One of my fave things about solo roleplaying (okay, and I guess it applies to TTRPG in general) is that it’s an excuse for me to immerse myself in culture—whether it’s my own (as a member of the global Filipino diaspora and also being part-Chinese), fantasy ones (like differences in interpretation of orcs lol), or global cultures (like Nordic influences in Ironsworn) or even different communities (like considerations of gender and appearance via Iron Valley).
Anyway, all that to say, I’m researching Philippine Hokkien (Fukien) which is basically the same as Taiwanese Hokkien—which is giving flashbacks to Chinese school when I was a kid, except no longer traumatic YAY 😀
As a multi-passionate individual, I have often beaten myself up for not being consistent. I’d ask myself "Why can’t I stick to this ONE thing? Everyone else says to be disciplined and consistent!" I would beat myself with a metaphoric hammer, angry that I was failing.
Then I heard someone say I was just riding the Hobby-go-round.
Suddenly, my changing passions weren’t ‘bad‘.
This was a whimsical aspect of being me. My hobbies were like the horses that you can ride on a carousel. Sometimes they just weren’t available. But eventually I can get on them again.
Looking at hobbies as a Hobby-go-round changed a couple things for me.
I wasn’t a bad person for having multiple hobbies and not keeping up with all of them all the time.
Hobbies can stay dormant for some time — even a long time — and that’s okay. The hobby horse can suddenly become available when the time is right.
Knowing that the hobby horses are only available to ride for an unknown amount of time, my job is to use my enthusiasm wisely.
Rules for riding a hobby horse
Know that this go-around on the Hobby-go-round will end. That is okay. Rides end. I can go again.
Knowing that the ride will end, plan to make your exit. This is a mindset shift.
Make it easy to get off the ride. Try not to make hasty plans that will upend my life because I am convinced I will be forever devoted to this hobby (seriously, don’t do it). Identify possible end points, so I feel like I’m making progress. These can be milestone-based or process-based.
Leave a record — What do I need to do to feel like I’ve spent my time with this hobby productively? Probably make something. Take notes, make art, dance—this gives me a positive memento from the time I spent on the hobby and also helps the hobby horse be available for another ride sooner.
Reflect on what the hobby is teaching me. Based on what I’m learning from the hobby right now, how might I be able to incorporate it in simple ways when I’m no longer obssessed with this hobby?
Reflect on my other hobbies. Based on other hobbies I’ve enjoyed before, what can I borrow and apply to this hobby?
Appreciate the time on the hobby horse. It won’t last forever. Enjoy!
If we go back to the metaphor, these rules are about safely riding the hobby horse and making the hobby horse more awesome and exciting to ride on next time. 💗
My current hobby horse is solo roleplaying, if you couldn’t tell.
So I’ve been making the most of my energy and interest. I’ve been looking at how this hobby relates to others, creating things out of joy (not obligation) and trying to apply restraint (no intense shopping sprees or signing up for year-long obligations). 💗 Maybe I’ll keep playing solo every day for the rest of my life, or maybe I’ll only play once a year when this phase ends. Who knows? Whatever may come, I will make the most of this time.
My hobbies come in cycles and fluctuation. And that’s okay.
This post is an article for the November round-up of IndieWeb Carnival. Every month, a member of the IndieWeb provides a topic for everyone to write a post on. This month, Alex wants us to reflect on cycles and fluctuations, which is exactly why I’m talking about the Hobby-go-round. 🥰
This Actual Play details a narrative-lite mechanics-heavy recounting of the free Test Adventure for Savage Worlds Dead Lands.
Somebody’s died. Magnolia Pines doesn’t mourn the dead and she’s no detective, but she’ll take money where she can get it. Armed with her trusty Colt Peacemakers, this cowboy
will settle the score.
Review
It turns out there are other Test Adventures available by Pinnacle Entertainment Group, so I’m a little annoyed that I picked the Wild West setting of all things! I think I would have enjoyed a different setting more, but I still enjoyed playing this.
The Savage Worlds’ Test Drive adventure leaves a lot to be desired, in terms of figuring out rules. There are a lot of things I needed to google to understand what I’m supposed to be doing. Personally, I think that even if the test adventure is for an expansion, the document should cover all the information a beginner will need to play—or at least tell you where to find it.
I found it both fun and annoying haha. 😂😅 But I can’t tell if I was just enjoying learning something new or if I was genuinely enjoying the mechanics? Having to do multiple google searches was frustrating though.
