single-player dnd one shots?

[sillybug]

has anyone tried any single-player dnd one shots? i don't know anyone around me who is into dnd and as much as i prefer the roleplay aspect of it, i just really want to play dnd more and my only option really is single player one shots. i know of some two-player ones, but does anyone have any suggestions or even other ttrpgs i can play alone that don't take too much equipment or time? i have a bunch of dice, the players handbook and dungeon masters guide.

even a choose your own adventure booklet! i've tried to make one for myself, but it kind of defeats the purpose when i know the ending hehe!

i know of dnd games online, but there's a huge amount of fear to get over with that, so i would rather just do this for now!

[Bart]

Ooh, that's an interesting question! Let me think, as D&D is (obviously) made as a multi-player game, so we'll have to get creative.

The most obvious solution would be Baldur's Gate 3. It's a really fun game, very much based on 5E, and you can play it without going online, so maybe that's less fear-inducing for you.

This game springs to mind as well: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/311715/mini-rogue

I *think* you can get away with one-shots that are for multiple people too though. You can play all the characters, and maybe prepare the enemies to follow certain patterns so you don't hold back punches maybe?
But what are you looking for in that one-shot? Role-playing multiple characters? A story you don't know what will happen? Combat? Something else?

[sillybug]

@Bart thank you for your reply!!

I really want to play Baldur's Gate 3, but I can't justify the price and don't have a console new enough to get it 😔

that mini rogue game sounds fun!! i will look into that one, thank you!

that's actually a good idea, i didn't think of playing all the characters in a multiplayer one! i might look into two player ones then and that way it's less confusing hehe

i like the role-playing in dnd and just being your character, like making decisions as someone else, and having a world to explore i'm not super into the combat aspect. i have seen this one called 'slow quest': https://www.slowquest.com i've followed their ttrpg designs for a while and they do a pick your own path booklet but i worry they're a bit too short and don't have the whole dnd roleplaying and big world aspect to them. 

i feel like it's probably best i just learn to be less scared and try online dnd games lol, i think i'm asking too much and for something that may not exist😂

[Bart]

Baldur's Gate is a great game! But I must admit that I didn't buy it either, I can play it due to steam family link 😛

If you mostly like the roleplaying, there are other options as well. You can do an async-RP with someone online (there are forums and discord servers for that I think), but if that's too scary you could also use an LLM to do that for you. They can be pretty good in roleplaying, if you can setup the world correctly.

Slowquest looks fun!

Oh! Maybe you can find someone who likes these things too, and you could write single-person adventures for each other maybe. Just thinking aloud here.

And don't kick yourself too hard that you 'should be less scared'. Yes, it's good to try things out, even if it feels a bit scary, but sometimes it's just too much, so don't push yourself too hard.

[DaddyUmbreon]

Those are some good ideas. I’ve played Baldur’s Gate 3. It was a birthday gift and it is quite fun. Definitely a lot of replay value with the many different dialogues and way that you could go with the various characters and play styles.
There is a fairly good lineage of games that have preceded it. There’s Baldur's Gate 2, Planescape Torment, Fallout 1 through 4 and New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity 2, Dragon Age 1 through 3, Mass Effect 1 through 3, and Neverwinter Nights. While they may not all use the same game mechanics, they are all very well story driven. 
With all the new advances in technology, there are a lot more resources online. You could see about using ChatGPT or some other AI system to create a campaign or DM for you. I have seen some people using it to creat stuff for themselves and others. You can also find Random Encounter generators or lists. 
If you want to expand your library, you could also look at purchasing some of the already established and published D&D Campaign Books. Dragonlance, Out of the Deep, Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus, and Ghosts of Saltmarsh…. Just to name a few, would be fun to go on. Though with the rise in popularity of D&D and tabletop these may be getting pricey again. 
An alternative is also searching for free D&D Campaigns or Solo D&D Campaigns. 
Take your time looking around. D&D is something I’ve dead in my heart for many years and something I used to do a lot in school. I hope all this helps you out. Take your time and have so much fun!

[sillybug]

@DaddyUmbreon

Thanks for your comment, but i think it is a really bad idea to recommend ai to people. it is theft and i will never use ai in my life if i have a choice. it is terrible for the planet, it is making people lazy and it steals artists work. 

 

[DaddyUmbreon]

@sillybug I can agree with you to a degree. AI is just a tool. It comes down to the application and use of the person that uses it. While AI is a faster process, people are still capable of stealing or plagiarizing other people’s works. There have been numerous technologies over time each stated with the same thing. The printing press. The camera. The computer. The smartphone. The internet. It has been recorded throughout history. Photoshop. Etc. All programming is only limited to the parameters that are set by the users and programmers and there are some programs that are set to only within the context you put. 

It’s understandable if you don’t want to use it. I myself rarely use AI. I merely was giving options. I respect your thoughts and opinions. It can be a source of good or bad for the planet. It can help to heal or foster laziness. As everything in life is, it can go either way.