them but they are mostly variations.)

The first 2 will later be divided into sub-categories for ease of use and accurate connections. More will be in info dumps.

2) Make Encounter Tables if you don't have any.

• The Toolbox 1 (up to CR 7) & Toolbox Part 2 (CR 8-20) include Combat Encounter Tables for solo PC in 5E. (CR-Only Table -> Monsters Tables categorized by Terrain and listed based on CRs)
• Non-combat Encounter Tables: DRD and imagination can be utilized for them. But Table: Encounters - Dungeon (Toolbox) has various ideas in its rolls.
• Trap & Puzzle Tables: Template: Trap Generator (Toolbox)

The Method

Create a new image to be used as the dungeon map and give it grids -see pic below. Tile images, such as dungeon floors, will be added and connected together in here, according to prompts from text gens. Grids will enable snapping so your rooms can look pretty.



Summary: Guided by the dungeon generator prompts, Roll random tile image tables, Place the results onto the map to shape an area, and Add dressing images based on DRD descriptions into the rooms for flavor or tactics. Then roll for encounter tables to populate your rooms.

Don't go overboard; Create-as-you-roll & Play-as-you-create. Simplify what's in front of your PC with only few open ends.

• 0) Based on prompts from the Toolbox Dungeon Generator Template;
• 1) Roll "Tile Image Tables" to get 1 Main (Room, Passage, Stairs, etc) and optionally 1-2 Extensions as exit(s) out of the Main Area. Connect them to create a small, open-ended starting area. Example: 4x4 square room that has a door to a passage, and a secret door.
• 2) Roll "Template: Complete Description" in DRD for room dressings. The result will guide you for dressing tables that will contain FA Map Pack images. Generally, 1 mundane item is more than enough.
• 2.5) Optional: Dress the room with more mundane items for flavor, environmental storytelling or maybe for tactics (cover, hazards, traps, etc).
• 3) Roll for appropriate level monster tables to populate the room for an encounter based on the % chance in the Dungeon Gen Text. That requires you to roll d100 first to see if the encounter is triggered. Don't have to be a combat encounter, though.
• 4) If there's combat: Test your might.
• 4.5) Or Roleplay Non-combat Encounters which might lead to combat, especially with the flavor notes in Toolbox Dungeon Generator -(or not). It may include utilizing the NPC generator which is part of the main template.
• 5) Move on to the next part of the dungeon. Create-as-you-go by rolling the tile image tables when necessary. Resolve Social / Traps / Combat, whatever is in it.
• 6) Rinse and Repeat until all rooms or your PC's HP are cleared. Note that Toolbox Dungeon Gen tells you how many rooms the dungeon has at the beginning.

GOLDEN RULES:

1) K.I.S.S: Keep It Short and Simple.
2) Creative Freedom: Change, add, subtract, divide or multiply anything from the descriptions and tables to your heart's content.

Notes for the Method

• 1) Toolbox Dungeon Template can give you the prompt for the rooms with extra info in 1 click. My Info dumps will detail this process and tie it to the next parts.
• Text gen part in #1 is available in Legacy DMG 5E (partially) + The Toolbox (detailed).
• Tile Image tables in #1 will require prep for once (plus every time more tiles are added)
• 2.5) "Table: Notable" in DRD is the way for it. It will require dressing images which are plenty in Forgotten Adventures Mapmaking Pack but filtering out the excess and finding the appropriate ones can take time. At least for me, 'cause I'll upload usable file names to make tables for personal use only.
• 3) is in Legacy DMG and Toolkit (for 5E) / for other rulesets, it will require more prep.
• 4.5) For non-combat encounters there are many free and paid options in the web and dmsguild / drivethrurpg.

Last Note: The info dumps I'll drop Later on will detail every single part of this article. Practical parts will be on top and details will be on bottom in case Griogre makes use of them. Next time I'll use more pictures. I guess. After I drop all info dumps, hopefully we all can rent the dungeons we'll create to various dark lords, which would be an excellent source of income in this economy.

Happy Gaming!

Environmental storytelling is the art of arranging a careful selection of the objects available in a game world so that they suggest a story to the player who sees them. Think of original Bioshock.

Let's continue on Bioshock (video game). Even if you remove everything but the environment, you can still deduce many things about the underwater city "Rapture" by looking at rooms full of water dripping from broken glasses, flickering neon signs, blast marks on posters on walls that promise a glamorous future, so on and so forth...

Rapture Video:


The "story" is what you see in the video, especially in comparison with what the environment "was" before.

How it was once built to become a utopia for every one to live in peace and harmony regardless of their gender, race, beliefs, blah blah. But how it turned out at the end is a completely different story. We see the change in this story over the smashed rooms in the Rapture, the underwater city.

As we watch destructive effects on billboards, walls, neon lights, and everywhere else, we understand that horrible things happened in this deserted city. Moreso, we understand how it all started with one simple image: the philosophical foundation of the city.



