Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Solo Roleplaying & Game Mastery Solo Roleplaying May Look Difficult, I try to make it easy with unique tools matched to each game. ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Solo Playing Tips: NPC AI #solotiops #soloplayingtips](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2026/03/06/solo-playing-tips-npc-ai-solotiops-soloplayingtips/) - I am not a huge fan of AI in solo games, although I know many people use it. I also like gaming away from my computer, just dice, pencils, and paper. But AI is finding its way into everything. My computer has AI (Copilot) built in, my web browser has it and offers AI results - [Fake Rolls](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2026/02/27/fake-rolls/) - Have you ever played with a DM/GM that would roll a dice behind their screen, apparently for no reason, and then maybe make a sound like they are worried or just look at a specific player as if the roll would impact that character? Once in a while, the roll would be legitimate. I can - [Chekov’s Gun](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2026/02/12/chekovs-gun/) - I have put this idea in many of my solo booklets. The core of the idea comes from theatre. "One must never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn't going to go off. It's wrong to make promises you don't mean to keep." We are not writing plays when we solo game, - [Extrapolation](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2026/02/04/extrapolation/) - A role-playing game is one where a three-month journey can take 3 minutes to play, and a three-minute combat can take two entire sessions. But it doesn’t have to. I find solo combats tend to run faster than group game combats. There are a ton of reasons for this. Firstly, the number of combatants tends - [Opposite Actions for NPCs](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2026/01/27/opposite-actions-for-npcs/) - Last year, I listened to a podcast called A Year to Change Your Life. The presenter was a psychologist, and for each ‘month’ in the title, she described a different psychological technique or method to achieve a positive outcome. That all sounds rather vague, but it was better and more interesting than I made it - [Muse Decks](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2026/01/19/muse-decks/) - I have a couple of packs of dry-erase blank playing cards, but this idea works just as well with a few cut-up index cards, or you can just take a regular old deck of cards and a glue stick and paste blank paper over them. Whatever way you do it, you can make a custom - [Momentum Triggers](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2026/01/13/momentum-triggers/) - I like countdown timers and drama dice. Any mechanism where I know there is a threat of something happening, normally something bad, but also for good things, like holding out for the cavalry to come and save me. Drama dice are often a dice pool, where the more dice mean that the event is less - [One-Shot Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/06/one-shot-adventures/) - The reason I included this as solo advice is that a one-shot adventure is the Swiss Army Knife of solo play. Starting a one-shot adventure is a lot less daunting than starting a campaign. They are structured with a start, middle, and end; that is really helpful for getting a game started. You can springboard - [Short Solo Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/10/25/short-solo-adventures/) - I have tried several times to write numbered paragraphs for fighting fantasy/lone wolf/CYOA-style adventures. I struggle I think because I want to include every sensible option at every stage, and before you know it the things have ballooned to many hundreds of paragraphs. Traditionally, these adventures are 300 paragraphs long, including all alternative routes and - [Saferoom Heist](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/09/30/saferoom-heist/) - This is a longterm project, quite possibly five years or more in the making! The idea is to create one adventure for every one of the 24 planets in the Sand System. These will then be crossported to Cepheus System, FTL:Nomad, and Mongoose Traveller, and possibly 3Deep, Savage Worlds and Starfinder 2e. Once those 24 - [The King of Elfland's Daughter](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/09/24/the-king-of-elflands-daughter/) - This was/is a classic novel by Lord Dunsany. You can download it from Project Gutenberg and read it if you like. I would never normally create a Cut Up Solo book for it because, where I live, it is not in the public domain. This is one of those books that is in the public - [Common Objects](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/08/14/common-objects/) - I tend not to place common objects, I invent them. What I mean is, if I imagine my character running, and using a rock sticking out of the grass as a springboard to vault up behind the villain on their warhorse, then I simply assume such a rock exists. If I want to slam a - [Tutors & Mentors](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/08/11/tutors-mentors/) - I am playing D&D 5e using the Arkadia setting, I got to the Labors of Fate, and then went a bit off piste. This is not a problem because, although I am trying to play a published adventure, I also want to see if I can go my own way for a while, and then - [Arkadia #7 Muse](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/07/31/arkadia-7-muse/) - As I said in an earlier post, I want to have a Muse that has many columns, each on a theme. You then roll against selected columns as you feel fit the situation, location, etc. The problem is that I hate making lists and I am not very good at it. I am going to - [Arkadia #6](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/07/25/arkadia-6/) - I had my 81-year-old mother staying with me last week, so nothing got done, but I am back at it now. The task that has been occupying my development time is making lists. I am not a good list maker, I find them tiresome to create, and I want several to build out an oracle - [Arkadia #5 The Labors of Fate](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/07/14/arkadia-5-the-labors-of-fate/) - This section of the adventure is much more free-form. Prince Hektor tells me that my best chance of finding his sister, the oracle, is to ask the Huntress for advice. She lives in a forest north of the Trident, and I must bring a trophy as an offering if I want her help. That gives - [Arkadia #4 Part II The city of Illos](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/07/14/arkadia-4-part-ii-the-city-of-illos/) - I am looking for opportunities to use the "Is this true?" oracle question. That is an excellent way of diverging from the script of a published adventure. You read what the adventure says, and then ask the question. Yes, the scene plays out as described. If the answer is no, you can either use your - [Arkadia #3](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/07/11/arkadia-3/) - My current set up, the DM's screen for a quick rules reference, the adventure on the laptop, the start of a bullet journal, and real dice for a change. So far, I have survived with just Helios the Seer. Now I am in an adventure site, introducing an NPC would be slightly harder, although the - [Arkadia #2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/07/09/arkadia-2/) - This afternoon, I created my character, a 1st level Scyllaean wizard of the school of philosophy. I then started reading Fate of the Oracle. The adventure is intended for five 1st level characters, and I only have one. I am thinking that I have two ways of dealing with this, the first is to level - [Doing some D20 fantasy](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/07/09/doing-some-d20-fantasy/) - I haven't solo played any D&D for 3 or 4 years. I have the setting core book for Arkadia [Arcana Games LLC] and the adventure Fate of the Oracle. I have also have the free D&D basic set PDF. I am hoping, in theory, that with rules in the basic set, and the setting-specific rules, - [A Bit of Urgency](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/06/14/a-bit-of-urgency/) - Sometimes, a solo sandbox game can lack a bit of drive to push it forward. If the adventures don't exist until you are generating them on the fly, you may need some ignition point to get the adventure going. Once you have finished one adventure, you start the process again. Where does the next adventure - [Random Dungeon Rooms](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/06/09/random-dungeon-rooms/) - I am a big fan of mini tables. Mine are typically 4 options, two more common and two less so. My tables start out looking like this. I like the inherent bias because it means I can change the feel for an area by making something much more common than others. As I move from - [A funny thing happened on the way to the forum!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2025/03/10/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-forum/) - So, there I was happily laying out an anthology of short games. It wasn't massively exciting, it was mainly just laying out page after page of other people's work. When someone said "Why didn't I have a Cypher System book?" The short answer was that there was already a Cypher System book called CHAOS, which - [Short Story September Update#2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/09/16/short-story-september-update2/) - The storytelling collective 'course' is delivered as a series of letters. The last letter covered two ideas. The first is about the spectrum of options between planning your story in great details at one end and writing by the seat of your pants at the other. Most of us will naturally be somewhere on that - [Short Story September Update#1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/09/14/short-story-september-update1/) - Maybe there is some irony here but I intended to write this update last week but I didn't find the time to write anything. I have started the SSS course. The first suggestion is about working on your story every day, not necessarily writing but mulling things over and thinking about your story even if - [Short Story September (2024)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/08/27/short-story-september-2024/) - I have joined the Story Telling Collective's Short Story September with a view to improve my writing. https://www.storytellingcollective.com/courses/short-story-september-2024 I have never done one of these before, so have no idea what to expect. Yes, it may well have been a good idea to do this kind of thing before I started writing my flash fiction, - [Flash Fiction Project Update#2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/08/12/flash-fiction-project-update2/) - This will come as no great shock, but writing fiction is not very easy. My original idea was to try and create 500-1000 words every couple of days. I have no shortage of ideas or storylines, but the demands of flash fiction, that the action takes place mostly in a single scene, and that scene - [⚡Flash Fiction Bananas](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/07/30/flash-fiction-bananas/) - This is my first piece of Flash Fiction. Bananas Kal spent much time on the roof, near the fire escape. The home was a two cubic meter sleep pod three floors down in the tenement. Up here, at night, the town was alive, and the sky was big. You could look down on the Holo - [⚡Flash Fiction ‘Til Death Do Us Part](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/07/31/flash-fiction-til-death-do-us-part/) - Kal sat down in the public gallery overlooking the sheriff’s court. The ballistic glass between the the gallery and the court below showed the scars left by the outraged and the despondent few who have watched proceedings from here over the years. Below, the nearly empty court paid witness to the divorce proceedings of Haldane - [⚡Flash Fiction Nemo Me Impune Lacessit](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/08/12/flash-fiction-nemo-me-impune-lacessit/) - Officer Magnus Upsall sat motionless on the rooftop, the neon haze of Lerrick reflecting off his visor. His heart pounded rhythmically in his chest, but his hands remained steady, clutching his ancient but custom-modified HK G36. Below, the sprawling maze of Lerrick's harborside buzzed with life, awash in a sea of electric blue and crimson - [Flash Fiction Project](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/07/27/flash-fiction-project/) - If you have seen my diary entries about how DriveThruRPG is fading as a storefront and how I wanted to experiment with DriveThruFiction, this post follows on from those. A quick resume: The new DriveThruRPG website has been optimized for the biggest publishers. It makes discovery extremely difficult for smaller indie publishers, which has hit - [Designer Dirary: DriveThruFiction Project](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/04/02/designer-dirary-drivethrufiction-project/) - I am not sure there will be a video this week. The time I normally allocate to making the video is being eaten up by visiting an apiary before I get my first beehive on the croft. Someone is very kindly showing me their setup and guiding me on what I need to get started. - [Designer Diary: DriveThruFiction Experiment](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/03/28/designer-diary-drivethrufiction-experiment/) - DriveThruFiction [DTF] is OneBookShelf/Roll20's fiction ebook site. It is identical in almost every way to DriveThruRPG except for the books on sale, and it has a purple or is that lilac color scheme. At the moment, there is no sign of PHNX, which is a good thing. I assume that once they are satisfied with - [Designer Diary Pod Everything](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/03/21/designer-diary-pod-everything/) - *If*, and it is an if, DriveThru's new site does not get its act together and start to serve the smaller publishers as well or better than the previous site does, many small publishers are going to have problems. During the pandemic we had a little bit of a golden age for RPG creators. People - [Literary Translation Challenge](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/03/22/literary-translation-challenge/) - You may well have missed my literary translation debut! Last week I am kind of went down a rabbit hole while thinking about Grammarly. What I did was take a text and then let Grammarly loose on it and agreed to everything. Once I completed one pass, I went back and did it again, and - [PHNX Hell : Designer Diary](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2024/03/20/phnx-hell-designer-diary/) - I meant to post the blog last Thursday, but the audio wouldn't upload correctly, and things got complicated. Before I knew it, it was nearly a week later. Before I made solo RPG stuff and before I was a writer of anything resembling a book, I was a blogger. I enjoy blogging. Everything I do - [Black Out Poetry as an Oracle](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/09/04/black-out-poetry-as-an-oracle/) - Blackout poetry is often lumped together with cut ups as a non-authoring solo technique. The goal in this posts is to demonstrate how to use black out poetry for solo play, and give enough pointers for you to be able to give it a go yourself. Firstly, non-authoring solo. This is a style of play - [#RPGaDAY Day 12 Old Game I Still Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/12/rpgaday-day-12-old-game-i-still-play/) - This is another shoutout for Champions. I don't really care which version, from 1e to 6th, they are all good. I try and play Champions every Christmas in an ongoing campaign made of stringing one shot adventures together. Sometimes I swap out the villain in the published adventure and insert some of my own favorites. - [#RPGaDAY Day 11 Weirdest Game I have Played](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/11/rpgaday-day-11-weirdest-game-i-have-played/) - I think this one goes to Grok!! It certainly wan't the game I expected when I bought it. I was expecting yet another homemade fantasy game, what I got was a strange setting made of a shattered sci-fi world, from floating shards in the sky to dark delves underground. I was very impressed by the - [RPGaDAY Day10 Favorite Tie-in Fiction](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/10/rpgaday-day10-favorite-tie-in-fiction/) - Firstly, I will point out that it really is the 10of August and I am finally back on time! I am reading this question as games based on a fiction, and which game I think has done the best job. For me, it is a too up between Modiphius's Star Trek Adventures and Free Leegue's - [#RPGaDAY Day 9 Favorite Dice](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/10/rpgaday-day-9-favorite-dice/) - I am torn on this question. I think the humble d6 is the king of all dice. There must b more games that run of the d6 than anything else, despite the profile of the d20. But, I am not keen on any physical dice. I do own a set of polyhedral dice, just the - [#RPGaDAY2023 Day 8 Favourite Character](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/09/rpgaday2023-day-8-favourite-character/) - I have a character that gets reincarnated again and again in different game systems and campaigns. He is called Kallen, Callen, Kallan, or Callan, or in a fantasy setting sometimes Kal'an, or K'lan. He is actually named after a TV character, Callan, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callan_(TV_series) My Kallan tends to be a Scottish private detective, a little disheveled, - [#RPGaDAY2023 Day 7 The SMARTEST RPG I have played](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/09/rpgaday2023-day-7-the-smartest-rpg-i-have-played/) - I had to think about what smart meant in terms of RPGs. As I was thinking about Modern AGE and the AGE System for yesterday's answer, I think I am going to pick the AGE system again. My version of SMART in this instance is the stunt die. The basic game mechanic in the AGE - [#RPGaDAY2023 Day 6 Favorite Game you NEVER get to play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/09/rpgaday2023-day-6-favorite-game-you-never-get-to-play/) - This is a hard one again as this is a problem I don't really suffer with. There are games that I would like to run for my face to face group that I don't think will ever happen. We only get together every six months or so, and not at all during the pandemic years. - [#RPGaDAY2023 Day 5 Oldest Game I Played](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/08/rpgaday2023-day-5-oldest-game-i-have-played/) - This is a strange question. I am pretty sure that a huge swathe of #rpgaday bloggers are going to say the same as me, blue book Basic D&D. That is because we are old, and that was one of the first games available. For me, I played blue book, but I didn't own it. By - [#RPGaDAY2023 Day 4 Most Recent RPG Bought](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/08/rpgaday2023-day-4-most-recent-rpg-bought/) - Spark is a game about challenging beliefs, both your own and that of the other players, and the setting. Beliefs are literally everything! Solo playing this was very difficult. The first thing that I had to do was abandon just about everything I knew about oracles. I think the only random table in my solo - [#RPGaDAY2023 Day 3 First RPG Bought (This Year)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/08/rpgaday2023-day-3-first-rpg-bought-this-year/) - This year's RPGaDAY is not going so wall. I am on day 3 and I am already 5 days behind! I had to dig into my DTRPG order list to find out what I bought first this year and it turned out to be the Bookmark No HP RPG by Lester Smith. This game is - [#RPGaDay2023 Day 2 First RPG Gamemaster](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/02/rpgaday2023-day-2-first-rpg-gamemaster/) - I am not entirely sure what this prompt means. I am going to assume that it is what was the first game I gamemastered. The first game I ran was Basic D&D, but that was dungeon mastered, not game mastered. The first game I was gamemaster for was Hero Games Champions 1st Edition. To this - [#RPGaDay2023 1st August](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/08/02/rpgaday2023-1st-august/) - So this got off to an auspicious start. Day 1 and I am already a day behind. August 1st if the Swiss National Day, so things in our house can get overshadowed a bit. The prompt today is First game played this year. For me, it was BareBones Fantasy by DwD Studios. This is a - [WestlandsSolo Actual Play #1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/07/15/westlandssolo-actual-play-1/) - In this adventure, Harvold is a pirate turned Adventurer. I used the Standard array of attributes and the career path character generation. During each term of service, I played one scene, much like a flashback, to illustrate either how he picked up an injury, the service mishap, or the most important skill gained during that - [Solo Roleplaying Social Encounters](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/07/14/solo-roleplaying-social-encounters/) - Right now, I am playing Westlands, which is a Sword of Cepheus variant. It is what I would call a Hard Fantasy game, in the same way that Traveler and Cepheus System are hard sci-fi. This is not a game where wizards are throwing fireballs around, or for the most part, your hero isn't going - [Solo Deep Dives](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/06/23/solo-deep-dives/) - I have wanted to get back into blogging for a while but have just been starved for time so it never happened. When I send out my weekly emails they often contain just the barest hint of the ideas that are floating around my head, but I lacked the time to really expand on them. - [Designer Diary: Pathfinder Adventure Project Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/03/23/designer-diary-pathfinder-adventure-project-update/) - I have been a little time starved recently. We are gearing up to move not only home but the farm as well. Hopefully, signing the contracts on the 30th of this month and move sometime after that. If the seller cannot sign the contracts on the 30th, we will have to wait another month as - [Designer Diary: Working Title [Monsters Without Number]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/03/09/designer-diary-working-title-monsters-without-number/) - I set myself the goal of running 12 kickstarters in 2023, knowing full well that this is highly unlikely. I thought 10 may be possible, but even that is touch and go. Any less than 8 and I would be disappointed. So far, I have done December (which doesn't count towards my goal of 12), - [Designer Diary: 30hrs & $5](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/02/23/designer-diary-30hrs-5/) - First up, my current Kickstarter is decidedly underwhelming. On the one hand, I had big expectations for ZineQuest5/ZiMo2023. These are featured events, and I had expected that to bring in more backers. On the other hand, lOn the other hand, last year, ZineQuest4 was moved from February to August, and I had penciled in to - [Pathfinder Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/02/12/pathfinder-update/) - So, it is now Sunday afternoon. Since Thursday's video, I had a bit more of a think, and I could not see why not to do a series of Pathfinder adventures. The question is, could I do it? Starting on Friday afternoon, I have now spent about 17hrs, but not nose-to-the-grind wheel kinds of hours, - [Designer Diary: If it were me... why not me?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/02/09/designer-diary-if-it-were-me-why-not-me/) - On Monday, there was a discussion about Amazon, flash fiction, creating fiction from solo RPG games, and it evolved into getting Amazon to work for you. The experience of several people, some of which are much more experienced than I, was that constant new releases was the way to get the Amazon algorithm to keep - [Designer Diary: Making it?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/01/26/designer-diary-making-it/) - This week is an 'inbetweeny week'. I have projects coming to an end [Kickstarter] an projects starting [ZineQuest and ZiMo] and projects in progress [Earl of Fife's Heroes & Hardships solo book], but nothing that I can say, "Hey, this is really cool; you should look at this, do this, don't do this", or whatever. - [Designer Diary: A Good Week](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/01/19/designer-diary-a-good-week/) - This week has been one of those weeks where everything has sort of come together nicely. Since I made that video this morning, my new laptop computer has arrived, so I even have new toys to play with. It is installed Adobe Creative Suite even as I type this. My four big things this week - [Designer Diary: OGL 1.1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/01/12/designer-diary-ogl-1-1/) - If you have not come across this 'situation' if has different ramifications depending on if you are a creator, actual or aspiring, or gamer. The OGL that we have all been using is a perpetual license which does not mean that it can never go away. What that means is that there is no end - [Designer Diary: 2022 Trends](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2023/01/02/designer-diary-2022-trends/) - I can see the different stages of my journey in the graph above. There is a slight dip in May 2019. This is when I was ill. Prior to that, I had had slow but steady growth, primarily through different CCPs. In May, I did nothing for a month, but from then on, I took - [Designer Diary: Kickstarter post campaign round up](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/12/22/designer-diary-kickstarter-post-campaign-round-up/) - There is a big plateau in the last third of this campaign where I was simply out of action and could do nothing. It isn't something I could change. I could not prevent it. It is simply not worth worrying about. It is tempting to speculate if I could have reached £1,000 if I had - [What a week!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/12/18/what-a-week/) - I normally do a mid-week video of what is happening in my world as a publisher. This week Shetland, where I live was hit was hit by a snow storm of exactly the wrong type of snow. This was the same stuff that hit Canadaa few years back when the pylons were buckling under the - [Designer Diary: Kickstarter 1 week in](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/12/08/designer-diary-kickstarter-1-week-in-2/) - My total Kickstarter project length is 17 days, this snapshot is 9 days to go, so 8 days in. I had privately hoped for make a net profit of about $500, and I am well past that, so the money side is great. The real goal is to start building a Kickstarter-friendly mailing list. There - [Deal of the Day - Scarier Horror Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/11/29/deal-of-the-day-scarier-horror-play/) - I have today's DotD, and it is one of my little white books! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/366299/Scarier-Horror-Play?affiliate_id=730903&src=PPMGames This book is aimed at any kind of GM, solo or group, but only focuses on running horror games and trying to get the best from the genre. I always found horror to be one of the hardest genres to run. - [The $1 goal Kickstarter (that wasn't)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/11/08/the-1-goal-kickstarter-that-wasnt/) - $1 goal kickstarts were certainly a thing. They make a lot of sense; if you get even a single backer, you are guaranteed to succeed. If you work how I do, self-fund everything and then recoup, and reinvest previous earnings into the next project, then the real goal is kind of moot. You will reinvest - [Designer Diary: Solo Kickstarters](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/10/27/designer-diary-solo-kickstarters/) - I honestly don't know why I went for a D&D adventure as my first Kickstarter. I think it is a combination of fear that a solo product wouldn't fund, and I am a part of a discord with some big name D&D publishers that are all driven by Kickstarters, it seemed easier to be supported - [Designer Diary: Dealing with Licensing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/10/20/designer-diary-dealing-with-licensing/) - The cool thing about getting a license for a game is that there is a fair chance that other publishers won't. It thins out the field and when you are competing for eyeballs, the less competitors the better. Having a license can also make your thing more appealing to GMs that want to 'have it - [Designer Diary: Product Covers](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/10/07/designer-diary-product-covers/) - Today's video was a bit rambling, but the Too Long/Didn't Watch version is that your cover has to serve a single primary purpose, and that is to get the viewer's attention. Once you have their attention, they may click through to your product page, and there you have much more space to engage their interest - [Designer Diary: Fake Bundles](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/09/29/designer-diary-fake-bundles/) - I am trying to work out why you would want to do this. I often watch the top 20 titles on DTRPG. I am looking at them for 'best practice'. What can I emulate to make what I do better. I don't mean the products, but make better product pages, giving potential customers more information, - [Designer Diary: Deal of the Day Pricing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/09/23/designer-diary-deal-of-the-day-pricing/) - Straight after making this video I submitted my next title to the DotD queue. When you do that, you get told the number of titles in the queue and it is currently 74. This was the conversation that triggered this post. So, each day they do a random draw to see which title wins the - [Designer Diary: Deal of the Day autopsy, Old School Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/09/16/designer-diary-deal-of-the-day-autopsy-old-school-solo/) - Most of the hard stats from this video were in last week's blog posts before and after the Deal of the Day. What was interesting was the number of people who left the title in their basket, but didn't buy before the time ran out, and the implication that these may or may not have - [Post Deal of the Day](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/09/09/post-deal-of-the-day/) - Below are the before and after title analysis reports for my latest Deal of the Day. At the end of the deal you get the following email. $1.39/day In that email, you will see the quoted earnings per day of $1.39 and 0.53 copies per day. There are two things about those numbers. Firstly, they - [Designer Diary: Deal of the Day](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/09/08/designer-diary-deal-of-the-day/) - Today I have the Deal of the Day on DriveThruRPG. Normally, this is has been an exciting day and I can expect to sell a hundred books or so, and maybe the same again in adjacent books as people pick up other stuff while they are there. The last three Deals of the Day that - [Designer Diary: DTRPG and Machine Learning](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/09/01/designer-diary-dtrpg-and-machine-learning/) - DTRPG has decided that all products must fall into one of three categories. Hand Crafted, 3rd Party Tool Generated, or AI-Generated. This is, of course, utter rubbish. If you just wrote something, it would be none of the above. I am not convinced that these guidelines will help anyone. There probably will be some people - [Designer Diary: Pricing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/08/26/designer-diary-pricing/) - No video this week! It was a fairly 'workaday' week with nothing exciting or provocative happening until last night. OneBookShelf/DTRPG suddenly announced that they were proposing to increase prices in line with US inflation at 9% from September 12th. I don't know the significance of the date; there may not be one. I am not - [Interview with Jason Duff](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/08/18/interview-with-jason-duff/) - As always, ever the professional! This was my first ever interview. I first encountered Jason in the Grim & Perilous Library. One of the standouts was that Jason always bucked the trend. Grim & Perilous Studios was pressing for standardized covers. They provided the cover template; you just had to slot in your own cover - [Designer Diary: Email vs Bundles](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/08/11/designer-diary-email-vs-bundles/) - What Richard, Zadmar Games, is trying to achieve is upselling new customers into buying everything for TriCube Tales. This turns a $1 sale into an $8 sale. Once you have bought the everything bundle, you are likely to want to keep topping up the bundle as new titles are added. That gives Richard a stream - [Designer Diary: Catch up on Facebook Lead Ads](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/08/04/designer-diary-catch-up-on-facebook-lead-ads/) - I have had two complete months of data now. After my last post on these Facebook ads (in June), the new improved ads had peaked at 5 new subscriptions per day. That settled down to about 3 subscriptions for $2/day. I have been using the built-in A/B testing in the Facebook Ads Manager and trying - [Designer Diary: Post Kickstarter](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/28/designer-diary-post-kickstarter/) - The campaign has ended, and I am very happy with the result. I am not entirely sure how much money I will get at the end. I know the platform fees are 5%, but you also pay the card transaction fees. This could be a downside to offering cheap/smaller tiers. Proportionally the fees could be - [Barbaric Week pt 4](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/25/barbaric-week-pt-4/) - I am sad to say that Kane did not survive. I started the game with Kail, Kane's father. This time I went for a more specialist character. 2 Skill in Combat, 2 skill in Physical. 1 skill in Craft. 10/18 Endurance/Lifeblood. I didn't take a Trait. Instead, I took a sword and shield as a - [Designer Diary: 60hrs to go](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/21/designer-diary-60hrs-to-go/) - By the time you read this, it is likely to be less than 60hrs to go. Between making the video and writing this I got called away to bang in some fence posts. No rest for the wicked, as they say. Firstly, I cannot say how happy I am with how this KS is going. - [Barbaric Week pt 3](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/21/barbaric-week-pt-3/) - This post carries on from my previous two posts. Kane obviously has not made a huge amount of progress. He has killed a couple of 'roaches with arrows and summoned his wolf companion. He has lit a torch and is about to enter this first map section. Although I have specified giant insects as 'monsters', - [Barbaric Week pt 2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/20/barbaric-week-pt-2/) - This post continues on from yesterday's Barbaric Week (https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/19/barbaric-week/) I left yesterday's post with the first section of map. Kane will be entering from the top of the map into the cave. The first thing I am going to do is try and cast his first spell, Call Animal. The goal will be to call - [Barbaric Week](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/19/barbaric-week/) - Every now and again, I wake up feeling like everything is perfect. It isn't often, and it is rarely on a Tuesday. Tuesdays and I have never got on, but that is another story. It is about 8 months since I have done a solo dungeon crawl, and last week was all about tactical combat - [Designer Diary: Kickstarter 1 week in.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/14/designer-diary-kickstarter-1-week-in/) - I am one week into this Kickstarter and I am very happy with the process so far. I do not intend to spend any money on advertising this time around. What I have done is helped out other people in the past by promoting their KS campaigns, and this time around they have mentioned my - [Designer Diary: Unholy Plague Campaign Launched](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/07/07/designer-diary-unholy-plague-campaign-launched/) - So my first Kickstarter is live. It went live on Tuesday because various blog posts suggested that Tuesday was the optimal day for launching a campaign. My goal is set to $99, the adventure actually cost about sub-$40 to write if you exclude my time to write it, lay it out, and all the myriad - [Designer Diary: DTRPG CSV Reports](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/06/29/designer-diary-dtrpg-csv-reports/) - First of all, CSV stands for comma-separated values and is a way of saving data that can be opened in almost any spreadsheet. They are plain text with commas in between the different values. If you open on in a text editor it will probably be as ugly as hell, but in a spreadsheet, it - [Designer Diary: Reusable Content](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/06/23/designer-diary-reusable-content/) - There is always a danger that the efforts to sell more copies of existing stuff you have made eats up so much of your time that you don't have enough time or energy to create new stuff. That creating stuff was why we get into this game in the first place. If you can find - [Designer Diary: Facebook Ads](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/06/16/designer-diary-facebook-ads/) - In writing for RPGs is surprisingly easy to go a very long way without spending a single cent/penny. You can write and layout some very sophisticated documents just using LibreOffice and export them to PDF. You could use Scribus to set up a document for Print on Demand. If you print through Xpress, Lulu, or - [Designer Diary: Another Nail in the CCP Coffin?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/06/09/designer-diary-another-nail-in-the-ccp-coffin/) - Once upon a time, CCPs [Community Content Programmes] were an excellent way to get into writing for RPGs. They can still be, if you are fully aware of the implications. If you write for a CCP you will not be able to contact your customers to tell them about new releases as a publisher can. - [Designer Diary #pocketquest](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/06/02/designer-diary-pocketquest/) - This is interesting because game jams are/were definitely an Itch.io thing and not a DTRPG thing. In addition, DTRPG normally keeps their smaller sales and promotions a secret until they start. Their regular sitewide sales are well known, but most people don't know the dates of them. This one has a clearly publicized start date - [Designer Diary: Email Marketing (Again)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/26/designer-diary-email-marketing-again/) - One of the most recurring topics on the DTRPG discord is how to do marketing if you don't want to do marketing. Creative types are notoriously bad at marketing and often equate it to trying to hard sell. Another version is the impostor syndrome, where creatives don't want to sing the praises of what they - [Designer Diary: Are we a community?