Let's Play Solo!

I was inspired by @Tempered7 to create some tiles for use with solo play and a "Let's Play: Solo!" series using FGU. In this series, I'll explore a dungeon by placing a tile then resolving any encounters. Since the tiles are generated on the fly this method emphasizes exploration since you don't know what the map is like or what is in the dungeon since everything is done on the fly. The first part of the series uses the IGS Solo Adventure Toolkit to explore and build the dungeon. I also talk about how to take advantage of FGU for solo play.

Session 00, it begins


Session 01, tiptoeing into the starting room

Nice one!

Ok so I have been playing solo as a dm forever. I am not sure how you are doing this but i am interested. I mainly play Pathfinder 3.5 OGL rules. In short i make a party of suggested size and level and then run myself through an adventure I am unfamiliar with and use the map first. Then i would play as the party and explore. If any encounters happen, fight it out on both sides logically, and then read the DM part afterwards. Its always done me pretty well for playtesting my own material.
I just watched your video and i am interested. Ill have to watch it again.

I've done solo play just like you - on existing maps mostly for playtesting my own dungeons and/or encounter tables. :p I TPKed myself a few times on the 1st level tables so I got serious about playtesting them making sure to take into account the action economy. LOL then I made the 2nd level tables too easy. :(

Since I had done that earlier, when I started this series I decided to do a dungeon on the fly thing to give it a more "explorer" feel. I'm hoping my encounter tables are in good shape and I don't TPK myself... :D

I've now released:

Let's Play: Solo! Session 02, did... did you hear something?


Let's Play: Solo! Session 03, wait, what is that running down the wall?!

I've now released a two more videos:

Let's Play: Solo! Session 03a, Loot! Experience! :)


Let's Play: Solo! Session 04 doors, holes in the walls and leaking floors.

Thank you Griogre for this excellent Solo Dungeon Generator!

In my playthrough, one thing I found missing in all my modules is random dungeon encounters. The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox 1 and 2 have every single encounter type but not random encounter for dungeons. I've searched for them in DMG, but random versions of encounters were not matching for a dungeon. So I used CR 1 Arctic encounters against 5 man party because that was easy. Now I'm searching everywhere (dmsguild, drivethru, etc) to find some of these. There is Underdark random encounters and it is the only closer thing.

Btw, this playtest is also getting delayed because of another earthquake, 6.1 in another city this time. Just got back to it and after I find or prepare random encounters, I can finally play fast.

Note that I also want to add dungeon dressings from Fantasy Adventure Map Pack and make a guide out of this module.

I uploaded a new video on making monster encounters which hopefully will help you build some tables of your own.

Let's Play: Side Quest! Building 5E Monster Encounters


I probably should have emphasized more the CR method works best for levels 1 to 3. After that, PC power inflation has increasingly left monsters under powered so one CR X monster no longer is a challenge for a Level X party. Matt Colville's tables in "Flee, Mortals!" do take into account that inflation.

Ignoring that single class 20th level characters are significantly more powerful that ones that multiclass, I should have been using like CR 5s for vanilla encounters of 5 PCs vs. 5 monsters. Instead I was using CR 9ish.

Seeing how the 2024 SRD for Monsters is now available for FG I might do some encounter tables when I get time for 1st to 3rd levels.

I released the Session 5 video in the Lets Play: Solo! series. My poor party is in trouble.

Let's Play: Solo! Session 05, outside the room with a bloodstained helmet...

The next one in the series has been released:

Let's Play: Solo! Session 06, let's get out of here!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KILLGORE

Ok so I have been playing solo as a dm forever. I am not sure how you are doing this but i am interested. I mainly play Pathfinder 3.5 OGL rules. In short i make a party of suggested size and level and then run myself through an adventure I am unfamiliar with and use the map first. Then i would play as the party and explore. If any encounters happen, fight it out on both sides logically, and then read the DM part afterwards. Its always done me pretty well for playtesting my own material.
I just watched your video and i am interested. Ill have to watch it again.

