Always Player One: A Solo Board Gaming Podcast

In this episode Norm & Scruffy are joined once more by Kendall McKenzie to count down the top 5 solo games as chosen by our listeners. This top 5 list was made based on votes from our listeners over on our Discord server.  Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/xdPzSAG Contact us:  email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com  Reddit: always_player_one Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Scruffy, Norm and Kendall's Ironsworn playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRq-QDcz6Iw&t=7650s

In this episode we take a deep dive into The Wars of Marcus Aurelius, a game that has Norm and Scruffy completely divided. Listen as one host tears down the game while the other builds it back up. Where will you land with it? Are you more of a Scruffy or a Norm in this instance? Important update: in this episode we refer to Amabel Holland by an incorrect name, this was an honest mistake as we were not aware she had changed her name. We meant no offence and hope this does not upset anyone. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/alwaysplayerone Join the discord: https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU Contact us: email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast Reddit: Always_player_one Aeon's End campaign: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/218565/graveholds-last-stand-fan-created-campaign-two-mag Tabletop Simulator tutorial series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA16SF2eexlUtH2AM4V8VF9rDpekW2uYA

In this episode Scruffy and Norm take a deep dive into One Deck Dungeon and its standalone expansion One Deck Dungeon: Forest of Shadows. Together they unpack the mechanisms and try their best to work out exactly why this game is just as fun to lose as it is to win.    Timestamps:  00:03:54 description ends  01:06:30 Listener questions Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast  Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/alwaysplayerone  Join the discord:  https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU  Contact us:   email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast   Reddit: Always_player_one

Intro and announcements - 0:00:00 Description - 0:04:00 Main Episode - 0:06:22 Listener Questions- 1:21 In this episode Scruffy and Norm take a deep dive into one of their favourite multiplayer RPGs; Blades in the Dark. Together they share their thoughts on what about the game works well solo, what needed help from external sources and what didn't work well solo. This episode is focused on the pair putting into practice all they've learned about solo RPGs in order to make this multiplayer game play solo.  This episode was inspired by what we learned from Deborah of Geek Gamers during episode 26, so be sure to check that out as well as her excellent YouTube channel.  Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/alwaysplayerone Join the discord:  https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU Contact us:  email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast  Reddit: Always_player_one

In this episode Scruffy and Norm dive into The Ming Voyages, together they share their thoughts on the AI, the output random elements and the decisions the game asks you to make. Scruffy then takes this a step further presenting his own piece of game theory "The Gamer's Dilemma" and how that helps explain the unique decision space The Ming Voyages is able to cultivate through a blend of open and closed information.  Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/alwaysplayerone Join the discord:  https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU Contact us:  email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast  Reddit: Always_player_one Check out our interview on episode 209 of the 1 Player Podcast: https://1playerpodcast.com/

In this episode we look at the soloable roleplaying system Scarlet Heroes. We are joined by Deborah from Geek Gamers who helps frame the discussion with her informative understanding of solo rpgs in general as well as distinguishing between different types of resources necessary for being your own GM. We cover the three different ways to play Scarlet Heroes solo and some of the distinguishing features of the playstyles on offer here and ask whether Scarlet Heroes would be good for a new player to solo RPGs. Inevitable we bring in some comparisons to our experience with Ironsworn and open up to a conversation about the different approaches to solo roleplaying in general. A massive thank you again to Deborah for joining us and be sure to check out here channel if you want some helpful tips for your games, links below. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/alwaysplayerone Join the discord: https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU Contact us: email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast Reddit: Always_player_one Check out Deborah's channel: www.youtube.com/c/GeekGamers01

In this episode we are joined by Kendall McKenzie (Rollway Station designer) to unpack the randomness in Mage Knight. Mage Knight has a very healthy dose of randomness and yet is considered a game with a high skill ceiling, we look to unpack that sophisticated use of randomness as well as addressing the criticism sometimes thrown around that "Mage Knight is too lucky to be a strategy game." We unpack the different types of randomness, how they can sometimes feel, what agency the players have over the randomness and the value we attribute to words like "strategy, tactics and luck" and ask is any of this value misplaced?  Is Mage Knight even a strategy game to begin with? Why does any of this even matter? Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast  Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/alwaysplayerone  Join the discord:  https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU  Contact us:   email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast   Reddit: Always_player_one   Links to the mentioned Keith Burgun articles: https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/KeithBurgun/20141015/227740/Randomness_and_Game_Design.php http://keithburgun.net/three-types-of-bad-randomness-and-one-good-one/