Although the adventure has a pretty cut-and-dry plot arc, in my opinion, I felt that I was still able to inject some creativity into it since for solo play I get to play the role of both GM and player. This felt designed for group play but was definitely solo-able for a newbie like me.
I might check out Savage Worlds again in the future…
Set the Scene
"It sure gets expensive trying to outrun the past, and I’m all outta money. I’m stuck in podunk Wyoming until my fortune changes.
Just my luck—ain’t I just the luckiest?—somebody’s died, and they need someone to figure out why.
Now I don’t know much about solving murder and all. But I know money.
I’ll figure it out… I always do.
Alright, this little lady’s gotta see a man about a corpse."
One Page Solo Engine (OPSE)
I initially used OPSE in Story Mode for recording my gameplay, including oracle and dice rolls. I then edited it in Obsidian because I realised I wanted to try using Solo RPG Notation.
Solo RPG Notation
The Solo RPG Notation sets out conventions for recording solo play. The idea is that it makes it easy to a) record b) share c) continue.
Location: Main, Crittenden Ranch
> Magnolia, to a heavyset Caucasian man with brown hair and a large cowboy hat: "How ya doing, sugar. I’m here about that little job. Name’s Magnolia Pines. Pleasure, I’m sure."
? 🔮 Pacing Move
-> [1] Foreshadow Trouble
-> There's more to this death than it seems.
Man: "Magnolia Pines, my oh my, pleasure to meet ya. I’m Heath Crittenden. I own this here ranch. Someone’s gone and killed one of my ranch hands. Hank—he was ace-high, and some son-of-a-gun went and killed him. Can’t be letting that slide. It eats into profits—lossa morale, if you know what I mean? If ya find out who did it, I’ll pay ya a cash reward."
> Magnolia: "Know anything that can help me, Mr Crittenden?"
Heath: "I reckon it’s them Utes. They’ve been casing my ranch for months. Don’t think it’d be the fellers from the Ghost Steel Gang. Thas fo’ sure. Ain’t no killers, those boys. Hmm. Wouldn’t be any of my boys that work here. Like I said, Heath was ace-high, good folk. Rest in peace."
> Magnolia: "Right. And the body?"
Heath: "He’s right here. Undertaker ain’t come to get ‘im yet."
> Magnolia: "I’ll come by to take-a look later. How much money we talking, by the way?"
Heath: "Aw shucks, Miss Magnolia. Ain’t right to count your chickens before they gone and hatched. Figure it out, and you’ll get your money. I’m good for it, swear."
> Magnolia: "It’s Ms Magnolia, Mr Crittenden. And alright, I know how it goes. Just don’t be spending my money."
Heath takes Magnolia where Hank’s corpse was discovered.
Location: Where Hank was found, Crittenden Ranch
> Magnolia checks for tracks
📑Rule: Skill / Trait check
In Savage Worlds, the value of your Skills and Traits depends on your roll. So you need to roll dice to check if actions are successful. This is usually a Skill or Trait die. For success, you want the dice roll to meet the target. Unless otherwise specified by mechanics, that’s usually 4.
Wild Cards (i.e. Player Characters and exceptional NPCs) also get to roll a Wild Card die (d6). If the Wild Die is higher than the Trait/Skill Die, then use that instead. Then apply modifiers. (Why is there a Wild Die? Because coolness means you get buffs and ‘Plot Armour’ haha.)
NPCs who aren’t Wild Cards are called Extras.
Since Magnolia doesn’t have the Survival trait (which was what the adventure suggested a GM get you to roll for), she rolls a d4.
If a character does not have the applicable skill for a check, then apply a -2 penalty to the result.
> Magnolia: "Idjits wrecked the tracks. Ain’t nothing here."
📑Oracle for Player Actions
Since the Test Adventure was set-up for a GM, it contained spoilers (understandable!). I can’t un-know the information in the adventure, so I let the oracle decide if Magnolia will do the ‘right’ thing.
Yes/No (Even)
? 🔮 Checks the other side of the fence for tracks?
->[6,4] Yes
> Magnolia (Thinking): Huh. No sign of pony tracks anywhere. Ain’t the Utes then. But they might know something anyhow.
? 🔮 Pacing Move
-> [3] An NPC Takes Action
Heath hands over a map with directions to Utes’ war camp
> Magnolia goes to see the Utes
Location: Utes’ War Camp
> Magnolia: "Howdy, gentlemen, if ya don’t mind, I need help with something"
How Much
? 🔮 How receptive are the Utes to Magnolia and her questions?
-> [3] About average
The Utes explain why they’re in the area and confirm they aren’t involved. They’re searching for a shunka warak’in (whatever that is).