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@KILLGORE I just occurred to me there is a really good Solo Play set of rules for 3.x - Dungeon Bash. It's still on Drive Thru RPG. The monster decision tree is pretty good and I think they did a pretty good quest system as well (it's been a long time since I used it). The rules would probably work for Pathfinder too. God, I'm not old - but I got that PDF 20 years ago :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tempered7

...
I've searched for them in DMG, but random versions of encounters were not matching for a dungeon. So I used CR 1 Arctic encounters against 5 man party because that was easy. Now I'm searching everywhere (dmsguild, drivethru, etc) to find some of these.

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I've done two first level encounter tables: one for 4 PCs and one for 5 PCs. These are from the 5E Legacy SRD Bestiary. Import the code into a table using ; as the separator. These are smaller tables than I use since I normally use stuff out of the MM, MotM, and stuff from Kobold Press and MCDM. Note the two mismatched dice to roll the imported table will try to set a 1d15+1. The mid 5 will appear about 50% of the time and the two tails a little less than 2%. This mean humanoids are heavily favored to appear which makes sense in any dungeon that might have doors.

Any play testing of the tables would be nice. Those Flying Swords with that AC are likely to be problematic even with the number appearing having been that reduced. I'll try the tables in my next few "Let's Play" games. But replacing the Swords with Crawling Claws, Abyssal Wretches, Neogi Hatchlings, Slaad Tadpoles, Young Kruthik, Manes or Star Spawn Grue would improve the table, IMO. I usually use a larger table of 1d8 + 1d12, but I could not find enough dungeon monsters I would want to use vs. a first level party.

4 PCs:

Code:

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1d6+1d10        ;        Group 1        ;        Group 2
2        ;        [1x] Acolyte        ;        [1d2+1x] Cultist
3        ;        [1d2+1x] Stirge        ;       
4        ;        [1d3+1x] Giant Lizard        ;       
5        ;        [1d3+2x] Lemure        ;       
6        ;        [1d3+1x] Skeleton        ;       
7        ;        [1d2+2x] Kobold        ;       
8        ;        [1d3+2x] Giant Rat        ;       
9        ;        [1d3+2x] Cultist        ;       
10        ;        [1d3+2x] Bandit        ;       
11        ;        [1d3+1x] Goblin        ;       
12        ;        [1d2+2x] Zombie        ;       
13        ;        [1d3+2x] Giant Fire Beetle        ;       
14        ;        [1d3+2x] Poisonous Snake        ;       
15        ;        [2x] Guard        ;        [1d3x] Mastiff
16        ;        [1x] Flying Sword        ;        [1d3+1x] Lemure

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5 PCs:

Code:

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1d6+1d10        ;        Group 1        ;        Group 2
2        ;        [2x] Acolyte        ;        [1d2+1x] Cultist
3        ;        [1d3+1x] Stirge        ;       
4        ;        [1d3+2x] Giant Lizard        ;       
5        ;        [1d3+3x] Lemure        ;       
6        ;        [1d3+2x] Skeleton        ;       
7        ;        [1d3+2x] Kobold        ;       
8        ;        [1d3+2x] Giant Rat        ;       
9        ;        [1d3+3x] Cultist        ;       
10        ;        [1d3+3x] Bandit        ;       
11        ;        [1d3+2x] Goblin        ;       
12        ;        [1d3+2x] Zombie        ;       
13        ;        [1d3+3x] Giant Fire Beetle        ;       
14        ;        [1d3+3x] Poisonous Snake        ;       
15        ;        [2x] Guard        ;        [1d3+1x] Mastiff
16        ;        [2x] Flying Sword        ;        [1d3+1x] Lemure

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Edit: Updated the tables slightly changed the roll 2 from Acolyte & Commoner to Acolyte and Cultist. Reduced the Group 2 number (Cultist) appearing by 1. This was mostly just to increase overall table XP. I expect this to be balance neutral.

Second Edit: I released Let's Play: Side Quest! Building 5E Monster Encounters 2 which shows you how to copy the "Code" above into Fantasy Grounds and create an encounter table, and then generate an encounter you load into the combat tracker. Linking the video here with the code for anyone looking at this later.


Third Edit: Fixed creature name typos, changed: Bandits to Bandit and Giant Rats to Giant Rat. Note this is purely cosmetic at this time for 5E since that ruleset uses the creature name on the link which is singular.