And all these glory went down the drain at New Year's Day in 1959... We know this thanks to the neon "happy" new year sign. An excellent contrast: Utopian Ideal vs. Dystopian Reality.

Soloing Environmental Stories

In Solo Play, the stories you want to tell doesn't have to be so bleak as in Bioshock. Although, my example will be so, just to show you how to create mood and mystery at the same time. R.N.G rolls may take you anywhere, so be sure your tables include many types of mundane objects in them.

So, we'll randomly create 3 mundane objects on-the-spot or in prep phase, maybe with a room description, and link them together to determine what story they are telling us, based on the current context . It is a matter of simple rolls for mundane objects (or not, CHOOSE objects you want) and using Freeform Association with them. That's it!

Treat the creation of the scene like an investigator as the SOLO GM:

Your PC doesn't have to be Sherlock Holmes or a ranger with tracking skills, if you're doing it on-the-fly. Don't just think E.S. as some objects for your PC to deduce stories to solve a case. These objects in a scene can simply be used to create mood, as well as a mystery -or any kind of story!

This method will answer the questions : How does this place feels to be in? What does this place tell us?

Remember the 2 sides of Solo Play:

1. Creation part is for the GM side,
2. Interpretation and reaction parts are for the Player side.

The trick is, roleplaying your character in the scene naturally and refraining from using your GM knowledge (meta-game) as a player.

It's simple: Think of your PC as a video game character you're playing. Let them find things on their own. Maybe YOU would act differently but ask this question:

What would my PC do? The answer will be based on "Who" your PC is.

Tables You'll Need

If you have some mood props or mysterious objects in mind or if you're already creative, you won't need tables but you'll eventually run out of ideas. So having some tables ready is definitely useful.

• Mundane objects table (more detailed the better) https://tools.libove.org/generators/roll/mundane-item/
• RPG items table (optional, depends on your setting & genre) https://www.herebetaverns.com/mundane-item-generator
• Room descriptions table (optional) https://dndcampaignplanner.com/tools...tion-generator

CONTEXT

As everything else in Solo Mode, your interpretations will be based on current context of the story. Take the one below for example:

Scene: After throwing off his tracks, my PC "Thornbold" discovers a big stone cottage among the woods. As night time starts to fall on the land, he slowly approaches the cottage to hear if anyone's in there. After a minute of silence, he decides to slowly open the door and peaks inside.

The Entrance: The air in the room is clear but cold. There's smells of rotting vegetation coming somewhere below the room.

• This room has a limestone tile floor. The floor of this room is a mottled of red, tan and black granite.
• The ceiling is a flat reinforced with stone beam with regular rectangular shaped beams and with the rusted remains of a full suit of plate armor pinned to the ceiling with a steel shafted spear.
• Important Detail: Spaced about every five feet across the floor are small recesses with iron rings set into them. A couple of the thick rings have been ripped open.

Context: As you can guess, the context that matters in relation to Thornbold's current situation is the two iron rings that's been ripped off. Some hostile people were chasing him and just when he thought he was safe, now this...

After you determined the context, you can start your interpretation with Freeform Association.

# Back to Basics

IF you can't think of anything that binds the objects you rolled for into one coherent piece of a story, return to basics. Try to perceive the objects not as words, but as Pictures, Abstracts, Concepts, Symbols, or Definitions. Then fill in the blanks in an interpretive way after you have more info about the objects.

MY EXAMPLE

• Object 1: A worn-out journal with cryptic symbols
• Object 2: A broken lantern with a shattered glass
• Object 3: A half-buried statue of an angel with cracked wings

Story Context:

These items are found around an overgrown grave deep inside an underworld cemetery. They indicate that someone was forgotten or left behind. Something sinister occurred in the town or area sometime ago, possibly involving supernatural forces or dark secrets. Your PC might be drawn into a quest to uncover the truth about the individual buried here, or perhaps even confront the darkness itself.

Interpretation:

First object (the journal) could represent a record of strange occurrences or dark secrets that took place in the area. The worn-out condition of the journal suggests it has been carried around, read, and studied by others trying to understand these events. It might hint at supernatural forces involved in the person's abandonment and the town's mysteries.

Second object (the lantern) could symbolize the breaking of hope or safety that once existed within the community. The shattered glass may also signify hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface, reflecting the darkness that has taken hold in this forgotten place. Players might interpret the presence of this broken lantern as a warning or a call to explore deeper into the unknown.

Third object (the statue) could represent the dual nature of the town - one of beauty and hope, the other of darkness and despair. The cracked wings might suggest that the town's original ideals have been tarnished or corrupted by hidden forces or secrets, mirroring the forgotten grave and the overgrowth cemetery.

Note on Themes

Q: What is the Usage of Themes In E.S.?

You can use certain mundane objects that are related to certain themes to create the exact mood, mystery, or story in an environment as you want. Since there are too many objects for plethora of themes, I'll just give you an advice:

*A theme is the underlying MEANING of the story. So, start with a purpose in mind to pick 3 strategic objects for your E.S. scene, based on the general description of your theme.

