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Somehow I completely missed solo RPGs for the longest time. I’m not sure how. I had picked up a one-shot here and there. Ran a 6-month campaign, but hadn’t had a real long standing RPG group since 2018. It wasn’t until 2022 that a friend of mine introduced me to Thousand Year Vampire. The way he described it instantly intrigued me and it also opened up the world of solo RPGs. I played several games when I first got Thousand Year Vampire. I researched other games and read their books, but for some reason solo RPGing didn’t click with me and I put them down for a couple years. Then in the fall of 2024 I was searching around for some new creative outlet. I started writing but I was struggling with what to write about. Then I remembered solo RPGs. Another search and I decided to give Ironsworn a go. I was hooked fairly quickly, but it didn’t really stick until I listened to the creator’s actual play podcast.

Sharing and Collaborating

From that point on solo RPGs have become a passion of mine and I started this blog because of this passion. But one thing I miss when playing solo RPGs is sharing and collaboration. I spend hours developing NPCs, locations, conflicts, and stories. Unlike a traditional RPG, played with a group, the thrill of sharing those discoveries is lost. I do share a great deal with my wife and friends. They are great for giving me ideas. They change the path I was on for a better one, but it just isn’t really the same. Of course, the very nature of solo RPGs means that you aren’t going to share or collaborate. However, I hope that this blog is capable of itching a little bit of a scratch. This can be obtained through gaming with a group. However more traditional RPGs need long stretches of time and my life doesn’t afford that to me. Instead, solo RPGs allow me to write down a few paragraphs here and there throughout the day.

Accountability

The second reason I started this blog is accountability. I usually set yearly goals related to my hobbies. I will often have different birding goals (I also like to look at birds) and some RPG goals. Obviously there isn’t any real accountability. However, posting goals, sharing the progress of those goals, and completing those goals for the full view of other people does add a small amount of “oomph” to keep going and plugging along.

In 2025, I’ve decided to have three year goals all related to solo RPGs.

• Play one solo game a week.
• Post a blog entry a week.
• Complete my moon goals.

Moon Goals

Moon goals are goals that I set for each moon cycle. Every New Moon of the year, I change my moon goal to a different one. I have found with birding that moon goals can help to support your year long goals. They also keep you from falling into a rut. I spend four weeks focused on one aspect of the hobby. Then the next four weeks on a different aspect. I set all my moon goals before the year begins. However, I can easily change future moon goals as the year progresses. This allows them to fit my needs and desires. I have set some example moon goals for the coming year. These include Play Games Already Owned Moon, Multiple Editions Moon, and Card Moon. I’ve added a short descriptor. This helps to remind me what they mean. I’ve already started to create lists of the various games I plan on playing during each moon. I’ll write more about moon goals later, but for now you can find my current moon goals here.

Record Games and Thoughts

This blog will become a record of the various games I play. It will document my thoughts on these games. It will also show how I approached them. This will become a repository of the thoughts and ideas which don’t easily fit into my gaming journal. I have been playing RPGs off and on for 35 years. Over the last ten years, I have diligently kept notes and ideas. I want to use this blog to go through them and organize them. I also want to see if there is something worth sharing. Additionally, it is my hope that others find the information on this blog to be helpful and at least interesting. My primary audience here is myself. However, by sharing it on a blog, I want to share with others. I also want to hear what they have to say.

What to Expect

I’m planning on posting one blog entry a week. I’m shooting for Thursday as the posting day. Those posts will range from reviews of solo RPGs, guides, thoughts & reflections, community resources, and goal updates. The current plan is to keep posts around 1000 words and provide links to as much stuff as possible.

Games I’m Playing & Prepping

Before I’m done, I want to discuss what I’m playing right now. I also want to talk about what I’m prepping and thinking about playing. I’ve got two Ironsworn campaigns running right now that I work on from time to time. I have an Eldersworn campaign. You can find Eldersworn on the Ironsworn Discord. I’ve done a lot with this campaign so far. In case you aren’t familiar, Eldersworn is a Cthulhu-style reskin of Ironsworn. I’ll talk more about it next week. I’ve been working through one of the scenarios in English Eerie 1e. There is a second edition out. The scenario is absolutely phenomenal. I also have a Among the Stars story that I’ve chipped away at from time to time. Most recently I’ve got a ronin Legend of the Five Rings, 5e campaign going. I’m mining Usagi Yojimbo comics for the scenes.

I’m going to try a list of games for January. These include Apothecaria, Epitaph, MappaImperium, and Ronin. All games that I picked up at some point but have yet to give a try. I’ve joined a solo RPG book group. Our January game is The Lighthouse at the End of the Universe.

A Little About Me

Finally, I feel like I should add talk about myself, as an introduction of sorts. I teach 6th grade science and have for 16+ years. I studied English and Philosophy in college. I’m married and we have a dog. In addition to playing games I love to be outside, hiking and looking at birds. My first introduction to RPGs was at Boy Scout summer camp when I was 11 or 12. For my birthday that year my mom got me the D&D Red Box and I was off and running. I played a fair amount of 2e D&D, skipped 3rd and 4th, and came back with 5th. Throughout that time, I’ve played, owned, and read numerous RPGs.

Please let me know what your favorite solo RPGs are. Also, tell me what content you would like to see on this blog.