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ALONe: A Solo Game Engine 1e

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Some tales best unfold ALONe.

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ALONe (A Lonesome October Night) is a solo game engine designed specifically to support role playing with only one player and no Game Master. Players create their worlds, characters, and challenges through verbal or written Descriptors that all influence the way the narrative progresses from one scene to the next.

Whether you want to play a cunning streetrat surviving by their wits, a demigod raising an immortal army to storm the walls of heaven, or a mercenary warrior who just wants to live through their next campaign, ALONe can help you tell your story.

ALONe makes use of the GameMaster's Apprentice cards, and so includes with it the instructions for those cards and a black-and-white, PnP preview of the genre-neutral GameMaster's Apprentice deck, half the length of the full set. More stories can be told with the full deck of cards, or with the addition of the genre-specific decks, also available from DriveThru. You can also find quickstart instructions for the GMA and instruction-bearing cards here!

First Edition: Finalized October 1, 2023

After nearly a decade of tinkering, ALONe has entered the first full release! It includes a simple gameplay setup and structure, and many optional modular systems you can use to enhance you experience:

  • Entirely narrative play, and ways to use ALONe to run a more traditional RPG of your choice!
  • Living campaign worlds with recurring cast members, plot threads, and so on!
  • Spontaneous conversations and dialogue with NPCs!
  • An adventure-creation framework to make it easy to build both short- and long-term content!
  • Advice for employing pre-written adventures from any system!
  • And much more!

While this product is now finished, it is still intentionally light on art assets and layout. As part of beginning the GMA2e line of products, the Second Edition of ALONe will also be produced, and the hope is to acquire beautiful art for both versions, and see them both eventually get a full layout treatment! Please direct any questions or comments to me, Nathan Rockwood, at LarcenousDesigns@gmail.com.

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Reviews (3)
Discussions (13)
Customer avatar
Benny B October 12, 2022 10:09 am UTC
Hey, what's the status of this now? And will there be a printed option?
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Customer avatar
Nathan R October 12, 2022 11:03 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hello!
I’m currently fulfilling the Kickstarter for my Cyberpunk deck of the GameMaster’s Apprentice cards, which is also a revision to the cards significant enough that it will impact at least some of the details of ALONe. Because of that I’m finishing up the cards before I push ALONe any further; I expect to have the major changes sorted out by spring 2023.
The big question then becomes whether I wrap ALONe up mostly as-is, only editing it to accommodate the changes to the cards, or if I implement a few bigger changes that are more fundamental. I’ll be finishing a 1-page version with those changes as a preview first, so if you keep an eye out for emails about updates (if you allow my emails from DriveThru), you can see what I mean and give feedback at that point.
As for a printed option, I do think I’d like to get there eventually, but ALONe has always been essentially a formalized collection of notes on how I test the GMA cards, and so the level of flux over the years has made that...See more
Customer avatar
Craig W November 17, 2021 5:00 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I have a question about difficulties and setting the odds. I may be misunderstang something. So let's say I am in a car chase. my character has the descriptors "Amazing Reflexes" and " Stunt Driver".

Now, as I understand it, I start with one "negative" point to represent the challenge, then add my 2 positive descriptors, since they can both apply in this situation. So that's one negative and two positive, giving me "Even Odds".

This seems a bit strange. In essence, unless all 3 of my character's descriptors can be applied to a task, the best I can hope for is a 50/50 chance of success.

Is that correct?

Also, are there any updates in the works?
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Customer avatar
Nathan R November 17, 2021 9:11 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Good question—I set it that way because otherwise I found I nearly always had Good Odds (since of course I tried to stack the deck in my favor and use Descriptors that combined well). It means you basically need one environmental or situational thing to tip the scales a little more…

That said, if you want to do what I have definitely been considering in my one-pager version, I would say revise that to the much, much simpler-to-understand rule: equal good vs bad Descriptors means you use Even Odds, and otherwise you use Good or Bad Odds to favor the side with the greater number.