Such as reflecting a lighthearted yesterday with sweet memories in a tavern room. OR maybe the tent of a general in a battlefield to reflect his / her well-organized, disciplined and rigid life style.

Ask yourself what would be 3 objects in such places that reflects the precise concepts you want to show.

But don't be too obvious. Remember, these objects should "imply" a piece of story with lots of holes in it, not making it obvious.

Think of some holes in a pair of blue jeans. If the blue jeans is clean and the holes are too convenient, that means it's designer's piece. But if the holes are in a dirty and worn out jeans, this might suggest that it belongs to a poor person, maybe a homeless man, or worn by a little brother after it's been too small for his big brother...

Note on Hex-Crawling

Q: What is the Usage of E.S. In Hex-Crawling?

Environmental stories can make Hex Crawling MUCH MORE fun at every scope of a hex-map. From the big picture to smallest part of a room...

So, you can take what you've learned in here and use them in your hex maps with the knowledge of G.U.A.R.D.S and Obstacle Creation Methods.

Thematic Prop Examples	Hex-crawl Themes
* Arrowhead, Black goo, Tree stump * Mirror, Broom, Candles * Insect in a jar, Googles, Tools * Dunes, Mirage, Palm Tree	* All Terrain Types * Garden with blood pool * Room with an ominous altar * Monsters based on themes

# RESOURCES

1. There are examples in AI Podcast #3 at 8:10.
2. Dungeon Room Descriptions (FG module) by Dan Harlan - 1.95$ / Mundane item & dungeon room dressings tables. 44 Trillion combinations!

Check the first comment for transition between object gen to narrative:

As the main guide getting closer to the finish line, I wanted to criticize the guide to improve it. Of course I failed as I'm the author of it, so I asked llama3 to criticize it for me. It's a good start but I'd like to hear from users to make it more specialized for you all.

TL;DR Central point in the entire criticism is lack of examples. Which motivates me for adding a workbook section somewhere (I have only 1 custom page left to spare before the limit). Aaand it's gone: Solo Playground - Workbook

So, what do you, the reader, would like to read about or hear (from the AI podcast) specifically?

# CRITICISM

Overemphasis on Theory over Practice: While theory is essential, it appears that the guides focus more on theoretical concepts than practical applications. A balance between both aspects would provide a more comprehensive understanding of solo RPG and combat strategy.

Assuming Prior Knowledge: The language used in the excerpts assumes prior knowledge about tabletop roleplaying games, which might not be the case for new players or those unfamiliar with the genre. Providing clear explanations and definitions could enhance accessibility.

Too Broad and Generalized: The guides seem to cover a wide range of topics without delving deeper into specific strategies or scenarios. This lack of specificity may make it challenging for readers to apply the concepts effectively in different situations.

Lack of Examples and Case Studies: Including concrete examples, case studies, or real-world applications would help illustrate theoretical concepts and provide actionable advice for solo players.

# SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Solo RPG Guide for FGU

1. Clearer organization: The guide jumps between different topics (e.g., setting up solo play, using oracles). Consider grouping related sections together to improve flow.

2. More examples and scenarios: While there's a good introduction to the concept of solo play, more concrete examples would help readers understand how to apply these ideas in practice.

3. FGU-specific tips and tricks: As FGU is a specific virtual tabletop software, providing tips on how to use its features for solo play (e.g., automating certain tasks) could be valuable.

Solo Combat Strategy Guide

1. More detailed combat mechanics explanations: While the guide provides some general strategies, it assumes readers have basic knowledge of D&D 5E combat rules. Consider adding a brief primer on these rules or providing more in-depth explanations.

2. Additional encounter ideas and scenarios: The guide could benefit from more creative encounter ideas to help players generate excitement and variety in their solo combats.

3. Tips for adapting encounters to different party sizes: As the number of characters can affect combat dynamics, offering advice on how to adjust encounters accordingly would be helpful.

General suggestions

1. Add visuals (e.g., diagrams, flowcharts): Visual aids can help illustrate complex concepts or provide a quick reference guide.

2. Reader engagement: Consider adding exercises, prompts, or challenges that encourage readers to apply the strategies and ideas presented in the guides.