Fourth Edit: Updated the tables for the latest (hopefully last) iteration. I changed the Flying (Diabolical) Sword to have Lemure flunkys, raised the min number of Cultist with the Acolyte(s) and increased the number of Giant Rats appearing.

Wohoo!
I can't give you rep because forum won't let me but count it as I did so!

These few days were hellfire here despite AC hitting my face but I can do some work now. I'll also bring up SRD 2014 and try to find some monsters to add (I'll write the results here).
Btw, I watched the session 06 but my brain was frying at that moment and I was seeing blurry, so I'm gonna need to watch it again later.

Anyway, first trying for 4 PCs as I'm used to it better.

EDIT: I'll upload my campaign with exported PCs later on. See extension state xml for the extensions I use (or at least install chatlog extension to read it easily).

* First area after the stairs: Nasty 4way hall, encounter: 3 giant fire beetles, too easy for a 4 man party. Especially with Bless.

Ok, I finished a sped up version of 2 encounter test. At first it was too easy. But I ended up combining 2 separate encounters, A) 2 gobbos + B) 3 giant rats. Frontline had a very unsuccesful time both with attack rolls and death saves. I wasted Bless in an easier encounter, when I get to the combined one, I saw that rats are worse than goblins somehow.

Here's the chatlog only: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kk2ch...=3n0i3yg0&dl=0 Search for "Session started at 2025-08-19 / 00:53"
Here's the 4 PCs I used: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fruz1...=66xkoqj4&dl=0

And this is the whole campaign mainly for Griogre: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ik2sp...=w75ulus9&dl=0

Tomorrow, I'll test uncombined 5 PC version.

EDIT: I think there's a problem in my eyes as I reread the logs, I found at least 4 mistakes. Didnt roll dmg while I hit, rolled damage while the monster saved... I'm gonna need to redo the test when I'm feeling better.

Giant Beetles *are* easy they're CR 0, they don't always do damage when they hit, but where people can get into trouble is there AC is just high enough to make PCs miss occasionally. They are also only worth 10xp each. They are pure fodder monsters. Fun fact their AC and damage have been steadily dropping the last few editions.

Giant Rats hit better than Goblins in melee because of Pack Tactics, that's why they are 1d2+2 to give them a "Pack" but no more than party matching numbers. They are slightly better Kobolds without range attacks, but a classic first level monster. The goblins have free disengages so should be constantly retreating, and have bows for range attacks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

Giant Beetles *are* easy they're CR 0, they don't always do damage when they hit, but where people can get into trouble is there AC is just high enough to make PCs miss occasionally. They are also only worth 10xp each. They are pure fodder monsters. Fun fact their AC and damage have been steadily dropping the last few editions.

Giant Rats hit better than Goblins in melee because of Pack Tactics, that's why they are 1d2+2 to give them a "Pack" but no more than party matching numbers. They are slightly better Kobolds without range attacks, but a classic first level monster. The goblins have free disengages so should be constantly retreating, and have bows for range attacks.

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After these hot waves, my brain turns into potato mash so I make a lot of mistakes. :D

Those two monster types were 2 different encounters and I kinda mashed them up. 2 gobbos with 3 pet rats. Gobbos didn't start adjacent and then 1 of them incapacitated. They sent the rats into a choke point where the 2 frontliners held guard, then one gobbo used ranged attacks against the frontline while the other one is sleeping xD If I cast Sleep on the rats, it would be an easier fight for the frontline.

I wasted Cleric's Bless at an easy encounter and when I really needed it, I used up all the slots, that's why the frontliners couldn't hit while got ghit alot. Any AC below 17-18 is too low for 1st level fronmtliners to have.

But overall, those were good encounters so far; especially the random numbers are perfectly done. I'll need sleep to actually start a long run without rushing anything. I enjoyed it even though I can't see well right now. Later on, to place them easily, I'll make encounters out of them, rather than a table.

I did two encounters as well. Though one doesn't count much for play test. I got Kobolds twice, 3 in one encounter and 4 of them in the other. The encounter with 4 kobolds had the party sneak up on them and surprise them! Because of a the door and very good stealth rolls from the disadvantaged fighters.

