Solo Play Guide for FGU - INDEX

ADDED: OUR NEW CATEGORY Podcast Examples is online with its first item:

"Tales of Mystara" Podcast by Solo Dungeon Crawler.

It is Old School Revival stuff with BECMI Basic Dungeons & Dragons Solo ruleset. I am handpicking these podcast playlists because some of them are very 18+ with harsh themes. This has what you would expect from an OSR game. Dark Fantasy and ruthless to PCs but the mature themes stop there.

As I search for more and suitable ones, I will expand the entry.

EDIT: As usual, I forgot to mention that I moved "Ironsworn: Starforged by The Bad Spot" from video examples to Podcasts.

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

UPDATE: Solo Combat Guide Part II is finished. It is a template upon which I'll build class stratagems. I had to cut some parts to fit size but I will sprinkle that content into other entries. As the poll fills, I'm reading & poking my nose around every table in Toolbox 2.

Also I must say, the more I read Mythic v2 the more I am astonished by its neat presentation, highly refined new systems since v1, many MANY examples, so many ideas that addresses crucial problems in Solo Play.... V1 was already a gold mine. But v2 is PLATINUM MINE! Now I feel my practical methods is so archaic.:D

And the conversion. When Marmus said there are 400+ tables in it, I already knew it is a labor of love, but I didn't know it is loved as a favored child! I remember my time with books and pens, brrr. Hand cramps, lost d4s found by feet & pierced pages... Anyway,

Please don't forget to vote in the poll :)

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

Missing cut content added to comments in Solo Combat Guide - Part II while I'm at it.

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

Sorry guys. I noticed I'm actually focusing on the foundations too much and neglecting actual strategies for 1 PC. Since this is not group play, there is no actual synergetic strategies. It all depends on your current circumstance and what your class build is. So I thought I should add those in individual class entries based on basics & foundations. Counters will be taken from Basics, and strategies will be based on Foundations for each class. Also, 10k character limit forces me to spread content.

NOTE TO SELF: * Caster: [Divine]: Crit fail! I've noticed that I don't have anything to say about them. I never play them. [TO BE EDITED].

I only have 1 refined play style with few build types for my own needs but my recent research showed me that it's too restrictive and there is a world of styles for Solo.
If you want answers for the questions you have added to the guides, please write them here. I'll wait for them to accumulate and add them to respective guides.

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

UPDATE: Solo Combat Guide Part II - new comment.

GROUP DYNAMICS #2

By group dynamics, I mean Tank (DMG Soaker) - Damage Dealer - Skill Monkey - Healer - Magic User - Face/Social, etc. And the interaction of these in between each other & NPCs/monsters.

When playing 1 PC, many of these will be missing but that doesn't mean you will need all of them at all times. Remember, Solo Play is based on RNG. Whatever monsters are rolled for at the moment, either cover whatever weakness you have by substituting, or by playing to your strengths instead of dwelling on your weaknesses. Assume the role & concept of the class you're playing and think like them. This will make your game more than a cookie-cutter play. But I will also include OP strats into class entries.

Problem solving mindset is necessary because of this. Remember 5W1H questions? Ask them to find out about the solutions to your problems. Search the answers in the form of usable abilities, spells, items, etc; you can even "use" monsters themselves against each other. There is no such thing as "my DM doesn't allow me" in Solo.:D Go crazy! I'll try to write them in respective class entries as much as possible, but I can't foresee every problem you might have which will depend on your play style & experience. Use your imagination.

If you want answers for the questions you have added to the guides, please write them here.

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

From Solo Combat Part I - Basics: new comment added.

Quote:

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Basic Strategy

* Movement & Range

• Don't deploy your villains too close to the heroes (unless they ambush)

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* The reason for this is that if your enemies start first, they will reach your heroes and you'll be in disadvantage.
* If you start first, maybe you'll be in advantage but you will be too deep in the control zone of enemies as 1 PC. Be patient and let them come to you as you deal with them 1 by 1.
* If you deploy your enemies & heroes more than max movement speed / 30 feet from each other, depending on who starts first, they have to enter into the zone of control of the other and expose themselves without being able to attack. Especially if they are not ranged/caster.