Welcome back to the Successor of the Muses Series. The second entry is for story themes in this table. With examples on following methods for;

1. Thinkers: Logical thoughts and questioning. Focusing on ideas. (Apprentice)
2. Feelers: Focusing on feelings and thoughts of main character. (Journey)
3. Sensing people: Reading in between the lines, pulling out the hidden content. (The Quest)
4. Gamblers: Making tables by dividing the content into smaller pieces for FFA. (In Comments)
5. Bonus: Resolving Conflict

Amnesty Little Sadie by Crooked Still >A fun Bluegrass song about a crime to base our theme on solid ground for forgiveness requires an offense. . Blood by The Dear Hunter -Lyrics >There's no passion in being passive And no inaction could bring an answer. The song's about romance but it contains insight about the theme in offender's pov.	Apprentice Wrapped Around Your Finger by The Police >Great example on story progression for problematic Apprentice vs. Master relationships as the Narrator (Sting) wants to turn the tables and become the master. There are also good masters though. TINKERING THE THEME: Initiate analysis sequence 5W1H.exe WHO is our Apprentice? For the sake of the continuation of this method, we'll make her a wizard's apprentice. Inexperienced, naive but full of ambition. I rolled for the name Astra. Her backstory will unfold as we explore. WHAT does she want? To be a master wizard. Let's add Fear & Courage theme from the list to spice things up. And ask WHAT is she made of? But leave it there. WHERE is her story takes place? Stolen from the Journey example, it will be an Enchanted Wood. Let's give her a roof to study under and make it a private cabin of a Master Wizard. But her origin point should contrast: a poor village would suffice. WHEN did all this hustle start? Just gonna say "in the days of yore." HOW did it start? This is the crucial part that will determine contexts that will follow. Cause & Effect. It will depend on other sources. So let's just say "with an unfortunate event (conflict)" and move on. And WHY does she want to do it? Maybe the unfortunate event had a role in this. She wants something else because she couldn't get what she really wanted. So what would that be? I rolled for Clearing the Hex. TBC in Journey.
Betrayal Loreley by Blackmore's Night >This legend's faded storyline about a mermaid tried to warn us all. Oh, they called her Loreley. Careful or you'll fall. .	Clearing the Hex Witchy Woman by Eagles >The song -albeit good- isn't the perfect example for this theme which it's basically about a cursed character who is searching for a way to lift the curse.
Investigation Ocean Club by Yello -Lyrics >Here's how our investigation starts. Miss Cooper approaches the Detective for her case. My Rival by Steely Dan -Lyrics >Every good detective story needs a rival. . Private Eye by Bill Lloyd >Now the things are getting even more twisted.	Journey Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf >Right between the sound machine, on a cloud of sound, let's drift into the journey. Under a Violet Moon by Blackmore's Night >Happy Ending. That's what every hero and heroine wants. Keep in mind, this song will be Astra's final destination in the example. FEELING THE THEME: Wandering, wandering with a cosmic surfboard under a violet moon. The narrator (our Apprentice Astra) ultimately wants to live in a place where she can experience sweet events like dancing with her lover and stealing a kiss under the bridge. Shortly, the happy ending. BUT! Let's scramble these eggs, shall we? WHAT IF Astra's fiancée was hexed by a witch or a hag who envies her? Astra, once a naive girl with romantic feelings, has to learn magic to save her man from the curse. So that the handsome knight in shining armor can save her from the poor village they live in. Thus, the poor girl starts her transformation with her journey. Will she be alone the whole time? Will she have to deal with more obstacles? Will she stand the test of time? Will she stay on the course until the end? And the end... Will she finally confront the evil witch/hag and show her what she is made of? And how will all these affect Astra? This is the question! TBC in The Quest.
Kingmaker Past and Future Secret by Blind Guardian >Stay awhile and listen to Merlin as he tells you about the rise and fall of King Arthur.	Mutiny / Rebellion Ballad of William Kidd by Skiltron (Running Wild cover) -Lyrix >It's a song about a seafaring man in English history who was the victim of "blue-blooded men" after a mutiny that didn't end well.
Mystery (!) Hazard by Richard Marx >This song is about a murder mystery with CLUES scattered throughout the lyrics & the video. Can you solve the crime?	Negotiation Think by Aretha Franklin >I'm glad she lost this one sided negotiation, otherwise would leave the Blues Brothers incomplete. They have a mission from God after all!
Redemption Heaven Bound by Joel Robertson >What good is redemption if you don't allow the fate to test your faith? .	Romance The Maiden and the Selkie by Heather Dale >A folk song about a seal lord from the sea and the maiden he loves. Will they become espoused despite their differences?
The Quest / Discovery Vagabonds by New Model Army >It's time for our heroes to get out of their comfort zone and discover the meaning of their purpose. SENSING THE THEME: I'm not an expert on 6th sense but I guess we should start by determining what these lines may imply to flesh out Astra's journey in her bio. "We follow the tail-lights out of the city, Moving in a river of red. As the colours fade away from the dusky sunset, We roll for the darkness ahead." She has to find someone to teach her magic, right? What about after some questioning in the tavern, she hears a name of a Wizard who lives in a secluded part of the woods? But to reach him, she has to cross a river. "Night-time City Beat the radio is calling. The lost and lonely in vain." But then she gets lost in the woods before she finds the river and the first test starts. "River of red" might imply life, blood, magical sands, anger, heart... Let's pick a war theme for our 1st combat encounter: an angry kobold scout. "And still this childhood romance will not die." Equipped with an old padded armor and a simple dagger, our romantic girl faces the first harsh truth about the adventuring life. TBC in Wizardry.	Tragedy (*) Charm of the Seer by Ayreon >A window to the story of a Time Telepathy victim and his cries from the Dark Ages. The rest of the story is in The Final Experiment album. New Beginning by Tracy Chapman >Tragedies may happen all over your fantasy world but this song chimes with hope for a new chapter.
Unity All For One by Blackmore's Night >Forget the story, here's the vibe. I raise my glass to you all, Cheers! . .	Wizardry / PC vs Villain The Sorceror's Den by K-Rino >The story of an unfortunate man who is lured into a carnival booth and signed consent forms to see the meanest sorcery show ever. 3rd one in the series. (To be Concluded in the comments)