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/19/designer-diary-are-we-a-community/) - Jay from FeralGamersInc sent out this email yesterday. HiI am doing a sale on my more popular titles that will run until the 22nd of May. At the moment my wife's parents are both in a critical state with advanced cancer, her Father has cancer of the mouth and throat and her Mother has cancer - [How to: create cut ups](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/16/how-to-create-cut-ups/) - The main tool for creating cut ups, for me, is a Word macro. Create a blank document, then go to View->Macros->Record Macro. Name the macro CutUp Type a space, and then delete it. Go back to View->Macros and stop recording. Go to View->Macros, select CutUp and then click Edit. Highlight the macro below, and replace - [Designer Diary: Work in Progress Generic Tools](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/12/designer-diary-work-in-progress-generic-tools/) - It is very rare for me, but this week feels like work, not being paid to play. My working week is normally reading a game, seeing what is really cool about it, and then creating characters, running through adventures, with lots of note-taking, and then writing up those notes into what I needed to solo - [Old School Solo [Old School Essentials]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/old-school-solo-old-school-essentials/) - I have just added a link for Old School Solo. These are written specifically for Old School Essentials, but they are much better than my existing OSR Solo. They show the difference that a few years make. These rules will be released later today on DTRPG/Amazon/Itch and my own site. I will submit them the - [Solo Playing Tips Mini Tables](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tips-mini-tables/) - Prepare mini encounter tables that are keyed to specific locations, make each location feel different. - [Solo Playing Tips - World Lore](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tips-world-lore/) - For every encounter, embed a bit of world or setting lore. Think about the who, what, where, when, why and how that led up to this encounter. One sentence on one of these is probably enough. - [Ghostmaster [Ghostbusters International]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/ghostmaster-ghostbusters-international/) - I had to make some last minute edits and layout fixes today. The finished Ghostmaster booklet is no ready to release on DTRPG, and is on the back catalog list. Here is the direct link to your free version. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=9f1d9b7aa3 - [Solo Playing Tip In Media Res](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip-in-media-res/) - Starting in media res is a trusted solo technique, but it doesn't have to be a combat. Any action scene works. - [Solo Playing Tip - Give Yourself A Break](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip-give-yourself-a-break/) - Keep a feel for your solo session, if it is getting bogged own, throw in something exciting, don't wait for the oracle to tell you want to do. Too much action? Give your character a break. - [Ghost Master [Ghostbusters International]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/ghost-master-ghostbusters-international/) - I honestly cannot remember who originally asked for these solo rules, but they are now done! In the Patreon folder, is a new Ghostbusters International folder, and in there is a Ghost Master PDF. There is no explicit yes-no oracle. It uses fortunately/unfortunately as its binary choice. The strength of the answer is controlled by - [Hostile - Zozer Games](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/hostile-zozer-games/) - Another set of solo rules that were requested was Hostile by Zozer games. I have spent all of today reading it. I started with the rules, and that is pure Cepheus System, there are no noticeable changes and certainly none that would stop my existing Cepheus solo rules from working. So, I switched my attention - [Solo Playing Tip #9 Go With The Flow](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip-9-go-with-the-flow/) - Don't limit your games by what you thought may happen, go with the flow and play to find out what happens. - [Solo Playing Tip #10 Set Plays](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip-10-set-plays/) - If you can imagine some fun set plays or clichés, like trolls under the bridge, use them in your game. Clichés work because they are often right. - [Solo Playing Tip#7](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip7/) - NPC Prompts Keep a reminder of interesting NPCs in front of you at all times, it can stop you forgetting about them, and prompts you to include them in your scenes. - [Cut Up Solo - King Soloman's Mines](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-king-solomans-mines/) - After I posted the message on Friday about how I wanted to complete and publish the solo rules for Ghostbusters International [working title Ghostmaster], things took a turn for the worst. I ended up spending hours on hold waiting for a customer support person to answer, then we have an equine physio come twice a - [Solo Playing Tip #8](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip-8/) - Can you summarise the theme of your adventure in one or two words? Write them on a card or sticky and keep it visible as a default prompt for when you get stuck. - [Solo Play tip#6](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-play-tip6/) - If you cannot imagine either the yes or no solution to an oracle answer, it probably wasn't a suitable question, go with answer you can imagine. - [Ghostbusters International](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/ghostbusters-international/) - Ghostbusters International was the second edition of the Ghostbusters RPG. The original was very light, about 70 pages in all, and didn't include much by way of skill resolution or GM guidance. International was nearly twice the page count and has a much more developed 'universal' resolution system. Comedy RPGs are the single hardest genre - [Solo Play Tips](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-play-tips/) - Hopefully, by now, you will have noticed the solo play tips videos. I am planning on adding 2-4 tips a week. At that rate, I have sufficient tips to keep that up for a year. I am still writing new ones. I want to have a good stock of them because I don't want to - [Solo Playing Tip #5 Run with it.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip-5-run-with-it/) - If the logical solution to an oracle answer looks really bad for your character, run with it and see where it takes you. Challenge is at the core of RPGs. - [Solo Play Tip#4 Making Sense](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-play-tip4-making-sense/) - [d20 Solo - soloing d20 Modern](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/d20-solo-soloing-d20-modern/) - Lurking in the Patreon Folder is a new subfolder called d20 Modern. In there you will find a PDF of d20 Solo. These are my rules for d20Modern [Wizards of the Coast]. You will recognise soem bits from One Gold Coin, a couple of weeks ago. It uses a virtually identical set of oracle/muse tables. - [Solo Tip #2 Better Dungeon Rooms](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-tip-2-better-dungeon-rooms/) - [Solo Playing Tip#3 Rules Lawyer](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-playing-tip3-rules-lawyer/) - [Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/update/) - I am writing up a d20 Modern solo book this week. I will try and get that to you before the end of the week. I found a copy of Ghostbusters International at the weekend. A long time ago, I was asked on here for Ghostbusters solo. I can finally fulfill that. I am going - [Solo Tip #1 Better Villains](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-tip-1-better-villains/) - [One Gold Coin Link](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/one-gold-coin-link/) - I have updated the back catalog list, but for ease, here is the discount link to grab the PDF of One Godl Coin. - [This week....](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/this-week-2/) - I am trying to get into d20 Modern. This is derived from D&D 3.5, or so I believe. I have the core rules, and the SRD. I am still have Old School Essentials in the back of my mind, and a request from someone for Pathfinder. So the more I look into D&D-esque systems, the - [Cut Up Solo She & Ayesha](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-she-ayesha/) - I have added a new download to the back catalogue page. Cut Up Solo - She & Ayesha https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=90ea82b26f This is another Victorian adventure style cut up book. It is not live yet for anyone else. - [One Gold Coin](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/one-gold-coin/) - The weather was so miserable this weekend, from Friday onwards, and no let up in sight, that I had little to do except stay in and read, and do a bit of playing. Last week I said it would take me about a week to create a solo set for For Coin & Blood. I - [Spice Screen Early Release](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/spice-screen-early-release/) - I have dropped all the Dune Solo GM screen files into the Patreon/Dune folder. Probably the most important file is Spice Quick Reference as that explains what the hell is going on! There are four versions of the screen. The Home Print are simply the four panels for home printing. The Print files include the - [For Coin & Blood](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/for-coin-blood/) - Where I made my name in solo play was by having rules that were tightly focused on each specific game system. You didn't need to break out of the headspace of the game just to use a generic oracle. What I was doing is looking at my collection of games and picking the ones that - [Cut Up Solo - Around the World in 80 Days](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-around-the-world-in-80-days/) - Over the weekend I put together a new cut up book. This one uses Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. The book follows the same format as the others, book + spreadsheets. I was hoping to find the original illustrations as well, but this time I could not find them in the public - [Dune preview](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dune-preview/) - You may, or may not, have noticed but in the Patreon/Dune folder is a 4 page PDF. These are a preview of the four panels of tables for Dune, in portrait format. My next task is to try and get them to fit landscape. Then I need to create the condensed, no-frills version and the - [Solo in the Age of Adventure [Conan 2d20]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-in-the-age-of-adventure-conan-2d20/) - I finally received the print proofs of the GM screen today, and they look good. I have added the at cost print version to the list of print products, but I am repeating them here for convenience. Solo in the Age of Adventure (Conan 2d20) Landscape https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=9a68b94307 Solo in the Age of Adventure (Conan 2d20) - [Cyberpunk & Corporate](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cyberpunk-corporate/) - Not long ago I created a Scientific Lab Generator, made of six d12 oracles. This one uses the same template but is intended for running around causing chaos in a Cyberpunk corporate office. There are 6 themed 1d12 tables, you can use them in any order. If you look in the Patreon folder, then Random - [Dune update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dune-update/) - I believe that I have finished making tables! It is possible that I will need to make a few more, but the hard part is done. I must say that duelling in Dune is quite something. I have seen some systems that drilled down into detail, but Dune is literally making you describe how and - [A d12 to rule them all](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/a-d12-to-rule-them-all/) - The more eagle eyed of you may have noticed that I have started building tables for Dune d20. I am creating the Scene Construction and Scene Traits tables. I had planned to get more of these tables done over the weekend. But... Someone has passed on The One Ring starter set rules. This is only - [TOR](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/tor/) - Last week I was asked for a set of quick, rule light solo tools for The One Ring. If you look in the Patreon folder you will find a sub-folder called TOR, and in there you will find 2 documents. The PDF of A D12 to Rule Them All and the word document. I have - [Scientific Lab Generator](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/scientific-lab-generator/) - This is a silly thing that I made for an Itch Game Jam. It is half a dozen d12 tables to create the outline of a weird science lab. I think the Lone Wolf Game Jam ends next week, and I may upload it to DTRPG as a free download. You can find your PDF - [Dune - First Thoughts](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dune-first-thoughts/) - I spent a lot of last week working through the core rulebook. The first 100 pages are pretty dense setting information. You then get to build your house. There are four options, and they are your own choice, no dice rolling required. The choices are nascent house, house minor, house major, and great house. It - [Cosmic Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cosmic-adventures/) - I have just updated the back catalog links. I will put it here for convenience as well. Cosmic Adventures (Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells) https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=96e5b31c3b - [Dune (Update 1)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dune-update-1/) - I am digging into the Dune core rules. Dune uses two levels of play. These are called Architect and Agent. Agent level is where you are playing your PC in the thick of the action, as you would expect in a typical sci-fi RPG. Architects is a more top-down level, where the players get to - [This week...](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/this-week/) - ... I am working on a solo book for Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells (Old Skull Publishing). I was asked to do these rules in 2020, but they never got around to sending me the game until a little while ago. There was supposed to be a new version, but it looks like just a - [Solo in an Age of Adventure Screens](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-in-an-age-of-adventure-screens/) - A quick update, I have ordered the printed GM screens today. The longest the screens have taken to arrive is a full 7 weeks. I hope it will be a bit quicker than that! Later tonight I will add the digital files to the Back Catalog downloads page. - [GM Screens](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/gm-screens/) - I discovered that I had never added the John Carter GM screen to the download links. I have added them today. I had also added the Conan GM screen to the downloads. You should have four more downloads on the list. I cannot add the at cost print files until I have received the print - [Conan Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/conan-adventures-in-an-age-undreamed-of/) - I am going back to one of my unfinished promises, and that is the tables and GM screens for the various 2d20 system games. There are many of these outstanding, Conan, Dune, Fallout, Achtung Cthulhu, Dishonored, Infinity, Mutant Chronicles, and Devil's Run. Two of these I had never heard of, Devil's Run, and Dishonored. I - [Conan Tables and Screen](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/conan-tables-and-screen/) - If everything goes to plan today, I hope to have all the Conan tables made. You may have seen me drop a selection of art into the work in progress folder. I don't know how much of this I will use or how much won't work. The tables I have created so far all use - [Conan Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/conan-update/) - If you check in your patreon folder, in the Conan subfolder you will now find two PDFs. CiaAoA Portrait Screen Home Print contains the four panels for the portrait screen. These are al d6 or Combat Die tables. Where there is any kind of hierarchy of results, I have followed the good, better, bad, bad, - [Starting my Modern AGE playtesting](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/starting-my-modern-age-playtesting/) - I will be doing a series of public posts as I play with Modern AGE over the next week. You will still see new tables appearing in the spreadsheet as it goes. - [FantasyAGE and ModernAGE progress report](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/fantasyage-and-modernage-progress-report/) - I have finished going through the books, and I have been playing the games all over Christmas and the past two weeks. I have loads of notes and you will have seen the tables, as I have been making them. I started the writing up progress today, and after a good day I have got - [Modern AGE](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/modern-age/) - I have completed my read-through of Modern AGE and made a character. I am going to start table building today. I will start playing using the Fantasy AGE oracle tables, and building modern equivalents as I go. This will help playtest the core tables. I am going to start my playtesting assuming Cinematic mode. Often - [Poirot Investigates](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/poirot-investigates/) - I have been hinting about this Cut Up Solo book for a while. This is being released this week while I am spending most of my time working on Modern AGE. So, this uses two Agatha Christie Poirot novels as its source. This gives a nice big selection of texts, a little over 27,000 snippets - [Work In Progress AGE system](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/work-in-progress-age-system/) - In the Patreon folder there is no a folder for the AGE System. In there is a spreadsheet with the first few random tables. I am hoping to do a single combined supplement for both Fantasy AGE and Modern AGE. These tables are mainly Fantasy AGE based. There is absolutely no explanation of what I - [AGE System](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/age-system/) - You may have seen that my random tables for Fantasy AGE have grown a little bit. I have worked my way through the rules, and I have been playing a bit of Fantasy AGE each evening this week. I am doing a basic dungeon crawl, high in combat and exploration, low in plot and roleplaying. - [At Cost Print Links](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/at-cost-print-links/) - Everyone should bookmark the page below as it is another page that will be often updated. These links will give you at-cost print versions of several titles. When I do more print titles, I will add them to this list. https://www.patreon.com/posts/54735803 - [Bibliophobia Pulp Cthulhu](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/bibliophobia-pulp-cthulhu/) - These rules take Monophobia, my basic Call of Cthulhu rules, and tune them specifically for Pulp Cthulhu. I have rebuilt the oracle, muse, the drama pools (getting rid of clocks), and the story seed tables. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=960842dd8a This will go live this evening for the general public. - [And up next... Pulp Cthulhu](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/and-up-next-pulp-cthulhu/) - I have spent this week reading and making notes on Pulp Cthulhu. This was one of the titles requested in the last round 'what do I do next". So far, I think I prefer Pulp Cthulhu more than straight up Call of Cthulhu. CoC can go through a lot of investigators even when you have - [Back to work!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/back-to-work/) - I took a week out to go and see my family for the first time since the pandemic hit, and for my youngest daughter's graduation ceremony. She completed her degree in 2020, but all the end of year stuff was cancelled. I am now back, and the break has done me some good. First, I - [Removed Patreon Tiers](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/removed-patreon-tiers/) - Hi, I feel that I am not giving value for money to the higher tiers of supporters. Titles that cannot be sold are getting harder to get into print. DriveThruRPG are getting stricter about what I can put through their Print on Demand, Lulu has increased their minimum page count, which makes it harder to - [Shadowrunner](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/shadowrunner/) - If you look in the Patreon/Shadowrunner folder, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1evlw1C4_mzwee7IX40rd1TDjnC_kXJfM?usp=sharing You will find the latest iteration of Shadowrunner. The last two additions were the Yes/No oracle and the Open Question Oracle. This document now has everything you need, unless you tell me otherwise, to play shadow run. I have scavenged parts from all over the web, random - [Shadowrun Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/shadowrun-update/) - As promised in the Patreon/Shadowrun folder is the latest work in progress version of Shadowrunner. It has gained a few more random tables, and the yes/no oracle. I have built out the virtual player chapter a little more as well. I have been playing with some design elements. These are not fixed yet. It is - [Cut Up Solo - The Nine Unknown](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-the-nine-unknown/) - I was specifically asked for this cut up book, and as they take so little effort on my part, my computer does most of the hard work while I am asleep, that it managed to turn it around pretty quickly. So here is today's new link. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=94dbcca9f2 (fixed) In the meantime, Shadowrunner has grown a - [Lone Operative - Solo Rules for Ghost Ops 1st Edition](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/lone-operative-solo-rules-for-ghost-ops-1st-edition/) - These rules will be going live in about 2hrs on DTRPG. I have added your free download link to the back catalog page. For ease of use, here is the discount link. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=9d3f190603 At the moment I am splitting my time between Shadowrun 6e solo rules, building random tables, and writing the next little white - [The past week, progress report](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/the-past-week-progress-report/) - It suddenly occurred to me that I haven't posted anything in a while. I am going to drop a work in progress file in the patreon folder later today. This is start of the Shadowrun solo rules. It is mostly just a little bit of text and some random tables. The tables part always takes - [Player Emulation 2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/player-emulation-2/) - In this video I give a whirlwind demo of using my condensed player emulator. You can find the rules in the Mothership solo rules "Lone Star". I see no distinction between a virtual player and the character the virtual player is playing. The first step is to create a personality for each player character. This - [Ghost Ops Early Access](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/ghost-ops-early-access/) - I finished Ghost Ops last night, and I have put the completed PDF in the Patreon+ folder. I have labelled it Ghost Ops 1st Edition. I haven't seen 2e yet. I hope you enjoy it. - [Lone Operative Work in Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/lone-operative-work-in-progress/) - In the Patreon folder is a subfolder for Ghost Ops. In there is a work in progress version of Lone Operative. This is a set of solo rules that were commissioned by the publisher, FeralGamerInc. I am waiting on an art package from the publisher, and I am playtesting what I have so far. It - [Cut Up Solo - Night of the Long Knives and The Scarlet Plague](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-night-of-the-long-knives-and-the-scarlet-plague/) - Today's new title is a new Cut Up book. This one is very post apocalypse. I have mixed two post apocalypse tales. Night of the Long Knives is post nuclear and the Scarlet Plague is post pandemic. This is a placeholder for Lone Operative, which needs more play testing and art selection. I hope to - [Player Emulation](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/player-emulation/) - Jim Street asked about soloing using emulated players, rather than a GM emulator. This has been done and you can download the PDF from here: https://exposit.github.io/katarpgs/superlite/playeremulator/ The way it works, in brief, is that each virtual player, has an agenda, rolled on 2d6. Each time you need the characters to make a meaningful choice you - [Worlds Without Number - Ruinous Explorations](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/worlds-without-number-ruinous-explorations/) - This book is going to be live on DTRPG in about half an hour or so. I have updated the back catalog list with your link. In case that post is buried, here is the discount link. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=93b8a68cbe - [Shadowrun](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/shadowrun/) - I have been reading the game rules, and running some test combats to get the rules fixed in my mind. I am assuming that the it is the setting that is outstanding about Shadowrun? I ask that because I can normally see how a games mechanics have been designed to shape the genre and setting. - [Quick preview - Game Icons](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/quick-preview-game-icons/) - This is a quick preview from the start of layout. Rather than the wheels of icons, now they form a track down the edges of every page. I have also chosen black icons on a white background. Someone pointed out that the inverse icons used a lot of ink or toner if you wanted to - [Early Release Version Worlds Without Number](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/early-release-version-worlds-without-number/) - I have put an early release copy in the Patron+/Worlds Without Number folder. It is called WWN001 Ruinous Explorations v0.2.pdf. I expect to release this book on October 4th. - [Shadowrun Research](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/shadowrun-research/) - In the last "What Comes Next?" Shadowrun seemed pretty popular. It just so happens that I bought the recent Shadowrun Bundle of Holding, so I have the rules, setting and even a fist full of novels as well. I haven't played the game yet, but I am starting the reading today in preparation for creating - [Worlds Without Number](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/worlds-without-number/) - In the Patreon folder is a Worlds Without Number subfolder. In there you will find a nearly complete first draft of Ruinous Explorations. These are my solo rules for Worlds Without Number. The core of the rules are all there. It is missing the Game Icons but you can use these rules in conjunction with - [Cut Up Solo - The Thirty-Nine Steps](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-the-thirty-nine-steps/) - There is a new link in the Back Catalog list. https://www.patreon.com/posts/50015092 This is for Cut Up Solo - The Thirty-Nine Steps. Obviously this is based upon the thriller of the same name. Over the past year I have grown more confident with cut up and this book moves away from building entire sentences and paragraphs - [Barsoom Screen](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/barsoom-screen/) - If feels like an age since I ordered the screen panels, but they finally arrived and I think they look good. Most of the content in these came from public domain sources or is very generic. These I am sure I can release without violating anyone's intellectual property rights. I will check that you have - [Progress Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/progress-update/) - I am still working on the Worlds Without Number solo rules. These are coming along nicely. If I have a really good week they could get done this week or next. The layout of books based on Game Icons takes an absolute age as there are hundreds of images to select, position and resize. The - [Rogue Trooper (2000AD) supplemental tables](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/rogue-trooper-2000ad-supplemental-tables/) - I was going to build some additional tables for WOIN. When I reached the built in random tables, they pretty much had everything I was thinking of building. I have extracted those pages, pages 97 to 103 in the Rogue Trooper rules, and stuck them in the Patreon/WOIN sub folder . If you are interested - [Strontium Dog Supplemental tables](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/strontium-dog-supplemental-tables/) - I have done the same today as I did with Rogue Trooper. The most important difference between the WOIN New rules and Strontium Dog was the bounty hunter contracts, and the mutations. I have extracted just those tables into a PDF. There is little point in me creating almost identical tables by hand when there - [Cut Up Thirty-Nine Steps](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-thirty-nine-steps/) - I have added a new cut up book and sheets to the early release folder. I have no idea when this will go live, it is one of the titles I have ready should I need to fill a week. - [Wicked Ones, Wickedly Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/wicked-ones-wickedly-solo/) - Back at the end of 2020 I was asked to create some solo rules for Wicked Ones. The booklet went on sale in April, but it was not my product, I was just paid to write them. Yesterday Bandit Camp took the book down, and they are going to rework the rules themselves into something - [Star Trek STA GM screen](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-sta-gm-screen/) - The more I look at the screen and the tables I created, the more convinced I am that these violate copyright. I will create the discount links to download the screen PDFs and for the top level patrons to get the screens at cost price. These links will still work even if the product is - [A change is as good as a break...](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/a-change-is-as-good-as-a-break/) - I wanted a bit of a change of pace. I have been writing those little white books for the past five weeks, while also pulling the 2000AD games apart. The little white books were quite intense to write because I really wanted each new one to capitalise on the success of the previous ones. Things - [Genesys Solo Rules Supplement](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/genesys-solo-rules-supplement/) - In about 2 minutes I will be uploading the Genesys Solo Rules Supplement to the early release folder! This book really went almost to the 11th hour! It was my intention to have it done by Friday but everything conspired against me, and it is nearly midday on Monday and I am still doing final - [What comes next?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/what-comes-next-2/) - There is still plenty of stuff outstanding, more 2d20 systems to tackle, and two more 2000AD supplemental booklets, but I think I have created much of what was the previous polls. What I am doing at the moment, apart from nibbling away at those two above, is reading up on Worlds Without Number. My Stars - [Easier Story Craft](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/easier-story-craft/) - I have just uploaded Easier Story Craft to Patreon+. This is a 56 page book of GMing advice and tips, incorporating some bits you will recognise from solo play, but aiming them at the general GM/DM market. There are bits of Hamlet's Hit Points in here, but I find Robin D Laws to be rather - [New free downloads](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/new-free-downloads/) - I have added two links to the back catalog page today. Easier Story Craft is the latest little white book, it is no on general release yet, but it will be in about 5hrs time. The Sticky GM, this is the original little white book. It isn't really about solo, that is why it was - [Dredd the end of the week](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dredd-the-end-of-the-week/) - I have spent the end of this week mucking about with Judge Dredd. What I want to create is a few pages of addendum for my WOIN rules for each of the 2000AD game (Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and Strontium Dog). There is an excellent crime generator at the back of the rules. D66 and - [Pathfinder](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/pathfinder/) - I know Pathfinder is not on any list of rules I have been asked for or in progress, but... I bought Pathfinder 2e and Starfinder this year, and I did want to play them. From a business point of view as an indie publisher my mailing list is the absolute core of the business. Most - [Cut Up Solo Pirates!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-pirates/) - As you know, I like to have something to release each week. It is a bit touch and go at the moment whether I will have Easier Story Craft ready for Monday, but that is my plan! If that plan goes awry, I have a new Cut Up Solo book ready. It is currently in - [Easier Mystery Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/easier-mystery-play/) - A new book for you in the Work in Progress folder. In the subfolder Easier Mystery Play is the digital version of this GMing advice/tips book. It is a little shorter than Easier Solo Play and Scarier Horror Play. Tomorrow I want to get stuck into the Judge Dredd modifications for the WOIN rules. - [Cut Up Solo The Virginian](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-the-virginian/) - This book (and spreadsheets) should be appearing in the early release folders very soon. My weekend went completely awry when a team of workers turned up to put up fences around a new paddock we are building. I hadn't expected them for another two weeks, but our job was small enough and there was some - [Solo Barsoom, or The solo adventurer's quick reference to Barsoom](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-barsoom-or-the-solo-adventurers-quick-reference-to-barsoom/) - I have just uploaded the files to the early release folder. You get two versions of each screen, the homeprint files are not suitable for Print on Demand, the standard portrait and landscape screen panels have the blank 'backs' of the panels inserted and have printers bleeds built into them. The instruction leaflet explains how - [Scarier Horror Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/scarier-horror-play/) - Here is your link to Scarier Horror Play. This is the follow on book from Easier Solo Play. It is not explicitly Solo, but much of it does apply. What is good for general RPGs is also normally good for solo. Many of the examples in the book come from my own solo games. Here - [Today's Goal(s)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/todays-goals/) - I said that August was going to be a month of finishing what I had promised! Yesterday I got all of the Beyond the Solo Frontier files uploaded and I have ordered the print proofs of the screens. Delivery was quoted as 3-7 weeks. Last time it took 6 weeks 2 days. These will be - [Solo Adventures Barsoom](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-adventures-barsoom/) - Very shortly you should see a new zip file in the John Carter work in progress folder. This contains five of the six files for the John Carter of Mars GM screen. The missing file is a two page almost plain text version of all the tables. These are intended for people to just print - [August, a month to complete projects.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/august-a-month-to-complete-projects/) - I hate having things hanging over me, and having the Star Trek Adventures, John Carter of Mars, Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog and Rogue Trooper all part finished. My goal for August is to finish as many of these as I can. The first will be the Star Trek Adventures. We have the GM screen done - [Solo Beyond the Final Frontier](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-beyond-the-final-frontier/) - I have created the instruction sheets for using the GM Screen today. All I need to do is rename some files and I can package these up ready for release. The package will comprise: Instruction Sheet2 page 'print at home' reference sheets.4 panel Portrait GM Screen inserts4 Panel Landscape GM Screen inserts. I have uploaded - [Cepheus Solo Oracle Deck](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cepheus-solo-oracle-deck/) - Here is the physical deck! The proof arrived today. Next week, I will try and get this put up as Deal of the Day on DriveThruCards, and follow it with a physical deck sale. - [Cepheus Solo Deck](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cepheus-solo-deck/) - I was asked this morning about whether I had received the proof deck from the Cepheus solo deck. I said I hadn't and it was still just within the expected delivery dates. Would you believe it but when the post turned up, there was the box with the card deck! This link will give you - [Easier Solo Play Early Access](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/easier-solo-play-early-access/) - If you check the early release folder [patreon+], you should see Easier Solo Play as a file. This book is a 92 page PDF, it is not a set of rules, it is just tips and advice. When it is released it will initially be $4.99, but then going up to $7.99. I was originally - [Easier Solo Play - At Cost Print](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/easier-solo-play-at-cost-print/) - In the print folder [patreon++] is a new zip archive. It contains 3 files. The first is the interior file. This file works at DriveThru, Amazon and Lulu. You should be able to take it to a print shop and get it printed there as well. There are two covers. Easier Solo Play OBS Cover.pdf - [Root of Evil 5e Compatible](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/root-of-evil-5e-compatible/) - I have been playing a lot of 5e recently, you may have seen reference to my War Domain Cleric, Wesley. It occurred to me to convert my Dungeon World adventures to 5e, which is of course much more popular than Dungeon World. This is your second early access release today. I will add this link - [Happy Soloist - Updated](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/happy-soloist-updated/) - I have renamed the version of The Happy Soloist that you have already seen to version 0.5, on the assumption that I am about half way through. Today I have uploaded 0.6, which is, predictably, and continuation and adds more tips. I still have more tips to add in, but I think the bulk is - [2000AD titles](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/2000ad-titles/) - I bought up all the full versions of the 2000AD universe games today. This means I can now finish off the WOIN versions for Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog and and of course Dredd. They are not particularly big rulebooks, so should not take that long to do. I am thinking it may be quite fun - [The Happy Soloist](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/the-happy-soloist/) - In the work in progress folder is a new subfolder called The Happy Soloist. This is a working title, it could just as easily have been Confessions of a Solo Role-Player. The final title is to be confirmed. What you have is the first 40 or so pages of a book. Not a set of - [Foul Sewers Dungeon World Compatible](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/foul-sewers-dungeon-world-compatible/) - This is one of today's releases. I will add a link to the Dungeon World Adventures section of the Back Catalog post. This will be released to the public later today. Here is the direct link. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=9bacbc4006 - [W.I.O.N What is N.E.W. is Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/w-i-o-n-what-is-n-e-w-is-solo/) - I have just released the W.I.O.N. book that you saw as a work in progress. I have fixed some layout issues, added page numbers and fixed a couple of typos. Your free version is here... https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=997c2cfb04 ... and on the back catalog post should you lose this post in the stream of updates. - [Today's Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/todays-progress/) - When I did the Star Trek Adventures GM screen layout. My four pages in Word format, turned into just three panels of the screen. So, rather than get caught out again, I did some layout today to see how far my John Carter 5 pages in Word will go in the screen panels template. It - [John Carter Of Mars Solo GM Screen](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/john-carter-of-mars-solo-gm-screen/) - I don't know why this is such an uphill struggle! But, the first version of this is done. It all fits on the four panels. There will need to be some fiddling around to get the landscape version to look nice. In the Work in Progress folder is a new John Carter of Mars folder, - [W.O.I.N work in progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/w-o-i-n-work-in-progress/) - In a few hours there will be a new download in the work in progress folder. This will be the basic W.I.O.N solo rules. It has a definite 'NEW' theme to it. W.I.O.N OLD is the fantasy version, NOW is the modern day version and NEW is sci-fi. I have just one more section to - [Good Progress Day!