I am playing solo and am running NPCs, I have just foundout you can roll for stats on the fly for NPCs you encounter, this saves you writing out character sheets for everything you meet, I may be dumb here but I was creating cut-down char sheets for everthing, this is the workload that was putting me off, but now its a breeze.
Please add more tips to this list.
My next tip is to watch youtube.com videos on character creation for your chosen game
My next tip, is if your new, try only an RPG you like the sound of, I joined an RPG about a story I wasn't fond of, and soon became bored, so look at games that interest you for your first game
Look on the net for interactive character sheets in pdf form, you don't need to print them , you can edit on the sheet.
buying a pdf version of your chosen RPG has some benefits, you can search for key words, you can copy snippets of text from it and insert them into char sheets or in chat. you can read them on a big screen, they don't get wet, you can buy online so no waiting
join your first couple of games as a lurker, I was surprised on how a game actualy looked in text form. RPGs are suited to text rather than looking like a video game, its like chess you play it out in your mind mostly
one tip I should not give, but I cant resist its so good, but World of Darkness its possibly the best and easiest start you can get into RPGs. I would give it 10 out of 10.
The reason this system is easy, is its simple rules but its based on our world but a bit darker, so you know the setting before you even read the book. its moody too.
Don't just buy an RPG a read it from cover to cover, its the wrong thing to do, watch youtube on character creation to see how a game is put together then the book becomes a reference for thing like equipment or weapons or specific rules, you would not read a dictionary or a phone book, but you just need to find what your looking for. once you can play an RPG then read the full RPG book.
Another tip, if you don't have a party of friends, there is a special set of rules that allow you to play any any! RPG solo, its a Game Master Emulator, you should research it.
EG: you ask it questions like "Does this Road Have any cars on it?" you would guess its about 70% likely cars are on the road, you roll 2d10s and get a number from 1-100 if its below 70 you now know there are cars on the this particular road, the trick is to ask the right questions.
Quote from: gameleaper on August 07, 2016, 09:58:53 PM
buying a pdf version of your chosen RPG has some benefits, you can search for key words, you can copy snippets of text from it and insert them into char sheets or in chat. you can read them on a big screen, they don't get wet, you can buy online so no waiting
My only use for PDFs has been to print off tables, lists, or maps easily. So I don't need to squeeze the physical book into the scanner, nor try searching the web to see if someone uploaded the specific stuff I wanted.
Maybe I'm too old-fashioned, but I try to completely avoid using a notebook pc or tablet at the table, in group play. It may be faster using a Ctrl+F search, but I'm too worried it will detract or distract from the raw pen & paper or cardboard environment. Using such, playing over the 'net, obviously doesn't break anything since it's already a digital experience.
Quote from: Nefaro on August 07, 2016, 11:40:31 PM
Quote from: gameleaper on August 07, 2016, 09:58:53 PM
buying a pdf version of your chosen RPG has some benefits, you can search for key words, you can copy snippets of text from it and insert them into char sheets or in chat. you can read them on a big screen, they don't get wet, you can buy online so no waiting
My only use for PDFs has been to print off tables, lists, or maps easily. So I don't need to squeeze the physical book into the scanner, nor try searching the web to see if someone uploaded the specific stuff I wanted.
Maybe I'm too old-fashioned, but I try to completely avoid using a notebook pc or tablet at the table, in group play. It may be faster using a Ctrl+F search, but I'm too worried it will detract or distract from the raw pen & paper or cardboard environment. Using such, playing over the 'net, obviously doesn't break anything since it's already a digital experience.
thats a great argument for having both PDF and HardBack, we should include paperback for when you travel :) it is a good tip though to use a book then print out certain parts from pdf
gameleaper, check out NBOS Software for character sheets (http://www.nbos.com/products/character-sheet). It's free! It's fairly easy to create custom sheets. I use their software The Keep 2.0 to manage my RPGs right now. It's not free but worth checking out.
thx bb, I will be looking at that in 5 mins, after I get a cup of tea to drink while I look.
The sheet software is good, I cant see pips rather than numbers, but for ffree is great, the keep is tempting me too, especialy after your recommend, I shall think what I'm going to do. thx bb
bb, you have just launched me to a new plane of existence, I cant believe I have never seen managers like this, maybe I have passively, but wow I have to research before I buy, but fractal mapper and symbol and keep bundles look promising.
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 02:12:13 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on August 07, 2016, 11:40:31 PM
My only use for PDFs has been to print off tables, lists, or maps easily. So I don't need to squeeze the physical book into the scanner, nor try searching the web to see if someone uploaded the specific stuff I wanted.
Maybe I'm too old-fashioned, but I try to completely avoid using a notebook pc or tablet at the table, in group play. It may be faster using a Ctrl+F search, but I'm too worried it will detract or distract from the raw pen & paper or cardboard environment. Using such, playing over the 'net, obviously doesn't break anything since it's already a digital experience.
thats a great argument for having both PDF and HardBack, we should include paperback for when you travel :) it is a good tip though to use a book then print out certain parts from pdf
Definitely a good reason to also have a PDF.
Especially since I finally splurged on the Customizable GM Screen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930855591) that's all the rage.