> Magnolia: "Y’all want some help with that?"
💭Why did I ask?
I thought it would be cool to add more to the adventure and possibly come back this scenario later.
Yes/No (Unlikely)
? 🔮 Do they want help with shunka warak'in?
-> [5,6] Yes and...
-> Roll for plot hook
? 🔮 Plot Hook
-> Objective: [3] Recover something valuable
-> Adversaries: [6] A new or recurring villain
-> Rewards: [1] Money or valuables
-> Chipeta wants help looking for a holy relic to help with the creature.
-> Reward: loyalty of the Utes.
-> Lead: Ghost Steel Gang.
> Magnolia: "Tell ya what. I’ll be back. I reckon I can help y’all. Just got a little murder to solve, ya know. A lady’s gotta keep busy."
Location: Exploring
Yes/No (Even)
? Any Gang members around?
-> [5,5] Yes
> Magnolia: "Hey there, I got something to ask, if you had the time?"
d: 🎲 Persuasion 1d4[3] or Wild Die 1d6[3]) vs 4: Success
Yes/No (Even)
? 🔮 Does he know anything about the murder and/or relic?
-> No (I lost the dice roll...)
Gang Member: "Sorry, Miss. I ain’t know nothin’ ’bout anythin’. I’d help ya if I could."
Magnolia: "That’s okay, sugar. Maybe next time." (Winks)
> Magnolia goes back to the ranch
Location: Main, Crittenden Ranch
Yes/No (Even)
? 🔮 Is everything as expected?
-> [1,2] No
Detail Focus
? 🔮 What is unexpected?
-> [4D] Old (technical)
-> The barbed wire fencing is gone
d: 🎲 Notice 1d6[2] | Wild Die 1d6[4]
=> Success.
> Magnolia notices there’s something weird about the barbed wire fencing. But she doesn’t know what.
> Magnolia goes to see Hank’s body
d: 🎲 Notice 1d6[2] or Wild 1d6[2]
=> Fail
> Magnolia examines the body and sees the wounds. She assumes they’re small bullet holes and doesn’t notice anything strange about them.
Ranch Hand (Screaming from outside): "HELP! It’s got into the beeves! They’re killin’ ever’body!"
> Magnolia runs outside: "Show me!"
Ranch Hand: "Ain’t no way I’m going back! They’re just over yonder!"
⚠️ERROR IN GAMEPLAY
I misunderstood the rules and thought I was supposed to add a Trait roll to a Skill roll for some reason. That’s wrong. It’s Skill Roll or Trait Roll.
Because of this mistake, I applied a Raise rule, which means ‘better thing happens’. This meant that I applied the following result:
=> Unnamed ranch hand is scared into tagging along, ropes in another ranch hand.
The correct result is written below, but I can’t edit out my mistake because of the impact on combat. Luckily, only one of the two ranch hands from this check ended up staying—so it kinda works out?
d: 🎲 Intimidate 1d6[5] or Wild Die 1d6[3]) vs 4
=> Success.
=> Unnamed ranch hand is scared into tagging along.
> Magnolia and the other two climb the hill: "Let’s get movin’, fellas."
They see that there are 5 steer (now Blood Steer) who look… off. They are covered in barbed wire, and the strands seem to have a life of their own. One steer is extra large and has one broken horn. There are three ranch hands running frantically, trying to get away from the advancing livestock. They are way ahead, but the Blood Steer have a faster pace…
Blood Steer
The Steer have been infected with bloodwire. Magnolia does not know what that is, but she knows she should kill what she thinks are rabies-infected animals.
> Magnolia (to the ranch hands): "Can you two fellas fight?"
Yes/No (Likely)
? 🔮 Does Unnamed Ranch Hand have a gun?
[2,6] No and...
He has no weapons at all.
> Magnolia (Disbelieving): "What kinda cowboy don’t got no gun? Get outta here."
The ranch hand abruptly turns tail, running away from the steer.
> Magnolia (to the other ranch hand): "Tell me you got a gun, sugar?"
Yes/No (Likely)
? 🔮 Does the other ranch hand have a gun?
[5,5] Yes
The ranch hand nods and pulls out his gun.
> Magnolia: "Good boy, let’s see if these fellas can help too."
The three ranch hands crest the hill.
> Magnolia: "You boys got guns, or are ya gonna let a lady fight yer battles for ya?"
Yes/No (Even)
? 🔮 Do the other ranch hands have guns?