Since the Kobolds are on the top of a very broad same percent bell curve, getting them twice is no real surprise. What was a bit unlucky (for the playtest anyway) was getting the same two dead in room 1-13 geomorph twice in a row - a one in 700ish chance. That has also closed off two of the avenues of exploration nearest the stairs

My preliminary thought is I need move the pack tactic monster's dice on the encounter tables from 1d2s to 1d3s, but I want to see a few more favorable terrain encounters from them. Doors favor the party, blocking line of sight and muffling their approach - unless the door is trapped. Stuck doors are usually about a wash for either side, unless the monsters hear the party approaching. Halls and chambers should favor the intelligent monsters with range attacks since the will probably see the party before the party sees them.

I'm also a bit worried about the high numbers of CR 0 monsters on the table since they give very little XP.

Ok, before I start my test tonight I'd like to introduce a new (old) extension by avermhir. "Treasure Button" https://forge.fantasygrounds.com/shop/items/1602/view
This is great because after cleaning a room or a floor, we can roll for treasure and if there is some, we can just make random tables from this extension.

We can even include a Forge in a room so that we can use templates we found to make a new item, weapon, etc. Image can be taken from https://www.forgotten-adventures.net/live-gallery/ -- Or can be downloaded from FA Map Pack.

https://forge.fantasygrounds.com/ima...fd4fea0b75.png

I'll start my run right after this darn back pain is done. First, one last 4 man party encounter (It's ready, it's against a flyinh sword) then move on to 5 man party (I'll add a Gnome Artificer).

I slightly updated the tables above in post #11 just to increase table XP by getting rid of the CR 0 Commoners. I'll wait for more play testing to change anything else.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

I slightly updated the tables above in post #11 just to increase table XP by getting rid of the CR 0 Commoners. I'll wait for more play testing to change anything else.

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Sorry Griogre, Couldnt do anything tonight. Not just back pain didnt stop but my eyes swollen and hurting for a while.
Pain doesn't let me sleep so might as well wait for the pharmacies to open, get painkillers then start anyway.

Btw I thought of a way before starting the encounter. I'll just keep spammingh the random encounter table to test what exactly rolls. Of course take the first result as a real enbcounter. And release the chatlog here.
4 PC: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sby69...=00ynnz6u&dl=0
5 PC: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yzm84...=l1m5e93u&dl=0

Did I make the table right?
Attachment 65198

Ok, let me not stand idle meanwhile. Waiting for the rolls and tiles will take too much time (yesterday's work full of errors took 3 hours).


Analysis of the 4 PC table monsters alone -1 enemy vs 1 appropriate PC out of 20 attacks:
Chatlog analysis at the bottom.

- PART 1 -


Acolyte: AC:10 HP:9.
Acolyte Notes: If he starts by blessing the 1-3 cultists, the cultist had 10 misses / 9 hits + 1 Crit hit out of 20 successive attacks agaisnt the Cleric with 17 AC. In comparison without bless: 15 misses / 3 hits + 2 crit hits agaisnt the same target. His Sacred Flame against DEX:12 Cleric had12 Successes / 8 fails on save.


Stirge: AC:14 HP:2.
Stirge Notes: Quote from monstersknow blog - stirge:

Quote:

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"Note the wording of the Blood Drain feature: a stirge detaches after it drains 10 hp “or the target dies”—not, “or the target falls unconscious.” In other words, the stirge keeps slurping up its victim’s blood even after he or she falls to 0 hp. This means an automatic failed death saving throw on the part of the victim (“If you take any damage while you have 0 hit points, you suffer a death saving throw failure. . . . If the damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum, you suffer instant death”—Player’s Handbook, page 197). These little blighters are tenacious—maybe fatally so, for entry-level player characters."

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Stirge Test Results: 11 Hits / 9 misses to the lowest AC (12 + 3 mage armor) Wiz. With Wizard's Shield 6 Hits + 2 crit hits / 12 Misses. 1 Hit to the wizard without shield and mage armor means "Dying".


Giant Lizard: AC:12 HP:19
Giant Lizard Notes: 9 Hits + 1 Crit / 10 Misses against AC:17 Fighter. On the other hand, the Fighter had 11 Hits + 3 Crits / 6 misses against the lizzo.