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/good-progress-day/) - It was the right decision to take a break from John Carter. Not only have a created the vanilla version of the W.I.O.N rules, which you should have got yesterday, but today I opened the John Carter file again and created the third panel of the GM Screen. I need one more panel and then - [2d20 Solo Systems](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/2d20-solo-systems/) - These 2d20 solo rules are taking an age to put together. I am also conscious that supporters are paying monthly and if I don't have anything to show then you are paying for nothing. My proposed solution is to keep working away on the 2d20 systems and sharing the work in progress as I go, - [continued....](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/continued/) - Following on from what I was just saying. I think I am going to take on the W.O.I.N system next. This is the core system behind the 2000AD games. Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog and Rogue Trooper. - [W.I.O.N first look](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/w-i-o-n-first-look/) - What Is Old is New is the core system behind all the 2000A Universe games. The basic mechanics are dice pool, typically you are rolling about 5d6 and trying to hit a target number, rather than collecting successes. My oracle is roll 5d6 and 17+ for yes, 5-16 = no. Character creation is life path. - [Mall Rat](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/mall-rat/) - I am about to update the Back Catalogue post with a new title. I created this nearly a year ago for an Itch.io Game Jam. At the time I thought it was rather niche. Now I am giving access to everything it made sense to add them to the back catalogue listing. There is no - [Star 40001 Physical Deck](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-40001-physical-deck/) - I have the print proof of the Star 40001 deck, and they look good. If you want to get these cards at-cost you can use this link. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=95e9238cdd I will make a video this week showing off the physical cards. - [John Carter - The Writing Starts](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/john-carter-the-writing-starts/) - I have a yes-no oracle that combines 2d20 and a challenge die. The 2d20s give you the yes no element and the challenge die gives the and..., but..., and complications. In addition, I have been building a mix of d20 and d6 random generators. The more I muck about with the game, more opportunities I - [Vaesen Solo Rules - The Solo Society](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/vaesen-solo-rules-the-solo-society/) - This solo booklet is sold via the Free League Workshop. It effectively completes the set. I have solo rules published for Mutant Year Solo, Forbidden Lands, Symbaroum, Coriolis and Tales from the Loop. The only title where I don't have rules on sale is Alien, and we all know where you can find them! Your - [John Carter of Mars](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/john-carter-of-mars/) - I am wading through the core rules of John Carter. I am making notes for what I want to include in the solo tools. I don't have anything to show yet, but this is a work in progress! Completely unrelated to this is that I rediscovered some solo rules that I had forgotten about. I - [Patron Rewards - The next iteration](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/patron-rewards-the-next-iteration/) - You will no doubt remember the problems I had with people dropping in, grabbing all the rewards and then leaving the patreon before the billing cycle was up. I was talking to SlyFlourish on Discord yesterday and he gave me some advice and I am putting it in place today. You may have had automated - [Making A Card Deck - part 4 - Printing with DTRPG](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-a-card-deck-part-4-printing-with-dtrpg/) - There is a two step process to DTRPG print on demand. The first is to create an empty product, the second is to attach the card deck to the product. The same process works for DriveThruRPG as it does for DriveThruCards. - [Making a Deck - part 5 - Game Creator](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-a-deck-part-5-game-creator/) - You can see that this process is quite simple, but is more complicated than DTRPG. I was also surprised at now much more expensive the cards worked out. Our test deck of 5 cards was $2.98 at The Game Crafter and only $0.85 at DTRPG. That is quite a big difference. - [Making A Card Deck - Part 2- The Data Source](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-a-card-deck-part-2-the-data-source/) - In this video I create a small spreadsheet, saving it as a CSV file. I then import it into Affinity Publisher, add the fields to the cards and generate the card deck. - [Make a Deck - part 3 - exporting the cards](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/make-a-deck-part-3-exporting-the-cards/) - In this video I show how to export the cards as a PDF to use at DriveThruRPG or DriveThruCards, and how to create the images needed for The Game Creator. - [Star Trek Adventures 3](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-adventures-3/) - In the work in progress folder you will now find three pdf files, one for landscape, portrait and home printing. The font in the home print version is identical to the core rules. That is only 8pt. I think it is too small, but that could just be my age. Because of thus small font, - [Making Stuff - Card Decks - pt 1 the Affinity Template.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-stuff-card-decks-pt-1-the-affinity-template/) - I was asked for a video walk through of crating a card deck in Affinity, so here it is. I thought I would make a few very short videos, rather than a single big one. This is just getting the template, the next will be about the data source. - [Star Trek Adventures - Work In Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-adventures-work-in-progress/) - In the Work in progress folder is a new PDF called "STA-Landscape Layered PDF". This is the first three, out of four panels of a GM screen for Star Trek. Panel 4 is still being created. If I have a good day tomorrow I think I can finish that off. I am thinking of having - [Vaesen - The Solo Society](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/vaesen-the-solo-society/) - When I was making the Alien solo rules, I thought to myself how easy it would be to take what I was building with that game and apply it to Coriolis. As it was, Coriolis is a much simpler game and the conversion was a matter of hours. Today, I was making random tables for - [Star Trek Adventures - Work In Progress 2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-adventures-work-in-progress-2/) - On Thursday I said that I needed to make some extra random tables. I created the tables, and I had added these to the file STA-Landscape Layered PDF. I now have the four panels for a landscape GM screen. What is still outstanding is creating a portrait version of these panels and print at home - [New Dungeon World Adventure](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/new-dungeon-world-adventure/) - Take a look at the Back Catalog post https://www.patreon.com/posts/50015092, and in the Dungeon World section, you will find Temple of Hell. This is a new adventure for group or solo play. - [Star Trek Formatting](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-formatting/) - I had an idea this morning, it seems brilliant, but it could be terrible. The core mechanics for the Star Trek rules currently cover just 4 pages, with pretty wide margins and a few examples. I could format these down to my usual 6x9 format, add in examples of everything, and add an actual play - [Early Access - Temple of Hell DW Adventure](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/early-access-temple-of-hell-dw-adventure/) - This adventure will be Monday's release on DriveThruRPG. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=928b73b45a This link gives you your early access version. Tomorrow evening I will move it to the back catalog list in the Dungeon World adventures section. - [Star Trek Adventures GM Screen Samples](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-adventures-gm-screen-samples/) - I like this idea of building up a folder of very similar oracles. That then opens up the question of format. Individual sheets in a folder? Panels in on a GM Screen? Landscape or Portrait? This morning I have created some mock-up pages of one panel of the Star Trek Adventures oracles. In the work - [Star Trek Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-solo/) - I have put together an initial set of 2d20 solo rules. They are rather bare bones, running to just 3 pages. They are purely theoretical having not played them yet. In addition to the three pages of rules, I have a couple of random tables in excel. I am using d20 tables I have a - [Star Trek or 2d20?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/star-trek-or-2d20/) - I have been reading a lot of Star Trek material over the past few days. It has led me to consider whether you would prefer something that is purely Star Trek, or something that is purely 2d20 system. The advantage of the 2d20 centric system is that you could use it with Conan, John Carter - [3Deep Combat Cards Physical Deck](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/3deep-combat-cards-physical-deck/) - The physical deck for the 3Deep Combat Cards, which includes the solo oracle on the reverse is now in and they look good. The attached link will give you the physical deck at print cost price. I am seeing it as $12.44 but the prices are liable to change so may go up or down - [Making a Card Deck - The Game Crafter](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-a-card-deck-the-game-crafter/) - The Game Crafter does more than just cards. The potential to extend your gaming with everything from cards to hex tiles to custom miniatures and tokens is limited by your own imagination. Browse the catalog and see what they offer. You are going to need to open an account on the site to make a - [Making your own card decks](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-your-own-card-decks/) - Creating custom card decks is really fun. It adds a physical element to solo play, which can otherwise be rather intangible. I tend to use PDF rules and a dice roller app, so I have nothing to actually 'play with'. There are two websites that will print custom card decks for you. The first is - [WEG Solo Star Wars 1st Edition Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/06/24/weg-solo-star-wars-1st-edition-solo/) - I was recently asked for a set of solo rules for the West End Games [WEG] 1st Edition Star Wars, focusing on playing published adventures. Playing published adventures is always a challenge for solo play; the problem is how well you need to know the adventure before you can run it and avoid having too - [Making Your Own Cards](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-your-own-cards/) - I was asked just now for a walk through for how to make your own cards. What I will do is a step by step walk through for the two Print On Demand card services that I know of, with pictures of each step, just like I did with the book publishing earlier. I will - [Quiet, but not idle](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/quiet-but-not-idle/) - I realised I had not posted anything recently, so this is the first of a few posts. In the Patreon early release folder is the final version of the Alien RPG solo rules. This is Alien RPG 1.7.pdf. This will not be released as a paid project, ever. What I am going to do is - [Alien Print version](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-print-version/) - In the Patreon print versions folder are three files. There are the two files for Lulu, and a separate OBS cover file. If you go into Lulu, set this title up to Print your book (not publish). Use the interior file and the lulu cover file. I set it up for premium color, 80# paper, - [Alien 1.5 Print](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-1-5-print/) - I think I put this in a previous update. I can set this title up for print, but only on DTRPG, where the product will be private and you could only buy it through a link I share; Lulu, where you set the title up as a personal project and you print a copy for - [Solo Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/solo-progress/) - I had my second vaccination this week and it has left me feeling a little sub-par. It is also hard to solo play when you are not feeling very creative. I am feeling a bit better now, and I am going to get back to playtesting the Alien rules. I want to have a proper - [Alien RPG 1.5](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-rpg-1-5/) - In the work in progress folder is a new version of Alien 1.5. What you gain is two or three pages of actual play, using the rules. It features using the word lists for inspiration, the scene set ups, including the stress roll to see if anything odd shows up. It starts part way through - [Alien 1.4](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-1-4/) - You should all have access to the work in progress folder, and you should also have the Alien RPG 1.4 PDF. The main changes are the addition of an Events and Subject column to the last table, and a few paragraphs of explanatory text relating to campaign play. I cannot remember if Randomorths were part - [Early Access Coriolis Solo Rules [Zenith Solo]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/early-access-coriolis-solo-rules-zenith-solo/) - In the early access folder, you will find a subfolder for Coriolis Solo. This is going to be my product release for Monday. Coriolis is another Year Zero Engine game but doesn't have the boons and banes of Forbidden Lands or the Stress dice of Alien. I have re-used the basic Mutant Year Zero yes-no - [Alien RPG update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-rpg-update/) - Today, I have been working on non-Xenomorph adventure seeds or clues. It uses the same Act format. I know that Acts are intended for Cinematic play, but they work just as well as an adventure structure. I am a big fan of the 5 room dungeon structure, and that uses Plot Hook, Guardian, Challenge, Threat, - [3Deep Combat Cards (digital deck)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/3deep-combat-cards-digital-deck/) - This is a deck of 72 double face card. The fronts have all the different combat rolls for 3Deep 2nd Edition. These include quick NPCs for when you need a mook, initiative, hit location, damage, knock back and shield activation. The back of the card has the solo system. Choose a question and a likelihood - [Dungeon Crawl Solo at-cost print DTRPG](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-at-cost-print-dtrpg/) - I received the print proof of Dungeon Crawl Solo today and it looks good! The above link will give you an at-cost print copy from DTRPG. I will make a short video showing off the book in a few minutes. - [Dungeon Crawl Solo POD book](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-pod-book/) - This is just a showing off video for the DCC solo rules book. I am really pleased with how it looks. - [Patron Rewards](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/patron-rewards/) - I need to come up with a different way of getting you your rewards. Here is the problem... Using the shared GDrive folders seemed like a good idea, but I have now had a handful of people, join the patreon, download everything, and then leave, and have contributed nothing. If they have added the shared - [Rogue Handler Oracle Deck](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/21/rogue-handler-oracle-deck/) - This link should give you an at-cost copy of the Rogue Handler Oracle Deck. The cost is showing as $18.21, but I have seen print costs going up and down recently. Gossip says that the cost of paper is very volatile at the moment. Do not be surprised if the price varies by a few - [Alien RPG Solo Rules 1.2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-rpg-solo-rules-1-2/) - There is a new version of the work in progress file in the Patreon folder. Pages 13 and 20 still need revision, which will happen after the next play session. It also needs more examples. The Randomorphs need a few more rules to make them functional. Apart from that, it is coming together. - [Alien RPG Solo pt1 Prologue & Act I](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-rpg-solo-pt1-prologue-act-i/) - This is the first of a series of playtests for the Alien rules. I am playing a bit, then writing up parts that I play as examples in the rules. I expect to see rapid development from this moment on. - [Alien RPG Work In Progress Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-rpg-work-in-progress-update/) - I took last Thursday off, and then quickly build the E. E. "Doc" Smith cut up book to keep up with my weekly release cycle. When I went back to Alien the problems I was struggling with last week all seemed obvious now. I now have something that is playable! I am running my first - [Alien RPG work-in-progress update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-rpg-work-in-progress-update-2/) - In the Patron Work-In-Progress folder, you should find an Alien RPG 1.0.pdf. This is far from finished, as you will be able to tell from the lack of even a rudimentary cover and all the big blank empty spaces. What this needs now is more playtesting, more examples, and refining the tools. The big progress - [Cut Up Solo - Triplanetary Lensman At-Cost Print [Amazon]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-triplanetary-lensman-at-cost-print-amazon/) - If you follow the same instructions in this post but using the highlighted files from the shared patreon folder. - [Cut Up Solo - Triplanetary Lensman At-Cost Print [Lulu]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-triplanetary-lensman-at-cost-print-lulu/) - If you follow the same instructions as I gave you for Dungeon Crawl Solo but use the files highlighted below. All other settings remain the same. The Dungeon Crawl Solo instructions for Lulu are here. - [Cut Up Solo - Triplanetary Lensman](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/18/cut-up-solo-triplanetary-lensman/) - I mentioned at the end of last week that I was going to create a cut up book to release today. I chose a couple of public domain E. E. "Doc" Smith titles as I am a big science fiction fan. E. E, "Doc" Smith is credited with being the father of Space Opera as - [Cut Up Solo - Triplanetary Lensman At Cost Print [PPMGames]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-triplanetary-lensman-at-cost-print-ppmgames/) - This link will give you an at-cost print copy of the book at print cost price. https://ppmgames.myshopify.com/discount/CUSTLPatreon9?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fcut-up-solo-triplanetary-lensman%3Fvariant%3D39901429727396 - [Behind the Curtain #1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/behind-the-curtain-1/) - More than one of you has mentioned that you quite like it when you get to see some of the RPG industry from the publisher's side. You can get a bit of insight from my Designer Diary videos but I thought I would do an occasional post on here as well, and how it relates - [Alien Work in Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-work-in-progress/) - In the last WIP update, I talked about a 'track', as your adventure progressed you would work along the track and that would throw the horror elements into your game, without you needing to know what sort of xenomorph you are facing. It isn't working very well. I think in my mind's eye I had - [Dungeon Crawl Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo/) - The original intention was to create the series of videos for you, and then edit them down to create the video for the general public. This requires some skill as a video editor, which I don't have, and planning the videos to make sure that they have the content you need in them. I don't - [Cut Up Solo Triplanetary Lensman](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/cut-up-solo-triplanetary-lensman-2/) - On Monday, I will be releasing a Cut Up Solo book. These are exceptionally easy to make, the bulk of the book is the same from book to book. The snippets and the spreadsheet are made using Word macros and Excel formulae. I will put the book together this evening*. In the video you do - [Dungeon Crawl Solo Getting your Printed Book (DTRPG)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-getting-your-printed-book-dtrpg/) - Getting your print book through DriveThruRPG.com is very easy, but it is the slowest option. With Amazon you need to wait 72hrs before you can order a proof, with DTRPG it can take up to 7 weeks! Pre-pandemic it used to take about 10 days, and I hope that it returns to that speed again. - [Dungeon Crawl Solo Getting your Printed Book (Amazon.com)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-getting-your-printed-book-amazon-com/) - The Amazon Print option typically takes 72hrs. You need to start at Kindle Direct Publishing, even though this is a print book. Self Publishing | Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing Sign in with your Amazon account, or set up an account. Once you are logged in, you should see your Bookshelf. You need to hit the - [Dungeon Crawl Solo Getting your Printed Book (PPMGames)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-getting-your-printed-book-ppmgames/) - This is by far the easiest option from a technical point of view. I will give you a discount code. In this case DCCPatreon9. This link will take you to the product page. When you check out if the discount has not already been applied, add the discount. You will be charged the print costs, - [Dungeon Crawl Solo Getting your Printed Book (Lulu.com)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-getting-your-printed-book-lulu-com/) - This is the second easiest option. You will need to create a Lulu.com account. Once you have confirmed your account, you will have a My Projects link in the lulu page header. Start a new project Now you are in a wizard. You want print book. Select Print You Book. (if you choose publish your - [Dungeon Crawl Solo Print Options](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-print-options/) - I will shortly be uploading a set of files for the print versions. I have been thinking about the logistics of early access print versions and I have two options. Option 1 This link will give you an 'at cost' discount on my Shopify store. The printing is done on the Lulu.com presses. These are - [DCC 1.6 Updated](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dcc-1-6-updated/) - I have refreshed the PDF for Dungeon Crawl Solo 1.6. The title on page 31 had moved down a little and had knocked everything out of alignment from that point on. Some text was flowing under an image and behind icons. You should be able to download the updated version now. - [Dungeon Crawl Solo is Approved!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-is-approved/) - I just received this email from Goodman Games. I will get the logo in the three places required by the license, and export the PDFs tomorrow. The finished PDFs will be in the various Patreon folders for you as soon as they are ready. I will get the print proofs uploaded over the weekend. There - [Rogue Handler Card Proofs Dispatched](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/rogue-handler-card-proofs-dispatched/) - I had an email notification to tell me that the card deck is on its way to me. The sum total of my knowledge is: Your package is on its way to a USPS facility. Sign up to get updates, and we'll send you a delivery date and time when available. Status Shipping Label Created, - [Spark of Light - DW Compatible](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/spark-of-light-dw-compatible/) - This Dungeon World solo/group adventure will be live this evening on DriveThruRPG. I have updated the Back Catalog Links page, but here is the directly link, just to make life easier! Spark of Light https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?discount=9c667ef319 - [Alien Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/alien-update/) - I now have six pages of notes on the Alien system and want to start writing up the first draft this week. The biggest design consideration is Cinematic vs. Campaign. Alien in campaign mode isn't working for me. I cannot keep up the central theme of horror roleplaying in a game where you are just - [Early Release Version](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/early-release-version/) - The PDF version of Spark of Light is now in the Google Drive folder. This will be released on Monday, at that time I will add the discount link to the back catalog list, if you want to keep the adventure in your DTRPG library. - [DCC Solo 1.5](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dcc-solo-1-5/) - I have just updated the PDF of the DCC solo rules. A new chapter at the back, and some new art. You can find it in the work in progress folder. - [About Parts Per Million](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/about-parts-per-million/) - I feel that Parts Per Million is becoming rather dispersed. I now have three distinct web presences, this Patreon, the ppmgames website and storefront, and the DriveThruRPG publisher page. Soon that will be joined by a massively increased Itch.io presence as well. Patreon This is where the magic happens. All the newest books, card decks, - [Making of... Dungeon World Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-of-dungeon-world-adventures/) - What grabbed me about Dungeon World is the core move. It really doesn't matter what setting or genre you are playing the core move is just about the only thing you need. The core move looks like this: Premise: established narrative Trigger: a player's stated goal and method is sufficiently expressed in the narrative context - [Making of... follow up](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/making-of-follow-up/) - Do you know that feeling when you think you will spend 5 minutes looking something up, and suddenly two hours have gone by? I timed myself last night as I finished roughing out that Dungeon World adventure, I then played it through. As the entire adventure was pretty fresh in my imagination playing it didn't - [DCC Part 2 Controlling NPCs and Playing A Module](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dcc-part-2-controlling-npcs-and-playing-a-module/) - I am using the published adventure in the back of the Lankmar DCC Quickstart "The Portal Under The Stars" as my test adventure. This is only small, but in this video we start the adventure, and get past the first challenge, opening the door, with only a little party dissent. The issue with these videos - [DCC Solo pt 3 Controlling Party Decisions](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dcc-solo-pt-3-controlling-party-decisions/) - The exploration of the Portal Under The Stars continues. The body count rises and there is a lot of running away. - [DCC Part 1 Creating The Campaign Hook](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dcc-part-1-creating-the-campaign-hook/) - Caveat 1 These rules have not been finalised yet! Caveat 2 They have not been approved by Goodman Games Caveat 3 I have never made a video like this, many parts with the intention of editing them together. This video is a short, 15 minute demo of using both the icon and words method to - [DCC & Alien Catch UP](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dcc-alien-catch-up/) - After a flurry of activity last week, I realized that I had gone rather quiet for the past few days. I had a Deal of the Day on DriveThruRPG on Tuesday/Wednesday, for me these happen at 3pm in the afternoon through to 3pm the next day. A publisher is given less than 24hrs notice of - [Digital Early Access](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/digital-early-access/) - This folder is for all Digital and VIP patrons. The digital files that make up my latest products will be stored in here. These are not released to the public yet. Once they are released they will be added as a DTRPG discount link to the back catalog page. - [Updated What Comes Next Poll](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/updated-what-comes-next-poll/) - OK, so I just found out that I cannot edit a poll so I will have to create new polls on a regular basis. Alien is not on this list as I have started the reading process to create those rules. Judge Dredd/RT/SD etc. has three votes carried over from last time. I also need - [DCC Work In Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dcc-work-in-progress/) - This is my work in progress file for Dungeon Crawl Classics. What is missing is the front pages, cover, contents credits and the like. After the icons, there will be an actual play showing the system in use, with examples. Art needs adding. - [Week One](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/week-one/) - I had a minor conflict in that I want to give you all early access to everything new, but I also wanted to maintain my habitual weekly releases. If I was going to put something new out on Monday, the ink would still be wet on it, so little chance for any kind of early - [Back Catalogue Links](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/back-catalogue-links/) - These links will let you download all of my solo rules, and related stuff, for free. They point to DriveThruRPG and will also add the book to your DriveThruRPG library, so should anything happen to me, or Patreon, you still have your downloads. This list will be regularly updated. Solo Rules 0-9 3Deep This is - [Back Catalogue Links](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/back-catalogue-links-2/) - These links will let you download all of my solo rules, and related stuff, for free. They point to DriveThruRPG and will also add the book to your DriveThruRPG library, so should anything happen to me, or Patreon, you still have your downloads. This list will be regularly updated. Solo Rules 0-9 3Deep This is - [Dungeon Crawl Classics Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-classics-update/) - I thought I would give you an update about where this project is at the moment. The prompt for this project came from a YouTube subscriber that bought my Stars Without Number booklet, and liked the icon-driven oracle, then bought the OSR solo book and was disappointed that I had used a very basic random - [Dungeon Crawl Classics Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/dungeon-crawl-classics-update-2/) - I thought I would give you an update about where this project is at the moment. The prompt for this project came from a YouTube subscriber that bought my Stars Without Number booklet, and liked the icon-driven oracle, then bought the OSR solo book and was disappointed that I had used a very basic random - [Intro](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/intro/) - There are at least three different types of solo role player, some like a generic tool that they can use with any game, Mythic is of course the big brand in that space. The second kind has a preference for games designed for solo play from the ground up, from simple things like the Wretched - [What comes next](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/what-comes-next/) - This Patreon is about writing for games that will probably never get solo support. I have put some suggestions below, you can always ask me to add more options. - [What am I working on? April 2021](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/10/what-am-i-working-on-april-2021/) - Right now, I have two projects vying for my attention, possibly three depending on how you count them. Project One This is a solo rule set for Dungeon Crawl Classics. You may have seen some talk of this on my own blog. The request was to make something Old School but with Game Icons for - [Designer Diary: KS Started](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/05/designer-diary-ks-started/) - I have finally committed to doing my Kickstarter campaign. I am writing the adventure at the moment, and I am about halfway through the first draft. I have five pages of notes for things that I would like to include. Some may not make the cut. The maps are modified Dyson Logos maps, but I - [Old School Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/05/03/old-school-solo/) - Someone asked on Discord about Old School Essentials. Despite owning tons of books, I have never played it. I have played 5e, lots of S&W and OGL hacks, but not OSE. I dug out the Rules Tome today and it was a real blast from the past. My introduction to D&D was playing a friends - [Designer Diary - Commissions](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/28/designer-diary-commissions/) - I have written solo rules for many different publishers. I also take requests from my patrons. The difference here is that the primary marketplace for these rules is going to be Kickstarter and probably Backerkit. Drivethru is likely to be secondary and lead to long-tail sales. This fits into my long term goal to be - [Designer Diary: Staying Focused #2 [Video]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/21/designer-diary-staying-focused-2-video/) - I made the first 'Staying Focused' post on March 11th, when I noticed that all my numbers were static or falling off. Since then I took my own advice, and the change has, while not dramatic, definitely been obvious. My YT subscribers are at the highest they have been, my mailing list is gaining subscribers - [Designer Diary: Micro Kickstarters [Video]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/14/designer-diary-micro-kickstarters-video/) - Incidentally, this is the first video I have edited using Descript. I quite liked the general process, but the video output seems poor quality. I will need to look into exporting in the right format. If you noticed anything for good or bad, please let me know in the comments. So, micro kickstarters. I can - [The Collected Archives XIII: Conflict](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/12/the-collected-archives-xiii-conflict/) - This is the final part of my look at the Collected Archives by Cabbage Games [Kenny Norris]. I like Kenny's idea of focusing on Goals, Stakes, Meaning, and Opposing Force. It really doesn't matter what order you think about these. Some will be already defined by established facts in your game. The same ideas can - [The Collected Archives XII: Details!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/08/the-collected-archives-xii-details/) - I think that Kenny Norris was on the cusp of arriving at the same place as Jason Cordova reached with his 7-3-1 system. I think the difference may have come down to Kenny being a writer first and foremost, whereas Jason Cordova was coming at this as a Preping GM. I fully confess that I - [Designer Diary: Low Goal Kickstarters](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/07/designer-diary-low-goal-kickstarters/) - With these designer diary videos, I have always assumed that you would be selling on DTRPG, or possibly the Guild. From there you can expand into the Open Game Store, Amazon, or where ever. But, I am coming around to the idea that going straight to DTRPG may be bad advice. The downside of DTRPG - [The Collected Archives XI: Rats in the Basement](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/05/the-collected-archives-xi-rats-in-the-basement/) - I like the idea of the Rats in the Basement as a first-timer, first adventure. I particularly like the idea of the deadline. What I struggle with is the burden that Kenny Norris puts on a new potential solo player. Brainstorming up to 100 elements before they even get to play is a huge burden. - [The Collected Archives X: The Power of Story](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/04/01/the-collected-archives-x-the-power-of-story/) - It is striking to me that in the early chapters of the collected archives, Kenny Norris was talking very much about campaign prep and knowing the story arc. Now when it comes down to storytelling, it is all going in the direction of character-centered playing to find out, and improvise/evolve the villain as the story - [Designer Diary: Product Pages (again!)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/31/designer-diary-product-pages-again/) - The more expensive your products, the more questions or concerns people will have before they hand over their money, or their credit card details. How can you address this? By having really informative product pages. Answer every question before they arise and you can alay people's fears. Pack your product pages with as much information - [Collected Archives IX GM/PC Turn Taking](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/26/collected-archives-ix-gm-pc-turn-taking/) - I know that there are some people out there who can ask a few questions, get a few answers and then play through an entire scene in a single flow. I cannot do that. I know that Tana Pidgeon, creator or Mythic, plays like this. I also suspect that I struggle with Mythic for exactly - [Collected Archives VIII Character Creation](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/24/collected-archives-viii-character-creation/) - I cannot decide if character, and campaign, creation is part of Kenny Norris's game play or not. I think it probably is. I also kind of expect that he creates far more campaign outlines and characters than he ever played. This is prep-love. A great many GMs get a huge amount of enjoyment from prepping - [Designer Diary: Cross-linked Books & Supplements](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/23/designer-diary-cross-linked-books-supplements/) - It is always easier to sell more things to existing customers than it is to find new customers. There are several ways to encourage customers to buy more stuff. The three most widely used on DTRPG are: BundlesFootersEmails Bundles encourage cross-sales by giving a discount for buying the complete bundle. DTRPG is smart enough to - [Collected Archives VII Starting a Campaign](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/22/collected-archives-vii-starting-a-campaign/) - After last time and that massive front-loading of campaign design, I am much more on the same page with this. This is what I would call Character Centric play. Create an interesting character, put them in an interesting situation, and then play to see what happens. The only thing I would probably suggest is moving - [Designer Diary: DTRPG Categories pt 3.