TTRPG Thoughts: A Torch in the Dark

A Torch in the Dark is a solo TTRPG by Michael Elliott with a focus on fantasy dungeon crawling. One plays as a survivor of the Peoples’ Revolution, a person who is haunted by the ghost of the mother of that revolution as they attempt to silence the unquiet spirits of the slain nobility through a series of nine subterranean dungeons. The mechanics are described as a “stream-lined” version of John Harper’s Blades in the Dark, and are here optimized for a single player, GM-less experience. This game doesn’t have the journaling aspect that I’m often drawn to in solo TTRPGs, but since Elliott cites one of my favorite video games as inspiration (Darkest Dungeon by Red Hook Studios) I couldn’t not play it.

TTRPG Thoughts: The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe is a solo journaling TTRPG created by Ella Lim. The game was originally published in English, but German, Italian, and French translations have been added as well! And you know what makes me really happy? …A dyslexia-friendly version is already in the works! That’s so great! (If you’ve been following my reviews at all, y’all know that I am very keen on dyslexia-friendly game design).

TTRPG Thoughts: Ebb Tide

Ebb Tide is a solo journaling TTRPG by Stephen Kohler that uses the Wretched & Alone system inspired by the creations of Chris Bisette. In a nutshell, the game focuses on the single survivor of a shipwide massacre who finds themself in far too close of contact with the eldritch being that has awoken from its slumber and is rising from the ocean’s floor. There is no way forward but through one’s own madness, and very little hope of survival.

I made a mistake in choosing to start this game at two o’clock in the morning.

TTRPG Thoughts: Goblin Market

Goblin Market is a journaling RPG created by Eliot Silvarian. It requires no GM and can be played solo or (as Eliot recommends) with 1-4 players. This game was inspired by the poem of the same name by Christina Rossetti, as well as the creations of the early twentieth century British illustrator known as Arthur Rackham. I admit, I was initially attracted to this game because I saw the illustration on the cover of the PDF and thought, “Wait, is that Rackham?” and went in for a closer look. I was immediately hooked!

TTRPG Thoughts: Anamnesis

Anamnesis is a solo journaling game by Sam Leigh of Blinking Birch Games that uses the symbolism of a deck of Tarot cards to fill in the blanks of an amnesiac character’s missing memories, and to provide guidance for how they cope with their memory loss. It’s a highly introspective game that encourages reflection and contemplation.

TTRPG Thoughts: Her Odyssey

Her Odyssey is a solo journaling TTRPG that uses the Caltrop Core system developed by Titanomachy. The game was created by Kaiya and is free to download and play. In Her Odyssey, you play as a wanderer who is going on a journey—the wheres, whys, and hows of that journey are up to you—and whom you must flesh out into a unique character.

Apothecaria Playthrough 1

So, I mentioned in my post about Apothecaria that I was going to write out my first week of playing through the game, written as though in my character’s journal. I really enjoyed this as a writing exercise, since I haven’t done any story-form creative writing in… well, it feels like forever. I ended up writing 1,000-ish words on Day One of playing the game, and then slammed through another 3,000 words on Day Two to finish up my character’s first week as the witch of High Rannoc. I don’t think anyone is interested in reading about my character’s downtime activities in the village or initial investigation of the old witch’s cottage, so I chopped out those sections; what you’ll find under the cut is my character’s arrival in High Rannoc + their first foraging adventure.

Please enjoy your stay in my imagining of the world of Apothecaria!

TTRPG Thoughts: Apothecaria

Apothecaria is a solo journaling TTRPG written by Anna Blackwell and released in 2021, and after playing it I’d describe it as a mashup of Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) and ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley. Anna has also created other solo TTRPG games such as Delve, RISE, and Umbra, which I am eager to pick up once my paycheck comes in—find them on itch.io!

I initially balked at purchasing Apothecaria for myself, since this was my first time actually buying a TTRPG on itch.io and I wasn’t sure that it would be money well spent, but the promises of herbcraft and foraging sang their siren songs to me… and I’m glad I gave in! Apothecaria manages to pack a lot of information into its 60-page PDF, and is much more than just a simple potion-making game; there’s the mystery of the former local witch (who has gone missing, and whose cottage and job your character has inherited), the social events within the village of High Rannoc, and all of the adventures that your character undergoes while foraging for potion ingredients. I had a lot of fun playing!

TTRPG Thoughts: One Day at a Thyme

One Day at a Thyme is a solo journaling TTRPG focusing on the small joys of everyday life. It’s chock full of cottagecore goodness and is incredibly whimsical and wholesome.

TTRPG Thoughts: Nor Gloom of Night

Nor Gloom of Night is a solo journaling TTRPG about delivering mail in the aftermath of the apocalypse. (And before you ask, no, this rambling review wasn’t sponsored by Kevin Costner). This game was created for the 2021 “Wish You Were Here: A Postcard Jam” event, and the rules are concise enough to be written on both sides of a postcard.

I wasn’t as blown away by Nor Gloom of Night as I was by my first solo TTRPG, Last Tea Shop (read my thoughts on Last Tea Shop here), but I still had a good time with this game! It just took a while for me to truly enjoy it.