The scales tip more, but… is that actually a bad thing? I no longer think the difference is worth the headache of what I originally wrote :-)

And I am wanting to publish an update and finalize this at long last, but the pandemic really took the wind out of my sails, creatively speaking. I have been sitting on some great news for months now because I lack the time/energy/spoons to make announcements...See more
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Customer avatar
Craig W November 17, 2021 11:03 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks for the response. Good luck getting some momentum going. I know what it's like to have those moments of reduced creativity and desire.

How about something like this:

If you are unsure, have no relevant Descriptors, or have an equal amount of Good /Bad Descriptors, use Even Odds.

If you have 1 or 2 relevant Descriptors, use Good /Bad odds, but with Yes/ No responses read as Yes But/ No But. Maybe even potentially "downgrade" the results of Yes!/No! to a regular Yes/No

With three or more Descriptors in one direction, use Good /Bad and read results as normal.

Thoughts?
Customer avatar
Justin L January 12, 2021 5:08 am UTC
PURCHASER
Have you considered using a separate pool to buy lasting descriptors and only using revisions for temporary narrative influence? I find myself uncomfortable using revisions for redraws or temporary descriptors, when I know that I can gain lasting character advancement for just 1 more revision.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R January 13, 2021 10:06 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I definitely have considered something like that; I was just more focused on not having more out-of-game resources to track. That said, I also have been struggling with the issue you bring up, and am looking at a couple of possible revisions, including just making Descriptors a reward by themselves--so you don't 'purchase' them with Revision Points, you just earn them at milestones in the story.
Customer avatar
James B December 20, 2020 5:36 am UTC
PURCHASER
Is there any word on when there is going to be some sort of finished or at least somewhat polished layout done? I really like this system, but the current layout is a real pain to reference and use.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R December 20, 2020 5:48 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Heya!
I’m afraid 2020 made it really difficult for me to focus on this, but I am currently in hopes of getting it into a better shape within a year. I actually want to start by writing a 1-page version to make it more accessible, and then go from there.
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Customer avatar
Patrick B October 22, 2021 5:51 pm UTC
PURCHASER
How is this project coming along? Coming up pretty soon on the year mentioned in this message now.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R October 23, 2021 6:46 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for checking in :-)
Things have been improving, but the whole of last school year was a nightmare, and this year is better but also complicated by the fact that so many teachers quit and there are even fewer subs/more teachers out daily than usual, so my day job has not necessarily let up any in terms of demands on my time.
That said, I *did* make progress on the whole GMA/ALONe product line, so I'm hoping to have a social media post up about that soon, and even have more content out, in December of this year (2021).
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Customer avatar
James B November 07, 2021 10:50 pm UTC
PURCHASER
That's good to hear. I can't wait to see what you've come up with.
Customer avatar
Damien F April 12, 2020 7:45 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hello Nathan, I intend to pay the price of your product to help supporting its development, but I'm wondering if I'll have a free access to the final product when it's finished ? Cheers
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Customer avatar
Nathan R April 12, 2020 7:59 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks so much! And yes, anyone who downloads/buys this as a beta will always have access to a free pdf version. I may add a paid print on demand option, depending, but that will have the same content!
Customer avatar
Nick B April 08, 2020 2:45 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi Nathan! I recently purchased GMA for Sci-fi. I'm still tinkering with it. I created a character in Traveller and with the cards she ented up in prison for six months right out of her career in Skyport. Hilarious! I'm interested in ALONe, how close are you to wrapping up the Beta version?
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Customer avatar
Nathan R April 08, 2020 7:32 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hah--I'm glad the setup made for an interesting story :-)

