#journaling rpgs

[gamesyoushouldbeplaying]

Journaling rpgs are even worse than group ttrpgs because instead of blorbo from my 5 friends imagination you have blorbo from 5 hours of playing a game alone

[angorwhosebabyisthis]

Useful tool for journaling games when you're having trouble figuring out what to write for a scene, even with the help of tables and other prompts: choose and/or roll for a certain number of sentences. Whatever the events of the entry/turn you're rolling for, they'll need to fill up that number of sentences.

You can write them out in whatever format you want--as a summary, prose description, or alternating between them.

You can write a more fleshed-out version of the events you decide on if you want, as long as it can be summarized by the target number of sentences.

You can limit yourself to that specific number of sentences if you want the extra bit of challenge, or keep going if you feel like it once you've met the target.

You don't have to write the prompt sentences before you write out, or roll for, an extended version of the scene if you decide to do that. You can start with the opening situation and then add summarizing sentences for events as they play out, or you can summarize after the scene is finished.

You can choose different ranges if you want (recommended if you find yourself stumped a lot as to length you want to go for), or just use the same one every time. You might, say, choose or roll between a 5-sentence entry, a 10-sentence entry, a 20-sentence entry, and so on, or you might just treat each prompt as requiring 5 sentences. You can implement this as a table, or by rolling the appropriate die for the range you want to aim for.

You can choose set numbers for each range if you want to use more than one, or you can roll within a certain range. 1-sentence prompts might be an entirely separate result from 3-sentence prompts and 5-sentence prompts, or you might roll 1-5 when you get the associated range. (Or 3-5, for that matter.)

You can designate specific ranges to different circumstances. A 20-sentence description might be appropriate for, say, establishing a new location for the first time, but chances are good you're going to want to mostly stick to 1-5 each turn when you're in the middle of a fight.

A sentence isn't bound to any particular length, as long as something happens in it. You could write a sentence three words long, or make a huge run-on sentence full of as many semicolons and em-dashes and parentheses as you need to fit in what you want to say.

Length doesn't need to equal impact. A 20-sentence prompt might describe a chill conversation where you're getting to know a neighbor, where a 1-sentence prompt might be 'the king has been assassinated, and you're a prime suspect.' You may use a system or table of your choice to determine the nature of an entry, or choose whatever seems like fun.

In general, you're welcome to plug this into any game you like where it'll be helpful, and any particular part of that game! Descriptions, events, character bios, equipment, you name it.

I've found using sentences as quotas works a lot better for me in my writing than word counts, and word counts are even harder to use as a measure when you're, well... playing in a format where you can't easily just plug things into a word processor to check, or don't want to. Pen-and-paper journaling in particular would be a Nightmare, lord

(This is an observation of my own writing style, so take it with a grain of salt, but I've noticed my prose sentences average between 10-16 words. It might be a good idea to try and evaluate your own average so it's easier to get an idea in advance of How Much You're Going to Be Writing for a particular prompt.)

Anyway, figured I'd post this in case it's as helpful for someone else as it's been for me. Happy roleplaying!

[roguecentaur]

You are something ancient.Something terrifying and unknowable. You are rage itself.

You are Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle.

My newest SoloRPG has dropped today! Play as a vengeful goddess of impossible strength, as she struggles to restrain herself from destroying the world.

Can a god be so mighty and unstoppable that they cannot stop even themselves? Is it possible to overcome instinct? Are we more than our ugliest moments? It seems inevitable that you will only grow colder. Change feels like an impossible task. Maybe it is already too late for you. But you must try, all the same.

[cassimothwin]

Which house will be you be assigned at Brackroot Academy??? Pause or Screenshot the gif at the top to learn your destiny!

Then "Keep reading" to learn more about your house!

Brackroot Academy is part of Tangled Blessings, a magical school horror roleplaying game that uses tarot cards to uncover your fate as a student.

If you like this fun exercise, learn more about the crowdfunding campaign happening now!

Learn more about your house further below! Does it suit you?

House of Celestials 

The skies borrow from the elements to paint a backdrop for life. Featuring iconography of the sun, moon, and constellations, celestials are known for their inner glow. Still, they do not shy away from the dark surrounding them, understanding that all things require balance. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: discipline, passion, or indifference. This dorm overlooks the lake. 

House of Dahlias 

Dahlias rely on the energy of celestial bodies for growth and endurance. As a vibrant flower, dahlias are a symbol of elegance and devotion. The plant may seem abundant, but it requires careful nurturing in the wet and cold climate of Brackroot. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: creativity, perfectionism, or obsessiveness. This dorm is connected to the greenhouse. 

House of Panthers 

The panther needs a garden to rest from its daily stroll, and the dahlias always supply. The panther is a symbol of grace, athletics, and agility but still elusive and rare — a fierce creature of the shadows. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: observation, punctuality, or ruthlessness. This dorm is at the edge of the forest. 

House of Spires 

The spires are only safe in their tower because of the panthers who keep guard. The House of Spires represents the connection blades, pens, and spirituality share. While members of this house may only show interest or aptitude in one of the represented icons, they are a full member of the spire. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: empathy, isolation, or judgment. This dorm is in the high tower. 

House of Elements  

Elements are the wildest of the quintet, but they maintain control with help from the spires. The elements symbolize excess and power, but together, they represent the strength of unity. Students in this house often carry at least one or more of these marks: cleverness, hunger, or negligence. This dorm is under the school, but furnished with enchanted windows that overlook the neighboring mountains.  

House of None

Accessible by only walking along the edge of a bridge in the right invisible spot, students in the House of None often think of themselves as beyond reality. These thoughts only worsen the more they understand magic on cosmic and atomic scales. Students in this house are often detached, cold, and fiercely intelligent Symbols commonly associated with this house include the number zero, a black hole, a vortex, lanterns, and knots. 

