Sorry I posted two videos I tried to schedule this for later but then it just published who cares just watch them when you want that's the cool thing about recordings they are there even when you don't know it
For whatever it is worth, I really love when the system is visible and part of the discussion in a playthrough. For me, I like to see part of the process, and how the player is thinking and interacting with the system.
That's great to hear. I like to show what I'm thinking and how to react to things, especially since I think so many people who try to solo play on their own hit that weird brick wall where they say, uuuhhhhh wait...what am I supposed to be doing? What the HELL am I doing?
Agree completely. For me, I like to know what the player is thinking. I can learn from that and incorporate into my own sessions. Otherwise, it’d just be watching someone reading a story that they’re making up as they go, right?!
I would like another Solitary Defilement Playthrough. I need a feel for what you think the game rhythm is. Especially need to learn about building the microcrawls etc. Because, especially with Solo games, you don't have someone else to learn from, get new perspectives, remind you or rules you forgot, teach you strategies you had not thought of. A playthrough means you cycle through the turn sequence multiple times to the point where you really get a rhythm. So sacrifice your voice and help us out Old Chum!! Note I learned sooo much from watching "Final Girl" play throughs. And you should do a Forbidden Psalm playthrough.
@@davidcashin1894 lol so basically your comment is “I don’t care what you said in the video, just do this play through for me because it helps me”? Do I have that right? Just want to make sure I have your order down
Man Alone, I can totally relate to what you said in the beginning of this video about the actual plays not getting the views because it is exactly what I experience. My channel is 95% actual plays and as you said, the first or second episodes get some views and then it declines and some of my most watched videos are the 5% other content what I consider "how to" videos. Like how to finally start your first session etc. However, actual plays are what I like to do. An actual play on YT enriches my gaming experience because I get all the toys out etc. I can live with that because YT is not my job, it is my hobby and it will never become my job but your conclusion of most demanded and least watched is spot on.👍 You have a great channel, keep doing what you do.
Thank you friend, and yes I think the difference is right there - I like doing actual plays but I would say in terms of types of videos I like making it is in 3rd or 4th place. So ultimately it's what you like and what makes you feel good and happy.
Rather than make a similar post, I'll just echo Solospelunking. I'm the (current) solo player behind @inclinedeclinegaming2541, and I know I don't have the same level of outreach as either of you, but even I can see the "view drop-off" in a series of gameplay episodes. Like Solospelunking, I only record for the fun of it, because why not, so it doesn't bother me as much. Please keep making the videos you guys like to make, both of you. I'm an avid watcher of both.
I think the thing with the solo plays is that for them to be entertaining in the long term, the game system has to slip into the background and the story has to grip the viewer. Session zero is by definition very crunchy and, as you said, holds all the potential. Me myself and Die, and The Bad Spot are the only ones Ive been able to stick past a first session.
yes, and - at least in terms of MM&D, it helps to have razor sharp editing and multiple camera views to keep people interested/entertained. To sit with just a book is a little different. Although, yes - bad spot does do a good job with that (and surprised he doesn't have more subscribers, actually. He was one of the first I watched)
To be fair, the Captain's Log 40k videos are fantastic and were the inspiration that really pushed me into taking this hobby seriously. I was like: "That! I want to be able to do exactly that!" That said, I really like the direction the channel has gone since then, and as Ive found my own solo groove i find that I need that particular kind if inspiration less and less. I'd certainly be happy to see more playthroughs, but I dig pretty much everything you put out.
I think I would probably benefit from a set schedule of solo playthroughs. Setting a schedule makes me feel a little like I have a job though, so I'm worried how that will make me feel. I do think there is value there, but like "1 out of every 4 videos" worth of value. Maybe I can revisit them and see how they feel.
I know you weren't necessarily looking for suggestions or feedback, but if the playthroughs drop off over time why not run them as sort of limited series with a more or less set number of episodes?
(The receiver box whines, the voice it produces is tinny and bathed in static) “Yeah - morning. No, not using the Kofe-App today, thank you… Can I get a large order of Waffling, extra syrup? Can you add just a dash of humor? Yeah, I know it’s extra. And… umm… two solo plays, hold the editing. One deep dive into the human experience. Is your game review machine on? No? Of course it’s cleaning… Fine, and a large order of clackety clack. Yeah, that’ll be all. Oh, actually, can you add a large Coke? Ok. Thank you!”
Keep doing your thing, bro. I'm really glad I found your channel. You're the whole reason I started my solo RPG adventure. I'm still getting my feet wet and still have problems 'jumping in' some days, but I'm getting better. Just started 2D6 Dungeon based on your recommendation, and I'm absolutely LOVING it!
15:30, I feel like when the system is not explicitly known by the viewer, it feels like the plerson playing could do whatever they want, because I'm not aware of the risk involved, because I don't know the system. So I think the system must be there.
this is barely relevant to the video but im so grateful youve introduced me to the term "funny money". im responsible with my money, always have been, but i still experience guilt every time i buy something "unnecessary" like a solo rpg zine or a video game or what have you. thinking of those in terms of funny money, like "yeah ive taken care of rent, bills, and groceries and even put something aside, now whats left is funny money and im allowed to spend it on things that make me happy" has really reduced that guilt. so, you know, thanks!