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/16/designer-diary-dtrpg-categories-pt-3/) - I think this will be the last update on this. I think the approach can be summarised as focusing your efforts in a small space to maximize the effect. It is also the idea of even the greatest oak can be felled with enough blows of even the smallest axe. This graph of sales starts - [Collected Archives VI EPIC Campaigns](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/15/collected-archives-vi-epic-campaigns/) - This is a very good article, and has a lot of valuable advice and suggestions in it. Kenny Norris is definitely campaign focused and pours a huge amount of time and effort into hi campaign set ups. I think this is the major point of difference between us. I don't value campaigns at all. It - [The Collected Archives V Getting Started in Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/11/the-collected-archives-v-getting-started-in-solo/) - I share a lot of ideas with Kenny Norris, but we diverge a lot as well. I suspect that I would consider his style a lot crunchier than mine, and he would think of me as being more narrative, rules-light, or both. When I try and assist people in getting started, I tend to suggest - [Designer Diary: Stay Focused](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/11/designer-diary-stay-focused/) - I am using my YouTube subscribers as a generalization of my overall growth for the business. Last year, I was tightly focused on solo roleplay, that is what my brand is all about, where my audience is, and my reputation. My YouTube channel is the primary source of patrons for my Patreon. The bulk of - [Collected Archives IV Your Passion Statement](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/09/cllected-archives-iv-your-passion-statement/) - Before I did the exercise suggested in this chapter I was very skeptical. I am not good at writing about myself in that way. Even though it is really about writing down some of your favorite RPG moments, games, and sessions. I think what I cringed at was writing down how I felt about these - [Collected Archives III The 3 elements of solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/08/collected-archives-iii-the-3-elements-of-solo/) - Kenny Norris talks about the three elements of a great solo adventure being Passion, Time, and Story. I cannot argue with any of them, but I have never really considered the time element as an integral part of solo play. Sure if you don't have time to play then it isn't going to happen. The - [Collected Archives 2 Phrase Expander](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/06/collected-archives-2-phrase-expander/) - This is the second chapter of my dive into The Collected Archives by Kenny Norris (Cabbage Games). Kenny likes PhraseExpander, or maybe liked. I had a look at the applications site and I feel that its functionality has been overtaken by time. Being able to share things between laptops and desktop computers is a bit - [Designer Diary: DTRPG categories revisited](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/03/designer-diary-dtrpg-categories-revisited/) - This is a kind of 'put your money where your mouth is' video. It felt like I was being a bit dismissive of the sheer amount of work I was suggesting. Particularly for a new creator, who may never have created an adventure, and there am I saying create a load of them and stock - [The Collected Archives 1 The basic tools](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/03/02/the-collected-archives-1-the-basic-tools/) - Kenny Norris [Cabbage Games] collected together 26 solo RPG blog posts from 2015/16. I get the feeling that we are poles apart, he is a Mythic GME fan, I find it too crunchy, he prefers a few generic tools to use with any game, I like to feel immersed in the game I am playing. - [Designer Diary: Reciprocity Marketing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/02/24/designer-diary-reciprocity-marketing/) - The more I think about this it seems that in RPG publishing reciprocity marketing is easy to do. We can quite easily create free digital assets, with the intention of giving them away. The other big advantage of giving something away for free is that those people may well join your DTRPG mailing list, or - [ModernAGE Solo AP 4](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/02/20/modernage-solo-ap-4/) - This session continues on from: Part 1 https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/08/modernage-solo-ap-1-the-gate-crasher/Part 2 https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/10/modernage-solo-ap-2-what-are-they-looking-for/Part 3 https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/15/modernage-solo-ap-3/The last part in this series was posted on January 15th, and it is now mid-Feb. This was not the plan. One of the great things about solo is that your can play whenever you want. The flipside of that is that when life gets busy, - [Designer Diary: More DTRPG Categories](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/02/17/designer-diary-more-dtrpg-categories/) - I am doing what I suggested last week as a viable method to gain exposure. I did casually say, "stockpile adventures" and "releases every week to two weeks". I am using one page adventures as my example products here. I am doing this for a couple of reasons. To make a success of one page - [Evil Genius - Everyday Heroes™](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/02/10/evil-genius-everyday-heroes/) - It is not often I get sent press releases, but I am always happy to help out other publishers. I confess to never having played d20 modern, and in reading around this I found it was based on D&D 3.5, and I have never played that either. Everyday Heroes™ shares some DNA with 5e and - [Designer Diary: DTRPG Categories](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/02/09/designer-diary-dtrpg-categories/) - This strategy will work if all you want to do is make stuff. You don't want to do marketing, you don't want to do social media, or worry about an email marketing list. Mind you it will work better if you do marketing, have social media accounts and an email marketing list. Everything on DTRPG - [ModernAGE solo AP #1, The Gate Crasher](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/08/modernage-solo-ap-1-the-gate-crasher/) - This is the first part of my solo game featuring Pàrlan MacLeòir, a professor of Gaelic Occultism from Trinity College Dublin. I have read a few wikipedia articles about the Hellfire Club in Ireland, and I want to incorporate some of the ideas in this game. I have literally taken some interesting words and made - [ModernAGE solo AP #3 The Knife](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/15/modernage-solo-ap-3/) - This session continues on from Part 1 https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/08/modernage-solo-ap-1-the-gate-crasher/And Part 2 https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/10/modernage-solo-ap-2-what-are-they-looking-for/ The shell of the old Hellfire Club sits on top of Montpelier Hill, behind it is a cairn of piled rocks, its center is sunken where the cairn has collapsed into the burial chamber below. Buried underneath the cairn is a much older, 5000 years - [Designer Diary: Flat Fee vs. Royalties](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/02/03/designer-diary-flat-fee-vs-royalties/) - There are typically one or two offers on the DTRPG discord each week of publishers looking for freelancers. They could be writers, designers, artists, sensitivity readers, or editors. Every aspect of the industry turns up there eventually. Mostly, the remuneration comes down to one of two models. A flat fee, or royalties. The smallest publishers - [Designer Diary: Taking a Look at Cobalt Sages](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/27/designer-diary-taking-a-look-at-cobalt-sages/) - I think the single most important takeaway from this video is the importance of having your own site. It doesn't have to be big or extensive, but you need to have that hub. DTRPG doesn't give us many places where we can put external links. The only two I can think of are the publisher - [Designer Diary: Are CCPs losing their Appeal?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/13/designer-diary-are-ccps-losing-their-appeal/) - Since the start of the pandemic, there was a surge in new products released every week on most of the Community Content Programmes [CCP]. This gave them a good vibe as there was always something new, and some of it was innovative. Since then I have noticed a real downturn in both numbers of new - [ModernAGE solo AP #2 What Are They Looking For?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/10/modernage-solo-ap-2-what-are-they-looking-for/) - This session continues on from Part 1 https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/08/modernage-solo-ap-1-the-gate-crasher/ Pàrlan gets up in the morning and decides to place some calls. The first is to Alistair Lewis's campus. He is going to ask some casual questions about Montpelier Hill, to see if he can gather what is going on. Which university does Alistair Lewis work at? - [First Steps in Marketing Your Game](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/06/first-steps-in-marketing-your-game/) - There is an old joke where a driver is lost and ends up on tiny rural roads. Eventually, they see a farmer by a gate and pull over, wind down the window, and ask "Can you tell me the best way to get to Wigan [insert any local place name here]?" The farmer ponders for - [Modern AGE Relationships and Solo Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2022/01/04/modern-age-relationships-and-solo-play/) - I am still working over the Modern AGE rules, building my random tables, and so on. At the end of the Character Creation chapter is a section on relationships. The example it gives is a player creating a relationship between their character and another character in the group. These relationships have an Intensity rating, it - [Modern AGE Session Zero](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/28/modern-age-session-zero/) - Rather than rescuing Kellan from his fatal encounter with the serpent folk, I am going to take a look at Modern AGE. Besides the obvious genre difference, the two biggest differences seem to be that Modern Age has three levels of simulation, Gritty (dangerous), Pulp (more survivable), and Cinematic (Hollywood action hero). The second difference - [Fantasy AGE Solo Dungeon Crawl #7 Level 2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/27/fantasy-age-solo-dungeon-crawl-7-level-2/) - I left off the last session by climbing up a spiral staircase, following a trail of giant spider blood. I looked through the dungeon geomorphs I am using for this adventure and there was only one map section with a spiral staircase. I had two options. The first is to roll for a random geomorph - [Solo Dungeon Crawl #6](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/26/solo-dungeon-crawl-6/) - It occurs to me that these two dwarfs have other stuff that could be useful, but I simply cannot carry it all. But, hanging on the wall next to the door to the cell was a ring of keys. I would grab anything I think may be useful, drop it all in those rooms, including - [Solo Dungeon Crawl #5](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/23/solo-dungeon-crawl-5/) - I stopped playing yesterday to give myself time to create some NPCs. I have done this entirely randomly. The two NPCs are both Dwarfs, one is a mage (Divination and Power Arcanas, lower-class former sailor), and the other is a rogue (upper-class dilettante). I have asked a couple of oracle questions and the deceased lady - [Solo Dungeon Crawl #4](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/22/solo-dungeon-crawl-4/) - How I thought the map lined up wasn't quite correct. This is how it should look, with my route in yellow. The two Xs are where the main fights took place. There is a door at the bottom of the first tile, that appears to go nowhere. If I get to that door I will - [Designer Diary: The December Dip](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/22/designer-diary-the-december-dip/) - I touch on a few topics in this video, The Wizards of the Coast [WotC] changes to their books has really had little impact on me. I own one Ravenloft book, but I haven't read it, I also have the freebie basic set PDFs and the 5e SDR. By and large, 5e has passed me - [Solo Dungeon Crawl #3](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/21/solo-dungeon-crawl-3/) - Kellan looks down the passageway in the flickering torchlight. There are several embalmed corpses here and it looks like more beyond the reach of his torchlight. Are these undead? Likely! 14 (6 on the stunt die) yes, and... the first corpse sits up and looks at Kellan. There are 5 bodies marked on the map. - [Solo Dungeon Crawl #2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/20/solo-dungeon-crawl-2/) - One of the really cool features of Fantasy AGE is alchemy, and that means grenades! A basic blast grenade or thunder grenade costs the same as a standard pitch torch. I am mentioning this because I think Kellan needs something to bolster his firepower, his bow is not going to win the day against the - [Solo Dungeon Crawl #1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/20/solo-dungeon-crawl-1/) - Some of you may know that my most common character name is some variation of Kallen. This name comes from a TV series on British TV, Callan, who was a kind of M.I.5 type character who was also a war gamer in his leisure time. On the Lone Wolf discord, there are quite a few - [Designer Diary: Short Form Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/12/15/designer-diary-short-form-adventures/) - I didn't mention this in the video, but last night I was talking to a friend, Marcus (the M in the original PPM), and one of Marcus's concerns was about creating adventures that won't sell. I get that concern, no one wants to invest a whole load of time and effort in creating something that - [Designer Diary: Using Freelance Writers](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/11/19/designer-diary-using-freelance-writers/) - So, I first started looking at using a freelance writer because I did not feel qualified to write a wild west setting. The most wild west thing in the UK is whether it is pronounced scone rhyming with stone or scone rhyming with gone. I needed someone for whom the wild west was their history - [Pulp Cthulhu II](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/11/18/pulp-cthulhu-ii/) - My read-through continues and I remain very happy with what I am seeing. I have put a little snippet below to illustrate what I mean. In solo play, characters can die, and they die often. It is just a lot more dangerous being on your own. Some soloists will wind back the clock to before - [Pulp Cthulhu](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/11/17/pulp-cthulhu/) - I have just started a read-through of Pulp Cthulhu, and I kind of wish that I had discovered this earlier. Solo rules for Pulp-C was requested by my Patrons, and I have played quite a few cosmic horror games in the past, and so I thought I would take a look at this game as - [Designer Diary, Getting those Facebook Shares to work](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/11/10/designer-diary-getting-those-facebook-shares-to-work/) - I made pretty much the same video last year, or possibly earlier this year as it all starts to blur into one... The point is that the reason chare counts are even a thing is because of something called "Social Proof". We are really little more than herd animals as some level. If we see - [Designer Diary Cut Up The Nine Unknown](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/11/03/designer-diary-cut-up-the-nine-unknown/) - I absolutely love getting emails from patrons, and newsletter subscribers. There is always a worry that stuff I write just disappears into the ether to never be read. So, I got this email on the 28th of October, and as I am working on a longer project [Shadowrun] it is nice to have smaller things - [Designer Diary: A Good Example](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/10/28/designer-diary-a-good-example/) - M T Black is doing just about everything right in this product page. The product page tells you exactly what you are getting, and the full size preview is expansive enough to show you what you are getting. I would suggest page screenshots, but they do appear on other product pages. The gain with screenshots - [Designer Diary: Getting into DTRPG sales](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/10/21/designer-diary-getting-into-dtrpg-sales/) - Being in the big sales on DriveThruRPG is a good thing. Although you may be giving away 25% or more of your profits, the increase in sales more than makes up for it, in my experience. What I did was make a note of each sale that went by without me, and then tried to - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session #8](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/10/15/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-8/) - OBS isn't working on my laptop since an update recently, so today's videos were recorded using a freebie thing from the Windows App Store. It is rudimentary, but basic is better than broken. I am finding Pathfinder combat frustrating. There is an inordinate amount of missing. even using Fantasy Grounds to automate much of it, - [Designer Diary: Marketing-one thing!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/10/13/designer-diary-marketing-one-thing/) - I had a conversation long ago about how pricing our stuff at just $0.99 was training our customers to expect the world for just ninety-nine cents. The same is true for ttrpg creators that are building their mailing lists, in my opinion, by offering free downloads every month. I do worry about how many of - [Solo a Module](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/10/11/solo-a-module/) - Last week Zachary asked me to recommend a one-shot to solo play. My initial reaction was to suggest that modules are not the easiest thing to start playing when you are fairly new to solo. But, with a bit of time to contemplate, I have come up with a suggestion. Trouble in Wealdham by TM - [Pathfinder - on hold](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/10/08/pathfinder-on-hold/) - I discovered today that OBS Studio has been struggling to encode my videos. It shows an error Encoding Overload. I think this is because my PC is not particularly powerful. The effect seems to be that after the first 45 seconds or so, the images start to freeze and you are not seeing most of - [Designer Diary Too Many Projects](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/10/06/designer-diary-too-many-projects/) - Half of the fun of doing this is the sheer variety of things I get to work on. Last month it was mostly Worlds Without Number, then when that was done I picked up Ghost Ops again. I also spent a bit of time with Cut Up play. I also have a pile of projects - [Designer Diary: Adventure Writing Part 3](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/29/designer-diary-adventure-writing-part-3/) - Over the past 10 days or so we have started two campaigns to see how successful we can be with adventure writing. I think there are currently six adventures published for Worlds Without Number. Three appear dead in the water, they are the first three of a four-part series and the fourth part was a - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 7](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/24/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-7/) - This was one of those terrible sessions where everything seems to be against the characters. The answers to questions that one really doesn't want, actions that don't go the way you had hoped. I had two ideas of what may be behind the problems on the farms. The first was that it was the bloodseekers, - [Designer Diary Adventures Pt 2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/22/designer-diary-adventures-pt-2/) - So I have been developing my ideas around adventures. We* have two threads going on at the same time. The first is for Worlds Without Number. Marcus is writing sandbox/hex mapped style adventures for WWN. The first adventure for WWN was released this week [The Ruined Keep] and is selling well. The second manuscript is - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 6](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/17/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-6/) - I am slowly learning the rules, on an as-needed basis, and today I had to quickly find out how to do a random encounter, but no encounter was needed. Prior to the session, I had assumed that the Harper Farm really was corrupted and the vegetation mutated. That was part of the reason why people - [Designer Diary: Adventure Writing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/16/designer-diary-adventure-writing/) - There are a few jobs or businesses that people traditionally imagine will be easy to set up. Here in the UK moving to the coast or to a beautiful rural area and running a small guesthouse is often suggested as a perfect work/life balance. The idea being that you serve breakfast and then clean a - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 5](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/10/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-5/) - In today's game, I was aiming to wrap up The Night Blade and migrate to a more freeform and sandbox-style play. I am not wonderfully enamored with VTT, but I appreciate that it automates so many of the talents, traits, and abilities. I find myself lured into Move & Fight, Move & Fight. What you - [Mystery Tips & Advice #6 Who, What, Where, Why, When & How](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/09/mystery-tips-advice-6-who-what-where-why-when-how/) - These six questions are the absolute core of mystery play. When you create your adventure you need to answer these questions, and these are the answers the characters are seeking. If you know the answers to these six questions, you know your mystery will hang together, and if you need to create clues on the - [Designer Diary: Mailing Lists](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/08/designer-diary-mailing-lists/) - I was having a conversation on discord yesterday when I made the observation that in theory the other publishers and I should never need to write another book/list/adventure/whatever. We have more titles in our product catalogs than many big businesses. All we have to do is get the word out to all the existing roleplayers - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 4](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/03/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-4/) - In today's session, I am trying to do more with the three actions allowed per round. I have got to grips with raising shields and attacking, but I want to get more movement into the combats. I am still not 100% sure I am doing experience correctly, so I have avoided it so far. I - [Designer Diary BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/09/01/designer-diary-bogof-buy-one-get-one-free/) - September seems to be bundle season. There is the SWAG-tember (a 50% off mega bundle of Savage Worlds content), then GRIMtember (a 33% off bundle of Zweihander community content) and there may be more as well. Chantel Jones runs regular Two for Tuesday offers. It looks like these are temporary bundles matching two titles. There - [Mystery Tips & Advice #5 Solo Clues](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/31/mystery-tips-advice-5-solo-clues/) - Running a solo adventure is all about not knowing what is really going on until the end when the truth is revealed. The way we can do this is by setting up what I called the briefing, to give you a decent start to the adventure, and then testing your assertions by using the oracle. - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 3](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/27/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-3/) - In today's session, I am pushing Simon's choices out to the oracle. He is not supposed to be an automata that just does what I tell him to. I decide what Kallen would ask him to do, and then ask the oracle if he is happy to go along with that. This does mean that - [Mystery Tips & Advice #4 Three Routes](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/27/mystery-tips-advice-4-three-routes/) - The biggest fear of most GMs is to be considered a railroading GM. This is a particular problem with mysteries when you have a single plot hook and a single correct answer to the mystery. There are two big names in investigative games, Cthulhu and Gumshoe. Gumshoe uses a very linear approach to each scene - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 2 Whitesparrow](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/25/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-2-whitesparrow/) - To put it bluntly, not much happens in these three scenes. The adventure Night Blade tells me nothing about Whitesparrow except for there is a tower above the village called the Lonely Torch, and that it has a sheriff called Ruth Willowmane. That is not a lot to go on. Everything that I know about - [Designer Diary B&W vs Premium Color](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/25/designer-diary-bw-vs-premium-color/) - This summer there was a big shake-up of print on demand. The prices went up steeply for two reasons. The actual paper jumped in price 8% and the print process used by DriveThru and their print partner Lightning Source had a major wobble. The end result is that premium quality books have shot up in - [Mystery Tips & Advice #3 Clues 1,2,3](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/24/mystery-tips-advice-3-clues-123/) - The thing about clues is that they are obvious when you know the answer. If you are on the other side of the screen, they can be completely opaque! Gumshoe favors the breadcrumb approach of each clue leading to the next, in a linear line. Finding the clues is automatic, the fun is in putting - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 1 The Road to Whitesparrow](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/23/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-1-the-road-to-whitesparrow/) - I am starting my learning through play series for Pathfinder 2e. Last week was all setting up the adventure and creating characters in Fantasy Grounds. Today I started to play. My goal was to have each video in the 3-5 minutes range, just one scene per video. Watchers could then decide how much time they - [Mystery Tips & Advice #2 Intrigue](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/20/mystery-tips-advice-2-intrigue/) - In the first video, I talked about the Briefing, where you give the characters concrete facts to work with, and several avenues for them to explore. Intrigue is a method where you insert an object or event into the mystery that should not be there. It could be a second flagon of ale on the - [Designer Diary Ennie Nomination](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/19/designer-diary-ennie-nomination/) - I found out last night that I have been nominated for an Ennie, in the Fans Favourites category. I am under no illusions that I will win, there are some big names in there. But, I have never been nominated before, and I would not want to come last! If you have just 5 minutes - [Mystery Tips & Advice #1 The Briefing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/18/mystery-tips-advice-1-the-briefing/) - In this new series, I am going to just pick out the highlights of Easier Mystery Play and make some 2-4 minute videos. The briefing is really important. The briefing is the moment that you introduce the mystery to the characters. It could be literally a person telling them what they need to do, it - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session 0.2 Fantasy Grounds Setup](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/18/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-0-2-fantasy-grounds-setup/) - Today, I think I have taken a significant step forward. The adventure I am going to play is The Night Blade by Mike Shea [Sly Flourish]. This is a 5e adventure for a party of 2nd to 5th level characters. I have got 2 1st level characters, so it will require some scaling back. My - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session #0.1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/17/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-0-1/) - The adventure I am going to run is Sly Flourish's A Night Blade. Sly Flourish is a proponent of improvisational GMing, and that is always solo-friendly. The adventure is designed for a party of 2nd to 5th level 5e characters. This means that I need to reconstruct it for Pathfinder 2. This may be unnecessary - [Pathfinder Solo Actual Play Session #0](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/16/pathfinder-solo-actual-play-session-0/) - I am firmly convinced that we need more solo actual plays on youtube. There are so many people who would try solo if they knew how to get going. There is a potential million people out there who know Pathfinder but don't know how to play solo. I on the other hand have no idea - [Horror Tips & Advice Session #0](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/26/horror-tips-advice-session-0/) - There is a pretty long chain of seemingly disconnected thoughts that brought this series into being. I curate a fanzine for Zweihander RPG, and the current issue is due out any day, but the next issue will be the Hallowe'en issue. That got me started thinking about Hallowe'en articles, and from there it is a - [Horror Tips & Advice #1 Invest In Your Environment](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/27/horror-tips-advice-1-invest-in-your-environment/) - The kind of investment I am talking about is effort. By all means, spend money if you want to, but it is not really necessary. Music is incredibly important in setting the mood. If you have ever seen one of those 'making of...' documentaries where they show some classic scenes but without the soundtrack, you - [Horror Tips & Advice #2 Subtle Violence](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/28/horror-tips-advice-2-subtle-violence/) - Player characters like to fight fire with fire, and most often with a preemptive attack. Subtle violence takes that option away, puts your players and their characters on the back foot, and forces them to think more, before grabbing the dice and selecting a target. The horror comes from playing on your players' feelings of - [Horror Tips & Advice #3 Dilemmas](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/29/horror-tips-advice-3-dilemmas/) - These tips are aimed at both solo players, and regular GMs wanting to run better horror-themed games. The basic dilemma is a choice between two equally undesirable outcomes that cannot be avoided. It is not a railroad, you are presenting the characters with two options, they are free to come up with a third way - [Horror Tips & Advice #4 Isolate Your Characters](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/30/horror-tips-advice-4-isolate-your-characters/) - Isolating one character from the party lets you play to their weaknesses. As the party is strong and balance each other out, a lone character has fewer options. It is also an opportunity to put an unwanted spotlight on a character. Looking to Hollywood for inspiration there are three versions of this. Looking for the - [Horror Tips & Advice #6 Overmatch your characters](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/03/horror-tips-advice-6-overmatch-your-characters/) - The reason I suggest overmatching your characters is that horror is not about a fair fight or balanced encounters. The big boss fight should be something that makes fleeing the sensible thing to do. I was in my regular 5e game a couple of weeks ago and the party was facing some ghouls and ghasts. - [Horror Tips & Advice #14 Not what's on the floor.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/13/horror-tips-advice-14-not-whats-on-the-floor/) - People have a natural connection with other people that does not exist to the same extent with places or objects. When it comes to describing the gorier aspects of horror, if you can describe the effects in terms of the victim, the wound on the body, rather than the effect on the environment, the blood - [Horror Tips & Advice #13 Take away your characters time.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/12/horror-tips-advice-13-take-away-your-characters-time/) - Putting time limits on the characters puts them under increasing pressure. If they have to be back inside the house before sunset it limits how far they can go. If their ship is sinking they have even less time. The time pressure takes away options without taking away player or character agency. They can still - [Designer Diary Little White Books](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/11/designer-diary-little-white-books/) - These little white books are helping me break into a wider audience. Each book references solo play, the Easier Solo Play is all about solo playing, the Scarier Horror Play references a lot of solo playing experience. The next book mixes solo and group play when talking about running mystery games. I often want things - [Horror Tips & Advice #12 Show the consequences](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/11/horror-tips-advice-12-show-the-consequences/) - I have talked about dilemmas before, and this is related. Dilemmas are about forcing a choice between two equally unpleasant options. Consequences are about making sure that the players are fully aware of the consequences of their actions. We often talk about murder hobos, or dungeon crawls where the routine is kill the monster and - [Horror Tips & Advice #11 Emphasising Sensations](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/10/horror-tips-advice-11-emphasising-sensations/) - When the thing you should be scared of is hiding in the dark, we need other ways to describe the scene. We tend to rely a lot on vision when describing our scenes and to a lesser extent hearing. With horror, you can do a lot with bringing in other senses, both internal and external - [Horror Tips & Advice #10 Focus on your NPCs](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/09/horror-tips-advice-10-focus-on-your-npcs/) - All roleplaying, solo or group is about NPCs. You could play a game with just the player characters and the GM giving vivid descriptions of locations, and throwing monsters at the characters, but it would soon get very boring. NPCs get to tell the characters about the world, they face problems that need overcoming, they - [Deal of the Day Sunday 8th August - Monday 9th August](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/08/deal-of-the-day-sunday-8th-august-monday-9th-august/) - Starting at 10 am DriveThruRPG Time My Cepheus Engine/Traveller Solo RPG rules will be Deal of the Day! The PDF is discounted 60%, and I have knocked as much off the paperback as I can [the recent price hikes by DTRPG for printed books makes this harder as there is little or no margin in - [Horror Tips & Advice #9 Heartbeat of Horror](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/06/horror-tips-advice-9-heartbeat-of-horror/) - This is possibly one of the most important bits of advice for running horror. It is all about pacing the adventure/scenario. You start trying to build a general sense of unease, hinting that things are not quite right. Giving clues as to what may be wrong. It could be a bartender warning you not to - [Horror Tips & Advice #8 Partial Information](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/05/horror-tips-advice-8-partial-information/) - Partial Information is a way of hinting at what is to come, but not giving the story away. Horror is a progression. It goes from a sense of unease, where the characters suspect something bad is happening, to dread where the characters know something bad is happening. Partial information can be used to create the - [Horror Tips & Advice #7 Limited the scope](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/04/horror-tips-advice-7-limited-the-scope/) - By limited scope, I mean something like a one-shot or short campaign. Horror only works if there is a real possibility of losing. It is not about balanced encounters, that is fantasy, this is horror. With a new character, built for this short campaign, there is no baggage, such as having spent the past year - [Designer Diary Publisher Website Link](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/04/designer-diary-publisher-website-link/) - There is only one place that DriveThruRPG will let you put an external link. That is on the left-hand column of your product pages and publisher homepage. I noticed a while ago that people were using that link to point to their Patreon accounts. I thought that it could be a really good move. Your - [Horror Tips & Advice #5 The Authorities](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/08/02/horror-tips-advice-5-the-authorities/) - Using the authorities, the town guard, or local lord in a fantasy setting, the police or government in modern-day or sci-fi, is another way of isolating your characters and cutting them off from help. You can go further, telling the police may be informing the villain of how much the characters have learned. It is - [Get the Best out of Solo Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/20/welcome/) - Can't find time to commit to a regular game?Solo play can give you your RPG fix, when and where ever you want. Introduction Hi, I am Peter Rudin-Burgess and I write solo roleplaying rules supplements, adventures and books to make solo playing easier and more fun. I have created sixty or so separate solo rules - [Solo Tips and Advice #17 Little Generators](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/23/solo-tips-and-advice-17-little-generators/) - I see tables as flat, single roll lists. One entry per result on the dice. Generators construct things from multiple rolls, each roll deciding one aspect of the entire thing. This is a really powerful tool, but it can also be a massive time consumer. I am also not very good at creating random tables. - [Solo Tips & Advice #16 A different kind of plot hook](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/22/solo-tips-advice-16-a-different-kind-of-plot-hook/) - I always suggest starting games 'in media res', in the thick of the action. It demands an immediate reaction, doing nothing is not an option, but this also leaves a myriad of unanswered questions. If you are on a plane where the engines have failed, what are you going to do? Why did they fail? - [Solo Tips & Advice #14 Don't set too many expectations](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/20/solo-tips-advice-14-dont-set-too-many-expectations/) - This tip is related to yesterday's tip about over-preparing. The idea is that if you have too many preconcieved ideas about what your adventure is going to be about, you may end up wanting to constrain your oracle. When it suggests that the bad guy is the good guy and your mentor is really the - [Solo Tips & Advice #15 Keep it small](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/21/solo-tips-advice-15-keep-it-small/) - Everyone knows that I love a post-it note. They are my number one GMing resource. They stop me from diving in too deep, writing too much and getting bogged down in prep that may never happen. When I am thinking about a game I will create post-its of key NPCs I think would be cool, - [Designer Diary: End of 5e?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/21/designer-diary-end-of-5e/) - I am not really part of the 5e world, I don't follow the gossip, and the demise of 5e may be a regular occurrence in the 5e world, I honestly don't know. What I think is really worth thinking about is when do you consider creating a new edition of your game? Zweihander creator Daniel - [Solo Tips & Advice #13 Improv. vs Prep](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/19/solo-tips-advice-13-improv-vs-prep/) - Preparing campaigns and games is what GMs do, and in solo you are always the GM. So, it should follow that if anyone is doing the prep, it will be you. My problem with prepping solo games is that everything you prep in advance you are likely to want to use, and that cuts down - [Solo Tips & Advice #12 Character Weaknesses](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/16/solo-tips-advice-12-character-weaknesses/) - There is a trend in solo play to move towards simple RPG, things like Tiny D6, Adenturers!, and Hero Kids (don't be put off by the Kids bit in the name, it is a very competent little RPG). As game systems get simpler, they by necessity have less rules, and some of those rules can - [Solo Tips & Advice #11 Find the right oracle for you.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/15/solo-tips-advice-11-find-the-right-oracle-for-you/) - There are so many different oracles available that you are spoiled for choice. I am going to look at them in broad categories. Generic Oracles The biggest of them all is Mythic. If you can learn mythic and it chimes with you, you can play anything and you probably won't need another solo oracle, ever. - [Designer Diary: Are you asking for reviews?