All this isn't a big deal for the systems we may be solo'ing with, but I like to have as much of the essentials right in front of me in a group setting. I have a group starting a fantasy campaign this week, so it finally pushed me to get that. Instead of having loose or paper-clipped reference sheets floating around. The NPC & monster info will be doing the floating, on index cards, so more room for that.
If the game in question has a GM Screen PDF, that can be the more cost effective way to go. Those are a fraction of the cost of the full book, in PDF, and you don't have to copy & paste all the separate tables/lists into your own layout. Saves some work, if it has most of the tables you want.
Quote from: bbmike on August 08, 2016, 04:57:39 AM
gameleaper, check out NBOS Software for character sheets (http://www.nbos.com/products/character-sheet). It's free! It's fairly easy to create custom sheets. I use their software The Keep 2.0 to manage my RPGs right now. It's not free but worth checking out.
You just cost me $75 USD :) that's how impressed I was , I did not get the space addon, and I was disappointed the char sheet addon could not be downloaded from rpgnow with the main keep software, I paid an extra $5 because I wanted a safe site I trusted to download, but all is well now, and about to get screenmonkey so I have the current version that matches what I got. bb I have to thank you my gameing just got a whole lot better , thx bb
and the software is standalone no phone home crud, I use software on PCs not connected to the net, so this was great fore me
Quote from: Nefaro on August 08, 2016, 06:26:52 AM
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 02:12:13 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on August 07, 2016, 11:40:31 PM
My only use for PDFs has been to print off tables, lists, or maps easily. So I don't need to squeeze the physical book into the scanner, nor try searching the web to see if someone uploaded the specific stuff I wanted.
Maybe I'm too old-fashioned, but I try to completely avoid using a notebook pc or tablet at the table, in group play. It may be faster using a Ctrl+F search, but I'm too worried it will detract or distract from the raw pen & paper or cardboard environment. Using such, playing over the 'net, obviously doesn't break anything since it's already a digital experience.
thats a great argument for having both PDF and HardBack, we should include paperback for when you travel :) it is a good tip though to use a book then print out certain parts from pdf
Definitely a good reason to also have a PDF.
Especially since I finally splurged on the Customizable GM Screen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930855591) that's all the rage.
All this isn't a big deal for the systems we may be solo'ing with, but I like to have as much of the essentials right in front of me in a group setting. I have a group starting a fantasy campaign this week, so it finally pushed me to get that. Instead of having loose or paper-clipped reference sheets floating around. The NPC & monster info will be doing the floating, on index cards, so more room for that.
If the game in question has a GM Screen PDF, that can be the more cost effective way to go. Those are a fraction of the cost of the full book, in PDF, and you don't have to copy & paste all the separate tables/lists into your own layout. Saves some work, if it has most of the tables you want.
That's a nice addon, I like hardback books, but when I travel to the shop they have limited books in stock, and I don't like waiting for deliveries, PDFs are easy for me.
If I may:
Why trouble yourself over every little detail? Let online random generators be your savior!
http://donjon.bin.sh/ (http://donjon.bin.sh/), and http://www.freelancetraveller.com/infocenter/swlist/others.html (http://www.freelancetraveller.com/infocenter/swlist/others.html) have been in my bookmark list for a while now, for example. I'm certain there are a zillion others out there too, so explore and utilize!
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on August 08, 2016, 08:23:43 AM
If I may:
Why trouble yourself over every little detail? Let online random generators be your savior!
http://donjon.bin.sh/ (http://donjon.bin.sh/), and http://www.freelancetraveller.com/infocenter/swlist/others.html (http://www.freelancetraveller.com/infocenter/swlist/others.html) have been in my bookmark list for a while now, for example. I'm certain there are a zillion others out there too, so explore and utilize!
I shall look at these links, but The NSOB software is an RPG gamers Personal Imformation Manager, and graphics Mapper, and Char sheet designer, and generator.
I'm going to look into kingdom creator I seen on RPGNow.com, it seems to create Maps from your settings , kings armies inns roads etc. there is an addon to it too
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on August 08, 2016, 08:23:43 AM
If I may:
Why trouble yourself over every little detail? Let online random generators be your savior!
http://donjon.bin.sh/ (http://donjon.bin.sh/), and http://www.freelancetraveller.com/infocenter/swlist/others.html (http://www.freelancetraveller.com/infocenter/swlist/others.html) have been in my bookmark list for a while now, for example. I'm certain there are a zillion others out there too, so explore and utilize!
I liked those links, the first has an incredible list of generators
Quote from: Nefaro on August 08, 2016, 06:26:52 AM
Especially since I finally splurged on the Customizable GM Screen (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930855591) that's all the rage.
Nice, that's the first I have seen of that.
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 07:36:18 AM
and the software is standalone no phone home crud, I use software on PCs not connected to the net, so this was great fore me
That's the best part. I carry a tiny keychain USB drive with me (Super Talent 32GB Pico) that has everything I need for my current RPGs.
