The way this game’s laid out, hopefully you’ll find that it makes it as easy to run solo as it does for group play. Your setting, The Realm, begins on a blank page, but the game loop is clear & simple, for each part of any adventuring day you’ll have numerous tables on which to roll & work out what your character(s) might face, and you’ll move through and resolve this using the game mechanics. That said, here are some tips to help make the most of your solo experience with this game.
before the game begins...
1. Roll on the table later to see what's going in The Realm. If neither option fits, think about something else big that's happening, something that’s going wrong maybe, then think about a figure who’s important to how this is unfurling, about what faction or group they’re using or forcing or tricking to further their aims, and about how the locals might be reacting to this.
2. Create your character(s) using the souls of the chaos section, and give them something more than you would in group play. So a magical item, traits bump, unique ability, whatever you like.
3. Choose or roll up a rumour or job to follow up, but come up with one huge reason your character(s) needs to learn more about it, needs to follow it up, and one huge thing they fear might happen if things don’t go as they hope.
4. Create a rival for your character(s). They’re already one step ahead. They have better gear. They have something you now realise you have missing. They make morally opposite choices than you, and have their own motivation for following up on this same rumour or job. What do your character(s) fear they’re up to? As the game unfurls, roll or think about how this rival has been faring compared to your character(s), how much closer they are to reaching their goals, to beating you to the chase.
...and during the game...
1. On each watch once you’ve rolled up what’s happening, for each encounter come up with one thing your character(s) see, hear, smell, feel...and fear!
2. Screen wipe what doesn’t interest you, but note down something that’s changed, something new that needs dealt with. If it still doesn’t seem interesting, note things down as though someone years in the future is following your steps, and trying to piece together & recreate what you faced and how you braved it.
3. When you roll the odds or traits, if you get a ‘no’ or something goes wrong, focus on what the consequence is, what new complication arises, what next steps now need to be taken.
4. Try to look for opportunities to introduce something into your sessions that you didn’t plan for, and to end your sessions on a cliffhanger.
Remember that you can use any other oracles, random tables, house rules and game systems you like to make the most of it. You might be playing solo, but you’re definitely not alone. Use anything you can get your hands on, use the ttrpg community out there, and play it your way!
Also, take a look at the The Chaos Player Board and The Chaos Ledger to help keep track of what goes down in your sessions, together with The Chaos Oracle and Chaos Rolls to spark your imagination!
what's next?
Ok, so from here you might want to...
...return to the rules of the chaos intro
...or dip your toe into the rules themselves
...or wire into the character creation section
Remember, though, that you can navigate anywhere on the site using the menus on each page, and if you ever get lost, roll 1d6 and we'll see what perils you encounter!