⚔️ Solo RPGs Kal-Arath and Substratum Protocol
Also Vaesen's solo rules, the Advent of Abomination, and a Schuppel of Chlaüse
Welcome to The Soloist, a newsletter about solo and co-op tabletop RPGs. You can read previous issues here. Subscribe free to get new issues delivered directly to your inbox.
1. Solo Sword and Sorcery, Kal-Arath
Kal-Arath by Castle Grief is the first book in a planned series designed for solo or co-op play with no prep work. Inspired by games like Barbaric!, Mork Borg, and Black Sword Hack, it has flexible and simple rules, using just six-sided dice. The dark sword and sorcery setting is a fun mix of forbidden cities, martial arts monks, pteranodons, and high-stakes pit fights.
Creation process: The game was initially created in analog with hand-drawn elements in sketchbooks. Castle Grief said the digital transition was a significant step, handled with the help of a layout specialist.
Getting started: Castle Grief suggests beginners follow a procedural loop, utilizing the game's tables and oracle for an evolving setting. Emphasizing the game's dangerous nature, they advise players roll reactions consistently and focus on forming alliances.
The self-contained 56-page booklet includes oracles, starting adventure seeds, points of interest, encounters, settlements, NPCs, dungeons, and more.
Kal-Arath is available on itchio.
2. The Substratum Protocol
The studio behind the duet RPG Badger & Coyote,Pandion Games, has launched a Backerkit campaign for their next TTRPG which has players playing top scientists heading deep into the Earth to close a mysterious portal.
Science heroes: The game’s designer, Andy Boyd said “Substratum Protocol is our take on deep exploration mysteries like Subnautica and In Other Waters. Like those games, it focuses on the efforts of daring scientists, not soldiers.”
Substratum is a self-contained story with dozens of clues to discover, environments to explore, creatures to encounter, and questions to answer.
Mystery mechanics: Andy said he’s most excited about the game’s mystery system that includes a player-initiated endgame trigger called The Last Hypothesis, as well as the stress mechanics that give players new powers at a cost by succumbing to the portal's influences.
Solo-friendly: Substratum is built for multiplayer mysteries but includes a deep solo mode where you become the expedition leader.
Get more information at Substratum’s Backerkit page.
3. More Solo Releases
🐎 The Solo Thursday’s Child
The acclaimed tabletop RPG Vaesen, set in a mythic version of 19th-century Scandinavia, now offers a solo rule set. Normally, Vaesen is played with ready-made Mysteries that establish the truth which players try to uncover. In solo play, a system is used where you gradually discover what kind of vaesen is behind a mystery. To play solo you need the Vaesen core rulebook and a standard deck of playing cards. The Solo Thursday’s Child is available on DriveThruRPG.
🎄 Advent Of Abomination
This unique solo folk horror TTRPG is an advent calendar. Players open a door each day to discover journaling prompts, leading their character towards a doomed Christmas day. Set in a remote cabin, the player spends the holiday alone, initially enjoying the solitude. The story turns ominous as an inhuman presence emerges. The game offers both physical and digital play options: a print-ready file for crafting a physical advent calendar with cut-out doors, and a bookmarked PDF for a spoiler-free virtual advent calendar experience. Advent Of Abomination is available on itchio.
😴 // electric sheep //
This solo journaling game guides you through eight steps, each with tables and random prompts, to create a dream. // electric sheep // plays with identity and you’re never really sure who you are and whether you’re awake or dreaming. You can play with either the elegant 16-page book that’s formatted to look like computer code or through an audio recording. // electric sheep // is available on itchio.
4. 🎲 Last Roll
A Schuppel of Chlaüse
I loved this story from my alma mater, Beloit College, about an alumnus who brought home an ancient Swiss New Year’s tradition following a trip. During Silvesterchlausen, costumed Chlaüse wander in groups, ringing bells and yodeling, receiving mulled wine from locals. Keep an eye out during your travels and museum visits — you never know what cool traditions you'll find to spice up your next game!
Talk of the Table talks to Jeff Stormer
Two of my favorite podcasts recently collided when Brian Flaherty of Talk of the Table chatted with Party of One’s Jeff Stormer. Jeff has played hundreds of RPGs and in the interview, recommends a number of games including his favorite: World Wide Wrestling! Brian and Jeff are always fun to listen to, especially when they share their love of RomComs.
See you at PAX Unplugged!
I am at PAX: Unplugged this week and would love to meet up with creators and readers of The Soloist. Leave a comment here or DM me on X. See you there!
Great write-up, just wanted to mention that myself and Castle Grief are doing Actual-Plays of Kal-Arath in our Notes. Here's mine: https://substack.com/@playingwithmyself/note/c-44345533?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1n8czw
and here's his: https://substack.com/@castlegrief/note/c-44368566?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1n8czw
It's a very fun game!
I rarely comment, but just wanted to let you know how much a enjoy your newsletter. It is super helpful and has really helped me to become more immersed in my solo game. Thanks!