The Beta is just about done. The most recent (v4) update is, I think, feature-complete, and now I am working on editing and getting a layout artist involved. I *might* add some more special case/genre specific rules and suggestions, but those wouldn't change the content already in it.
Customer avatar
Felix M September 11, 2019 5:22 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Although this is developed specifically for solo play, I do not see a reason why this would not work as a coopGMless game. Is that true?
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Customer avatar
Nathan R September 14, 2019 1:19 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Sorry for the delayed response—Yes, it definitely can be used for a cooperative group game with no true GM. You can work as a collective to interpret the cards, or take turns running the engine as a sort of pseudo-GM, or whatever you agree to! As long as everyone is on the same page about what fits the game, it works well!
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Customer avatar
Felix M September 15, 2019 2:57 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi, Nathan. Thanks for the response. I meant playing with more than one character. I think your game (and card decks) would go to the next level if they were advertised as a GMless system, rather than just a solo game. From what I can see so far, there is nothing preventing running two or more characters, but it would be good to have the rules say so and perhaps make some accommodations in the game flow for more than one player.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R September 16, 2019 12:45 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Gotcha! I definitely agree, and also do have some more commentary about running multiple characters in the next iteration!
Customer avatar
Felix M September 08, 2019 4:10 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Curious about when do you reshuffle cards back into the deck. Intuitively I would think that you need to reshuffle the dean cards immediately, sine you do not want to affect the odds, like the bell curve, by removing cards.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R September 09, 2019 10:20 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I suggest shuffling after every three or so draws, if you draw and leave them separate, but I tend to hold the deck in my hands while playing, and idly cut the deck, flip cards, and shuffle while I think. Instead of drawing cards, most of the time I just randomly cut the deck, look at one exposed card, and then go back to idly shuffling.
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Customer avatar
Felix M September 11, 2019 5:24 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks, Nathan. I would recommend adding this to the book in the next iteration. With my board gamer background, this is what I look for when manipulating a deck of cards. Very interesting system! Looking forward to getting a deck and giving it a try!
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Customer avatar
Nathan R September 14, 2019 1:16 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for the suggestion; I may just do that!
Customer avatar
De E January 02, 2018 5:19 am UTC
PURCHASER
Is this project no longer being updated? Thanks in advance.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R January 02, 2018 10:35 am UTC
PUBLISHER
It’s actually getting close to being my next project for completion! Having KickStarted and released the Fantasy Deck Of GMA cards, I’m shifting gears to work on a hopefully-final draft of ALONe. If you have any feedback, please email it to me at LarcenousDesigns@gmail.com!
Customer avatar
Wendy G April 14, 2017 8:48 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Absolutely amazing! I absolutely love everything and this has greatly reduced my GM stress AND given me something to play by myself. When everything has to come from one person, I love getting ideas from something besides myself. It opens up so many stories and is not too open ended or too exact.

One thing though... I noticed this only comes with half the cards, is there somewhere I can buy all the cards?
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Customer avatar
Nathan R April 14, 2017 9:17 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks! I'm really happy to hear the system works well for you :-)

The full Base Deck of GameMaster's Apprentice cards (and all the genre decks--sci-fi, horror, etc) can be found in my store here on Drivethru: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/6395/Larcenous-Designs-LLC
Customer avatar
Max E July 01, 2016 1:43 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Great

I'm very interested in the final product.
Customer avatar
Guntis V February 06, 2016 9:06 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Looks very promising!
I like so much info packed on a single card. Great. Will tell about these everybody around.
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Customer avatar
Nathan R February 07, 2016 2:06 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you; I hope the cards (and ALONe) work well for you!
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Customer avatar
Guntis V June 06, 2016 7:09 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Had first play session with my daughter, after a bit playing by myself. I like it! Really, I believe this game has a great potential. However, I also believe it's best audience is outside our current geek folks: those who are somewhat repelled by mainstream sword, magic and laser sabers/guns mayhem. :)

And it means, that I'd write a book a bit different - easier to digest, avoiding insider jargon, so that a first-timer could understand it easily.

That said, I nonetheless maintain that ALONe is a really fun game. Both playing in a group, and alone. Especially alone - I prefer this one to some three other solo games I've tried yet.

And I really wish you, Nathaniel, to get nice illustrations for this book. It deserves to be very beautiful. As much as it is fun.
Customer avatar
Will J December 14, 2015 7:34 am UTC
PURCHASER
This is a deifferent type of croud funding (aka Kickstarter) campaign, very innovative. :-)
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Customer avatar
Nathan R December 16, 2015 12:07 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks, though this is more like an accidental bonus from my GameMaster's Apprentice kickstarter than a separate crowdfunding project. I used this system to test out each new deck while drafting them, so I thought I'd see if anyone else likes it enough to help me polish it up :-)
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Product Information
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84
Publisher Stock #
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File Last Updated:
October 01, 2023
This title was added to our catalog on December 13, 2015.