In this episode Scruffy and Norm are joined by Shawn Tomkin, designer of Ironsworn, to discuss the upcoming sci-fi sequel Ironsworn: Starforged. Both Scruffy and Norm have been playing Starforged using playtest files and in this special episode they look to unpack the differences from Ironsworn and hope to give you an idea of what makes this sequel special. Shawn shares his thoughts on the game's design, his inspiration behind his choices and gives some tantalizing info on what we can expect from the Starforged Kickstarter. Listener question:  What is your favourite sequel to a solo game?   Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast  Join the Discord:  https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU Contact us:   email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523  Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast   Reddit: Always_player_one  Contact Shawn:   Twitter: @ShawnTomkin  Download Ironsworn: https://www.ironswornrpg.com/  Get notified when the Starforged Kickstarter goes live: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shawntomkin/ironsworn-starforged?fbclid=IwAR3pkAl6ijoZLe2_JHOS4iu5Wuwj_ayxlZ-KnFnQLaqts7Hlw6XJ90oqrCI  Check out Shawn's podcast: https://ironsworn.podbean.com/  Join the Ironsworn Discord: https://discord.gg/39ftynhehj  During the show Norm mentioned Me, Myself and Die. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtiBzkVoYrugJkrpW7_75Ag 

Game Description end at 8.09 In this episode Scruffy and Kendall talk about one of their favourite games to play together, Clans of Caledonia. They look at the three ways to play Clans solo, focusing mainly on the solo mode in the rulebook and the fan made automa.  Throughout they try to pin down what makes the game work so well for them solo, diving into topics of intrinsic vs extrinsic reward and what is left in place of your opponent when you take them away for a solo experience. See if you can spot Scruffy calling whiskey ale at one point in the episode… Silly goose! Listener question:  What is your favourite win condition in a solo game? Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast Join the discord: https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU Contact us: email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast Reddit: Always_player_one Other Links: The Cardboard Herald’s Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlElaEpecEw Fanmade Automa by Christopher Park-Thomas: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/160667/clans-caledonia-automa Semi Official Automa:  https://cocautoma.github.io/# New podcast from Peter Lovelace: https://www.stitcher.com/show/einzelspiel-ein-podcast-uber-solo-brettspiele

In this episode Norm and Scruffy take a look back at the earlier episodes of their podcast, from it’s humble beginnings to some of their favourite episodes. They also discuss some stand out play sessions in 2020 and open up to considering what makes Always Player One so special for them. And Norm surprises everyone with an end of the year list of the top 3 listener choice games for 2020, based on our discord. Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast Join the discord:  https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU Listener Question: What has been your favourite solo gaming session of 2020 and what made it special? Contact us: email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast Reddit: Always_player_one

Description of game ends: 5.16 In this episode Norm and Scruffy look at the very popular survival game Robinson Crusoe and weigh in on how the game handles both thematic immersion and puzzly mechanics. Have fun listening to Scruffy struggle to make his up his mind on exactly where Robinson Crusoe succeeds and fails as a design.   Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast  Join the discord:  https://discord.gg/DhUpgX2HmU  Listener Question: What game for you is almost perfect? A game you like playing, a game that is almost fantastic but one thing stops it being top tier. What is that game and what is the small part that lets it down?  Contact us:   email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast   Reddit: Always_player_one

In this episode Scruffy and Norm discuss Marvel Champions The Card Game and share their thoughts on how this compares to other CCGs and LCGs they have played in the past. They also re-visit multihanding solo games, something they haven't always got on with. A couple of other talking points are ones of theming, prejudice towards certain types of games and saying yes to more new experiences.  5.02 Description starts 8.10 Main topic starts Support the show:  https://www.patreon.com/alwaysplayeronepodcast Join our Discord:  https://discord.gg/xdPzSAG Listener question:  What is a game that has surprised you the most? A game you thought you wouldn't enjoy but ended up loving. Maybe it even got you interested in a whole genre you didn't expect to get into! Links:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Always-Player-One-113123647053523 Instagram: @alwaysplayeronepodcast  Reddit: always_player_one  email: alwaysplayeronepodcast@gmail.com Play Marvel Champions on TTS: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2221974126&searchtext=marvel+champions