(*) Normally, tragedy is an established literary genre about a dark hero -usually the villain in traditional stories- and his spiral down to falling from grace
and self-destruction. But I changed its meaning in better terms 'cause of obvious reasons.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION:

Wind by Annihilator >Internal Conflicts are just food for the Soul. Here's why: .

Dance With The Dragon by Dark Sarah ft. JP Leppäluoto >External Conflict among a silver tongued thief and a menacing dragon.

"[For Solo RPGs] Some people even getting to use AI Tools these days... ~ The Anon AI Woman"

"I wonder who are those people? Hmm." ~ Tempered7

Podcast #5: For Intermediate GM Approach. Let's see, hmm. This time they added FGU usage in it probably because I fed it GM Approach & Exercises from the blog... You know what they say, don't send a machine while you can do it with the superior race = people. But man, I must give credit to it where credit is due. Anyway, I can't call them idgits this time because they actually made a good job.

The conversation between our artificial idgits (hehehe) in this 27 minutes podcast revolve around the significance of having a vision for solo games, whether survival-focused or packed with mystery and adventure. The importance of organic world-building through personal experiences is highlighted, along with choosing between planning and improvising as a solo GM. There's lots of examples in it. Finally, characters should have connected stories within the game world to create a cohesive experience. And of course, all these things start by creating a small piece of your setting.

NOTE: Examples for Plot Twist usage & Time Manipulation in Combat are in this one.

NOTE 2: It invented a term called "Nested Conflict". I didn't say that in the guide! Check the first comment for more info.

NOTE 3: Only one Inaccuracy among all the podcasts so far:
11:43: Scaling Enemy Numbers for Randomization.

It said I suggested PC "level" x 1d4, etc enemies. But it should've been PC "NUMBERS"
As in, 2 PCs x 1d4 enemies. Dum dum...

NOTE 4: There are some broken audio moments in it, but they're not that bad.

Feel free to comment on these idgits' conversation.

"Freedom through creative control." ~ The anonymous AI woman.

In this 10 minutes conversation, our idgits discuss the importance of having a vision for solo games, whether survival-based or filled with mystery and adventure. The guide suggests an organic approach to world-building, encouraging the use of personal experiences and memories. Being a solo GM involves deciding between planning or improvising, and finding what works best for each individual can lead to more fun and creativity. The conversation also emphasizes that characters in the game should have stories tied to everything else, connecting their skills and goals with problems in the world.

Podcast #4: For Beginner GM Approach. Sleazy bastids now trying to bribe me out of the resistance by using flattery! HA! Just wait when I find how to remove the batteries. (Shhh, don't tell 'em but it might take a while. I'm too old for this sheet). Anyway, let's get back to the topic at hand. Join me as our idgits enlighten us on the GM Approach to solo play by starting small as I suggested in the guide.

NOTE: This is the one they went full "creative" and made up things that I didn't say in the guide! :S

NOTE 2: Solo GM Mode's "method to the madness" originates totally from Geek Gamers, NOT from me. But the AI's material was my guide and it thought I created the method. (Do these things really think like a human? :S)

Feel free to comment on these idgits' conversation.

"Best part is it's all just a starting point. You know the real fun is taking those ideas and making them your own. Experimenting, trying new things. ~AI Idgits"

And the third podcast in the series is a discussion about environmental storytelling in solo RPGs (role-playing games). The importance of themes, such as amnesty and the five stages of grief, is emphasized. They provide depth and help shape a character's journey in the game. Additionally, the guide suggests breaking down scenes into six core elements: characters' main goal, scene goal, conflict, action-reaction chain, consequences, and resolution. This helps create dynamic and engaging gameplay experiences.

Podcast #3: For experts, with more examples than explanations. AHMAHGAWD! This AI is already more advanced than I originally thought. It actually used Freeform Association! The AI woman picked 4 random words and the AI guy interpreted them while not straying from my FFA example and turned my example into a better story than I did... :/ Someone really should pour some water on these things!

NOTE: G.U.A.R.D.S method that the AI talks about is NOT my invention, it's Loot Goblin Marketplace's. They used the acronym to give an extensive example of a multifaceted town, by also using my methods --including draft version of Environmental Storytelling.

Feel free to comment on these idgits' conversation.