You can also use this to your advantage: Move back, instead of forward and wait for them in a cover to come to you and deal with whatever comes first. But be wary of being surrounded.

Note: Solutions to this for each class will be different and be discussed in their own entries.

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

Also From Part I - Basics: new comment added.

Quote:

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Infantry deployment: As far as possible to avoid AOE & as close as possible so enemies can't run pass them: 15 feet is the magic number.

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As you can guess, the mechanic I couldn't fit to mention in the entry is "Attack of Opportunity." 2 melee infantry 15 feet from each other will not allow anyone to pass 5 feet (melee reach unless with 2H reach weapon) from left, center & right while being protected from an Area of Effect attack as much as possible.

I should discuss about Control Zone of each class but I think there will be no space for it. I'll try though.

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

Added to comments in Part I: Infantry, Ranged, Caster & Infiltration Deployment. Sorry for finishing it piece by piece. I'm rusty and also need rests in between writings. I'll compile and revise all of these in a seperate Combat guide mosdule.

Infantry Deployment

CONT.: If you are playing 1 PC: Most defensible position, such as a choke point, behind a cover, your back to a wall, etc. If you are at open field, surrounded, use your disengage action instead of attacking to tactically reposition yourself in an opportune / dangerous time to prevent damage. Get out of range, move into melee range of a lone archer, hide, or flight; live to fight another day.

Ranged Deployment (New)

* Obviously, behind cover and as far as possible within normal range while covering their rear from attacks. But it depends on the range of weapons. Indicated in Properties row, the first number is the weapon’s normal range in feet, and the second indicates the weapon’s long range. When attacking a target beyond normal range, you have disadvantage on the attack rolls. You can’t attack a target beyond the weapon’s long range.

Short Bow: 80 / 320 feet (or 25 / 97 meters).
Long Bow (heavy): 150 / 600 ft (or 45 / 180 meters). Small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon's size and bulk make it too large for a Small creature to use effectively. If encumbrance is not a problem, prefer heavy for its superior damage if your race is medium size.
Crossbow, Light: Same as Short Bow.
Crossbow, Heavy: 100 / 400 ft (or 30 / 120 meters).
Sling: 30 / 120 ft (or 9 / 35 meters). If you use a weapon that has the Ammunition property to make a melee attack, you treat the weapon as an Improvised Weapon. A sling must be loaded to deal any damage when used in this way.

Note: Numbers taken from 2014 core books.

Arcane Caster Deployment (New) spell range list updated

* Behind any kind of damage soaker and/or cover, as far from enemies as possible within shortest spell range if threat level is manageable OR within longest effective (problem solving) spell range if threat level higher than you can handle.

Full Spell List by Range: Skipped "self-only" range, https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?page=8&sort=range
Full Spell List by Range: Skipped self+range & ranged/touch. Starting from 5ft. https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?page=19&sort=range
Starting from more 30 ft: https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?page=27&sort=range
60 ft: https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?page=35&sort=range
90 ft: https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?page=38&sort=range
To Mars (120-150 ft): https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?page=43&sort=range
To infinity and beyond (300 ft, 1 mile): https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?page=45&sort=range

Infiltration Deployment (New)

* It depends; Behind enemy lines to deal with high priority targets in silence --with an escape route planned (Assassin). OR Within enemy ranks to overthrow the whole enemy group (Spy).

Starting deployment place should always give you the element of surprise even if you start in front of enemies. Use Disengage action + Move + Cunning Action: Hide as bonus action. And following placements must be advantageous places to hide & strike from (i.e: high ground, enemy's rear).

A sure way to keep your sneak attack always enabled is to use a creature that attacks your target in melee range as per sneak attack rules; unless you have disadvantage. Find a way to acquire such a creature in prep (henchman, summon, even other monsters). So alternatively, your next placement is next to the attacking creature in melee range. OR use ranged weapons until you can't (See Ranged Deployment).

Note 1: Thrown Dagger Range is 20 / 60 ft. You can start your surprise turn by throwing a spare dagger / paralyzing dart to benefit from sneak attack before engaging in melee.