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/14/designer-diary-are-you-asking-for-reviews/) - This is one of the most frequent questions that comes up on the DTRPG discord server. I can understand the desire, and I was there once as well. You think good reviews will convince potential customers who are sitting on the fence to give your game/adventure/whatever a go. While that is true, I do not - [Solo Tips & Advice #10 Starting at the beginning?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/14/solo-tips-advice-10-starting-at-the-beginning/) - This tip is really about pushing you to think about what solo play does extremely easily, but is incredibly difficult in group play. In this case, it is playing parts of your adventure out of sequence. I suggest starting with the showdown or grand finale and then going back to see how you got there. - [Solo Tips & Advice #9 You don't have to start at 1st level](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/13/solo-tips-advice-9-you-dont-have-to-start-at-1st-level/) - The gains from this tip are twofold. Firstly, if you want to play a purchased module without having to modify every encounter to make it survivable, consider starting out at a higher level, or with some bonus experience or skill ranks, depending on how your system of choice works. I am playing with the W.O.I.N - [Solo Tips & Advice #8 Minor Combats](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/12/solo-tips-advice-8-minor-combats/) - Although the idea of 'cheating' in solo games is often debated, this tip is not about cheating and skipping past challenges. Like yesterday's tip, it is about playing out the most interesting, and fun parts of your games, and not playing the less enjoyable parts. If you love killing orcs and goblins, then you can - [Solo Tips & Advice #7 Don't Play the Boring Bits](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/10/solo-tips-advice-7-dont-play-the-boring-bits/) - I play with a regular group that loves the resource management side of RPGs, but to be honest, it doesn't do much for me. When arrows cost a couple of copper pieces and my character has hundreds of gold, the time spent adds nothing to my experience of the game. Translating that to solo play, - [Solo Tips & Advice #6 Don't Judge Yourself](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/09/solo-tips-advice-6-dont-judge-yourself/) - Some of the production standards in Actual Play videos and live streams are exceptionally high. Some of these players are professional actors or have theatrical improv. training. They also have the benefit of being able to take as long as they like to resolve a question and brainstorm great interpretations and then edit out any - [Solo Tips & Advice #5 Play a Game You Know](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/08/solo-tips-advice-5-play-a-game-you-know/) - This tip mostly applies to those people new to solo. I love using solo to try out new systems. If you are new to solo, that could sound really appealing, but when you are new you could have a lot on your plate just coping with how to solo play. Not all oracles are straightforward, - [Bulk Releasing Products](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/07/bulk-releasing-products/) - Let me start by saying that I am a fan of Todd Zircher's work and he has helped me over the years. When I saw these SoloCutz products today, I could not help but think that Todd has sold himself somewhat short. These are some of the things I would have done differently. Pricing I - [Solo Tips & Advice #4 Prepare Your Answers](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/07/solo-tips-advice-4-prepare-your-answers/) - I can definitely remember times when I would roll for a yes/no question and then be absolutely stumped as to what the answer I got meant to my character. Generally, there are three outcomes, some form of yes, some form of no, and then possibly a plot twist, complication, or interruption. What I am talking - [Solo Tips & Advice #2 Mind Maps](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/05/solo-tips-advice-2-mind-maps/) - If you are not familiar with mind maps, they are way of connecting ideas. You start with a single concept in the center of a page and then add in connected ideas. Each idea is typically called a node, and each node can connect to more new nodes or to other existing nodes. If you - [Don't Ask Too Many Questions? Really??](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/07/01/dont-ask-too-many-questions-really/) - The stock advice of not asking too many questions made me think about how we play as groups. Your GM may say there is a desk in the corner, possibly with a very brief description, old, ornate, elegant, or whatever. If you ask a question about the desk, such as "Is it tidy?" your GM - [Combat vs Conflict](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/06/30/combat-vs-conflict/) - There was a question this week along the lines of did we know any games that did not have combat. There were many responses and my own suggestions were for games like Tales from the Loop, Kids on Bikes and Gumshoe systems which emphasise investigation. Another suggestion was Brindlewood Bay by Jason Cordova. [I am - [Star Trek Solo Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/06/27/star-trek-solo-adventures/) - This past week I have been playing around with Modiphius's Star Trek Adventures. I am familiar with the 2d20 system having played Conan John Carter Warlord of Mars. Star Trek is not a setting/genre I have played since the mid 80s. We played two or three sessions of a mission back then and then the - [Print on Demand GM Screens](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/06/23/print-on-demand-gm-screens/) - I was trying to think what else could I add to this when I saw an email come in from DriveThruCards Before I started making card decks there was rarely more than one DriveThruCard deal of the day each month. I have seen a few this month and when I checked the price, in PPP, - [Banners, Footerss and Product Images](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/06/16/banners-footerss-and-product-images/) - It was odd making this video, when I started the footers on the products I was looking at were definitely broken, and had been broken by DTRPG tech, they did the same thing to my footers a while ago. There used to be a snippet of tooltip code that would pop up your star ratings - [Generating Sales away from DTRPG](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/06/09/generating-sales-away-from-dtrpg/) - This video was prompted by some of the stats and figures I was reading comparing DriveThru to Lulu and Itch. The short version is that a) DTRPG will generate a ton more traffic to your products and you will earn more money from them, without having to do any advertising or marketing yourself. b) you - [Lots of places to sell stuff!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/06/02/lots-of-places-to-sell-stuff/) - It is no surprise that since becoming non-exclusive to DTRPG that I have been looking at other potential storefronts. The challenge is that I cannot manage all of them at once. It takes time to create product pages, and how to best learn how to optimise for each storefront. My current focus is Itch and - [Coriolis Solo Rules [Zenith Solo]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/31/coriolis-solo-rules-zenith-solo/) - Later on today [Monday 31st] I will be releasing my Coriolis Solo booklet. The rules are called Zenith Solo, in a nod to the generation ship at the heart of the setting. This will be the first book I have released in a very long time that I cannot put on my own store, Itch, - [Check your Purchase Notes](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/26/check-your-purchase-notes/) - From a marketing point of view your product purchase notes are incredibly powerful, and often overlooked. They are the one place you are allowed to put external links on DTRPG. Your purchase note appears on the order confirmation, and in the order confirmation email. This means that even if people do not sign up to - [3deep Combat Card Deck](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/24/3deep-combat-card-deck/) - Combat in 3Deep was always intended to be very interactive. The aggressor would attack, if they hit, they would roll the location. The defender could then try and block with their shield if they had one. Then the attacker would roll damage and knock back. The defender then deducts shield and armour from the damage - [Solo - Post Pandemic](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/19/solo-post-pandemic/) - Do I think solo will sink back into obscurity? No I don't. Do I think the sector will continue to grow at the rate it is? Probably not. How fast is the sector growing is a good question. If we take DriveThruRPG and Itch as a snapshot of the solo world, both have really strong - [ICONS Superpowered Bundles!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/13/icons-superpowered-bundles/) - Bundle of Holding are hosting two bundles for ICONS, the first gives you the rules, plus supplements of heroes, villains and adventures. The second is the ICONS Universe. If you want to give ICONS a go, I have a set of solo rules that are ICONS compatible. If you are a long time reader of - [Designer Diary Bundle of Holding & ICONS Assembled](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/12/designer-diary-bundle-of-holding-icons-assembled/) - For the rest of May Bundle of Holding are running two ICONS Assembled bundles. The first is the rules, and supplements, the second is the setting or the ICONS Universe. Why is this significant? I have an ICONS Assembled compatible book, and for everyone who buys either bundle is a potential customer. They are also - [Dungeon Crawl Solo (new)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/10/dungeon-crawl-solo-new/) - This is my latest solo rules booklet. Once upon a time someone bought my Solo Adventures for Stars Without Number, and liked the icon driven oracle. They then bought my OSR Solo book, and was disappointed that it did not use the same icon tools. The end result is that the Dungeon Crawl Classics [DCC] - [Print on Demand and Publisher Accounts](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/05/print-on-demand-and-publisher-accounts/) - What do the changes in Lightning Source's printing set up mean to you and I? It comes down to a slight drop in price and quality for colour books, and an increase in price for the black and white, but no change in quality there. This combined with the recent killing off of saddle stitch - [OSR Solo - translations](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/05/02/osr-solo-translations/) - OSR Solo was Deal of the Day on DriveThruRPG last month. When I wrote that booklet I gifted it to the community. The entire contents are under a Creative Commons license, you can do what you like with it. The next day I was contacted by Piotr Koryś, of GRAmel, asking to translate it into - [Designer Diary](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/28/designer-diary/) - One of the challenges of being a truly indie creator is the sheer number of skills you have to pick up. My latest need is for video editing. I know I could buy the skill in, but I have a budget of just a few tens of dollars. For now, some entry level software [HitFilm - [Wickedly Solo is now Live!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/26/wickedly-solo-is-now-live/) - Last year I was commissioned to write solo rules for Wicked Ones. You remember me writing about it back in December. I am pleased to say that the supplement is now live. It uses a different approach to my other Forged in the Dark book (Alone in the Dark, for Blades) in that you will - [Cards Are Quite Fun](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/23/cards-are-quite-fun/) - As a player a GM I don't use miniatures, battle maps and frequently even a map. As a player I am happy to go along with whatever the GM likes, but if things get too tactical I tend to get anti-tactical. In one group I play with they are constantly trying to maneuver for flank - [My Week!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/21/my-week/) - This has been one of those weeks where I have been bounced from one thing to another. First Up Deal of the Day I got the notification late on Monday, that it would be live on Tuesday, but this was a time when I really struggled to be online. As I had all the files - [A Double Standard Mouse](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/17/a-double-standard-mouse/) - My Rogue Handler is coming back next week, but as a completely system neutral book, aimed at any d100 modern setting Cthulhu game. This post is not about that, it is about something I noticed while updating the booklet. If you managed to buy the previous version, you will have seen the lists of things - [Patreon Lives!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/14/patreon-lives/) - One of the biggest rewards from my Patreon is that you get my entire list of solo stuff for free, as PDFs. I started this morning creating DriveThruRPG discount links for every PDF. I am thinking that using DTRPG for fulfillment means that should anything happen to me or the Patreon, you will have the - [Cut Up Solo - 1001 Nights - Done](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/12/cut-up-solo-1001-nights-done/) - The Cut Up book that I was working with over the weekend was put on DriveThruRPG, Lulu, and my webstore today. Tomorrow should see it live on Amazon. There may not seem anything unusual about that, except that this is the first Cut Up book to go into print. As a physical book, the vast - [Cut Up A Thousand Nights and a Night](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/11/cut-up-a-thousand-nights-and-a-night/) - I built the Thousand Nights and a Night (1001 Nights) cut-up book on Friday and had a little play with it this weekend. I set myself a challenge of trying not to have to pin myself down to a game system until I absolutely had to. I started out with no character sheet, just the - [Super Fun Week](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/09/super-fun-week/) - As you all probably know, I am working on a booklet for Dungeon Crawl Classics. I have a self imposed deadline of about 50 days, during which I would like to get the mechanics sorted, playtest, write the booklet, send it to Goodman Games, get approval, Finish the layout with their compatibility logo, submit the - [DCC & Dungeon Con](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/08/dcc-dungeon-con/) - I saw an email last night that said Dungeon Masters Guild and Goodman Games are joining forces to run Dungeon Con Online. The dates are May 28th - 31st. That gives me 50 days to get my DCC solo rules working, and submit them to Goodman Games for approval. I should be able to do - [](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/07/8690/) - The only things I have published this year, that I created for myself have been the Cut Up Solo booklets in January and the Dungeon World adventures in March. Both of those are very easy to create. The Cut Up books are the product of Project Gutenberg texts going in, some increasingly complex macros to - [Rogue Handler is no more](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/06/rogue-handler-is-no-more/) - I had an email from Arc Dream this morning asking me to take down DG: Rogue Handler. I thought I had stayed within the law. I had make it clear that Delta Green was their property, and included their copyright information. I had avoided their product name in the title and on the cover and - [Dungeon Crawl Classics Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/05/dungeon-crawl-classics-solo/) - I got an email this morning and it touched on a couple of things. Firstly, I am happy that someone is enjoying my Stars Without Number solo rules. That is always nice to see. The way I construct my solo rules is that I play the games and then I know what I want from - [DG: Rogue Handler - teasers!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/03/dg-rogue-handler-teasers/) - Yesterday, I did say that I wanted to bring you some screenshots of the book. About 2 minutes after than my laptop overheated and things went a bit wonky, the touchscreen and touchpad both stopped working and doing page layout with out a mouse is possible but not fun. Today, laptop is revived and behaving - [DG:Rogue Handler Manuscript Complete!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/04/02/dgrogue-handler-manuscript-complete/) - I am really pleased to say that I have completed the manuscript to my Delta Green rules. All that is needed now is a final playtest this evening, and then doing layout on Monday. A lot of my solo booklets work well with free quickstarts or 'lite' editions of the core game. That is not - [Deal of the Day Breakdown](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/31/deal-of-the-day-breakdown/) - As I said in the video, my estimate for the number of books I would say was 160, the actual number sold during the 24hr DotD period was 165. This means that my estimate was nearly spot on! I immediately followed up with a Sorry You missed out sale. I discounted to 50% this time, - [Coriolis + Tales From The Loop Bundle of Holding](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/29/coriolis-tales-from-the-loop-bundle-of-holding/) - Free League sent out the following email this afternoon. $90 of books for $24.95 seems like a pretty good deal to me. I just want to put a reminder out that if you pick up the Loop Collection, I have solo rules available for Tales from the Loop, and I will be publishing Coriolis solo - [Sale! 50% off Solo Rule Sets](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/26/sale-50-off-solo-rule-sets/) - I had Deal of the Day On Wednesday/Thursday, but at the end of the sale there were 542 people with my Solo Adventures for SWN on their wishlist (on DTRPG). It occured to me that the deal ending the day before pay day may have made a difference for people. I have set up a - [Solo Adventure for SWN Deal of the Day!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/24/solo-adventure-for-swn-deal-of-the-day/) - Today, at 10am US Central time (3pm for me), My Solo Adventures for Stars Without Number will be deal of the day. I am discounting it from £3.99 to $1.60. I will also discount the print version from $9.99 to $6.99, just for that 24hrs. I cannot believe how long this has taken to come - [Finally Progress! DG Rogue Handler](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/23/finally-progress-dg-rogue-handler/) - I have had one of those weeks where everything has been clamouring for my attention, except writing. I think that since last Thursday I haven't written a single word towards these Delta Green rules. What I have been doing is: mucking about with DriveThruCards. I was asked for all the card faces from my Troika! - [DG Random briefings](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/18/dg-random-briefings/) - Most of my thinking today was all about kicking off Delta Green missions. What I have is a four way table that gives you a starting point. The four options are: Victim and Deed I think of this as Miss Scarlet with a tire iron, from Cleudo. You get briefed on who the victim was - [Write What Sells or Write What Excites?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/17/write-what-sells-or-write-what-excites/) - Today's video was a little rambling. I woke up with an idea on Tuesday morning and it was one I just had to kind of get out of my head. The gist of it is this. Most publishers I know have already created their own game. Some more than one. I have published 3Deep, Devil's - [Solo Patreons](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/14/solo-patreons/) - I have always had an idea for a solo RPG patreon. I know what I want to do with it, and how it would integrate into everything else I do. What holds me back is two things. The first is that what I want to offer is very time consuming. I couldn't do what I - [Delta Green Missions?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/11/delta-green-missions/) - Whenever I look at a new system, I try and dig into it to find that one unique thing that makes the system stand out. Call of Cthulhu has that iconic 1930s setting, Apocthulhu has its unique timeline. What Delta Green says to me is that it is in the here and now. My Agent - [Facebook Ads - Second Steps](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/10/facebook-ads-second-steps/) - I call this Second Steps because I have dabbled with promoted posts in the past. The key to promoted posts is to write the post with the intention of it being boosted. If people are going to see just one thing written by you, what would you want them to see? That is the way - [DG:Rogue Handler](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/08/dgrogue-handler/) - I have no idea if that is a viable title or not, it is just the filename of my working notes for the set of Delta Green solo rules. I reached out to Arc Dream last week, asking about there being any chance of being allowed to call these rules Delta Green Compatible, or any - [Delta Green?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/04/delta-green/) - Coughka asked for a solo book for Delta Green. So, I went looking for the rules. Funnily enough it turns out I already have Delta Green: Need To Know. I said I would take a look and see if this was possible, and it turns out that Delta Green is OGL and derived from Legend. - [Catch Up Video](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/03/catch-up-video/) - It is not possible to keep innovating and learning new stuff, and work on supplements and adventures at the same time, and do everything in sufficient detail as to be of any value. I have a couple of things that I am working on, but I simply do not have the data to either prove - [Making Best Use of the Things That We find](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/24/making-best-use-of-the-things-that-we-find/) - This is all about making best use of some of the areas that DriveThruRPG allow us to use and promote our products and ourselves. That big Sale banner, and I feel bad calling an image that big a banner, is probably too big, but... When you set up a sale, the DTRPG preview of what - [Dungeon World Adventures Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/03/01/dungeon-world-adventures-solo/) - Today I released an adventure for Dungeon World. The adventure is set up to be both playable both as a solo adventure and as a GM lead group. I have always wanted to write solo adventures, but I don't like numbered paragraph adventures. That doesn't tick my roleplaying boxes. The Jason Cordova 7-3-1 method has - [Solo Playing Dungeon World Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/23/solo-playing-dungeon-world-adventures/) - When my kids were small, wind up toys like these would keep them amused for ages, wind up the little thumbwheel on the side and they would run around a table or the floor, causing much amusement. Courses were built out of books and boxes and races were a regular thing. Dungeon World encounters are - [Sole Survivor - Apocthulhu](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/22/sole-survivor-apocthulhu/) - Today I published Sole Survivor for Apocthulhu. The funny thing is, I cannot actually remember who mentioned the system to me. The past two weeks have been a bit of a blur! One of the blog followers has said that the DriveThuRPG link is giving them an error. I have checked what is happening on - [Mucking about with Apocthulhu](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/18/mucking-about-with-apocthulhu/) - So, it turns out that the Scavenging mechanics in Apocthulhu were just crying out to be turning into a basic oracle. The everyday gear has been rated from abundant to impossible to find, and graded from pristine to junk. The different levels of availability, abundant, uncommon, hard to find etc., fit nicely into the idea - [The Importance of Audiences](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/17/the-importance-of-audiences/) - I started to write the video description for this and it just started grow out of control, so I will carry on here.... As I say in the video, building your audience outside of DTRPG is vitally important. The big example is Kevin Crawford with a mailing list of 65,000+. That can be turned just - [This World is Junk - Apocthulhu](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/16/this-world-is-junk-apocthulhu/) - I have finished reading the quickstart of Apocthulhu and it is really cool. One of the coolest bits about the game concept is that in so many CoC games we, as players, never live long enough to discover what is really going on. What is the terrible thing that we are trying to stop happening. - [Troika! Test](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/14/troika-test/) - When the temperature feels like -3°c and you have 61km/h (about 40mph) winds, you don’t feel like going out much. We took the dogs for a walk earlier and they were being blown sideways! They were not super impressed. Today is a day for sitting in and playing a game, and for me it was - [Troika! Deck - take two](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/13/troika-deck-take-two/) - My Troika oracle deck has moved forward a fair bit since the video on Wednesday morning. You are looking at the card back here. The art has changed quite a bit. The girl's face/mask has gone, and I went for something a bit more geometric. After having looked at that mask for a week I - [Busy Week!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/10/busy-week/) - I love weeks like this. I am learning a new skill, this time creating cards, doing some layout, working with my playtesters, and moving my plans forward. Since recording this video, I have fixed the issue with the graphics in the stars without number proof. Approved The Sticky GM for global distribution and redesigned the - [Troika Cards! Woo Hoo!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/09/troika-cards-woo-hoo/) - What you are looking at here is a Troika card. This is back, I wanted to catch something of the pyschodelic 1960s look, and, to me at least, the hair styling does that. Much of the art in Troika is slightly dark and malformed, and discordant, the combination of flowers and the disfigurement of the - [Troika Oracle Cards](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/08/troika-oracle-cards/) - I picked up the Troika Bundle of Holding (offer ended 1st of Feb), but I didn't know then that I would be looking at troika now. It is entirely possible that the person, Glen, who asked me for solo rules also picked up this bundle, and that is why the sudden interest. One of the - [Troika Solitary Wanderer](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/07/troika-solitary-wanderer/) - I have been asked for a set of simple solo rules for Troika. The last time this happened if was for Warlock! Both games are rather similar, sharing a lot of similarities with Fighting Fantasy. Warlock! is rather like a rules light Warhammer FRP. Troika is more like a psychodelic Beatles movie set out as - [Barsoom - work in progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/06/barsoom-work-in-progress/) - Monday's new release will be Cut Up Solo - Barsoom. This will use all the available texts of the Barsoom novels. There are five available on Project Gutenberg, but there are six more that are out of copyright, but they have not been digitised yet. The last novel was published posthumously in 1964, so is - [The Saddle Stitch Ripples](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/05/the-saddle-stitch-ripples/) - When Lighting Source killed off saddle stitch it caused quite a stir. In the grand scheme the biggest reaction came when DTRPG or LS have conceded to absorb the cost of converting existing saddle stitch titles to perfect bound. We will need to create new covers, to account for the spine, but they will do - [Pilot RPG - Reboot](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/24/pilot-rpg-reboot/) - “He who embarks on that fickle sea, requires to possess the skill of the pilot and the fortitude of the navigator, and after all may be wrecked and lost, unless the gales of fortune breathe in his favour.” Scott, Walter. The Complete Novels of Sir Walter Scott I have a long running project that has - [Wicked One Update #4](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/21/wicked-one-update-4/) - At least I think this is the fourth update. After being massively stalled trying to build all those lists, I have put them aside for now, and carried on the with important part, the writing. This week I have covered Compels, Dark Hearts, Stress, Going Feral, Dark Bargains, flashbacks and Clocks. Most of these do - [Death of Saddle Stitch](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/20/death-of-saddle-stitch/) - This is today's video Designer Diary. It seemed to strike a chord as on Monday I had ordered the proof copy of my Stars Without Number book, and then a few hours later received the notification of the end of saddle stitch bindings. Adriel at DTRPG was perfectly helpful, the order cancelled and the new - [How Often Do You Visit DriveThruRPG?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/12/how-often-do-you-visit-drivethrurpg/) - [yop_poll id="1"] - [Wicked One Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/14/wicked-one-update/) - I am not a fan of lists. I find writing them is the fastest way to make my inspiration dry up. When I don't need to create a list I am often fizzing with ideas. Tell me I have to write them down and suddenly I draw a blank. So it has been all week, - [2021 Plans for Print On Demand](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/13/2021-plans-for-print-on-demand/) - I am starting my investigations into setting up with Lightning Source LLC. The intention is that they will do all the printing and fulfillment for my supplements. The exciting part is the future potential. They have a big network, especially for digital formats. What I would like to go is get everything in my solo - [Wicked One...to thirty-six!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/07/wicked-one-to-thirty-six/) - I was talking about using d66 tables in a previous blog post [Dark Bargaining] and this week my main task is to build those d66 tables. This is one of the tasks that sounds easy when you think of the idea, but it becomes hard work really quickly when you have to actually write them. - [Deal of the Day - Deep Dive](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/01/06/deal-of-the-day-deep-dive/) - Today's vblog is all about my recent 3Deep Deal of the Day. If you are a publisher, or aspiring publisher, Deal of the Day is 'the thing' that we all aim for with DriveThruRPG's Publisher Promotion Points. It is the most expensive option available, and out of reach for most small publishers. I have now - [Deal of the Day - 3Deep 2nd Edition](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/31/deal-of-the-day-3deep-2nd-edition/) - [Wheels within wheels...](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/30/wheels-within-wheels/) - I think it was Douglas Adams used coined the phrase "Everything is connected". I like getting the maximum benefit from any single effort. In this video I used a blog post on High Level Games, to promote some of my own supplements and games, and got paid for writing it. The article included affiliate links, - [Dark Bargaining - Wicked Ones](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/27/dark-bargaining-wicked-ones/) - I tried playing with the ideas I was suggesting yesterday, and to my taste, they were too slow. I like my solo games to skip along. One of the greatest things about the underlying system, blade/forged in the dark, is the idea of only playing the fun bits. That is contrary to the idea of - [Wickedly Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/26/wickedly-solo/) - I am deep into creating the Wicked Ones solo rules. One of the challenging aspects is the amount of negotiated actions. In the group game many elements are based upon suggestions made by the group. What happens when you go feral? The nature of dark bargains, or even simply consequences of partial successes through to - [Christmas Meanderings](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/25/christmas-meanderings/) - I have done quite a bit of drawing this Christmas. I determined not to work today, but the art stuff is very much for my own enjoyment. I hare the sketches on Instagram because I like getting advice from people with talent. One such person is Steve Brute. He is always quick with supportive comments - [Blades Bundle of Holding](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/23/blades-bundle-of-holding/) - The big news for me this week is that I was asked to include Alone in the Dark solo rules in the Blades in the Dark Bundle of Holding. This is the first time I have been invited to join a bundle like this. The sales volume is phenomenal, at least so far. I think - [Solo Gaming Roundtable](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/21/solo-gaming-roundtable/) - Last night I took part in the first Solo Gaming Roundtable hosted by Matt Kay with Chris Bissette, John Lopez, Jamila R Nedjado and Tana Pigeon. It was really good fun, after initial nerves, and all the feedback I have had so far, it seems to have been well received. I now have another invite - [Wicked Ones Week](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/22/wicked-ones-week/) - Yesterday I started research for a set of solo rules for Wicked Ones. You may not know this game. It is released today, or possibly tomorrow, depending on where you are in the world. It is best described as the PC game Dungeon Keeper meets Blades in the Dark. Putting it really bluntly, you swap - [Warlock! Weekend](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/18/warlock-weekend/) - I really think I can get the Warlock! Solo book wrapped up this weekend. All the hard bit is done, I just need to turn my scrappy spreadsheets into something presentable. I am going to do my best to get it written up this weekend and over to Greg Saunders at the beginning of the - [One Weird Trick... Not really](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/16/one-weird-trick-not-really/) - This video is all about an experiment I did that seems to be paying off. The basic idea is about what we call social proof. When ads say 8 out of 10 cats, or websites show you the brand logos of big name customers, they are all trying to suggest that if we are good - [Warlock! Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/13/warlock-solo/) - This weekend has been playtest weekend for Warlock! Part of me doesn't like games where you have to roll randomly for your career. I say part of me, because when I play games like Zweihander I always randomly generate my character. The dividing line between accepting random careers and rejecting them is whether you get - [Year-End Crunch](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/12/year-end-crunch/) - I am working on a fist full of stuff for the end of the year. Some of the projects are still under wraps but two are approaching completion. The first will go on sale on Monday, as my usual new release. Cut Up Solo - Dracula It was one of three irresistible titles to do - [Fantasy Grounds Cut Up Module - progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/10/fantasy-grounds-cut-up-module-progress/) - My first attempts at a FG modules were abject failures. The first one killed Fantasy grounds with its one big table of 16921 entries. The second split the big table into 17 smaller tables and then randomly selected which table to roll on and then rolled on the sub-table. While this was functional, it filled - [Pastiche Solo RPG Tool](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/09/pastiche-solo-rpg-tool/) - I was playing with Pastiche this morning and I tried feeding it a variety of texts. What struck me was how badly different texts from different authors meshed together, or didn't. This was a different text. I wanted a different feel for an adventure. I was hoping for something a bit more Dark Fantasy, but - [Fantasy Grounds Cut Up Module - part 1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/08/fantasy-grounds-cut-up-module-part-1/) - My first version of the cut up module was a dismal failure. There is an add on module that allows you to import CSV lists as tables. I was using that and imported all 16921 snippets into a single table. I thought that if the table imported, that would be the single biggest overhead. I - [Cut Up Solo - The Hour of the Dragon](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/07/cut-up-solo-the-hour-of-the-dragon/) - Today I put out my first Cut Up Solo supplement. The source material as you will probably know by now is The Hour of the Dragon, the first Conan Novella by Robert E Howard. I have combined the two approaches I talked about last week. The PDF contains 2000 four or five word snippets, arranged - [Project Overload](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/05/project-overload/) - I have nine projects I would really like to get my teeth into. Starting new projects is really exciting. It involves re-reading the rulebooks just to check that I am playing the game as written and not my own house rules that I just imagine are RAW. It then has me making characters, I often - [What a grand week that was!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/12/02/what-a-grand-week-that-was/) - There is a joke about waiting for a bus to arrive, only for three to come at once. That is what this week has been like. I knew that Alone in the Dark was going to go platinum, but it sat on exactly 1000 sales for days before finally getting the all important 1001st sale. - [Author vs Non Authoring](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/29/author-vs-non-authoring/) - I spent this afternoon playing the new edition of Chivalry & Sorcery (5th Edition) and using my regular oracle methods, customised to the rules. This evening I played using my non-authoring spreadsheet. Roland the Ruffian met a bloody death in the end at the feet of a mountain troll. It could have been worse, the - [Cut Up progress - The hooded un-man](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/28/cut-up-progress-the-hooded-un-man/) - I am getting quite into this cut up method of solo play. I am getting a little faster as well. What I am doing is grabbing 20 snippets at once, pasting them into word and then deleting all the times that don't seem to add much. What I am left with is sometimes needs rearranging, - [Delving further into Cut-Up](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/25/delving-further-into-cut-up/) - This kind of follows on from yesterday's blog post. I am getting more comfortable with the cut-up method. I continued my game today, but I was starved of time, and we were playing online this evening. That meant that all my creative oomph when into the online game, and not spilled out onto the page. - [Tilt - An Oracle for Solo Roleplaying](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/24/tilt-an-oracle-for-solo-roleplaying/) - This post is a continuation of my playing around with Mork Borg. I want to get a grip of non-authoring solo and I was pointed in the direction of Tilt, and I was kindly send a complimentary copy today. The book is in several sections. The first is a simple generic solo oracle. The tilt - [Mörk Borg - Conan - Non-Authoring Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/23/mork-borg-conan-non-authoring-solo/) - I started today by building my new concordance. I combined all the Robert E Howard Conan stories into a single text file, and cleaned them up a bit in Word. The text came to 1143 pages of plain text. This is where it started to go wrong. Word doesn't play well with very long documents. - [Non-Authoring Solo Mörk Borg](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/21/non-authoring-solo-mork-borg/) - My first attempt at non-authoring solo was concordance based. My understanding of the concordance tool is that it pulls put keywords, with the reference/context from a text. If you imagine your character looking down a valley, you could ask the concordance for 'valley' and it will show you a selection of references to valleys. You - [Mörk Borg and Authoring vs. Non-Authoring](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/20/mork-borg-and-authoring-vs-non-authoring/) - I chose Mörk Borg as the partner to my non-authoring experiments because I find the basic content of the game to be very rich in the lore of the setting. I also find the game quite limited, and best suited to one shot games. You are lucky if a campaign lasts for even a month - [A dalliance with Non-Authoring Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/18/a-dalliance-with-non-authoring-solo/) - Nearly all the solo roleplaying I do, and my rules lean towards can be referred to authoring solo. The rules may give you a prompt, but it is down to you to filling the context and meaning of what the prompt means to you. All these tools could be used by an author to write - [Into The Rad - Day 7... and Launched!