...When you're playing, Well, it can feel a bit like you're fighting yourself, which, let's be honest, is a battle most of us are already fighting every day. ~ The AI guy in the podcast. :S

"How the heck do you know? You are a machine!" ~Tempered7

Second in the AI Voice Podcast series, our two Artificial Id...Intelligence pals (actually one) discusses the importance of random elements and reacting to curveballs while creating a story. It emphasizes letting go of control and allowing oneself to be surprised by the unfolding narrative. The guide encourages considering all narrative elements, such as the main goal, scene goal, conflicts, and consequences. Questions are seen as crucial to driving the narrative forward and keeping the creator engaged with the world being built. The importance of the action and reaction chain is also mentioned.

Full Podcast #2: For intermediate players. A 47 min. A.I. Podcast ( now in 5 parts) in which these Artificial... *don't say it! don't say it!* Intelligence added from itself A LOT! Reading comprehension, rich guy, reading comprehension! Or wait, what am I saying. It's fine like this. Don't improve it more so that I can sabot... I mean "immerse" myself in them if we play Terminator 1. ;)

"In solo adventures the rules are more like guidelines... The guide's philosophy is simple: It's YOUR game, so you make the rules." ~ The same AI Woman.

EDIT: I was looking for ways to procrastinate just to keep myself away from those boring 5e combat rules again (man, I missed 3.5ed) so I decided to divide this podcast into smaller chunks. Life is too short to listen to 40 mins podcasts, anyway.

PART 1 - Starters	PART 2 - Intermediate Methods	PART 3 - Extra Tips & Exploration	PART 4 - RP & Combat	PART 5
0:01 - Money money? 1:36 - Using Campaign Setting Guides 2:08 - No single right way to play solo 3:14 - Experimentation 3:32 - Kickstart your opening scene 3:54 - Core Gameplay Loop 4:20 - Yes / No Questions 4:30 - Freeform Association 5:22 - Oracle & Interpretation (Where YOU take the reins) 6:54 - Play 7:08 - Recap So far... 7:24 - There's more to deepen your narrative 7:44 - Six key elements for game story mechanics 8:30 - Conflict 8:46 - Action - Reaction Chain 9:04 - Consequences 9:24 - So called "Example" the AI gave... tsk! 9:48 - Resolving Conflict 10:06 - The Last Recap	0:01 - How to handle Conflict (Expecting the Unexpected) 0:51 - Mastering The Art of Questions 2:41 - Going back to Freeform Association (The secret weapon of Soloing) 3:28 - When the words don't fit 3:55 - An FFA "example" from this AI gal's so called "solo game" (Pah! I'd do it better!) 5:22 - Deeper Dive to Oracle 6:14 - Some types of Oracles (Making it your own) 7:08 - "Maybe" answer in the Oracle (The Wild Card) 7:37 - Back to Interpretation 8:10 - Context (Fitting the content into the narrative) 8:38 - So called "unexpected interpretation" in a game from this AI gal. AGAIN! Liar liar, pants on fire! 9:52 - The Flow (Chaining Scenes) 10:17 - Ending a Session: Cliffhangers (It blended plot twists into this...) 11:11 - Storyellers (Freedom & Flexibility)	0:01 - Extra Tips (The AI titles it as O dds & Ends. Spoiler: I NEVER SAID IT!!) 0:11 - Play the "J.U.I.C.Y" Bits (LOL) 0:34 - Cheating (She called my approach "liberating" ^^ Is romance blossoming in between two people of different worlds? But no, no! I couldn't). 1:48 - Exploration (Let the world unfold organically) 3:22 - Using randomization in exploration (G.U.A.R.D.S method of Loot Goblin mixed with my obstacle creation methods) 4:48 - Obstacle Creation (This is what I meant by "Your choices TRULY matter unlike in video games) 5:52 - Using Contrast in Exploration 6:21 - Environmental Storytelling (From a draft version of the article) 7:10 - Fog of War 7:52 - Hex-crawling	0:01 - Roleplaying In Solo RPGs (yeah, it's a thing! :D) 1:18 - Journaling (It can also be a Tactics Book of a General rather than Dear Diary!) 1:40 - What would my character do? (They made a great point... :S) 3:28 - Combat (Not the full guide, just an intro. Full Combat Podcasts will come after the modules are released) 5:34 - Playing the enemy realistically (Based on their personality & goals) 6:24 - Tools & Resources for combat 6:38 - VTTs 7:25 - Cheating. Again. ^^ In depth. (Venturing into forbidden territory, says the AI man) 10:21 - Advanced Techniques (She called me "passionate" about my guide... MUST... RESIST!) 11:24 - Themes (Good artists copy, great artists steal)	Itsy Bitsy Recap

Feel free to comment on these idgits' conversation.

This is the result of my experiments with Google's NotebookLM thanks to Laerun and claedawg that pointed out in the forums.

"So it's like a collaborative progress between player and the the game itself." ~ Anonymous AI Woman.