Here's some more links for (mostly) solo RPGing (http://dieheart.net/useful-stuff/solo-rpg-resources/). :)
Quote from: bbmike on August 08, 2016, 11:11:27 AM
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 07:36:18 AM
and the software is standalone no phone home crud, I use software on PCs not connected to the net, so this was great fore me
That's the best part. I carry a tiny keychain USB drive with me (Super Talent 32GB Pico) that has everything I need for my current RPGs.
Here's some more links for (mostly) solo RPGing (http://dieheart.net/useful-stuff/solo-rpg-resources/). :)
I absolutely find these solo links a treasure, thx bb
Quote from: bbmike on August 08, 2016, 11:11:27 AM
-stuff-
Whoa. Serious good link...and saved!
(Dungeon World things there - :D)
Quote from: bbmike on August 08, 2016, 11:11:27 AM
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 07:36:18 AM
and the software is standalone no phone home crud, I use software on PCs not connected to the net, so this was great fore me
That's the best part. I carry a tiny keychain USB drive with me (Super Talent 32GB Pico) that has everything I need for my current RPGs.
Here's some more links for (mostly) solo RPGing (http://dieheart.net/useful-stuff/solo-rpg-resources/). :)
After you mentioned you can put it on a Flash drive, I remembered the install message about it, I didn't read it to well, so Ive gone back and reconfigured it to run on a USB Flash Drive woopie :)
http://rpgvirtualtabletop.wikidot.com/mapping-software
a good link for mapping software
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 09:17:40 PM
http://rpgvirtualtabletop.wikidot.com/mapping-software
a good link for mapping software
Cool stuff. 8)
I also recently discovered a site with lots of free "Paper Minis":
http://www.seven-wonders.co.uk/paperfriendsindex.html
From Fantasy to superheroes to sci-fi stuff. A wide assortment of character types, monsters, aliens, etc. Comes in PNGs, containing around 9 double-sided standees each, for download from zippyshare.
Print 'em off and use in place of minis.
Quote from: Nefaro on August 08, 2016, 09:39:36 PM
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 09:17:40 PM
http://rpgvirtualtabletop.wikidot.com/mapping-software
a good link for mapping software
Cool stuff. 8)
I also recently discovered a site with lots of free "Paper Minis":
http://www.seven-wonders.co.uk/paperfriendsindex.html
From Fantasy to superheroes to sci-fi stuff. A wide assortment of character types, monsters, aliens, etc. Comes in PNGs, containing around 9 double-sided standees each, for download from zippyshare.
Print 'em off and use in place of minis.
That's great too thx. I like them , I think www.juniorgeneral.org is good for war stuff aswell
I just bought a dice roller $3 , http://www.rpgnow.com/product/61507/PrecisRoller-2-Windows-Version
the keep has a dice roller, but I wanted this one , I set preferences in the keep and intergrated it into the Keeps files so it runs under the keep.
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/101129/Chimerapedia-Core
buy Chimerapedia-Core for $6 before you buy the Keep, you get a 15% discount , so you in effect get Chimerapedia-Core for free more or less
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 09:17:40 PM
http://rpgvirtualtabletop.wikidot.com/mapping-software
a good link for mapping software
Great links! Don't forget that Hexographer has a free version (http://www.hexographer.com/free-version/). I bought it and also like it a lot. I copied the Gamma World map into it fairly quick.
Quote from: bbmike on August 09, 2016, 05:15:55 AM
Quote from: gameleaper on August 08, 2016, 09:17:40 PM
http://rpgvirtualtabletop.wikidot.com/mapping-software
a good link for mapping software
Great links! Don't forget that Hexographer has a free version (http://www.hexographer.com/free-version/). I bought it and also like it a lot. I copied the Gamma World map into it fairly quick.
I grabed it, I liked the dugeon dice on there too they looked really intersting
spoke to soon, I'm only getting partial downloads :( ok found a workaround, kept pauseing and resuming got 5 to 10% at a time :)
Some of those links to the solo stuff look pretty interesting. Been looking at the 2 Hour Dungeon Crawl.
Quote from: Double Deuce on August 09, 2016, 05:30:12 AM
Some of those links to the solo stuff look pretty interesting. Been looking at the 2 Hour Dungeon Crawl.
I think bb has been the best tips in this thread so far thx bb, that PIM is giving me ideas to create my own homebrew RPG its so organized way of gaming.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwg1l-y33WTRbmhwX2VDdXZfVHc/view?usp=sharing
I have a free mapping program, but you have only a few tiles with it, you need to get tiles online 20x20 and 40x40 , dungeon crafter tiles fit, but any of the correct size will work and there are trillions, you can resize any tile file to the correct size in MSpaint, also there are hex tiles, the Map created can be huge, and you can mix small tiles, big tiles and hextiles snap to grid or freehand.
daft idea
daft idea
Has anyone ever tried or have Dungeonographer (http://www.dungeonographer.com/)? Looks like a good dungeon map making tool.
Quote from: Double Deuce on August 10, 2016, 06:12:02 AM
Has anyone ever tried or have Dungeonographer (http://www.dungeonographer.com/)? Looks like a good dungeon map making tool.
I think I looked at some screenshots and it looked very like win98 kinda vibe, but I could be thinking of another app.