Lemure: AC:7 HP:13
Lemure Notes: Quote from monstersknow - lesser devils:

Quote:

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"Generally speaking, devils stick to the Nine Hells and their own infernal rat race... Because of this, PCs probably won’t encounter the lowest-level devil, the lemure, anywhere except in the Nine Hells, so I’ll skip past that one and move directly on to the lesser devils, the ones that PCs are most likely to encounter."

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And Keith Ammann lists lesser devils such as imps which have more lethal attacks.
Lemure Test Results: 10 hits + 1 crit / 9 misses against AC:14 Rogue. The Rogue on the other hand had 17 hits (full) + 3 crits against it. Sacred flames hit it 12 times and failed 8 times.


Skeleton: AC:13 HP:13
Skeleton Notes: 7 hits + 1 crit / 12 misses against Wizard (12 base AC) with mage armor, no shield. Fighter's Glaive (+5 to hit) = 16 hits + 1 crit / 4 misses VERSUS Cleric's Mace (+4 to hit) = 8 hits + 1 crit / 11 misses. Someone with a +5 bludgeoing weapon is nbeeded for this.


Kobold: AC:12 HP:5
Kobold Notes: Pack Tactics always ON for the test. 2 kobolds vs 1 Cleric (17 AC with shield). I wonder if reflecting light on their eyes (with the spell) to exploit their sunlight sensitivity would work against negating their ADV to normal (not DISADV)?

Kobold Test Resulkts: 10 hits + 1 crits / 9 misses despite ADV always ON.
Fighter (glaive) against 1 kobold = 16 hits / 4 misses.
Cleric (mace) against 1 kobold = 12 hits + 1 crit / 7 misses. Sacred flame = 6 hits / 14 misses. And Guiding Bolt = 10/10.
Wizard's Mind Sliver against kobold's 8 INT = 12 hits (save fail) / 8-9 miss
Wizard's Frostbite against the kobold = 15 hits / 5 miss (at each save fail, the kobold would get DISATK. That's why I pick this spell instead of firebolt).

And here's the chatlog:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xpjw5...=c6axwdf5&dl=0

Better yet, Chatlog Analyzer website's reuslts:
https://fgu.kuura.art/chatlog/analyz...4_chatlog.html

Marten = Fighter
Castiel = Cleric
Proudfoot = Rogue

Hope it helps.

21/08 EDIT: I'm feeling better now. After few hours, I'll complete the PART 2 anbd then pass on to actual encounters with multiple mobs. This time, I won't combine multiple encounters.

I've released the next lets play video:

Let's Play: Solo! Session 07, the monsters are to the East.


I have that the Monsters Know What They are Doing book. It's pretty good.

Stirges are very bad for 1st level parties because once they attach the will likely drop a squishy that why I capped the number appearing to less than the standard 1d3+2. There will always be one party member without a Stirge attacking. Stirges are super squishy and very susceptible to the 2014 Sleep Spell.

Lemures, the book is right - but what is the point of monster that is only used in the Nine Hells? How many encounters are actually run there in most campaigns? And even when that high level group goes there - are you really going to use Lemure against them? I consider them one of the few combat ready CR 0s I would use. There are cultist on that encounter table so clearly they were summoned by them... ;) They are an encounter meant to show case weapon fighters in that they have a truly horrible AC, the only one I am aware of that is worse than a Zombie - but not many hps. They have a ton of spell resistance/immunity so they are meant to reward the well rounded mage. Or... gasp, that magic missile spell?

I've going to release another Side Quest Video later on how to generate encounters from tables. Then, I did download your campaign and party and I'm going to run an Interlude Let's Play with them because I want to get a feel with a four man party. From my dungeon testing with four man parties I know they are more fragile than five man groups just because its easier for bad luck to kill them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

I've released the next lets play video:

Let's Play: Solo! Session 07, the monsters are to the East.

I have that the Monsters Know What They are Doing book. It's pretty good.

Stirges are very bad for 1st level parties because once they attach the will likely drop a squishy that why I capped the number appearing to less than the standard 1d3+2. There will always be one party member without a Stirge attacking. Stirges are super squishy and very susceptible to the 2014 Sleep Spell.