In summary:

1. Welcoming newcomers who wants to start Solo RPGs with starter knowledge.
2. The conversation centers on using random generators, like dice or tables, in solo RPGs.
3. Freeform Association is a technique for creating unpredictable plot twists in the game.
4. The process involves asking questions, rolling dice, interpreting results, and building the story based on the generated outcomes.

Podcast #1: For newcomers. The AI took the subject in most broad terms and not just for D&D or even in terms of systems with character classes.

Feel free to comment on these idgits' conversation.

Source: Exploration Part III (Hex-Crawling) / Obstacle Creation

~ OUT OF AN EMPTY SHAPE ~ "A bowl is more useful when it is empty." -Laozi A hex grid is like a six sided dice that can lead you to randomized directions; each contains a place. Scaling is done by different measurements for different types of hexes. You decide it for your measurement system and apply to each hex type (terrain, settlement, room). i.e: 1 terrain hex = 40 miles = 1 day of ride.

Obstacles in a Town Lack or abundance of Corruption or inversion of roles in Double lives or Apathy of OR Completely missing G.U.A.R.D.S. Government Buildings, Underworld Activities, Altars, Resources, Defenses, Social Hubs.

Obstacle Creation Roll for hex type tables (terrain, settlement, building, room), Then roll content tables to see what's in them, React to their contents in respective ways, Resolve socializing / combat / traps if any, Move on to an adjacent hex, Repeat.

By "obstacles" I mean EVERYTHING in or out of the hex. If you see anything as an obstacle, they become an obstacle. Just like in life. Does that shining settlement look so tempting to stay? CONTRAST: It is ruled by a merchant guild of mummy lords. Command is one of their spells, mind you. :> Did you roll for a boring room with debris? Look around you in real life, what is it missing that you want? Translate it into a game object and add it under the debris. Your PC will know what to do with it. If not, it might crack a smile. Is a character in your fav series or a person in real life evil? The object of your desire is protected by them in the room. Translate them into your setting and roll for initiative!

~ Imagining Dragons ~ Survival Instincts, Intelligence and Wisdom, Physical Abilities, Solo vs horde mentality, Advantages & Disadvantages, Action Economy, Alignment, And even flavor text. These are what translate simple numbers and words into lively monsters that react realistically in your game.

~ More Ways To Create Obstacles ~ OPPOSE: If the table says "small village" turn it into a Megalopolis or whatever you want, but only concentrate on what you need in it at a time. Remember, GUARDS. COMBINE: A room with an altar + garden with a blood pool + terrain with lava? Now if you banish the (missing ingredient) ghosts in the altar, a lava pool will pour out of it in wrath and fill the room! Remember story mechanics? I just created CONFLICT (ghosts) and CONSEQUENCES (lava) of my character's actions. Ask yourself what MISSING element creates conflict in this combo? What consequences would be more exciting? Tie them together. Freeform Association is king (with place / monster lists) and practice makes perfect. EXPERIMENT: Relate, add, subtract, multiply, divide, mutate... Is it a 1d4 vampire encounter? Now it's Vampires vs. "Blood" golems ( relate ). Let them fight. You'll figure out WHYs and HOWs during your prospection, eating fantasy pop-corn. Is it a huge watch tower? Nope, it's ruins of a tower ( subtract ) with soldiers ( add ) on guard duty within. Because they have to defend a forward fort against a zombie horde ( multiply ). Is the encounter boring because you only have 2 goblins? ( Divide ) and scatter them with a CONSEQUENCE: they'll come back when you least expect it. Roll d4 every 1 ingame hour/encounter to see if it'll happen. If you roll 4, welp! (turn the best number in a dice into obstacle. d20 -> 20 = Hazard!) You rolled icy terrain? You can't even put it on top of an ice cream cone. Mutate it. Add patches of earth (frozen soil) or fire (burning ice or methane clathrate). Maybe there are happy little trees that try to survive in there.

Part I - Discover an Established Setting Source: Exploration Part I

To start, open the overland map of your setting in FGU, unlock it, then give it a grid overlay equal to dice numbers. In example, divide Sword Coast Map into 6 big grids and assign each grid a number. Roll d6 and the result is your general starting area. Then zoom into the area and assign smaller grids until you triangulated a city or a town, or even an empty desert / forest. OR Pick your starting location depending on what kind of an area you want your PC to do quests. The rest is creating content with The Content Creation Method until you want to end your game.

Part II - Create-As-You-Go Source: Exploration Part II

YOU CAN EXPLORE; Not just wilderness, cities & dungeons but also; (Who are you?) Your Character's identity & potential, (Where are you?) Your Character's place in this wide world, (What do you want?) You PC's goal or desire, (How do you act?) Behavior of your PC and NPCs that will make your PC's life easier or harder, (What are you made of?) Who your PC is while facing adversity and tactics that might be useful for Combat Encounters, (What is your history?) The Story of your PC in your game world, (What did you get?) Not just loot but things you and your PC learned from your experience as a whole, (How is your GM skills now?) Game Mastery: Appliance of Game Rules in a ruleset.

