On the topic of ‘Solo TTRPG Play’

Imagination is the only toy you’ll use every time.

I was recently involved in a conversation with a fellow TTRPG aficionado and the subject of solo RPG play was broached.

They were scornfully dismissive of the practice, likening it to, if I may refine their language a bit, pseudo-intellectual onanism. I forged on in defense of the concept, mentioning several major TTRPGs specific, successful products, and the oft-maligned but ubiquitous ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ book format. They doubled down on the shit-talking.

So I simply asked “So, you’ve never played any video game in ‘story mode’, by yourself, then?”

Gobsmacked silence for a full minute.

It’s the smallest victory, but I figured I’d benchmark it.