House of Divines

Hidden beneath the campus Chapel and graveyard, this house was annexed centuries ago for blatant misuse of dark magic. Some stories claim this house serves as the birthplace for demons and vampires. Whatever the reason for the House's former eradication, blood stains remain in the foundation. Students in this house are often vengeful, patient, and not above harming others to get what they want. Symbols commonly associated with this house include blood, fruit, teeth, bones, claws, horns.

[gudgurkan]

Page 45 of my upcoming fantasy journal book - Armor Revenant

Kickstarter link

[takataapui]

want to play some swamp/bog/wetland themed games?

May I suggest my recent 3 ttrpgs? They're all solo-journalling rpgs, and no prior wetland knowledge is required!

'so, you're a small patch of moss in a big bog...'

a micro solo rpg about being moss facing the inevitability of becoming peat. explore grief, mortality, and inevitability.

'the bog eternal'

a game about being a bog fighting against people trying to harm you, with only your natural traits. totally not an allegory for anything beyond that... I'd totally tell you if it was, deeeefinitely not an allegory for transness, nope.

'you're going to your ideal wetland'

a game about creating and traveling to your dream wetland, emotions about climate justice, and naming that wonderful place.

[mushroomwitchgames]

COMING NOV 22 - CATS KNOW THINGS

CATS KNOW THINGS is a light-hearted game meant to tell a humorous story of intrigue, all while pretending to be a very nosy cat. 

But you are no ordinary cat.

You are a very special feline who, through some magic you cannot explain, can communicate with your human, an individual who wishes to make their mark in society by any means necessary. The two of you decide to start a society page, (a very fancy type of tabloid newspaper dedicated to a particular location) revealing the glitz, glamour, and inner turmoil of the town’s most notable individuals. 

As the cat you will travel across town, using your stealth and wiles to listen in on the most intimate conversations and encounters. At the end of the day you return to your human to relay to them all the town’s salacious gossip for the society page. The goal is to prepare 6-8 items for the newspaper before your human sends them to the presses for the week.

CATS KNOW THINGS will be available on our Itch.io store at 9am PST on November 22!! Please reblog to get the work out! We're really excited to share this game with you!

[worstgirleva]

do you like ✅mech pilots ✅magical girls ✅racing drivers ✅musicians ✅saviors ✅whatever the persona characters are

all of those are featured scenarios in burning hearts forever on sale for 50% off

[psychhound]

howdy all!!!

i'm doing a quick solo sale from today until October 4th (my little sisters birthday <33) in order to get me to her graduation!! :D it's in december and oh boy can that hotel and plane ticket cost cost so ... sale!! i really want to be able to be there for his graduation so please check out the bundle!!

includes:

the narrator paradox: narrate the protagonist of your story as they attempt to defy you and escape the game

dead man's hand: play as a collector of tales, using poker hands to divine paranormal stories in the wild west

little shepherd, little spy: use your bookshelf to pass along messages in the fairy war

osteotzee: use a yahtzee scorecard to augur the deaths of mythical beasts

little celestial fieldwork guide: grab your camera and explore your city looking for hidden spirits and little gods

the graveyard game: write an ethnography of a magical, haunted graveyard

with breath & sword: use therapeutic grounding methods to fight or tame monsters

you are thinking about silver: an autofiction lyric game about being 14 in a family of werewolves

if any of those sound appealing please check out the bundle!! :D

[nintendonut1]

I've drawn a few journal entries but never drew them actually doing the scrapbooking! Arts and crafts time weeeeee~

[stickyhunter]

The Edge of Survival — Live now on Kickstarter!

Play as an astronaut untethered from your ship in a solo journaling RPG of dire circumstances, of desperation and hope.👩‍🚀

Check it out on Kickstarter here!

[gamesyoushouldbeplaying]

hi! just saw ur journaling ttrpg post and i didn't even now that was a thing! if u don't mind, could u recommend any you've done?

Im going to answer this publicly because Im also pretty new to the genre myself and I wanted to give other people the opportunity to chime in! Ive personally played Thousand Year Old Vampire, which was incredibly good if you like tragedy/horror, and im looking forward to playing Dwelling sometime. The creator of Thousand Year Old Vampire has made several others as well I believe, and Ive seen a lot on itch.io as well. If anyone else can reccomend solo/journaling RPGs please add on!

[artistotel]

The year is 3069. Or at least you think it is. It certainly was when you fell asleep. But how long have you been asleep? You don't know. You lost your consciousness and then there was pitch black darkness... until you woke up.

You scout your spaceship that's floating in Space like a boat trailing across the oceans with no captain. Are your comrades dead? Are you dead? The only thing you can trust: the AI of the ship. You remember them. And when you say „Hello?” the screen of the huge monitor in the command room lights up. You see a familiar face.

„Hello,” the voice replies.

It's only you and the AI. You used to trust it with your life.

Can you trust it now?

hi everyone! my new solo-journaling rpg game is up for download on itch.io for free!!! if you're new to sjrpg, do not worry, its not complicated to play. all you need is two dice, a deck of playing cards, and a journal. its very simple and its all explained in the booklet.

the game explores relationship between you and a sentient motherboard AI (who grows attached and attached) and horrors that might await you. anyway, check it out, leave a comment, give some feedback. it wont be free forever ;P

[valensolo12]

a couple more pages of my pillars of eternity journal, finally getting into the part of the game i didn't reach on my first (unfinished) playthrough!

[cassimothwin]

Finally did a flip through video of Carved by the Garden, my folk horror journaling game. I wrote and illustrated it!

You can find it on my shop if you're interested!

[gudgurkan]

Magic blade adventurer

Kickstarter link

And a process video!