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/16/into-the-rad-day-7-and-launched/) - Seven days from playing a game during my lunch break to releasing an Into The Odd hack, Into The Rad. I honestly believe that this was the fastest turn around I have ever had. I don't make any of the changes to the rules, or character creation, in this hack, which means that the years - [Into The Rad - Day 6](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/15/into-the-rad-day-6/) - This is not the final cover, just a work in progress, or first idea. You will notice that there was a name change. I fell out of love with Into The Gamma, and Into The Rad seemed a bit cooler. Most of my books are US Trade format. These are smaller than the bulk of - [Into The Gamma - Day 5](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/14/into-the-gamma-day-5/) - I had a really good day today. Technically, I could save the PDF now and, baring some art, it would be ready to go. The problem is that the more I write, the more I want to include. I have a few screenshots to share. The pink boxouts are the solo rules and advice interspersed - [Into The Gamma Day 4](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/13/into-the-gamma-day-4/) - I missed a day as we were a bit busy on the farm, but needless to say writing still got done. As of this evening character creation is complete, the solo rules are written, mutations for animals and plants are done, and starting tech is defined. I have a section on Referee advice and I - [Into The Gamma - Day 2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/11/into-the-gamma-day-2/) - Work is progressing quite nicely today. We have three key ingredients going into this mix. The first is the Into The Odd/Mark of the Odd SRD. The second ingredient is an integrated solo system. This uses three elements, leveraging the Luck roll for GMing decisions, bringing the this games Oddpendium into the oracle system to - [Into the Gamma](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/10/into-the-gamma/) - Someone sent me a link to the Into The Odd SRD last week. I am well known for liking both Sci-Fi and rules-light. Into the Odd is just 58 pages tip to toe, and it has hints of science fiction, post-civilization, to the setting. I was quite intrigued and read the book on Friday night. - [The 1950s FUDGE Science Fiction](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/09/the-1950s-fudge-science-fiction/) - I am returning to this project today. It is a kind of circuitous route. I was reading Into The Odd at the weekend and it struck me as a great little system for making a compact little science fiction game. Where characters can manipulate their Arcanum to create unique effects, the same could be done - [Cepheus Solo screenshots](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/07/cepheus-solo-screenshots/) - Last time, I was showing some of the art that I wanted to use in the Solo play 'How to'. This solo book continues the theme of assuming the soloist is a player and not a GM. It offers more support, rather than assuming that, like a typical GM, they are used to improvising entire - [Introducing... Thomas Budach](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/05/introducing-thomas-budach/) - Thomas Budach is an artist. His work is 99% science fiction, with the occasional dragon thrown in. I discovered his work when I was writing my solo book for Ashen Stars. Thomas provided the cover for that book. Ever since then I wanted to do something else using this art. Despite all the different things - [Smuggler's Doom](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/03/smugglers-doom/) - The adventure I talked about yesterday is now on DriveThruRPG. This is my playtest adventure for my cepheus engine solo rules. There are all the usual things you would expect in a sci fi adventure, venomous basking sharks, crazy motorcycle chases up river beds, big guns and the player characters wearing uniforms stolen from the - [An Adventure in Cepheus](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/02/an-adventure-in-cepheus/) - Today I put together a really bare bones adventure for cepheus. I included stats for quick reference and the one key location was a Dyson Logos map. Everything else was absolutely minimal. The goal was to challenge myself to use the solo rules to fill in the details. There were things I wanted to feature, - [Cepheus In Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/11/01/cepheus-in-progress/) - There is an interesting product on DriveThruRPG called simply SOLO. The way that this product works is that it takes as many variables as you think of and turns it into a black box and spits out the end result of the entire action, right down to character deaths. Once it has produced a result, - [#inktober Day 30 Draw Something](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/30/inktober-day-30-draw-something/) - The idea today was that we would pick something and then draw it. I grabbed a photo from pixabay and then tried to draw it. So, this is not perfect, but it is not utter rubbish either. I wanted to do something vaguely techy because at the moment I am on a bit of a - [Stars Without Number Solo Session 1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/30/stars-without-number-solo-session-1/) - This was a very brief one scene session, barely worth the name session. One of the strengths of solo play is that you can play as much or as little as you have time for. It is just a pity that the first time I wanted play real life got in the way. I could - [#inktober Day 29 The Evil Squirrel](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/29/inktober-day-29-the-evil-squirrel/) - Today was squirrel day, and he or she was really difficult. It appears that many things that I draw end up looking slightly evil. I am wondering if it is because once things become misshapen they start to look ugly and, evil to us? I actually think its ears, whiskers and eye are quite cute. - [Stars Without Number Solo Session 0](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/28/stars-without-number-solo-session-0/) - I am about to start a solo campaign using Stars Without Number. I have some ideas that I wanted to include, such as having a very clear mental picture of the world. That is 'world' singular. I am not looking for a game of planet hopping. I have an idea of a dystopian urban world - [#inktober Day 28 Draw a female face](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/28/inktober-day-28-draw-a-female-face/) - I was kind of dreading this exercise when I saw it in the list. I suspected that this was one where it would be painfully obvious that I had zero ability. The end result was better than expected. I was happier with it before I started adding the value to the cheeks and side of - [#inktober Day 27 Still Life](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/27/inktober-day-27-still-life/) - I quite enjoyed this one. I am definitely learning what I enjoy and what I don't. I like the softer pencils and the big bold pens. I am very heavy handed in real life, and I think big fat bold lines suit me in drawing as well. I tried to get clever with the glass - [#inktober Day 26 Two Point Perspective](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/26/inktober-day-27-two-point-perspective/) - The desk against the wall appears to have one of those Esher-esque strange number of legs. What I want to achieve is something something more like the images below, rather than technical drawing style. The artist I followed today was using a set square to take everything back to the two vanishing points, left and - [#inktober Day 25 One Point Perspective](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/25/inktober-day-25-one-point-perspective/) - The trees got a bit passive aggressive because I wasn't enjoying them, and there were just so many! - [#inktober Day 24 Negative Space](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/24/inktober-day-24-negative-space/) - The object here was not to draw the objects, but to draw the space around them. The scissors are fairly obvious, I hope. The splatter to the right is a pile of paperclips. I have given on the game icons bit. Things kind of went downhill this week. - [#inktober Day 22 Vase Face](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/22/inktober-day-22-vase-face/) - Clichéd or what? - [#inktober Day 21 Drawing with a Grid](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/21/inktober-day-21-drawing-with-a-grid/) - This is, hopefully recognisable as a horse's head. Somehow my horses head ended up slightly chunkier than the reference horse. How that is possible with a grid is beyond me. All in all, I am pretty pleased with my horse. - [#inktober Day 20 Blind Contour Drawing plus Throw and Hope](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/20/inktober-day-20-blind-contour-drawing-plus-throw-and-hope/) - I am left handed, so that is a right hand. Honest! That weird dip at the top was me trying to add a nail to mu thumb. Conclusion? Best not dwell on this exercise. The keywords for today were throw and hope. What you are getting is a dart and a d20. - [#inktober Day 19 Textures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/19/inktober-day-19-textures/) - Not sure about these. I didn't like the bark while I was doing it, but it is growing on me the longer I look at it. The others don't look very convincing, but they didn't on the videos we were watching either. I am not drawing any icons today. I am just not feeling very - [#inktober day 18 A Hand](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/18/inktober-day-18-a-hand/) - The reference hand used for this lesson looked like an artist's hands, not sure what an artist's hand looks like but that was one of them. My hand looks like Dorian Gray's hand from the picture in the attic. Is it the evil looking oversized thumb? It could be. The icons for today are Fancy - [#inktober Day17 Donuts, blades and rodents.](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/17/inktober-day17-donuts-blades-and-rodents/) - A donut was one of the first exercises. The point of today was taking stock of progress. I think I did this myself naturally over the past couple of days. I don't think I could have done the game icons without having done the basic forms practice at the start of the month. Today we - [#inktober Day 16 Trees and Bulky Prey Icons](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/16/inktober-day-16-trees-and-bulky-prey-icons/) - Today's drawing lesson was trees. I created two trees, one is a Mark Kistler tree, the other was more cartoonish. I quite liked the end result of the soft pencil tree. Today, I am going to try and draw a variation of the Bulk and Prey key words. I am looking at Mr Bulky here - [#inktober Day 15 Cross Contours, and oh so much more...](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/15/inktober-day-15-cross-contours-and-oh-so-much-more/) - I will start with today's lesson. I really like cross contours. I get them, they make perfect sense. I may not be very good at them yet, but I get them. And the other stuff Anyone who reads this blog normally, knows that I never just have one thing going on at a time. So - [#inktober Day 14 A Rose by any other name](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/14/inktober-day-14-a-rose-by-any-other-name/) - The four quadrants show some kind of progression. The bits I felt the happiest with were the cereal bowls and the last flag, the impossibly curled one. The actual roses lack any kind of feeling of being organic, at least to me. I am no rose expert. Tomorrow will be half way through the month. - [#inktober Day13 Elipses](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/13/inktober-day13-elipses/) - Today was all about the eclipse. The vase, that is the one on the left, is unshaded as the shading is a future project. There is a little cylinder on the right that was the highlight of my day! Is that a bit sad? - [#inktober Day 12 Overlapping Shapes](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/12/inktober-day-12-overlapping-shapes/) - These are supposed to be lilies. The exercise is in drawing overlapping shapes. This seemed to be a step up from playing with boxes, balls and cylinders. Shading is still the problem, but I have been given a name to follow up on. I haven't watched the videos yet, which means I am not going - [#inktober Day 11 constructing from basic forms](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/11/inktober-day-11-constructing-from-basic-forms/) - This lamp was built out of spheres, mainly half spheres, cylinders and one cube. I quite liked doing it, even if I was following video instructions. I still cannot get the shading right on anything curved. After this month is over, that is what I am going to have to practice. - [#inktober Day 10 basic forms](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/10/inktober-day-10-basic-forms/) - Back to building blocks again. Rogue-tober Sale In other news, all my books are at 25% off during the Rogue-tober sale on DriveThruRPG. This is an across the board sale. This sale comes hot on the heels of getting Deal of the Day last week. if you are interested in behinds the scenes, as a - [#inktober Day 9 - Ice cream cones](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/09/inktober-day-9-ice-cream-cones/) - I very nearly forgot to post this. The lesson today was cones, and the challenge was then to draw an ice cream. - [#inktober Day 8 A Pyramid](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/08/inktober-day-8-a-pyramid/) - Compared to what has gone before in the last few days, this was relatively easy. It is also the 'picture' over an exercise. I have a feeling that this was an easy day, because there is a step up in difficulty coming in the next day or so. - [#Inktober allegedly advanced cubes](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/07/inktober-allegedly-advanced-cubes/) - I am looking at this and maybe it is my WWII Operation Whitebox still hanging around, but I can imagine a bunch of POWs trying to build a glider in the attic! This is another practice image. What I learned is that lettering is harder that it looks! - [#inktober Day 6](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/06/inktober-day-6/) - I think today's challenge was to draw a house. I started to watch the instructional video, and it was was day 12 of Mark Kistler's series. I had only watched day's one to five. So I thought, I will catch up and do the lessons in between. I didn't have enough time to watch all - [#inktober Day 5 Hollow Cubes](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/05/inktober-day-5-hollow-cubes/) - OK, so the tulips look more like sink plungers than flowers, but the open boxes look quite good. That could say more about my low bar of expectation than my artistic ability. The boxes on their sides are my favourites today. That felt like I was really drawing something, and I think I could repeat - [#inktober day 4 The Cube](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/04/inktober-day-4-the-cube/) - I am not feeling that there is a hidden Michael Angelo hidden inside. To be honest I am just pleased to have made it four days in without giving up in embarrassing failure. On the plus side, I am seriously considering buying Mark Kistler's book. He does know his stuff. - [Alone in the Dark Deal of the Day](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/04/alone-in-the-dark-deal-of-the-day/) - Right now, over on DriveThruRPG Alone in the Dark, my Blades in the Dark solo booklet is deal of the day. If you have been thinking of picking this up, right now it is 50% off. On Wednesday, this will be the topic of my Diary Video Blog, the end to end Deal of the - [#inktober Day 3 Apples & Balls](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/03/inktober-day-3-apples-balls/) - I am following two paths here. The balls are from Mark Kistler and the Apple from Marelisa Fabrega. My balls went a bit flat today, but I felt more confident making them. I can honestly say that I felt more confident making them. Not sure they are any better, but I felt better. The apple - [#Inktober Day 2 Overlapping Spheres](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/02/inktober-day-2-overlapping-spheres/) - Here is my Day 2 masterpiece. I am following two 'courses'. The top half is Mark Kistler's 30 day learn to draw videos. You can find these on YouTube. They were live streamed in 2016. The value scale at the bottom of the image comes from Marelisa Fabrega. Marelisa's course points to various resources and - [ICONS Eureka Moment](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/02/icons-eureka-moment/) - I had been struggling with ICONS. Normally, when I create my solo books what I am doing is formally writing up, and then layout my personal rules for playing the game - solo. ICONS was different right from the start. I got the game as a Pandemic giveaway in March. I have no background in - [#Inktober Day 1 The Sphere](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/10/01/inktober-day-1-the-sphere/) - I am really starting below the bottom! These were supposed to be three spheres but have ended up looking like diseased potatoes. I know that October has 31 days, and I am doing a 30 day challenge. I am hoping to create something completely independent of any course on the last day. This drawing game - [Cover Experiments](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/30/cover-experiments/) - This month I have been experimenting with different covers. These book effect covers are going to be my standard in my web store. Everything I put in my store will be going to print in the new year, so the book effect will be in keeping. What I noticed on DTRPG was that these covers - [ICONS is Weird](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/29/icons-is-weird/) - I am going to watch this kickstarter with close interest. - [I have a name!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/28/i-have-a-name/) - If you are on my contact list you will have seen the announcement that Operation Solo Endeavor is live. It took a while but I eventually settled on a name that I liked. OSE sounds a bit like SOE, the Special Operations Executive but Solo Operations Executive sounded a bit weird. The book features the - [Real Data vs. Fake Data?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/27/real-data-vs-fake-data/) - As part of these Operation Whitebox rules I have created some random NPC tables. The stats as far as hit dice and AAC are the ones from the rulebook. I don't really care about those. The bits I am creating are name and rank for the 10 different nations I am featuring as theatres of - [I need a good name! Whitebox WWII Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/26/i-need-a-good-name-whitebox-wwii-solo/) - Today, I am putting together the finishing touches to a booklet for WWII Operation Whitebox. The star of this solo ruleset is going to be the mission generator. I have been building a step by step set of random tables, or oracles, that set the objective type, the location and more details as you go. - [GURPS Solo Monsters on the Fly](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/25/gurps-solo-monsters-on-the-fly/) - This post is in response to a comment by Steel about playing GURPS Solo. How to build monsters on the fly, when you don't know what monsters you are going to need? I play GURPS using my SURP Solo rules. These encourage sandbox style play, with no planned adventure. The problem with sandbox play, is - [WWII Operation Whitebox Briefing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/24/wwii-operation-whitebox-briefing/) - My WWII Operation Whitebox solo rules are starting to take shape! Today, I was building a set of supporting random tables for the Objective/Briefing section. The rulebook, and rules, are going to follow the structure of an adventure laid down in the whitebox rulebook. ObjectiveBriefingPlanningInsertionPre-assessmentExecutionPost AssessmentExtraction If I was running this at a table for - [How to solo roleplay using Fantasy Grounds](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/23/how-to-solo-roleplay-using-fantasy-grounds/) - Question: How to solo roleplay using Fantasy Grounds? Answer: Use a solo roleplaying Fantasy Ground mod! OK, so that is not so helpful. This video explains how you can use a FG mod to provide the oracle question and answer mechanics in 5e. So, this is the video that I mentioned yesterday, that became 'infected' - [Cross Solo Pollination](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/22/cross-solo-pollination/) - I was making tomorrow's video today, because I have an eye test in the morning, but didn't want to break the regular Wednesday video sharing. The video was about solo role-playing using fantasy grounds. Keep that in mind. Last night and this afternoon I was playing an SAS Operative in occupied France, 1942. I have - [WWII Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/21/wwii-adventures/) - When I started looking at Operation Whitebox WWII I liked the mid-power level, d10 hit points gave my character a bit more resilience. It is always an important consideration, how do you make an adventure survivable for a single character, but challenging. I want a sense of threat if a firefight starts, but a chance - [Blades in the Dark Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/20/blades-in-the-dark-solo/) - The Future of Alone In The Dark This solo supplement is going to be one of the first books into print when I start to create my 'Bookshelf of Solo'. The printed books will be updated from the PDF. The content will be expanded to include things I have learned since creating this book. All - [Maze Rats vs. Knave](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/19/maze-rats-vs-knave/) - Both Maze Rats and Knave are compact OSR games by Questing Beast's Ben Milton. Both are d6 based, brutal, fast and dirty games. So with two so similar games, which should you get? Maze Rats vs. Knave? Maze Rats Maze Rats is a 14 page [28 pages in a folded booklet format] game, that does - [Solo RPG Engines](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/18/solo-rpg-engines/) - The way I see solo RPG engines is that they fall into three classes. I have just finished writing my submission for Angela Quidam's 5-minute game jam. This is a simple game, ask yourselves some questions and then write, for 5 minutes, about your character's story. No more, and no less. Thus the 5 minute - [Weekend Reading](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/17/7424/) - What do you do to chill out? I have been known to read a rulebook or two, just for fun. I can be really fussy. If a rulebook is over about 300 pages it has to be really great to keep my attention. Recently, I have been playing Index Card RPG [ICRPG], a 400 page - [Storing Up Trouble?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/16/storing-up-trouble/) - This video explains a bit more about where I am with the whole store building process. It also touches on the problems that we experienced last year when RPGnow and DriveThruRPG merged. That was a week where no one sold anything because all the sites were down. The store on this site is going to - [Laid out flat](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/15/laid-out-flat/) - Today has been of doing layout for a fanzine I run for Zweihänder RPG, called Lowborn. I laid out the first three submissions. The third one was a 5,000 word adventure with bespoke art and new monsters. This could and should be a standalone adventure rather than just earning a tiny royalty in a fanzine. - [One Lore - Solo Role-playing d100 lite](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/14/one-lore-solo-role-playing-d100-lite/) - I am 90% storm forward and 10% thinking and planning. A couple of weeks ago I read Lore 100 and I thought the system looked really cool. I wrote about Lore Sheets, and I liked the system and the game mechanic. So, as usual, I stormed ahead and wrote the solo rules for the game. - [Lacking Talent](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/13/lacking-talent/) - I am somewhat artistically challenged. I can do a lot of things but the two weakest facets of my personality are drawing and music. There is little or no need for music in solo role-playing books so that is fine. Drawing and all the other visual arts, in contrast, would be an immense benefit, if - [A day of Playtime](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/12/a-day-of-playtime/) - Do you know those days where you are on the go all day, but achieve next to nothing. Today was one of those. The image on the left may look like a set of solo rules for Index Card RPG, but it isn't. That is a wasted half an hour using one of those really - [ICRPG Solo - Work in Progress](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/11/icrpg-solo-work-in-progress/) - If you are familiar with the Index Card RPG from RUNEHAMMER, you will probably recognize the node layout from the image here. ICRPG has a distinctive artistic style that indie writers are not allowed to emulate, for fear of a third party book being mistaken for an official publication, so In place of the regular - [Building an Online Store Part II](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/10/building-an-online-store-part-ii/) - So, yesterday I started to look at two options for an online store. The first is WooCommerce and the second Shopify. The image to the right here is from Website Builder Expert.com and shows that other people reached the same conclusion. To save you some time reading, the gist of it is that they are - [Building My Online Store?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/09/building-my-online-store/) - In today's video I start by talking about ERA for Navigator RPG. That is really exciting, but if you read this blog because of my shared thoughts on making a living from writing for games, the second half of the video will be of more interest. Since I made the video, about 4hrs ago, I - [Red vs Blue Jam?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/08/red-vs-blue-jam/) - I was thinking today and I came up with a neat little game idea. Initially it was just a solo system. Take two dice, one red, one blue.Roll the pair.If red is higher, the answer is yes.If blue is higher, the answer is no.On a double, a plot twist occurs. Then I though we need - [Solo World Building](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/07/solo-world-building/) - Tod mentioned Barbarians of Lemuria and the setting neutral Everywhen yesterday. This had me thinking about solo world building. I was world building this week using simple yes/no questions. In the image on the right, any double [11,22,33...] is a critical, which you can read as yes and.. or no, and... This turned into an - [Skills and backgrounds](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/06/skills-and-backgrounds/) - At the beginning of the year, I was playing Castles & Crusades with my paladin called Hanson. He met a sad end, being eaten by a polar bear on an arctic ice flow, but we are not all destined to reach a high level. C&C uses what it calls the Siege Engine for resolving skill - [The Lore System [Narrative Basic Roleplaying]](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/05/the-lore-system-narrative-basic-roleplaying/) - So this week I have been looking at The Lore System. This is a Basic Roleplaying (BRP) based system with its own SRD, making it easy to develop for. For me, what makes it stand out is the inclusion of a lot of narrative elements. It is very much like Gumshoe meets Call of Cthulhu - [Marketing, Demographics, and Personas](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/02/marketing-demographics-and-personas/) - The blog post referenced in this video is this one: Weird Solo Patreon? I think there are three lessons to take from this video. Write social media posts/create videos the match the platform and audience to you looking for, or don't blast the same message out everywhere.Play to your strengths, if you don't like Twitter - [Weird Solo RPG Patreon?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/09/01/weird-solo-rpg-patreon/) - I was reading today about social media influencers and Patreon. The gist of the article was that, in the early phase of a SM platform, they need high profile influencers to use their network, to draw in users. Typically, SM operators do this by paying influencers a revenue share of advertising income. Once the operators - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 31 Experience](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/31/rpgaday2020-day-31-experience/) - So, this is the last day of #RPGaDAY2020 and it is time to award experience. So what have a learned? I normally try and apply all of these prompts to solo play, but many of the suggestions this year lent themselves more to traditional play that to solo play. This morning, I was playing Dungeon - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 30 Portal](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/30/rpgaday2020-day-30-portal/) - In the last but one game session I ran before lock down I game the characters some choices. Shift the dark, bloodstained altar and confront the slurping beast heard beneath.Step through the magic mirror and confront the tentacles Sea monster that had reached through and tried to grab one of them.Step through a portal to - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 29 Ride](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/29/rpgaday2020-day-29-ride/) - I am playing in a campaign, in theory at least, which has a lot of over land travel. Yhis isn't a hex crawl, we are going between cities but heading away from the more settled regions. The GM wants us to explore his world. A couple of the other players are of the "wake me - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 28 Close](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/28/rpgaday2020-day-28-close/) - It looks like we are getting close to the end of the month and close to the end of the challenge. During August, and therefore during #RPGaDAY2020, I have written and published three sets of solo rules for Cthulhu themed games. That was Dark Stalker for Dark Streets & Darker Secrets, OSR Cosmic Horror, for - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 27 Flavour](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/28/rpgaday2020-day-27-flavour/) - One of the constant themes that runs through my gaming is that I try to keep the flavour of the game upbeat and aspirational. Recently, there has been a lot of interest around Wretched. A fellow creator I work with frequently produced several Wretched hacks, which I believe was Azukail Games first foray into solo - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 26 Strange](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/26/rpgaday2020-day-26-strange/) - What could possibly be considered strange about sitting at home pretending to be an outcast monk plagued by visions of rampaging dragons? The answer is of course, absolutely nothing, we are roleplayers, we can do anything, and have already done most of it! This week has seen real life interrupted by a series of power - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 25 Lever](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/25/rpgaday2020-day-25-lever/) - When I saw the Levers prompt I immediately thought to the levers a GM gets to play pull to modify the play style. Make combat more dangerous, just by playing mosters to their full ability, and you will change the game. Be mean with the magical loot and toys and the play style will swing - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 24 Humour](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/24/rpgaday2020-day-24-humour/) - Humour in games tends to come in two varieties, spontaneous, created by the players, and GM created. More often than not, the second version falls flat on its face. Setting out with the intention of making something humourous is extremely difficult. I guess that is why most people are not comedians. PLayer created humour is - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 23 Edge](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/23/rpgaday2020-day-23-edge/) - It is an interesting concept, edge, in RPGs. Of course, the edge should be just a little bit over there, just out of sight. I can see no point at all in making any player in any game I run feel uncomfortable, or even worry that the direction the game is going in may get - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 22 Rare](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/22/rpgaday2020-day-22-rare/) - It is a rare game that makes me want to play published adventures over a freeform sandbox, but I think Tales from the Loop is going to be one of them. When I first picked up the game I was in two minds about it. The idea of playing kids in that 10-15 age range - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 21 Push](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/21/rpgaday2020-day-21-push/) - Pushing rolls is a central mechanism in the Year Zero Engine. In many ways it plays the same role as FATE points or Momentum in other systems. It is a limited ingame currency that can be used to buy success. Each Zero Engine game has pushing as an option but they are all subtly different. - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 20 Investigate](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/20/rpgaday2020-day-20-investigate/) - Investigative adventures are one of my favourite genres for solo play. If you look at what I have been playing this summer (and put out solo rules for) you get: Ashen StarsCall of CthulhuEldritch TalesDark Streets & Darker SecretsTales From The Loop The consistent thread is all about investigation. Hack and Slash is all very - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 19 Tower](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/19/rpgaday2020-day-19-tower/) - This week I am writing up my solo rules for Tales from the Loop. One of the dominant images associated with the game are the triple cooling towers of the Bona Reactor. Those are the towers on the book cover, Chapter 01 cover image, Chapter 02 cover image, and again in Chapter 03. They serve - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 18 Meet](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/18/rpgaday2020-day-18-meet/) - In the grand scheme of things, Meet is not really the watchword for 2020. I think it more a case of wishing we could all meet up safely. Today, I had a call from one of my players wanting to know if we were all going to try and meet up in November. I really - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 17 Comfort](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/17/rpgaday2020-day-17-comfort/) - I am going to cheat a little and extend Comfort into Comfort Zone. Firstly, that is one of the cool things about solo play, you are setting your own limits and boundaries. If you want to step outside your own comfort zone, you can stop and walk away at any moment. If you want stay - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 16 Dramatic](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/16/rpgaday2020-day-16-dramatic/) - The dramatic is one of the central things I am looking for in my solo play. Often it can be difficult if you know the overall structure of an adventure. I use a variety of techniques to bring a sense of the unknown into my games. One of my favourites is a card deck, or - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 15 Frame](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/15/rpgaday2020-day-15-frame/) - This is another one of the unusual keywords. I am not entirely sure how to relate Frame to roleplaying games or even solo play. The only thing that comes to me is framing a scene or image. One way of making solo playing easier is to look at it from a 'directors chair' perspective. You - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 14 Banner](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/14/rpgaday2020-day-14-banner/) - I made a video recently about using Banner ads as a device for a starting games publisher. The basic premise is that you create a game and set it as a free download. You then use OneBookshelf/DriveThruRPG Publisher Promotion Points to advertise the free game. So far, of course, this isn't going to make you - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 13 Rest](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/13/rpgaday2020-day-13-rest/) - Today' prompt is Rest. This goes to one of the strengths of Solo play. There was a tweet today, asking about campaigns and if anyone had finished a campaign, it didn't get a lot of responses. I see countless tweets about games that never get played. This is not a problem that we suffer, unless - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 12 Message](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/12/rpgaday2020-day-12-message/) - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 11 Stack](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/11/rpgaday2020-day-11-stack/) - It is possibly my programming background, but when I saw stack, I thought Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP. I haven't actually done any programming worth mentioning for a couple of years now. The last thing I made was an Android App. You will not be surprised when I tell you that it was - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 10 Want](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/10/rpgaday2020-day-10-want/) - Want is an interesting idea for a soloist. We can do pretty much what we want, when we want. One trend I have noticed is that I tend to buy mainly core rulebooks, and not a read mass of supplements. I mean, I could if I wanted but with the sandbox campaign style it doesn't - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 9 Light](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/09/rpgaday2020-day-9-light/) - Today is day 10 of my Lovecraftian Challenge. Having written for and played Dark Streets & Darker Secrets, Eldritch Tales and starting today the Big One, Call of Cthuhlu, Light is not really featured greatly in my gaming recently. Strictly speaking, that isn't true, there has been a great deal of blasphemous, undulating green light, - [#RPGaDAY2020 Day 8 Shade](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/08/rpgaday2020-day-8-shade/) - What does Shade mean in a solo context? That is an interesting one. When I think of light and shade in RPGs I think of in terms of good vs evil, lightside vs darkside, and that is where the shades of grey come in. Now, in a regular game when a player wants to play - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 7 Couple](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/07/rpgaday2020-day-7-couple/) - Couple. This is a funny writing prompt, but every solo player is more than capable of taking a completely unrelated keyword and making something out of it. One latest fad, and I go through many fads in my playing is body hopping. Body hopping is when you put your regular character aside, just for a - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 6 Forest](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/06/rpgaday2020-day-6-forest/) - I was not sure what to write for the prompt Forest, but then I remembered Symbaroum. Symbaroum is a great RPG. It is one of those where the art sucks you in and makes you want to play. The forest connection is that the forest in Symbaroum, Forest of Davokar, is a massive part of - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 5 - Tribute](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/05/rpgaday2020-day-5-tribute/) - Today's inspiration word is Tribute. I am not 100% sure which way to go with this. I have two conflicting articles that I would quite like to write for it. I think I am going to pay Tribute to an artist, Enrique Meseguer. I have used Enrique's digital art in dozens of books and he - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 4 Vision](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/04/rpgaday2020-day-4-vision/) - When you are solo playing, do you see your character from outside looking in, or are you the character looking out at the world? For me, I am a definite fly on the wall, or movie director. I am outside the character. Is this important? Not really, but it may explain why I struggle with - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 3 Thread](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/03/rpgaday2020-day-3-thread/) - For me, Thread means continuation, a one theme (possibly of many) running through something greater. In my solo gaming, I find a recurring thread is that of treachery. Where parties of adventurers may go off to save the world, I find dealing with personal challenges and conflicts more satisfying. My solo Zweihander [Solo rules here] - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 2 Change](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/03/rpgaday2020-day-2-change/) - I am still one day behind, but I will try and catch up! Today's prompt is Change. I want to share an experiment I have been having a lot of fun with recently. Read down about how to get a discount on all new books When we buy new RPGs, one of the things I - [#RPGaDay2020 Day 1 - Beginning](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/08/02/rpgaday2020-day-1-beginning/) - OK, so I forgot to do yesterday's blog post! Oops. I am going to do this years RPGaDay from a solo point of view. I think it helps highlight the differences and strengths of this aspect of the hobby. I am going to take Beginning at meaning the start of a game. I like to - [Cthulhu Challenge](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/31/cthulhu-challenge/) - I have set myself a small challenge and that is to create solo rules for, and play three Cthulhu inspired games before 20th of August, H P Lovecraft's birthday. The first up is Dark Streets & Darker Secrets. This game borrows heavily from a number of sources and I can see a lot of solo - [Making a Living #6 Marketing - Social Media](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/29/making-a-living-6-marketing-social-media/) - This video is a little rambling, sorry about that! To make life a little bit easier, I have extracted the main takeaways from the video into an easy bulletted list. You can get a download link blow. There are two real themes in this video. The first is that I found someone using the banner - [Dark Streets & Darker Stories Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/28/dark-streets-darker-stories-solo/) - I have spent today reading the DS&DS rules. I am not finished yet, but I have a document with 79 notes that will eventually contribute to a set of solo rules for the game. There I was happily ploughing through the book, when some one pointed out that there were a set of solo rules - [Ashen Stars Solo Actual Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/27/ashen-stars-solo-actual-play/) - This is my first attempt at a real solo RPG actual play! I was so uncomfortable doing this live on camera. Talking through a solo play is just odd. So much that you can normally just see in your mind's eye, how your character talks, moves, acts, the conversations with NPCs all have to be - [Solo Laser, Ashen Stars Solo Rules](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/26/solo-laser-ashen-stars-solo-rules/) - I now have something to show! This is my current incarnation of Solo Laser, Solo Roleplaying in The Bleed. If you watched the character creation video, Kal Yang features in this book as my example character. The basic Gumshoe solo rules were one of the homebrew solo rules I had languishing on my PC for - [Ashen Stars Solo Chargen](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/24/ashen-stars-solo-chargen/) - This is the start of me creating solo play videos. I have no clear plan yet, but the intention is to show the rules I create in use and show non-soloists how you can solo play RPGs. The character in this video us the example character all through the Ashen Stars Solo Laser book. - [Gumshoe Toll Tests for Char Gen](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/23/gumshoe-toll-tests-for-char-gen/) - Playing Ashen Stars as a solo game is pretty easy. The hard bit is entirely self-inflicted. Ashen Stars is a 1d6 game, therefore I see it as a challenge to play the game entirely solo using 1d6. As an oracle that is pretty easy. Ashen has a 4+ as a target number, so 4+ is - [Making a Living #5 Banners](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/22/making-a-living-5-banners/) - To follow up on this video, I have my own OGL 0D&D game which is derived from Swords & Wizardry. It goes by the killer name of Brave Adventurers & Roguish Fools. It is all written and most of it has been laid out. It was going to be released for the GM's Day Sale, - [What next?