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I tested their damage against the wiz. It 1 shot him and didn't evebn complete its damage turns.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

Lemures, the book is right - but what is the point of monster that is only used in the Nine Hells? How many encounters are actually run there in most campaigns? And even when that high level group goes there - are you really going to use Lemure against them? I consider them one of the few combat ready CR 0s I would use. There are cultist on that encounter table so clearly they were summoned by them... ;) They are an encounter meant to show case weapon fighters in that they have a truly horrible AC, the only one I am aware of that is worse than a Zombie - but not many hps. They have a ton of spell resistance/immunity so they are meant to reward the well rounded mage. Or... gasp, that magic missile spell?

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Yeah, I don't know anyone who actually bring them in 9 Hells. Also there's not much variety in the SRD, might as well cultists summoned them xD. My tests with it showed that it is great for low level parties as it both gives a good fight and XP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

I've going to release another Side Quest Video later on how to generate encounters from tables. Then, I did download your campaign and party and I'm going to run an Interlude Let's Play with them because I want to get a feel with a four man party. From my dungeon testing with four man parties I know they are more fragile than five man groups just because its easier for bad luck to kill them.

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Dang, I fgorgot to add notes to the PCs because there's a use case for the choices I made. Especially the Wizard which is the controller at low levels rather than damager (rogue is the high hitter). That's why he doesn't have magic missiles which is useless at low levels.

yES They are more fragile. If the numbers are even or favors the enemy, 1 monster can 1-shot the wizard and 2-shot the rogue. But with an addition to 3rd frontline, especially to protect the rear when necessary, it is way safer.

Ok, let me start from session 06 again, then 07 and then comment.

PCs updated:

Cleric fixed: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pzzxp...=zgnnugrd&dl=0
Artifdicer: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f7wsu...=uu4qfu5f&dl=0

I've released a Side Quest video on making your own tables - importing the data into a FG table and then adding links and making the table output an monster encounter.

Let's Play: Side Quest! Building 5E Monster Encounters 2


Thanks for the updated PCs.

Edit: This is the same video in post 11 above. If you are looking for data for first level tables see that post for a set for 4 and 5 man parties.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

I've released a Side Quest video on making your own tables - importing the data into a FG table and then adding links and making the table output an monster encounter.

Let's Play: Side Quest! Building 5E Monster Encounters 2

Thanks for the updated PCs.

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Watched and commented all. My tables were wrong but now fixed, thanks!

EDIT: One thing to add for players: To find the results of produced encounters, check Sidebar > Campaign > Encounters > Uncategorized.
EDIT2: Yes, Griogre is right. Whicdhever category is active, encounters will go there.

Hmm I did forget to talk about that. The encounters will actually go to the active group in Encounters so if you want them in a specific place create, a group and select it.

Halloween came early. I've released a new Let's Play video:

Let's Play: Solo! Session 08 interlude, meanwhile on Esse Island...


That orange was a little much. I'm using a different theme next time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

Halloween came early. I've released a new Let's Play video:

Let's Play: Solo! Session 08 interlude, meanwhile on Esse Island...

That orange was a little much. I'm using a different theme next time.

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Eladrin is Spring type. Which means you can use Fey Step to make shennanigans xD If frontline is in trouble, you can replace the Eladrin and the frontline in the map to save 'em. Then forward the Cleric as an off-tank.

I don't remember why, but I read it as Winter and set it up that way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

I don't remember why, but I read it as Winter and set it up that way.

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Winter also fits his low level role as debuffer / controller. Winter step cause 1 creature to fear (WIS save which is mostly low on many mobs).

I've now posted a new video: Let's Play: Solo! Session 09 interlude, below the graves.



That was unexpected, surprise is just so devastating at low level. :( I feel it was just mostly bad luck. My experience running 5E first level is there is usually one encounter where a character, or sometimes the party are really at risk of dying.

Overall as mentioned in the video I feel the tables are conservative on monsters appearing. I'll run one more playtest and then unless I change my mind - boost the CR 1/8s to 1d3+2 for 4 PCs and leave the 1/4s the same, the stirges stay the same, and the swords the stay the same too.

I posted a new video talking about how the playtest is going for the encounter tables as well as the tile tables and some ways to decrease the chance of TPKs.

