is it ok to play H1 on you're own? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

is it ok to play H1 on you're own?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Archus_Forix
Jun 07, 2008 11:40:20 Yea, I don't have a gaming group where I live, and I hardly play D&D, but I want to play H1 and to get ideas for stories etc.

Is that kinda sad to play by yourself, or is it acceptable to play it on you're own?

My excuse is that I like to get a feel for the atmosphere in the game, where the RP aspects are in my head and I'll write them down for future stories etc, so the mechanics is mainly used for combat and skill use etc. (wait, that's all the mechanics is used for... ah well)

By extension, is the same argument logical for purchasing the 4E books (inspiration/fun/fluff etc.)?
#2
crinos43
Jun 07, 2008 20:28:11 It is not sad to buy and play H1 without other players, nor is it sad to buy the 4E books without players.

Thanks to the Internet, you should always be able to find someone to play with.
#3
Neutronium_Dragon
Jun 07, 2008 20:46:11 There's nothing wrong with doing so. It may be a somewhat limited experience (especially since you'll always know what the other side is thinking/planning in the combat encounters), but as far as learning the rules it's a perfectly acceptable means.
#4
ChaoticGood
Jun 07, 2008 21:28:38 I agree, there's nothing wrong with playing on your own to get a feel for the rules and such, BUT... if you're both the DM and the sole player, don't be like a certain friend of mine and brag about how awesome your character is and how cool his collection of artifact-level magic items is to other people. THAT would be sad.
#5
Xaielao2
Jun 09, 2008 23:04:40 As an experienced DM if I'm writing up an adventure or using a pre-generated one I will often run through an encounter (even if just in my head) by the numbers with a character to make sure it flows properly or to understand an odd situation that I cant wrap my head around. So don't feel weird about it.

Plus once the DDI gets fleshed out and the gametable opens up you'll already know the rules and perhaps have the books so if you want to spend some cash on a monthly fee you can play over the internet via the game table. :D
#6
gricktree
Jun 10, 2008 1:39:43 D&D has a history when it comes to solo play. The old basic red box game started off with a solo adventure right in the front of the book.
#7
falula
Jun 10, 2008 9:29:48 I plan to do this with a group of 5 of my own characters as i won't get to play for another month and I'm itching to see if 4e plays as well as I think it will.

I plan on DMing it so this will be a useful way of getting to grips with the system and its nuances.
#8
reinos
Jun 10, 2008 11:54:12 this is interesting to me, partially because I cant help but throw together a few encounters for my character to decimate solo so i can test its strength in battle. but on the note of internet play, you can always host a game in an IRC channel that can be set up. not to mention the Table top thing that wizards is coming out with soon. I played a "test" game in my friends IRC channel one time. it was fun and interesting and if you got a bigger group together voip would help a bit. I mainly was there to test the dice rolling features that my friend programed into the irc channel. as well as to get a feel for the way things would go. dont forget there is also things like total phone that can be used. my point is that it isnt sad to play or own the books with nobody else to play with. BUT there is always some way you can play.
#9
bodyknock
Jun 11, 2008 8:33:19 In fact the 4th edition DMG has a short section devoted to playing without a DM using a random dungeon and random encounter system, and says that you can have fun playing solo using that sort of set up. Mind you, it's MORE fun with other people, but when there aren't other people around it's not such a bad option and it's probably a good way for a new player to learn the rules.
#10
Shiftkitty
Jun 12, 2008 14:52:36 Those random dungeon generators saved me from going incurably insane while doing graveshift security work. I had worked out a system to play a published module solo, but when I didn't have the money for modules, heh-heh, those Silicon Valley offices sure have a LOT of graph paper!

To run the monsters, I just figured that the monsters were going to want to kill the PCs and would take any opportunity to do so unless a greater threat/higher power dictated otherwise. It could be tough to have a monster take a lethal strike at a PC I really liked (Adieu, Marie! Your auburn tresses shall never play across Wolfe's pillow again!), but if it was fair and logical, so be it!

Townsfolk and RP opportunities were more a stream-of-consciousness thing. I'd fire up an IBM Selectric III typewriter and write the encounters as they happened in my mind, rolling on random charts for attitudes and reactions only when I needed to. I was using "Skill Challenges" before WotC ever thought about buying TSR!

And no, I never brag about my solo-game characters!
#11
wyrdwalker
Jun 14, 2008 6:16:03 Playing H1 is a lot like playing with an Ouija board. Doing so alone will get you possessed. Orcus is pretty difficult to exorcise.
#12
Shiftkitty
Jun 14, 2008 9:14:49 Great. Now some whackjob fundamentalist is pointing to his monitor, jumping up and down screaming "I knew it! I knew it! Yee-haw! Call the pastor! It's time for a book burning!"
#13
lostat
Jun 15, 2008 5:39:47 Hopefully it won't be too long before the gametable DDI is up and running. I hear some people in my home city moan about the online aspects, but they forget that not everyone is lucky enough to be able to meet up as a regular group "in real life", and that many people live in very rural areas.