-> [6,5] Yes
d: 🎲 Intimidate 1d4[2] or 1d6[6]
=> Success.
=> Ranch hands (3) get into position
The ranch hands look at each other, scared. But they get into formation, a loose shooting line with Magnolia at the centre.
> Magnolia (smirking): "Alrightie, gentlemen. Don’t just give us a lick and a promise. Let’s put on a show for good ol’ Hank—rest in peace."
⭐ New to Solo RPGs? Come learn the ropes with a fellow newbie! 🤔
⭐ Old hat at all things roleplay? Watch or read and leave me words of wisdom please! 💌
Reflections
I am not good at voice acting! 😂
Making a visual novel-style Actual Play takes longer than I would have expected (I am really bad at estimating time)
This was so much fun to work on!
I ended up recording and re-recording parts of this over multiple days because I would go "I don’t like that" and then just do it again.
I’m working on making my content friendly for folk who are hard-of-hearing, low visibility, and dyslexic and anyone who can benefit from easier access. Thanks for your patience! 💖
Ngā mihi nui, Pat
(Kind regards, Pat)
(Mabait na pagbati, Pat)
This post describes observations of Actual Play practices and what I would like to try instead.. The text adds more context and links to complement the embedded video.
Timestamps
00:00 – Textual vs Visual Actual Plays
00:51 – My preferred style
01:50 – Using art
03:00 – Example time
04:08 – AI in Art?
05:14 – Update from the FUTURE
Text vs Visual
In the realm of Solo TTRPG Actual Plays, I more often encounter the text-heavy variety.
Maybe it’s because I’m new to this hobby, but I more often see the written word, varying from shorthand that outlines mechanics, actions and oracles in succinct bullets through to careful long prose, akin to what you might see in novels.
Even if you were watching a video, the Actual Plays often rely more heavily on words. We might be watching a Vtuber or Youtuber, but we listen for the words to construct the gameplay in the theatre of the mind. (Which, as much as I love words, this does get hard for someone with mild aphantasia) In videos, we hear descriptions of fantastic locations, listen for the tone of NPCs and rely on words to understand the narrative.
When there are images included, these are usually supplementary: a few images to convey the vibe at the start, a few images of specific characters, maps and the like.
What if Actual Plays were visual novels?
I basically use the solo TTRPG hobby as a vehicle to force myself to express myself creatively, so taking inspiration from different creators and other genres, I wondered if I could ‘animate’ my Actual Plays, so they functioned like mini visual novels. (And when I say ‘animate’, I mean ‘Image A sways onscreen to convey motion’, not painstaking frame-by-frame changes.)
How? What?
My plan is to use Canva as my little animation helper. It’s not the right tool for the job, but I find it easy to use for editing documents, videos and graphics, so I’d rather stick to the one tool. Plus, Canva can easily caption videos, so that’s an added bonus!
But if Canva adds the little animations, what am I actually animating?
My plan is to use a combination of my own art (yep, my own somewhat crude digital art, either in Infinite Painter on Android or Procreate on iOS), human-made art that is licensed through Canva as well as royalty-free art like on Unsplash. That will make it easier for me to build scenes without investing weeks or months into each actual play. Even still, I think this will take a lot of effort! So we’ll see how this goes.
Use of AI
I believe in the responsible use of AI. So I wouldn’t share AI-generated images in my videos or posts.
How might I use AI for art?
Removing backgrounds from images or graphics
To support my art-making (e.g. example images)
Feedback and discussion (like a ‘rubber ducky’ that talks back for programmers… but for art?)
I’m keen to hear feedback on what I’m trialling, so please do send me an email, respond on your own website or leave a comment below or on Youtube. 💗
What else?
🎥 NEXT VIDEO:
[Actual Play] Iron Valley x Wandering Tea Garden – Solo Roleplay Episode 1 Part D – I actually play the game. Really. Truly.
I’m working on making my content friendly for folk who are hard-of-hearing, low visibility, and dyslexic and anyone who can benefit from easier access. Thanks for your patience! 💖
Ngā mihi nui, Pat
(Kind regards, Pat)
(Mabait na pagbati, Pat)
![[Actual Play] Savage Worlds Part 1: More Than A Lick And A Promise](https://patsitive.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/savage-worlds-test-adventure.png)
![[VIDEO] Strike a deal? Actual Play: Iron Valley (TTYOL Episode 1 Part D)](https://patsitive.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TTYOL-001-D.png)
![[VIDEO] Can I Animate My Actual Plays? (TTYOL Episode 1 Part C)](https://patsitive.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TTYOL-001-C.png)