Let's Play: Solo! Session 09a Avoiding Total Party Kills

I posted a new Side Quest Video on encounter making where I upgrade the 1st level SRD encounter tables to use monsters from the 5E 2014 Monster Manual:

Let's Play: Side Quest! Building 5E Monster Encounters 3

I just posted Let's Play: Solo! Session 10 interlude, operation rescue?


I was pretty pleased with the new Early Exploration - No Rooms table.

After some absence time, I watched the latest ones and commented.

No rooms table seems like way safer than previous ones. Nice to see the module is getting improved day by day.

Yeah it seems a bit safer. Though those encounters I went through in session 10 both were with monsters that do not have range attacks, so they have to close. Admittedly, the level 1 tables do have a *lot* of creatures like that.

I really have one more thing I think the tables/tiles need. I'm still mulling over how to implement a boss/treasure hoard encounter tile.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griogre

I really have one more thing I think the tables/tiles need. I'm still mulling over how to implement a boss/treasure hoard encounter tile.

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At level 1, soloists tend to just run encounters until level 4. Only then run a table that rolls for a non-boss but strong monster with maybe 2-3 adds. But I can't remember which monsters apply. Maybe a CR1 one with 2-3 CR 1/8 or 1/4 ones. Without adding story elements, the game relies on rolls and it wasn't a thing I did for a long time.

I use some other ways to "rock" encounter difficulty besides the number of monsters that I've shown so far, though for a 1st Level "Boss" encounter I would just use a max number appearing normal encounter + one hoard treasure table roll. I would probably do the same for the two 2nd level "bosses" as well. The base 2nd level encounters have a much wider difficulty since you are not nearly as constrained by the action economy. Adds can also work, two "sweet spot" monsters worth of minions would work on average but I would not do that type of thing until after second level.

Third level is where things get interesting with more scope for what would be considered normal style "boss" type encounters. :)

Hmm. Just realized I was cheating on the encounter design as I always used TSAT tables and they are 2 monsters top.

HP of martials at 3rd level starts to soak enough damage,
Wizards get good spells,
Rogue at 2nd level gets their bonus action hide / diseangage
Clerics also get useful spells.

I suck at math but how is the probability of level up to 2nd in the first dungeon floor when considering the encounter tables?
CR 0s were 10 XP, while hardest ones goes up to 50 XP.

Should XP be considered on making the encounter tables?
Something like XP to danger level ratio.

The answer is complicated and is explicitly tied to a risk / danger level. More dangerous encounter tables will level the party faster - if they survive. That's why I'm testing the encounter tables I gave out because I wrote them conservatively as far as number of monsters appearing. Being too conservative, slows leveling and is boring; but having too may risky encounters - TPKs the party. The current encounter tables give out an average of 103 XP per encounter for a 4 man party so right now it should take about 12 encounters.

There are different ways of building encounters for solo systems. There are quest based and/or boss systems or ratchetting tension or difficulty over time systems. This particular system has an exploration theme so I don't want to cut short exploration because of a boss or particular room. I want exploration to end for a level when you run out of dungeon or the character's level.

Loosely, I expected the characters to level after about 10 average difficulty encounters when I did the tiles. As I mentioned in the 1.3 section of the modules Book:

"In the perfect world you would have a large enough dungeon to level your characters before finding the stairs down to the next level and having the level dead end everywhere. How many tiles would this actually be? Well, the number is determined by your game's encounter and experience tables. Often you need about 10 monster encounters for the more recent systems and quite a bit more for older ones."

A little further I say:

"The random nature of this system means your party will almost certainly level up before they find stairs down or have the dungeon dead-end everywhere.

I suggest when you party does level up, the next tile should be stairs down (RD1-14 End Stairs) and the rest of the dungeon level be finished by adding dead end corridors (RD1-12 End Hall) to any remaining openings."

So basically, you explore a level until you level the characters then if you have not already found the way down to the next level, you do. There is a possibly you will dead end your dungeon before that, though it is fairly low because of the start tile and early exploration tables - but if so you did, you would start another level and explore it.

What I still want to do is tune the encounter tables a bit more for faster advancement to try to get the number of encounters to around 10 or 11, and when the party is about to level have them place a "Boss" tile with stairs down, a "boss" encounter and hoard treasure if they have not already found the limit for that level.