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/21/what-next/) - I have done a lot of fantasy gaming recently, where my real spiritual home is in science fiction. I could do the solo rules for Coriolis. It would scratch that sci fi itch, and the game mechanics would be pretty simple to brush up, but that would be too easy. Another longer term project is - [Forbidden Lands Solo Rules](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/20/forbidden-lands-solo-rules/) - Over this week I have shared a few 'in progress' images of Forbidden Hero. You can see that it has changed a bit since you saw the cover on about Wednesday. One of the interesting challenges with this book was that this is the second Zero Engine solo book I have created. I did not - [Witch & Knave](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/18/witch-knave/) - Witch & Knave is another Knave solo variation. Where I went extremely lightweight with my A Lonely Knave rules, Witch & Knave is a 74 page game with its own identity and a unique take on question resolution. As with vanilla Knave, you can use any monster manuals from your favourite OSR game. The rules - [Forbidden Hero - Show and Tell #1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/16/forbidden-hero-show-and-tell-1/) - Finally, I have something to show! It is looking really rough at the moment but this is a significant step forward, believe me. What this represents is that the first draft is finished, the game is playing well and the text is settled enough to start putting it into inDesign and laying it out. Would - [Forbidden Lands Progress Report #2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/15/forbidden-lands-progress-report-2/) - This video blog carries on from yesterday's blog. You do get a few more teasers about how this book is going to look and work, and more samples of the art I have available. (Really not keen on that orc that is front and centre, he may hit the cutting room floor.) Today, I want - [Forgotten Lands - Art Samples](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/14/forgotten-lands-art-samples/) - Today, I spent 10 minutes explaining to someone what I was writing, and all the way through I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't put a finger on what it was. Now, six hours later I realised I was calling it Forgotten Realms instead of Forbidden Lands! As of tonight, I have now gathered - [Capers Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/13/capers-solo/) - Today I released Capers Solo. Capers is a 1920s Supers RPG that uses a playing card game mechanic in place of dice. This is one of the few time periods where cards really works well. The whole speak easy, gangsters, illegal gambling and Untouchables goes well with you and your players huddled around a table - [Making a Living #4 - The two rules of marketing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/12/making-a-living-4-the-two-rules-of-marketing/) - Strip away everything else, all the clever gimmicks, sales, discounts, special offers, and anything else you can imagine and sales and marketing come down to just two things. Be a nice person.Offer a fair price. That is all you need to know. OK, so you may want a bit more than that. Be Nice What - [Making a Living #3 - The most basic marketing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/11/making-a-living-3-the-most-basic-marketing/) - This post is not going to make you instantly rich. It is an experienced based introduction to getting some sales on DriveThruRPG and Itch.io. The graphs on the right here, is an illustration of failure, or potential failure. What is happening, or what it is showing is the weekend where I released three or four - [Forbidden Lands Solo Book](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/09/forbidden-lands-solo-book/) - This supplement at the moment doesn't have a name, but, it is now a book of sorts. I don't want to draw too many comparisons with Mutant Year Zero. Both games are hex crawlers and both use the Year Zero engine. Character creation is similar, but then it was always going to be if they - [Savage Worlds, Capers & Forbidden Lands](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/08/savage-worlds-capers-forbidden-lands/) - I am lucky enough that I have a folder of solo rules I have made, for personal use, that I can share as and when things like Community Content Programmes become available, or a game gets a compatibility licence. Some of them I make up over a weekend, just rough and ready things, but then - [Making a Living #2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/07/making-a-living-2/) - This post follows on directly from last time (Making a Living #1). The third question in that list was: 3- How do you manage to keep productive and consistent on releasing new content? Do you set goals for yourself, or do you manage your time and production some other way? Following on from there was a - [Making a Living #1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/04/making-a-living-1/) - This week I was contacted by an aspiring game designer. He had seen a comment of mine on twitter where I said that I made my living writing for role-playing games. I could have answered his questions by email, but I thought it would possibly be more useful to do it publicly , in case - [And the Build is Complete!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/02/and-the-build-is-complete/) - I am pleased to say that as of today the module is physically finished. All the tables and rules from the PDF are now all present and correct. What remains now is a final proof reading of the text, just to make sure it all refers to the automated tables and not the dice rolling - [FG 5e Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/07/01/fg-5e-solo/) - The video uploaded to Youtube today gives a demo of the solo rules being used, the two different approaches to outputting the oracle rolls. During the video it suddenly occurred to me that I would be solo role playing in front of an audience and everything I had planned went straight out of my head! - [Fantasy Grounds 5e Progress Report](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/29/fantasy-grounds-5e-progress-report/) - I have an update on my 5e Solo Adventure module. You can see instantly that it is much more attractive than what you saw yesterday. The content broadly follows the content of the PDF 'book', but with the automated tables and tools built into the page. Clicking each numbered Chapter opens that chapter and you - [5e Solo Fantasy Grounds Output Options](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/28/5e-solo-fantasy-grounds-output-options/) - Yesterday I was talking about the different options for how to work the oracle. I started playing with building the tables today, whatever happens, I will need the random tables. This table here is the basic 3d6 oracle. It looks particularly boring as there is no nice theme applied to it, its a bit grey, - [5e Solo Rules Fantasy Grounds pt 1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/27/5e-solo-rules-fantasy-grounds-pt-1/) - This week is all about getting my 5e solo rules working as an interactive Fantasy Grounds [FG] module. I intentionally avoided the d20 when I made these rules. D&D is about so mucn more than just the d20. 3d6 for the yes-no oracle1d6 for NPC reactions1d12 + 1d100 for open questions.Modifiers are typically -3 to - [Alternatives to Mythic GME](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/14/alternatives-to-mythic-gme/) - The biggest single name in solo role play has to be the Mythic GME, Game Master Emulator. Almost every solo tool that uses look up tables shares at least some of its DNA with Mythic. There is nothing wrong with Mythic, I have used it myself in the past. Once you have learned the way - [5e Solo on Fantasy Grounds](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/26/5e-solo-on-fantasy-grounds/) - I spend today working on building my first Fantasy Grounds module. What I am building is an interactive version of my 5th Edition D&D Solo Rules. I tend not to do a lot of Pay What You Want, and I don't do a lot of D&D 5e. There are too many other games that are - [Simple FUDGE](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/25/simple-fudge/) - I was asked by Shawn Medero on twitter about creating a simple fudge system. This was about the time I did my video blog about Ghost Ops, the game that got me into creating solo roleplay rules. I said at the time that I would most likely to an 'open book' game design. I will - [Oracle Combat in Maze Rats](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/24/oracle-combat-in-maze-rats/) - I had a question come up on DTRPG yesterday about how can a character survive combat. It is a valid point, with two answers. a) you are not really supposed to fight, if you do have to fight, don't fight fair. b) don't die. If you would like to try Maze Rat, my solo rules - [Savage Intent](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/23/savage-intent/) - I got to play Savage Worlds last night. I am in my favourite part of writing the solo rules. I play, I refine and I play again. Just working out what works and what doesn't and always trying to make it better. By 'better' I mean 'more fun'. If you know your Savage Worlds Adventure - [Maze Rat - Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/22/maze-rat-solo/) - Today I put Maze Rat, my solo rules for Maze Rats up on DTRPG. I am curious as to which one will prove more popular. I mentioned this week that half of all RPG books will never sell more than 50 copies. A Lonely Knave sold 50 in 25hrs. There is more OSR fun in - [The Missing Skill](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/20/the-missing-skill/) - In most ways I am your typical indie creator. I write all my own books*, I source the art (I cannot draw to save my own skin) and I do the layout. I think I am mostly unskilled. I am dyslexic and or autistic. These things were not tested for when I was at school, - [Fantasy Grounds as a Solo Tool?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/19/fantasy-grounds-as-a-solo-tool/) - Today I did a session of 5e using Fantasy Grounds. I own the license, I bought it during a sale earlier this year, or possibly end of last year. One of those things that I thought could be useful but had never got around to using. I am not a 5e fan, I tried it - [Graves, Knaves and Maze Rats](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/18/graves-knaves-and-maze-rats/) - I have had a great two weeks mucking about with Knave and Maze Rats. This follows on from the work I did on the Dissident Whispers adventure, and so I created a one-page adventure, called Grave Error. I released it today and blog readers can buy it for just 90¢ using this link. Grave Error. - [Art and Price are One](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/17/art-and-price-are-one/) - [Low-Cost Art](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/16/low-cost-art/) - This piece follows on from my Free Art post from a couple of days ago. There is a middle road between having to scavenge public domain libraries, edit the art and then use it, and paying more for a single piece of art than you would ever hope to make from your book. This doesn't - [A Lonely Knave - Knave Solo Rules](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/15/a-lonely-knave-knave-solo-rules/) - Today, I have released A Lonely Knave. This is a single sheet, two sides, with everything you need to play condensed into a printer-friendly page. The rules are normally $1.50. I picked that price because Ben Milton's adventure for Knave, "The Alchemists Repose" is also priced at $1.50. Read below for how to get up - [Free Art Resources](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/14/free-art-resources/) - For someone getting started in writing for RPGs, I don't think commissioning art is the right place to start. You simply do not have enough data to correctly forecast future sales, for a start. Free art on the other hand is a much more tempting proposition. I want to discuss two options. Public Domain and - [Art, the writers' nightmare!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/13/art-the-writers-nightmare/) - An offer like that is an amazing opportunity to get something published and get a pro team to support you. Yet, I digress. The last time I commissioned a piece of art it was for an adventure that in the past 12 months had made a grand total $336. The quote for a single piece - [Anyone can write for RPGs](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/12/anyone-can-write-for-rpgs/) - This morning two things stuck out as interesting. The first was a discord conversation with a person who was being put off from writing for RPGs because they thought that you needed to adhere to style guides, you need to have inDesign to lay stuff out, editors and commission art. Pretty much all the baggage - [Knave Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/11/knave-solo/) - I mentioned yesterday that Knave Solo, working title 'A Lonely Knave', had thrown up some interesting problems. Knave & Maze Rats Solo are coming soon! Find out below how to get a discount! The biggest problem stems from the system being almost too simple but at the same time, unnecessarily complex. What that means in - [Ghost Ops & FUDGE Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/10/ghost-ops-fudge-solo/) - Back to the dungeon I am getting stuck into my Knave solo rules. All of the game mechanics are written and tomorrow I will have something to show and tell. I can also explain the one complication I hit in writing the rules. Today I am writing all the supporting material and playing the game - [Knave or Maze Rats?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/09/knave-or-maze-rats/) - This week I have an interesting bag of options. Yesterday I bought Knave and Maze Rats. I have only read Knave so far and made some notes. I am a big fan of rules-light games and feel the translate to solo play better than rules-heavy monsters. Which brings me to my next secret desire. I - [Solo Anime Adventures... Is live!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/08/solo-anime-adventures-is-live/) - I blogged yesterday about how surprised I was that these rules were more complete than I had expected. I make these booklets 90% for myself, occasionally I get asked for a particular game, but mostly they come from my own games collection. Solo Anime Adventures is live on DriveThruRPG. See below for how to get - [BESM Solo or Solo Anime Adventures](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/07/besm-solo-or-solo-anime-adventures/) - In my last post, I said that I was going to revisit a partially finished project for Big Eyes, Small Mouth. I looked at it today and it was virtually complete. I downloaded the Tri-Stat Emporium templates, imported the text and looked at what I had. See below for a loyalty discount on these BESM - [BESM Back Burner Project](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/07/besm-back-burner-project/) - I am pleased to say that the manuscript for Mothership Solo is with Sean McCoy for approval. As soon as that is through I will start layout and get the book listed on DriveThruRPG. In the meantime I have revived a back burner project and that is solo rules for Big Eyes Small Mouth. The - [#BlackLivesMatter](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/05/blacklivesmatter/) - I have put Mothership RPG aside for the last day to work on a One Page Dungeon for a book called Dissident Whispers. The project exists to raise bail money for protesters. In addition, I have lent 3Deep to the DriveThruRPG Black LivesMatter charity bundle. 3Deep has been in the Australian Bushfires Bundle, Médecins Sans - [Mothership RPG Solo - It works!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/03/mothership-rpg-solo-it-works/) - As of this afternoon (it is 4.30pm for me) I have a working system for Mothership RPG that is probably the most sophisticated set of solo rules I have ever created, and wonderfully rules and dice light. The funny thing is that since I first made my notes, I had mistyped 6d10 as 5d10, that - [Mothership Solo Horror](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/02/mothership-solo-horror/) - So far I have discussed Doom and Player Emulation. I can now bring those two elements together. Before you start play you are going to create your PC and your crew members. You also create their personalities at the same time. As you start to play, at the top of the scene, you will roll - [Mothership Player Emulation](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/06/01/mothership-player-emulation/) - Player Emulation is going to be an important part of my Mothership solo rules. For this to work, the player and the player character are treated as one and the same. Imagine as d10 table with each characters main modus operandi and then major personality traits. A single 5d10 bucket of dice tells you how - [Mothership Sci-Fi Horror RPG Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/30/mothership-sci-fi-horror-rpg-solo/) - I am starting to bring this together into something that looks like it could be a coherent solo ruleset. It is going to introduce a new parameter. At the moment it is called Doom. It is a bit like Stress but doesn't apply to a character. It applies to the entire adventure. It started out - [Is this a sign of old age games?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/29/is-this-a-sign-of-old-age-games/) - As you all undoubtedly know, I am an advocate of Solo role-play. I write dedicated solo rules for games because I don't want to have to stop playing FUDGE every time I ask a question because my oracle runs off of d100 tables. If I am playing FUDGE I want a FUDGE-like oracle and if - [All Alone in Space - Mothership Solo Rules](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/28/all-alone-in-space-mothership-solo-rules/) - I have been reading and to some extent toying with Mothership all week. I first put the proposal forward to Sean McCoy at the beginning of the month but with one thing or another life just got in the way. You know how it is... Mothership is a d100 roll under blackjack system. Do you - [Heroes & Hardships - Robin Hood Setting?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/27/heroes-hardships-robin-hood-setting/) - I am continuing to look at Heroes & Hardships, with an eye towards running a oneshot adventure in teh autumn, assuming we are allowed out by then. I want to go with the Robin Hood theme. It is high adventure with tyrancial Bad King John, The Dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham and the evil Guy Gisborne. - [Heroes & Hardships - Firstlook](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/26/heroes-hardships-firstlook/) - What I am supposed to be doing this week is wrapping my head around Mothership Players Survival Guide, but my head has been turned by the Heroes & Hardships Quickstart. See Below for Loyalty discounts! Heroes & Hardships [H&H from this point on] is radically different from anything I have looked at recently. When I - [SURP SLURPS?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/25/surp-slurps/) - I released SURP today, the Solo Universal Role Play book. It was intended to be used with that Generic Universal Role Playing game that rhymes with slurps. Before I started writing I contacted the publisher and told them what I wanted to do, they responded pointing me to the disclaimer to use in the book. - [Curating 'Zines plus Mothership](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/24/curating-zines-plus-mothership/) - Last night I started reading the Mothership Players Survival Guide. I think the game could be a good candidate for solo rules. Dangerous games often are better solo games than they are traditional group games. See Below for Loyalty discounts! The reason danger works better in solo games is because of player drop out. By - [Bare Metal Edition](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/23/bare-metal-edition/) - Although I have a background in IT, as well as other things, I have never really taken a look at Github, nor had any idea how it works. Since starting Bare Metal Edition (BME) as a Github project I can see some of the advantages. Right now, I am still in the 'stripping down to - [SURPS (GURPS) Solo Universal Role Play System](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/22/surps-gurps-solo-universal-role-play-system/) - Today was a good day! I got some playtesting done, a few more edits to the document but most importantly, a lot of the page layout done. It isn't complete yet, but below are a lot of 'spreads' (two page layouts) of the book as it stands. I offer loyalty discounts for blog readers, see - [Solo Universal Role-Playing](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/21/solo-universal-role-playing/) - I cannot tell you how much I wanted to find an L to put into the title of this book! These rules are now written and I have been playing all week, its a tough job but someone had to do it. I have done my best to make SURP [Solo Universal Role Playing] non-invasive. - [Navigator Bare Metal, Castles & Crusades and GURPS](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/20/navigator-bare-metal-castles-crusades-and-gurps/) - My latest video diary is live on YouTube. It has been a pretty good week all round! When I can find the Castles & Crusades video on YouTube I will be able to add it to the Crusaders Solo Handbook product description. I don't know if having videos on the product pages help sales, I - [GURPS Playtest Debrief](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/19/gurps-playtest-debrief/) - That scene is easy to imagine, it is easy to identify the skills being used, but to play that out second by second would have taken hours. Reducing it down to descriptive play and just a few skill rolls keep the pace of the game going. Narrative combat is described in more detail in the - [Crusaders Solo Handbook (Castles & Crusades Compatible)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/18/crusaders-solo-handbook-castles-crusades-compatible/) - This book is now live on DriveThruRPG. If you signed up for a discount code they should be arriving by email soon! I am really pleased with this book. There is a lot of emphasis on playing published adventures. All solo games lend themselves to sandbox style adventures of unlimited scopre, but all of the - [Con of Champions #CoC](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/17/con-of-champions-coc/) - I mentioned, in my last video, Con of Champions. The Con is next week and it is my understanding that they are still $9k short of their target. Tabletop.Events provide the software behind hundreds of Cons, and the pandemic lockdown has destroyed their business. Con of Champions is an entirely online Con using Tabletopia, Tabletop - [GURPS Solo Playtest](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/15/gurps-solo-playtest/) - Tonight was the first playtest of my GURPS Solo rules. The rules are not finished but the proportion of what is genuinely GURPS and what is borrowed from other solo rules is definitely swinging more in the GURPS direction. I have come to realise that I haven't done a lot of modern-day RPGs recently. I - [GURPS Solo Rules check-in](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/14/gurps-solo-rules-check-in/) - About this time last week, I started to look at GURPS with the intention of creating a set of GURPS solo rules. I don't know if to be disheartened or more motivated by the sad state of solo play in the GURPs community. Take a quick look at this, they all open in a new - [Playtesting Navigator RPG](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/13/playtesting-navigator-rpg/) - This is my latest video diary. This is my second time using OBS for recording the video. Still not really comfortable with it, but getting better. I made a classic mistake in that I did the full 16 minutes to camera and then realised I hadn't pressed record. D'oh! I touch upon virtual Cons in - [Lessons Learned!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/06/lessons-learned/) - I think the most exciting idea on this video is when I reached out to the Mojave Muleskinners for permission to use their image gallery. Getting access to hundreds of images that are not available to other designers meant that I could illustrate the entire book in the same style. Something else that I touched - [Space Battles?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/12/space-battles/) - I had a conversation with one of my playtesters today about space battles. I love my playtesters, I could not do what I do without them. There are two different types of playtester, those that know me and those that don't. The ones that don't are worth their weight in gold. They are the ones - [Symbaroum Solo - Live](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/11/symbaroum-solo-live/) - My rules are written, uploaded and live on DrivethruRPG. Symbaroum Solo is a rules light interpretation, coming in at just 15 pages. Part of the joy of working with the system was the rules light nature of the game from the ground up. I am quite a fan of games that don't have the GM - [GURPS Solo anyone?](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/08/gurps-solo-anyone/) - I am about to start new cycle of rules writing. I tend to go in bursts of creativity. The last burst lead to Crusaders Solo Handbook (Castles & Crusades), Symbaroum Solo (Symbaroum) and Dogs Guide To Solo Play (Pugmire). Those three are now written and either published, about to be published or in the case - [Symbaroum Solo Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/05/symbaroum-solo-update/) - I just want to give an update on Symbaroum Solo. As of about 5 pm today the rules are written, the text is laid out and art is in place. On Thursday the text will be proofread and any final adjustments will be made. Scroll Down to get a 40% Discount on these rules when - [Symbaroum Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/04/symbaroum-solo/) - Ever since I ran a Twitter Poll asking about what to work on next, Symbaroum is the one that people seemed the most excited about. It is not a quick process to create a set of sympathetic solo rules. You need to read the game, create lots of characters to get a feel for what - [Minimum Viable Product Game Design](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/05/01/minimum-viable-product-game-design/) - If you sat through my first two videos, I do apologise for the poor quality in every sense. This video is about minimum viable product. The idea of MVP comes from silicon valley. With new tech it makes a lot of sense. New hardware is expensive to develop and manufacture. If you make something really - [The Sticky GM - Kindle!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/30/the-sticky-gm-kindle/) - I am really pleased to say that The Sticky GM is now available on Kindle. There are printed books in the pipeline for both DrivethruRPG and Amazon. Everyone who has signed up for the discount code has been sent a free copy. Your support was greatly appreciated! If you would like to grab a copy - [The Sticky GM - Kit, Glorious Kit! (part 9)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/21/the-sticky-gm-kit-glorious-kit-part-9/) - This is part 9 in a series: The Sticky GM (part 1)Locations (part 2)Personalities (part 3)Encounters (part 4)Stakes (part 5)Plots (part 6)What if... (part 7)Combat Order (part 8) Who doesn't like having magic weapons, cool alien tech, or simply a bigger flipping gun? At least once, that I am admitting to, I have run an - [Castles and Crusades Solo Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/29/castles-and-crusades-solo-update/) - There are two real updates today. The first is that the Castles and Crusades Solo Handbook is now called Crusaders Solo Handbook and the book is finished, the content at least. The other nice thing is that I have an update to the playtest, Hancock the Paladin. I am preparing solo rules for this game. - [Castles and Crusades Solo Coming Soon](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/23/castles-and-crusades-solo-comming-soon/) - But this is where solo rules come in. If you have backed the kickstarter, or bought the rules, you will want to play the game. Getting you regular group to change system is not easy. For some players they like knowing the rules forwards and backwards. They know how to build the character they want - [Castles and Crusades Solo Report](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/24/castles-and-crusades-solo-report/) - Update! You can now get the Castles & Crusades Players Handbook for Free with The Houseless God and other tales on DTRPG. Click here for details (opens in a new tab/window) If you have bought Castles and Crusades but have not been able to play it, as touched upon in yesterday's blog, you may be - [Castles and Crusades Free PHB](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/28/castles-and-crusades-free-phb/) - You can get the Castles and Crusades Free PHB (Players Handbook) and free fiction from both the Troll Lords own website as well as from DriveThruRPG. The bundle includes the Players Handbook plus The Houseless God and Other Tales. Scroll Down for the link to the free download! The player's handbook covers character creation and - [Announcing: Navigator RPG!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/27/announcing-navigator-rpg/) - Navigator is out of playtest and Live on DriveThruRPG. If you have not been following the playtest, and lets face it most people won't have been, Navigator RPG is a single volume D100 scifi game of high adventure. The origins of the game come from two 'parents'. White Star, Barrel Rider Games. This is an - [Diary of an Indie Game Developer Part 1](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/26/diary-of-an-indie-game-developer-part-1/) - So yesterday I said I was going to start a YouTube channel. Well, here is the first video. It was highly embarrassing to make and the whole process was awkward and unnatural. I am going to proceed under the self delusion that it will get more natural over time. Depending on Amazon deliveries, I should - [How To: Solo a Module](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/18/how-to-solo-a-module/) - I will confess right from the start that my preferred style of play is an open sandbox where adventure is something that sweeps the character up, rather than a published module that has a defined start, middle and end. At the end of this article is a free sheetsheet download form. You can get all - [Diary of an Indie Game Developer](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/25/diary-of-an-indie-game-developer/) - The Joy of being an Indie Game Developer Do you know that thing where you know you should do something but it is too easy to never get around to it? Well, I have that feeling around youtube. I blog because I want to communicate with people. I am passionate about what solo play can - [The Sticky GM - Plots (part 6)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/16/the-sticky-gm-plots-part-6/) - This is part 6 in a series: The Sticky GM (part 1)Locations (part 2)Personalities (part 3)Encounters (part 4)Stakes (part 5) The plot running through your game is what the players are there for. It is the reason for it all. I say plot but in reality most campaigns are have many plots running concurrently. There - [The Sticky GM - What If... (part 7)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/17/the-sticky-gm-what-if-part-7/) - This is part 7 in a series: The Sticky GM (part 1)Locations (part 2)Personalities (part 3)Encounters (part 4)Stakes (part 5)Plots (part 6) There will always be a moment when the characters go in a completely unplanned for tangent. Most of the time the pinpoint process I have been describing will allow you to keep putting - [The Sticky GM - Combat Order (part 8)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/20/the-sticky-gm-combat-order-part-8/) - There is a joke that says role-playing games, where a three-month journey takes 30 seconds, and a 30-second fight takes three hours. We all dream of high drama, dynamic combats. As the characters race through the castle, dispatching the evil baron's guards with a slash here and a thrust there. It rarely works out like - [The Sticky GM - Bringing it all together (part 10)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/22/the-sticky-gm-bringing-it-all-together-part-10/) - The Sticky GM (part 1)Locations (part 2)Personalities (part 3)Encounters (part 4)Stakes (part 5)Plots (part 6)What if… (part 7)Combat Order (part 8)Glorious Kit (part 9) This is the last part in this series. Today I am going to show you how to bring all these bits of paper together into something that you would recognise as - [The Sticky GM - Stakes (part 5)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/15/the-sticky-gm-stakes-part-5/) - This is part 5 in a series: The Sticky GM (part 1)Locations (part 2)Personalities (part 3)Encounters (part 4) You have set up an encounter for the party and when it comes to break out the dice the players treat it as 'just another fight'. Sure, they may not know what is going on in the - [How To: Use Solo Tools In Group Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/19/how-to-use-solo-tools-in-group-play/) - So you bought this cool new game, you and some friends want to play but none of you really have the experience to GM. Do you let the game languish on your shelf for years never to be played? Sadly that happens to a lot of games. Soon it is not the newest thing you - [The Sticky GM - Encounters (part 4)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/13/the-sticky-gm-encounters-part-4/) - This is part 4 in a series: The Sticky GM (part 1)Locations (part 2)Personalities (part 3) Encounters are not limited to monsters, battles and big bad evil guys. An encounter is anything that forces choices and decisions on your players. The Characters may encounter a sage, or seer that gives them important information. An encounter - [The Sticky GM - Locations - pt2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/06/the-sticky-gm-locations-pt2/) - This is part two of a series. You can read part one here [The Sticky GM part 1] The first few posts in this series are just going to be an outpouring of ideas. They will get beaten into shape later. Today I am going to write about Blue notes, which are going to be - [The Sticky GM (part 1)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/03/the-sticky-gm-part-1/) - I was on DTRPG this morning and I came across the Index Card RPG. I remember reading a review about this game a few years ago and thought it was a brilliant idea. I came across the game again today and it all looks a bit sad. From the product description: >>The coolest RPG community - [The Sticky GM - Personalities (part 3)](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/04/10/the-sticky-gm-personalities-part-3/) - This is part 3 in a series: The Sticky GM (part 1)Locations (part 2) Locations (part 2) do not make for an exciting role playing experience. You and your players want to role play and for that you need 'people' to interact with. Your players never get to see stats and number, although they may - [Trophy Solo Rules](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/03/31/trophy-solo-rules/) - Up until Saturday, the game Trophy had slipped past without me noticing. It was released as an article in Codex Dark 2 ($7 on DTRPG) and expanded upon in Codex Gold ($9 on DTRPG). Trophy RPG is a collaborative storytelling game designed for single sessions. It is dark themed and designed to create a sort - [Things!