In the meantime, you could run through some solo stuff to become familiar with the new rules. Oh, and does anyone here play using voicechat such as ventrilo online? I'd love to play that way until DDI is running, although I'm in the UK so the time-difference can be an issue due to the fact that when its evening in the US, its middle of the night here in the UK.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Archus_Forix Jun 07, 2008 11:40:20	Yea, I don't have a gaming group where I live, and I hardly play D&D, but I want to play H1 and to get ideas for stories etc. Is that kinda sad to play by yourself, or is it acceptable to play it on you're own? My excuse is that I like to get a feel for the atmosphere in the game, where the RP aspects are in my head and I'll write them down for future stories etc, so the mechanics is mainly used for combat and skill use etc. (wait, that's all the mechanics is used for... ah well) By extension, is the same argument logical for purchasing the 4E books (inspiration/fun/fluff etc.)?
#2 crinos43 Jun 07, 2008 20:28:11	It is not sad to buy and play H1 without other players, nor is it sad to buy the 4E books without players. Thanks to the Internet, you should always be able to find someone to play with.
#3 Neutronium_Dragon Jun 07, 2008 20:46:11	There's nothing wrong with doing so. It may be a somewhat limited experience (especially since you'll always know what the other side is thinking/planning in the combat encounters), but as far as learning the rules it's a perfectly acceptable means.
#4 ChaoticGood Jun 07, 2008 21:28:38	I agree, there's nothing wrong with playing on your own to get a feel for the rules and such, BUT... if you're both the DM and the sole player, don't be like a certain friend of mine and brag about how awesome your character is and how cool his collection of artifact-level magic items is to other people. THAT would be sad.
#5 Xaielao2 Jun 09, 2008 23:04:40	As an experienced DM if I'm writing up an adventure or using a pre-generated one I will often run through an encounter (even if just in my head) by the numbers with a character to make sure it flows properly or to understand an odd situation that I cant wrap my head around. So don't feel weird about it. Plus once the DDI gets fleshed out and the gametable opens up you'll already know the rules and perhaps have the books so if you want to spend some cash on a monthly fee you can play over the internet via the game table. :D
#6 gricktree Jun 10, 2008 1:39:43	D&D has a history when it comes to solo play. The old basic red box game started off with a solo adventure right in the front of the book.
#7 falula Jun 10, 2008 9:29:48	I plan to do this with a group of 5 of my own characters as i won't get to play for another month and I'm itching to see if 4e plays as well as I think it will. I plan on DMing it so this will be a useful way of getting to grips with the system and its nuances.
#8 reinos Jun 10, 2008 11:54:12	this is interesting to me, partially because I cant help but throw together a few encounters for my character to decimate solo so i can test its strength in battle. but on the note of internet play, you can always host a game in an IRC channel that can be set up. not to mention the Table top thing that wizards is coming out with soon. I played a "test" game in my friends IRC channel one time. it was fun and interesting and if you got a bigger group together voip would help a bit. I mainly was there to test the dice rolling features that my friend programed into the irc channel. as well as to get a feel for the way things would go. dont forget there is also things like total phone that can be used. my point is that it isnt sad to play or own the books with nobody else to play with. BUT there is always some way you can play.
#9 bodyknock Jun 11, 2008 8:33:19	In fact the 4th edition DMG has a short section devoted to playing without a DM using a random dungeon and random encounter system, and says that you can have fun playing solo using that sort of set up. Mind you, it's MORE fun with other people, but when there aren't other people around it's not such a bad option and it's probably a good way for a new player to learn the rules.
#10 Shiftkitty Jun 12, 2008 14:52:36	Those random dungeon generators saved me from going incurably insane while doing graveshift security work. I had worked out a system to play a published module solo, but when I didn't have the money for modules, heh-heh, those Silicon Valley offices sure have a LOT of graph paper! To run the monsters, I just figured that the monsters were going to want to kill the PCs and would take any opportunity to do so unless a greater threat/higher power dictated otherwise. It could be tough to have a monster take a lethal strike at a PC I really liked (Adieu, Marie! Your auburn tresses shall never play across Wolfe's pillow again!), but if it was fair and logical, so be it! Townsfolk and RP opportunities were more a stream-of-consciousness thing. I'd fire up an IBM Selectric III typewriter and write the encounters as they happened in my mind, rolling on random charts for attitudes and reactions only when I needed to. I was using "Skill Challenges" before WotC ever thought about buying TSR! And no, I never brag about my solo-game characters!
#11 wyrdwalker Jun 14, 2008 6:16:03	Playing H1 is a lot like playing with an Ouija board. Doing so alone will get you possessed. Orcus is pretty difficult to exorcise.
#12 Shiftkitty Jun 14, 2008 9:14:49	Great. Now some whackjob fundamentalist is pointing to his monitor, jumping up and down screaming "I knew it! I knew it! Yee-haw! Call the pastor! It's time for a book burning!"
#13 lostat Jun 15, 2008 5:39:47	Hopefully it won't be too long before the gametable DDI is up and running. I hear some people in my home city moan about the online aspects, but they forget that not everyone is lucky enough to be able to meet up as a regular group "in real life", and that many people live in very rural areas. In the meantime, you could run through some solo stuff to become familiar with the new rules. Oh, and does anyone here play using voicechat such as ventrilo online? I'd love to play that way until DDI is running, although I'm in the UK so the time-difference can be an issue due to the fact that when its evening in the US, its middle of the night here in the UK.