Random Table PDFs for Playing Solo RPGs (Updated)
PDF Guides Solo RPGs

Random Table PDFs for Playing Solo RPGs (Updated)

Duncan Thomson

Here we are looking at pdf and book titles for other planes and otherworldy adventures on DriveThru RPG.

PDF Guides - all | cyberpunk | fantasy | horror | modern | post-apocalypse | sci-fi | space-fantasy | solo

Aug 2023: Cards section added. Free & pwyw split into rpgs & tools. Nov 2023: alt solo section added

Disclaimer: Rand Roll is an affiliate for DriveThru RPG and DM's Guild.

Starting Points

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

Solo RPGs is the art of playing a tabletop roleplaying game on your own. You are player, gamesmaster, worldbuilder, narrator and audience.

Some people like to journal, some like to play their favourite RPG, some try out new RPGs. Others play RPGs specific to solo play, adventure gamebooks or a lightweight RPG. I'm currently working my way through various British RPGs, old and new.

Other guides with Solo sections include Sci-Fi Solo Titles, Fantasy Basics, Horror Solo, Fantasy Dungeon Solo Titles, Fantasy Wilderness and Fantasy Sea Solo PDFs.

Many of the titles were included in 31 Days of Solo RPGs, which I did for March 2023 listing resources for solo rpgs each day on reddit.

Major Solo Titles

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

Some PDFs are much larger and comprehensive.

Mythic Game Master Emulator 2nd Edition Motif Story Engine Solo Game Master's Guide DM Yourself - solo roleplay for 5e, D&D and OSR adventures Tilt: A solo oracle Ironsworn: Starforged

Free and PWyW Solo RPGs

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

If you like free (or pay-what-you-want) pdfs and random tables then there are some options. And where you find one you might find more...

  • Ironsworn from Shawn Tomkin is one of the best known solo games (and free! in pdf form), where the narrative is pushed forward by powerful vows made by the protagonist(s).
  • Stars Without Number from Sine Nomine Publishing is a free RPG, which also has many pages or random tables. And a fantasy version in Worlds Without Number.
  • Black Streams: Solo Heroes from Sine Nomine Publishing is a lightweight solo rpg written for running classic D&D adventures for a single character.
  • Micro Chapbook RPG Deluxe Core Rulebook from Micro RPG is a PWYW lightweight rpg that uses randomly generated adventures.
  • Rocket Dungeons from LunchBox RPG is an ultra light dungeon crawler built for solo play.

Ironsworn Stars Without Number Black Streams: Solo Heroes Micro Chapbook RPG Rocket Dungeons

Free and Pay-what-you-want Tools

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

If you like free (or pay-what-you-want) pdfs and random tables then there are some options. And where you find one you might find more...

Conjecture Roleplaying GM Emulator One Page Solo Engine Encounter Building Oracle Deck ALONe: A Solo Game Engine UNE NPC Emulator

Cards

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

Decks of cards are useful for random choices and playing screenless / offline .

  • From Larcenous Designs are the GM's Apprentice Decks (base deck linked). There are several variants including fantasy and sci-fi.
  • From Zadmar Games is a solo system and deck of cards called Tricube Tales. The cards are used to drive the narrative and tricube tales can be paired with most rpgs.
  • For maps of fantasy kingdoms there is Pocket Lands: Kingdom from Alexey Aparin, a 70-card deck of terrain maps (sea, mountain, forest, hills etc), each containing a 5x5 grid. There are also versions for High Seas and other terrains.
  • The Sidequest Decks from Inkwell Ideas provide quest ideas and a map. They cover a number of genres, including Horror/Lovecraft, Sci-fi (depicted) and Dungeons among many.
  • From Artemis Games is a series of Concept Decks, with each card in a deck containing a name, brief description and 4+ supporting bits of information (with a numeric ranking corresponding to each deck). Decks include Plot Hooks, Characters, Treasures and "Epic" versions of these.
  • The Dungeon Builder's Deck from AAW Games is good for solo delves, giving geomorphic maps to explore and fill out.

GM's Apprentice Base Deck Tricube Tales Pocket Lands: Kingdom Sidequest Decks: Science Fiction Concept Cards: Plot Hooks Dungeon Builder's Deck

Journalling

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

Some solo games are setup around journalling, which gives a more storytelling and creative writing experience.

  • For a pay-what-you-want option, Quill from Trollish Delver Games is "A Letter-Writing Roleplaying Game for a Single Player", exploring an rpg world through writing.
  • If you want to play a vampire, then journalling game Thousand Year Old Vampire from The Hutchingsonian Presents-PlaGMaDA is the game for you!
  • The Wretched from Loot the Room is set in a spaceship where you are the last survivor. But a hostile lifeform is onboard with you. Others in the series include Go Alone and The Assassin.
  • For a journaling experience using 1d6, a pack of cards and your mind, try Journey from Greycastle Press. Expanded Aspcects for Journey adds more options for elements while exporing your gameworld.

Quill: A letter writing rpg for a single player Thousand Year Old Vampire The Wretched Journey

Alternative Solo Games

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

Some solo games that aren't rpgs or just have some rpg elements.

Four Against Darkness Five Leagues from the Borderlands Frostgrave Delve: A solo Map Drawing Game Random Solo Adventure: Post Apocalypse - Solo Game

Other Solo Titles

titles - major | free rpgs | free tools | cards | journalling | alt solo | other

Then there are a few other titles for solo that don't fit in other categories

  • Motif Character Engine from Thought Punks is an emulator for PC / character actions.
  • Rangers of Shadow Deep from Mophidius is a solo (or co-op) game playing a group of rangers holding back the darkness of Shadow Deep.
  • Maze Rats from Questing Beast Games is a lightweight dungeon-crawling RPG, but also has many random tables packed in there.
  • For something in the fictional Wild West, try The Drifter from KenK. A gunslinger out to get the money for a ranch, in any way they can.
  • The Scene Generator from Ken Wickham has lots of random tables for creating scenes in your solo games.
  • To create places of adventure, Word Mill Games has The Location Crafter, useable in solo or prep for regular rpgs.

Motif Character Emulator Rangers of Shadow Deep Maze Rats The Drifter Scene Generator The Location Crafter

More Generators

This will get updated in the future, but leave a comment with other titles if you have one to share.

If you liked these there are Generators at Chaos Gen and a monthly random tools Newsletter. Or find us on the Rand Roll Discord or an instagram of Random Tables.