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/03/23/things/) - If you have kids at home because of coronavirus, self-isolation, and social distancing, we have a game that may be helpful. It is Pay What You Want on DriveThruRPG, so you can read that as Free in these times. The Things That Grown Ups Cannot See is a game intended for younger players, depending on - [New Horizons - Navigator RPG](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/03/18/new-horizons-navigator-rpg/) - This week I updated the rules for the playtest version of Navigator RPG. I really think that the rules are reaching their final iteration. You can download the game for free. The game will always be free as a PDF, although the printed rulebooks will have costs attached to them that are unavoidable. From a - [Devil's Staircase:Wild West is Live](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2020/01/13/devils-staircasewild-west-is-live/) - Following a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo at the end of 2019, Devil's Staircase:Wild West [DS:WW] is now live on DriveThruRPG in both print and PDF. Right now the PDF is half price at $4.99 and free when bought in conjunction with the printed book, $14.99 for both. This was my first crowdfunding attempt and - [IndieGoGo Devil's Staircase](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/10/18/indiegogo-devils-staircase/) - Devil's Staircase Wild West [DS:Wild West] is now live on Indiegogo. This is my first attempt at crowdfunding and as such, I am really keen to make the campaign a success. It is painfully apparent that writing the game is by far the easiest part. I quite enjoyed the page layout process but the crowdfunding - [Navigator RPG -Playtest](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/09/18/navigator-rpg-playtest/) - New Release Navigator RPG is a new fusion of two ideas. The first is OGL D&D in space. Or more accurately Swords & Wizardry OGL D&D in space. This of course has already been done and full credit to Barrel Rider Games and their wonderful White Star White Box game. You cannot have a fusion - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 31st - Reincorporation](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/31/rpgtheoryjuly-31st-reincorporation/) - Finally a topic that is close to the heart of the way I like to solo play. So the basic creative process in both group play and solo play is this. An idea (NPC, Organisation, location etc) is created (Creation). Later on you need that an NPC/Organisation/location again and it is easier to reuse the - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 30th - Asymmetric Power](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/30/rpgtheoryjuly-30th-asymmetric-power/) - As I understand asymmetric power it is a reference to player character classes, professions and races where one may be more or less powerful than another or a game mechanic that can aid or hamper one player over another. A really basic example is rolling 3d6 for your Characteristics. If you roll middling or slightly - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 29th - Elliptical Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/29/rpgtheoryjuly-29th-elliptical-play/) - Elliptical play was something that I had never heard of until today. So the principle is a bit like Elephant in the room. In role playing there is stuff going on, probably centre stage but the characters are not involved in it. They may know about it, be effected by it but they do not - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 28th - Emergence](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/28/rpgtheoryjuly-28th-emergence/) - The concept of emerging game play has been central to RPGs right from the start. Emergent play was, to the best of my knowledge one of the main selling points of human run games over computer adventures. So the principle of Emergence is when the style of play emerges during play. Each RPG group will - [#RPGTheoryJuly-27th - Player Stance](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/27/rpgtheoryjuly-27th-player-stance/) - Player stance is not really a design issue it is about how the player is playing the character. There are generally three player stances and one that is normally reserved for the GM. The player stances are Actor, Author and Director. The forth stance is that of Pawn and is what happens when the GM - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 26th - Realism vs Playability](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/26/rpgtheoryjuly-26th-realism-vs-playability/) - Is realism actually a thing in role playing games? I have played some of the crunchiest and rules heavy games available over the past 40 years and I have never seen anything approaching realism. I have played games that have confused micro management for realism, or those that gave tried to model real world events, - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 25th - Fruitful Void](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/25/rpgtheoryjuly-25th-fruitful-void/) - The Fruitful Void is the space in which your own imagination gets to do its stuff. There are lots of elements in an RPG that take away your possibilities, as soon as you choose one class or profession for example you have excluded many options, pick a race and that takes away options. You have - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 24th - Alternative Topic Solo Roleplaying](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/24/rpgtheoryjuly-24th-alternative-topic-solo-roleplaying/) - The actual prompt today was Fantasy Heartbreaker and as a rule I don't do fantasy games either as a designer or solo player. I run a couple of fantasy campaigns for long term friends but that is it. I want to talk about solo play. I was on the Cypher System discord and saw this - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 23rd - Probability](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/23/rpgtheoryjuly-23rd-probability/) - There are times when probability is your friend and times when it is really awkward! In almost every RPG the probabilities are just slightly skewed in the favour of the player characters. The point of that is so that stories get a chance to progress and move forward. If it was you or I dumped - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 22nd - Loaded Questions](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/22/rpgtheoryjuly-22nd-loaded-questions/) - This is another one of those solo play 'no brainers'. The Oracle has no opinions and it has no bias. There are two points where bias can be introduced and that is asking the question that is best for the character, and not the question that is best for the game and the second is - [#RPGTheoryJuly- 21st - Consent & Support](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/21/rpgtheoryjuly-21st-consent-support/) - I believe, although correct me if I am wrong, that this is a non-issue in solo play. In every set of solo rules that I produce I always emphasize that with the Oracle or open question tools that you take three factors into consideration; the story do far, the Oracle answer and the sort of - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 20th - Competition](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/20/rpgtheoryjuly-20th-competition/) - It is 40 years since I have entered a D&D competition and I don't remember doing very well. I am not going to talk about that. There are lots of ways that competitiveness comes out in role playing. I have four players in my face to face group. First is the elven magic user. In - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 19th - Accessibility](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/19/rpgtheoryjuly-19th-accessibility/) - I have been thinking about accessibility of rulebooks recently. In some respects I was looking at it from a rather self serving point of view. My intentions are to release a large print and a high contrast version of an upcoming game. The Royal National Institute for the Blind has guidelines on making texts accessible. - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 18th - Narrative Currency](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/18/rpgtheoryjuly-18th-narrative-currency/) - Not a fan. My understanding of Narrative Currency is that of using some kind of token to take control of the narrative. In some games there are physical counters or tokens. The players have them and have to spend them to dictate a change in the narrative. The furthest I have gone down this road - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 17th - Self-Reflexivity](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/17/rpgtheoryjuly-17th-self-reflexivity/) - Now we are slap bang in the middle of solo play territory. Solo players are arguably the royalty of self-reflexive play. Self-Reflexivity sounds complicated but can be phrased as a game within a game or a tale with a tale. The absolute core of solo play is when you break away from the adventure and - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 16th - Rules](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/16/rpgtheoryjuly-16th-rules/) - Where to start? Don't all GMs like to tinker with rules? Don't all game designers strive for the perfect ruleset? So right now I have four ongoing projects in various stages of imminent completion. By that I means I am actively working on them, not just theoretical projects for some time in the future. I - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 15th - Task Resolution](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/15/rpgtheoryjuly-15th-task-resolution/) - I still imagine games as existing on a spectrum with what I used to call simulationist games on the right and story teller or narrative games on the left and everything existing between two extremes. I have dropped the phrase simulationist as simulations of some of the gory and brutal worlds we inhabit when playing - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 14th - Genre Microscripts](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/14/rpgtheoryjuly-14th-genre-microscripts/) - I am a big fan of microscripts. A miscroscript is almost a repeating scene within a genre that has an impact on the greater story. One classic example is the Great British Stiff Upper Lip and social inhibition over showing emotion or sentimentality in public. You end up with scenes where so much is unsaid, - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 13th - Emotional Beats](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/13/rpgtheoryjuly-13th-emotional-beats/) - Roleplaying games are like a double helix.We have two very distinct threads but each has a myriad of connections to the other. The first thread is the game mechanics. These are completely neutral, or almost neutral. I have been reading and listening to a lot of FATE this week and there the rules and mechanics - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 12th - Character Embodiment](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/12/rpgtheoryjuly-12th-character-embodiment/) - This is something you either struggle with or you don't. One of my players is so self conscious that he will tell me what his character says and how the character says it but he will never say what his characters says the way the character says it. He will tell me that his character - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 11th - Fateplay](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/11/rpgtheoryjuly-11th-fateplay/) - The prompt word for today is fateplay. I have no idea what this is. I googled it and it appears to the be the name of someones youtube channel, one that I have no interest in. If it relates to the fate game then I also have no interest. There are a set of fate - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 10th - Ephemera](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/10/rpgtheoryjuly-10th-ephemera/) - This is an odd topic for RPG theory as almost everything in game is ephemeral. The way I tend to play the only physical objects are either my phone or my laptop. I have my solo engine as an app, my dice are an app, my rules are a PDF and my character tends to - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 9th - Fictional Positioning](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/09/rpgtheoryjuly-9th-fictional-positioning/) - Fictional Positioning is the relationship between the characters, their environment and everything in it. For the most part you don't notice it until something goes wrong, when the GM says "You cannot do that, their is a boulder in the way." Your character would certainly have seen a huge boulder between them and their escape - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 8th - Adaption](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/08/rpgtheoryjuly-8th-adaption/) - I once wrote a blog post along the lines of Role Playing Games do not exist. The premise was that the rulebooks we buy are not complete games, they are just toolkits. It is using these tools that we construct our own unique games. I think the interest in actual plays is to see how - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 7th - Core Loops](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/07/rpgtheoryjuly-7th-core-loops/) - Solo games don't have loops. They have humps. As there is no need to pass information back and forth between GM and player, the understanding in solo play is perfect, as are the descriptions of the setting and the creation of the atmosphere. The basic core loop in RPGs is GM describes situationPlayers describe actionsGo - [#RPGTheory July - 6th - Interaction Design](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/06/rpgtheory-july-6th-interaction-design/) - Until about 20 minutes ago I didn't know what interaction design is. Apparently the cool kids call it IxD. As it happens Interaction Design is what I have been specialising in for the past two years without even knowing what it is. I kind of like it when I arrive at a conclusion and then - [#RPGTheoryJuly - 5th - Game Objectives](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/05/rpgtheoryjuly-5th-game-objectives/) - When I first saw the title for today my first thought was about railroading players. If you have a set objective in mind then you are more likely to be tempted into railroading your players to achieve that objective. Then I remembered Sagas of Midgard (@DHornGames). This is a fairly rules light RPG with just - [#RPGTheoryJuly 4th Bleed](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/04/rpgtheoryjuly-4th-bleed/) - I am trying to work out what the idea behind 'Bleed' is. Are we talking character bleeding and wounds or ideas bleeding from one genre to another? I am going to take this as physical bleeding and I am going to continue looking at this from a solo role playing perspective. The first game I - [#RPGTheoryJuly 3rd Conversation](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/03/rpgtheoryjuly-3rd-conversation/) - I have decided to tackle RPGTheoryJuly from a solo play point of view. It is a minority niche for the hobby but so was play by post, LARP and game books once. Conversation in solo play sounds like a strange idea. Why talk to yourself? When you character is talking to an NPC in solo - [#RPGTheoryJuly 2nd - Inclusion](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/02/rpgtheoryjuly-2nd-inclusion/) - My attitude to game rules is definitely less is more. When you add social inclusion into the mix then I think the less is more attitude is even more relevant. I am working on a Spacemaster retro-clone right now. In the original you had about 100 words or so to describe each profession, 700 words - [#RPGTheoryJuly Role Play](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/07/01/rpgtheoryjuly-role-play/) - My core activity in RPG publishing is as a publisher of solo rules. In addition to standalone solo rules supplements, every game I produce comes with solo rules built in. Way too many role playing games get bought just to sit on a shelf because the GM cannot sell the game or the setting to - [3Deep in the Wild West](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2019/05/06/3deep-in-the-wild-west/) - It was always the intention that 3Deep was going to be a setting neutral core system and that there would be 'add on' themed or genre books to turn the setting neutral into a setting rich experience. With 3Deep in the Wild West we have taken everything we learned when researching Devil's Staircase Wild West - [A Devil's Staircase Update](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2018/12/19/a-devils-staircase-update/) - It has been a long time since I have posted an update about Devil's Staircase. DS as we like to call it is a playing card based RPG core engine that started life as a series of blog posts over on Stargazer's World. That was in October 2017. The core of the system was hammered - [Devil's Staircase Wild West Playtest](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2018/10/24/devils-staircase-wild-west-playtest/) - The public playtest of our latest game is now live on Drivethrurpg and RPGNow! Please join in the fun, we really appreciate constructive criticism! - [Timeless Roleplaying](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/10/13/timeless-roleplaying/) - Timeless is one of those Netflix Originals that really appeals to me. I used to be a fan of Quantum Leap with its kitsch "Oh Boy" catchphrase. Rather than jumping from body to body as in QL; the Timeless team jump back to key moments in US history to try and stop someone from destroying - [3Deep in the Doom Universe](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/09/03/3deep-doom-universe/) - For me one of the classic games of all time was Doom. As a fun one off game you can put your players through the Doom maps using 3Deep as your system of choice. The best game is probably had by playing it collaboratively. The main enemy on the first map are the zombie marines, - [Roleplaying Sense8 part 2](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/08/18/roleplaying-sense8-part-2/) - This is the follow on post to last weeks introduction http://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/08/14/roleplaying-sense8-universe/. The biggest standout feature of the Sense8 world is 'Visiting' where each character astrally projects themselves to any other Sensates location when they think of them. The visitations start as short and disorienting 'visions' but all members of the cluster soon adapt. Simple tricks like - [Roleplaying the Sense8 universe](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/08/14/roleplaying-sense8-universe/) - Sense8 is a visually stunning science fiction series from Netflix in which 8 individuals from around the globe find themselves mentally linked. Initially they only experience violent visions from each others lives but those connections develop to the point where they can step into and out of each others lives and are able to share - [3Deep 2nd Edition Launched!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/08/13/3deep-2nd-edition-launched/) - 3Deep 2nd Edition Is now available to buy an is available from RPGnow, DriveThruRPG, Amazon and CreateSpace. Furthermore this is the first version to be available in print and PDF (from Drivethru and RPGnow). On Amazon you have the choice of print or kindle editions! - [Latest 3Deep news](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/08/05/latest-3deep-news/) - 3Deep 2nd Edition is now at the printers and I am waiting for the proof copies to arrive. This edition will be the first to be available both on the OneBookShelf network (rpgnow/Drivethrurpg) and on Amazon. The new edition is a single volume game that includes updated versions of everything that is in the original - [Translators wanted!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/06/03/translators-wanted/) - We are looking to translate 3Deep into as many languages as possible. In return we can pay a 10% royalty for every copy sold of your translation. For more information and to make contact then you can use this page. - [New TOM Encounters](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/06/03/new-tom-encounters/) - For the past two months we have seen a steady release of new adventures and game master tools. All these can be found on RPGnow. Check out the PPM publisher page for more details. This site is being updated almost daily with the new products being rolled out! - [Theatre Of The Mind](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2017/05/10/theatre-of-the-mind/) - We are pleased to announce a new product line. These are our Theatre Of The Mind adventures. Each one is a detailed plot hook that can be used with any game system. The adventures themselves are system agnostic. Detailed descriptions of NPCs, monsters and magic items are given but the actual game system mechanics are - [Grimm Sword Update December 2016](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2016/12/02/grimm-sword-update-december-2016/) - Just a quick update on Grimm Sword! The character creation rule book, Grimm Sword - 'The Few' is now "in the can" as they say. It is currently in page layout and awaiting its art before going to printing. - [Coming Soon - Grimm Sword 'The Few'](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2016/11/01/coming-soon-grimm-sword/) - Grimm Sword is a new Fantasy RPG based upon Open Ended D100 rolls. Open Ended Rolls means that if you roll 01-05 then you roll again and take the result away, or roll 96-00 and you roll again and add the result. There is no upper or lower limit to the total dice roll and ## Pages - [Unlock the World of Solo Roleplaying Now!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/) - Discover the thrill of solo play and never miss out on your RPG adventures again. Join my community and gain access to specialized solo rules, adventures, and valuable tips. Embrace the freedom of solo gaming and enhance your RPG experiences today! Can't find time to commit to a regular game? - [Happy New Year 2026](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/happy-new-year-2026/) - Every now and again, I make rules for games that I will never be able to sell. There may be no license for them, or I cannot get permission, that kind of thing. I get asked for rules for games by my Patrons, and I always try and do this where possible. A few games - [Test Page](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/test-page/) - [Discounts and Free Tools](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/newsletter/) - Opt-in to my contact list and you will receive free solo tools for games like Alien, StarTrek Adventures [2d20], and Shadowrun. In addition, you will get discount links to all my new releases, typically 40% off. I also share hints and tips about solo playing. The other function of the newsletter is to give me - [Merry Christmas!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/merry-christmas/) - To celebrate Christmas I am giving away these solo rules and tables for Shadowrun 5th edition. Shadowrunner is released for free under the fan license. ShadowrunnerDownload I created these rules after I bought the Shadowrun Bundle of Holding during the summer. I hope you enjoy them. I give away rules to my newsletter subscribers that - [First Steps in Solo](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/first-steps-in-solo/) - What is Solo Roleplaying and how do you get started are two of the most common questions we hear on the Lone Wolf Discord server. I have put this page together to try and answer some of those questions. These are not definitive answers, and this page is not set in stone, it will undoubtedly - [Free! Alien RPG Solo Rules](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/free-alien-rpg-solo-rules/) - These rules are yours for free. I run a Patreon page to create solo rules on request. One of the first rulebooks that were requested was Alien RPG. These rules use familiar dice mechanics to the core game and is designed to keep you in the same 'headspace' when playing Alien RPG and using the - [PRIVACY NOTICE](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/privacy-notice/) - Last updated October 31, 2020 Thank you for choosing to be part of our community at Parts Per Million Limited ("Company", "we", "us", "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice, or our practices with regards to your personal information, please - [Marketing Cheat Sheet No.11 Social Media](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/marketing-cheat-sheet-no-11-social-media/) - Thanks for downloading this cheat sheet. I hope it makes setting up your social media presence more productive. Cheat-Sheet-No-11-Social-MediaDownload - [GURPS Solo Discount Voucher](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/gurps-solo-discount-voucher/) - As soon as this booklet is ready I will be sending out discount vouchers from DriveThruRPG. By subscribing to the newsletter you will get a 40% discount. Thank you! - [The Sticky GM Cheat Sheets No. 9](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/the-sticky-gm-cheat-sheets-no-9-items/) - Thanks for downloading this cheat sheet. I hope it makes your combats run that bit faster and more importantly, it makes them more narrative, laying on the descriptions an engaging. Cheat-Sheet-No-9-ItemsDownload - [The Sticky GM Cheat Sheets No. 8](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/the-sticky-gm-cheat-sheets-no-8/) - Faster Combat Thanks for downloading this cheat sheet. I hope it makes your combats run that bit faster and more importantly, it makes them more narrative, laying on the descriptions an engaging. Cheat-Sheet-No-8-Faster-CombatsDownload - [The Sticky GM Cheat Sheet No. 7](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/the-sticky-gm-cheat-sheet-no-7/) - Faster Combat Thanks for downloading this cheat sheet. I hope it helps you when you are pushed into improvising. I find these prompts help me be creative when time is of the essence. Cheat-Sheet-No-7-What-IfDownload - [The Sticky GM Cheat Sheet No. 6](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/the-sticky-gm-cheat-sheet-no-6/) - Plots Thanks for downloading this cheat sheet. I hope it helps you when you are pushed into improvising. I find these prompts help me be creative when time is of the essence. Cheat-Sheet-No-6-PlotsDownload - [The Sticky GM Cheat Sheet No. 5](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/the-sticky-gm-cheat-sheet-no-5/) - Raising the Stakes Thanks for downloading this cheat sheet. I hope it makes your encounters more exciting, dramatic, and more importantly, it makes them more narrative, laying on the descriptions and making them more engaging. Cheat-Sheet-No-5-StakesDownload - [Cheat Sheet: How to Solo A Module](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/cheat-sheet-how-to-solo-a-module/) - Thanks for downloading this cheat sheet. I hope it makes putting your characters through published modules easier for you. Cheat-Sheet-No-10-How-to-Solo-a-ModuleDownload - [Navigator RPG 1st Edition Errata](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/navigator-rpg-1st-edition-errata/) - Below are the reported errors in the printed book released on 27th April 2020 Page 10 As a GM it is easier to create a game that has a distinct beginning, middle and really satisfying ending if the game is limited in scope. Too many campaigns just sort of wither away with no grand climax - [Experimental](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/experimental/) - First name or full name Email Current Favorite System? By continuing, you accept the privacy policy - [Shop](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/shop/) - [3Deep Translators](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/3deep/3deep-translators/) - I would like to get 3Deep translated into as many languages as possible. The core rulebook is 40 pages and the GMs' Resource is just 25 pages. We can pay on a royalty basis with you getting a 10% share of the profit on every copy sold in your particular language. If you can translate the - [Contact Us](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/about/contact-us/) - [Checkout](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/checkout/) - [woocommerce_checkout] - [My account](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/my-account/) - [woocommerce_my_account] - [Cart](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/cart/) - [woocommerce_cart] - [3Deep 2nd Edition](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/3deep/3deep-2nd-edition/) - (88 page PDF) $9.99 (86 page Print) $9.99 (86 page PDF+Print Bundle) $14.99 secure checkout from RPGNow Alternatively you can buy from Amazon (print version only) About 3Deep 2nd Edition 2nd Edition This is the new 2nd Edition. What you get is everything that was in the original core rules plus everything that was in - [TAB002 Random D12 tables](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/random-dice-tables-2/tab002-random-d12-tables/) - This booklet contains random number tables. In this case D12 rolls. There are times as a DM/GM when you want to make a observation check or a skill roll but at the same time you do not necessarily want to alert your players. Maybe you are running a mass battle and you just want to - [TAB001 Random FUDGE Tables](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/random-dice-tables-2/tab001-random-fudge-tables/) - This booklet contains random number tables. In this case Fudge rolls. There are times as a DM/GM when you want to make a observation check or a skill roll but at the same time you do not necessarily want to alert your players. Maybe you are running a mass battle and you just want to - [Random Dice Tables](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/random-dice-tables-2/) - Sometimes you don't want to give the game away! If as GM you reach for your dice and all your players immediately adopt a defensive position then how are you going to surprise them? How do you get them to roll to see if they spot that hidden door without alerting them to the fact - [Fast & Simple Roleplaying for All of Time and Space](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/sample-page/) - 3Deep Role Playing Game Episodic, Story Arc Roleplaying 3Deep 2nd Edition is a d6 based tabletop role playing game designed to let you play in the style of TV series. It is genre and setting neutral so you can fight vampires in Sunnydale or play a team of mercenaries in the Los Angeles underground just - [3Deep 2nd Edition](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/3deep/) - 3Deep 2nd Edition is all about simple, fast and light rules for roleplaying any genre. We call it 'episodic' role playing as the game was developed with trying to capture the favour of popular TV series in mind. The basic mechanics are easy to grasp: Characters have 5 stats rolled on 2d6. Skills are rolled - [Random Dice Tables](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/random-dice-tables/) - Every now and again as GM you want to make a secret roll. Sometimes you wish you had dice on you but rolling them would be difficult or inappropriate. Maybe you are running a mass battle and you just want to speed things up. Maybe you are not in a position to take out your - [TOM014 Last Stand](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom014-last-stand/) - In this adventure the characters are the only thing that stands between a small community and destruction. If the characters do not win out then tens of innocents will perish and there is no one else who can step in. Last Stand takes the characters through an evolving siege of a remote village and there - [TOM012 Stone Cold Killers](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom012-stone-cold-killers/) - The woods to the west of here are a dark and haunted place according to the locals. People who go in rarely come out, except the odd local poacher and they only stick to the edges. There is something living in there that is not natural and you can feel it, sometimes a chill in - [TOM013 Off The Beaten Track](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom013-off-beaten-track/) - One of the most common starting points for a new game is placing the characters as guards on a wagon train. This variation is intended to be used with experienced players playing inexperienced characters. The characters will face a situation that is spiralling out of their control and cannot be solved at the point of - [TOM011 Inferno](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom011-inferno/) - Fire is spreading through the town and panic is infecting the mob. The gates are shut and the guard too scared to open them. Who is going to save the people? Theatre Of The Mind Encounters are short adventures, situations or encounters described purely in text. The setting description is kept to a minimum so - [TOM010 Genesis](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom010-genesis/) - There is a monster lurking in the back streets at night. At first no one noticed if a vagrant went missing but when one of the guard disappeared they had to take notice. Since then it is obvious that the guard cannot deal with this threat and the body count is still growing! Theatre Of - [TOM009 Alchemical Zombies](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom009-alchemical-zombies/) - There are zombies in the sewers, choking the alleys between the slums and spilling into the streets. The priests stand before then and… nothing happens. The zombies march on killing all who fall before them. Theatre Of The Mind Encounters are short adventures, situations or encounters described purely in text. The setting description is kept - [TOM008 Fire!](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom008-fire/) - Atlan used to be an engineer but now Atlan is High Priest of the Sun Worshipers and has built the ultimate holy weapon, on a roof top in the centre of town! Theatre Of The Mind Encounters are short adventures, situations or encounters described purely in text. The setting description is kept to a minimum - [TOM007 The High Pass](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/the-high-pass/) - This adventure is about a chase with wolves behind the characters and a Yeti waiting for them ahead and at the same time the characters have to battle the elements. Theatre Of The Mind Encounters are short adventures, situations or encounters described purely in text. The setting description is kept to a minimum so they - [TOM006 The War Helm of Clanor](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom006-war-helm-clanor/) - Many generations ago the war chief Clanor did a deal with a coven in a bid to save his clan. Since then Clanor has died. Now the coven is wanting payment and will not take no for an answer. Available from RPGnow for $0.99. - [TOM005 The Foreign Princess](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom005-foreign-princess/) - A power struggle in a foreign land has sent a princess into exile. Hot on her heals are a band of assassins intent on ending the royal line. The princess has nowhere to hide and no one to turn to. Available from RPGnow for $0.99. - [TOM004 The Unjust Hanging](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom004-unjust-hanging/) - The unjust hanging is the story of one man’s need for justice and how it impacts on those around him. The action takes place in a small rural town where the local sheriff or magistrate is the very embodiment of the law. The story here takes place over a couple of days. Available from RPGnow - [TOM003 The Alchemist](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom003-the-alchemist/) - When your magic is invested into potions and simple items you can stock pile it and cache it against unforeseen mishaps. You can also share it to those who have no magic of their own. There is no reason for the alchemist to stay hidden away in the back room any longer. This unusual NPC - [TOM002 Evil Healers](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom002-evil-healers/) - Evil Healers presents an unusual villain who is a healer by trade and bandit leader by profession. Can your players characters defeat a gang of bandits who simply will not stay down? Available from RPGnow for $0.99. - [TOM001 An Explosive Situation](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/tom001-explosive-situation/) - How would your players react to a classic Mexican stand off? An explosive situation has the armed parties arriving from every direction at once with an innocent sat right in the middle! Available from RPGnow for $0.99. - [Theatre Of The Mind](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/theatre-of-the-mind/) - Theatre Of The Mind Encounters are short adventures, situations or encounters described purely in text. The setting description is kept to a minimum so they could be parachuted as easily into an Arabian Nights campaign just as easily as a Medieval European campaign. These encounters are system neutral so no game stats, spells are explicitly - [3Deep Core Bundle](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/3deep/3deep-core-bundle/) - + + This bundle contains both 3Deep rule books and an initial adventure. All three are PDF documents available from RPGNow and DrivethruRPG. Individually they would cost $10.98 but the bundle is proced at $8.97. - [3Deep Role Playing Game GM's Resource Supplement](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/3deep/3deep-role-playing-game-gms-resource-supplement/) - (25 page PDF) $4.99 secure checkout from RPGNow About the GM's Resource What you get This GM's resource rule book contains more monsters, magic & technology PLUS rule clarifications & explanations. The GM's Resource applies the 3Deep core rules to specific situations such as building bombs, blowing up vehicles and being bitten by venomous snakes. - [3Deep Core Rulebook](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/3deep/3deep-core-rulebook/) - (40 page PDF) $4.99 secure checkout from RPGNow About 3Deep Fast 3Deep is very fast to play. There should be virtually no stopping for rules look ups. We try to keep everything you need on the character sheet. Simple We have used the same mechanic for almost everything, roll your 2d6, add any stat bonus, - [About](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/about/) - "Parts Per Million" PPM is project to create and publish independent games and all the supporting material a GM would need to play the games. If you have any comments or suggestions then we will always respond and normally within a matter of minutes or hours! [contact-form][contact-field label='Name' type='name' required='1'/][contact-field label='Email' type='email' required='1'/][contact-field label='Website' type='url'/][contact-field - [Cookie Policy](https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/about/cookie-policy/) - This site uses cookies - small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience. In general, cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information for things like shopping carts, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. 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