Note 2: Ranged Weapons that can enable Sneak Atk are blowguns (25/100), daggers, darts (20/60), hand crossbows (30/120), heavy crossbows, light crossbows, longbows, nets (5/15), shortbows and slings.

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

Added to comments in Part I:

Movement

- Only move forward if there is no unmanageable threat where you'll be.
- Start by Split Movement & Fire: Move a bit (i.e: 15 of 30 ft) - Shoot (ranged) - Go back to cover.
- ENGAGEMENT: Move to a defensible position gradually instead of charging into enemies and lure them in small, controllable groups while covering yourself from ranged attacks. Or ideally, lure them 1 by 1 into a choke point and let them shoot their own friends. (You can do that, you are the GM!)
- If you are at open field, surrounded, use your Disengage Action instead of attacking to tactically reposition yourself in an opportune / dangerous time to prevent damage. Get out of range / switch to a weaker enemy / hide / or flee to fight another day.
- TACTICAL WITHDRAWAL: If you have to flee, don't do it by Dashing all the way back at once. If you have access to any utility / crowd control ways (smoke bombs, alchemist fire, invisibility potion, bag of sand), first Disengage if you're in melee, then find cover or use your full movement to go out of range if there is none. Use the CC items next turn to distract the ones that can easily lock you in melee. Only then move back from cover to cover at length of your full movement with Dash Action. Because some spells / ranged weapons ammo can run farther than you.

Range & Cover

- Calculate Range of ALL enemy Weapons before moving or acting & stand where you'll get least amount of threat while picking the highest priority target for engagement.
- To target something, one must have a clear path to it, so it can't be behind total cover.
- RULE: A target with **total cover** can't be targeted directly by an ATTACK or a SPELL, although some spells can reach such a target by including it in an area of effect (i.e: fireball but not all AoE spells). A target has total cover if it is completely concealed by an obstacle.
- Next best thing is covering 3 quarters of your PC's body for +5 bonus to AC and Dexterity saving throws. The cover might be a portcullis, an arrow slit, or a thick tree trunk.
- Or covering half of your PC's body for +2 bonus to AC and Dexterity saving throws.
- All these mean enemies bigger than you in size that are in between you and your attacker can also be used as a cover. Think in angles like a billiard player, based on weapon range to find where to stand.
- Use larger creatures as cover against casters, ranged attackers in melee engagement (especially good for artillery if the "cover" is enemy combatant).
- Don't forget Grapple Maneuver. It can be used to hold a monster with your left arm as cover against its friends while you use 1H weapon as offense if you don't have a shield.
- Dead enemies or some items can also be used as cover against arrows, direct link spells (that doesn't specifically target you), etc, if you can lift & hold / move them for a while (i.e: a barrel, a bookcase).

Solo Combat Strategy Series:

UPDATE: Solo Combat Guide Part II - new comment.

COMBAT STRATEGY

Strategy is the art of planning, organizing and directing overall military operations and movements in combat. It differs from tactics by staying on the theory side of things. In terms of game play, it is your overall plan to achieve your main goal by going through level progression and directing your efforts into winning your battles until the last boss is dead. This is done by thinking in terms of mobilization:

* WHAT can be used for WHICH of my specific purposes? These can be abilities and spells that your build provides, weapons, items, methods, plans, etc... Search and Gather them.
* HOW can they be organized into a coherent whole? Little jigsaw puzzle game.
* WHERE should each part be directed towards? To focus your efforts into a practical goal.
* And a general theory of HOW they can be applied into practical terms.

Know Thyself

* Strength: Typically, elements in the arsenal of your class that are most efficient for you. Sharpen & Play to them. But it doesn't always mean they are your strong side. When used against you by enemies, you become your worst enemy! "i.e: Getting charmed."

* Weakness: Supposedly, these are what makes you vulnerable for attacks from enemies with specialty to exploit them. Cover them. They don't have to be your down sides, though. When used as bait while you cover them with your Strengths, they can be deadly weapons! "i.e: Damsel in distress with a poisoned kiss."