1. RNG Approach to Exploration You determine everything randomly, including your character sheet. Use "Dice Roll" method while determining Abilities. There are Random PC and Quest Generators listed here or in the web. 1.1. PC's Background Story You can always find free resources on the web. For automation in FGU, use Random Tables in resources such as Xanathar's Guide. Mythic's "Event Focus: Action" & "Event Focus: Meaning" tables to add surprise to your BG story / scenes (Hit the "Create an Event" button in to be used with Freeform Association. Or just use the Full Module for automation. Here's free v1 guide. OR Just determine the PC's goal with the Quest Generator in The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox.

2. Minimal Prep for Exploration PC Sheet & BG Story > Main Goal, Whereabouts of your PC in the world, And Action! You learn the rest in the game.

After you set your First Scene depending on your PC's goal in the world, you can start improvising. Create content with The Content Creation Method just like I did in this Example without knowing anything from the start. Use any random generators to your liking.

# Tips & Tricks ## Maps Start by creating ONLY the first map in Prep. Don't break your session to search for maps, just make do OR prepare beforehand. ## Line of Sight Play from the GM account for ease of control. Use Player Vision and Line of Sight in maps for immersion, if you use pre-gen maps. ## Randomizing Maps List what's in the map. Roll d4 or flip a coin to see if anything will be different in the map for surprise effect. 1-2 = no change, 3-4 = change and apply keywords to the elements of the map by pressing "Create an Event" button. (Read: Meaning = x, y) where "x, y" = two random words. Interpret the words you linked with Freeform Association to make changes to the items in the map. Apply your interpretation to the map and in Paint Mode of the Map Tool of FGU, make the necessary rearrangements, if you want.

Sources: Player Approach Part I & Part II

# Ode to Heroes and Heroines Similarity Provides Structure and Stability Contrast Piques Your Interest Choose a base character: This can be a favorite character, someone you've created, or even a fictional character from a book or movie. Identify traits and characteristics: Think about the character's key traits and characteristics. These can be physical attributes, personality traits, or habits. Find synonyms or antonyms: For each trait, find an opposite that contrasts with it. In Drizzt's case, he could be compared to a dark elf who is cruel and power-hungry, representing the opposite of his kind-hearted nature. - OR - find a synonym word for a trait and use it to provide Structure or Stability. Exaggerate, understate or contrast traits: Take the chosen traits and their opposites, and play with them (exaggerate, understate, contrast) in a way that creates an interesting contrast within the character. Ask "What IF" questions: This is to further explore the character's traits and how they interact with others or in various situations. For example, "What if Drizzt had grown up among surface elves instead of dark elves?" or "What if he was as power-hungry as his fellow dark elves but still against them?" Compare with other characters: Analyze the character's personality with other characters to identify similarities and contrasts between them. This can help you develop a deeper understanding of your character and their relationships with others. Iterate and refine: Continue to explore different aspects of the character, adjusting and refining their traits and interactions as needed. You can Combine some of the traits with a conjunction to turn them into the parts of a PC's personality.

# Questioning the Holy Grail Who ? - Ask about a character related to the quest. What ? - Ask about an object or action in the quest. When ? - Ask about a time of the quest. Maybe add a time limit. Where ? - Ask about a place(s) of your quest, or along the way. How ? - Ask about the way your PC can or "can't" achieve the goal(s). Why ? - Ask about a reason or a cause for the quest. WHAT IF... More info is in Muses (under the same title).

## Vision When you move a token in a map, don't just look at it, try to imagine that character is sweating to get into a defensive position in fear of getting shot! Or whatever is the context. And express it in any mode of play for record purposes. ## Place How do I incorporate this place into my game? Could my character find remnants of events in it? What type of characters would be interested in this place? Maybe they want to do something important in it? WHY? Because... ## Travel If you're measuring time and rolling for random encounters, whatever the length of your journey, don't bother with more than 2 random encounters regardless of distance. 1 combat encounter and 1 point of interest that is randomly decided (including IF there is an encounter) is enough.

# All That Glitters Is Trap! Conflict is anything that makes things difficult for the PC and opposes them. So, where to get inspiration for conflicts? Real life! Best type of conflict to use in Solo Play is the conflicts you're experiencing in life. Other than that, pick any famous person / group in the world, find their "haterz" and just steal from them. Fiction: Find the protagonist -> Find about his goal -> Find the antagonist > Read what the Bad Guy does to the protagonists to stop them. Easy.

# My Precious! (Personalization) Change elements in the content of inspiration to whatever is your dream. Use Freeform Association with CHOSEN words. Change things depending on your mood, be it good or bad. Combine the context at hand with another thing you find cool. Doodles (not just drawings but writing random sentences, singing a made up song about the context). Rule-based personalization: "1 PC with an inner conflict", "1 villain with the opposite outer conflict", and "1 dungeon." Experiment with all these ideas and more things from the rulebooks ingame. Try some other activity (other than gaming) if you have a creative block.