@@lareiism funny money is the way to guilt free indulgence, because funny money as a species loves to be spent. If you don’t spend it, it starts to get restless and worried - “what will you spend me on?” It says “rent and bills are paid…please don’t send me to a Roth IRA! I want to LIVE”
Beam me up, Jar Jar! Great video. As a fellow waffler and speaker, those are very good points. It is very taxing to improvise. You are also making it engaging for others to watch. Kudos, my Man.
@@reelneim exactly, its fun but it’s taxing. Not only the tongue and jaw wagging but the brain plumbing for more novel things. I love it, but it is an “exercise”
The reasons I watch Man Alone: Passion for Solo RPG Thinking about things out loud Waffles You have to do the videos you enjoy and have enthusiasm for, because that's what pulls the viewer along with you.
I'm trying to crunch my way through disciples of bone and shadow now. Trying to internalize the rules. I also get frustrated with myself cause I lose interest really fast and run to the next thing.
I’ve decided to stop feeling bad about this. I start and don’t finish a lot of games. I get bored of the character or the game has gone a direction in a direction I’m not feeling. Sometimes I come back to them, but usually not. I just roll onto the next game I’m interested in. I don’t think you should ever feel bad about the way you game.
Agree with Dirk. Although this is also a kind of mindfulness thing I notice with myself sometimes. Whenever I invest in something, I suddenly start thinking the better thing is "over there." It's almost like a little bit of sacrifice always yields dividends, i.e. "I won't play that thing over there until I've done three sessions with this thing here." I just notice the "thing" I'm looking for is inevitably right under where I'm standing.
The great sage, luminary and sideshow huckster P.T. Barnum (or was it Denis Diderot?) once said, "You can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." I find this quote very instructive by replacing the word 'fool' with other verbs like 'please' or 'irritate'. @ManAlone - Great video! As Always I appreciate your candor and integrity. Your videos are always refreshing. You do you.
I am one of those who loves loves loves solo playthroughs. I love to see the sausage being made. I love to see the thought, the work, the effort, the mechanics, etc. But every RU-vid creator of that type of material has said at one point or another that those series just dont get the clicks. So im just grateful for whatever comes along .
ah jeez that makes me so sad to hear lol. I want to be there for those that like them! I just have to figure out how often I can do those and still enjoy myself. It's not a question of whether I will completely stop doing them - I will keep doing them. I just think it's harder and harder to imagine myself doing more than 2-3 episodes in a campaign
@@amanisalone That makes a lot of sense. I'm here with you, either way. In my opinion, make whatever you want to make, and I'll be happy for whatever solo play comes of it. Might it be easier to play different stories in a system you love to reduce the effort and overhead involved with learning a new system? Then you can do 2-3 episode mini-campaigns without feeling too burnt out, I suspect.
It's funny lol watching this video is reminding me of a qoute I heard. Something along the lines of "a criticism is a compliment hiding in plain sight"
Excellent thoughts on RPG Playthroughs. In your spare time, you should make a video series that finds and discusses as many Solo RPG Playthrough channels out there and use them as examples of what you discussed in this video.
I just found your channel a week or so ago. Long form content isn't really my thing, but I enjoy the stream of consciousness style. My dad uses the quote, "You can please some people all the time and all the people sometimes. But, not all the people all the time." Keep doing your thing and enjoying it. Thank you for trying to encourage people in this hobby. I've dabbled a bit for a while now, but you have given me some new ideas. Again, thank you. (If you have ideas on how to get my significant other to leave me alone for a few hours let me know. XD )
@@nateabels5151 thank you Nate! Try this method: try to cease showering for a week. In college this used to keep every woman away from me, worked really well
I enjoy your approach to solo play throughs! Personally, I like seeing the combination of the meta and mechanical portions of gameplay mixed with the creative performative parts.
Some times, while watching your videos, I really feel the need to get a notepad out and write down my comments for each of your very valid points (freestyle waffling as a new free writing method?). Then I remember we are all men alone, and that impersonal "communication" via yt comments is not my jam, so I never post. On this one, i will just say this. Keep doing you. It works so well on so many levels! And this from someone who exhausts each and every playlist of actual plays from all of the creators he subscribes to. P.S.: Strange synchronicity of this comment and your video reply...
Have you tried Astroprisma? I never played solo before-apart from Choose Your Own Adventure type stuff, but I’ve found this to be surprisingly fun. I still prefer playing at a regular table or even in an online group, but when that’s not available, solo play is surprisingly close to scratching the itch.
17:20 Nice to hear your explanation here, I'd been wondering why you moved on from Ironsworn/PbtA type games, and it's interesting that you categorize Thousand Year Old Vampire the same. For me the narrative side of mechanics have always held the most draw, and story games "deliver on the promise that D&D made", to try and quote Epidiah Ravochol. I think there's something more complex going on than having a novelty-generating or narrative mind or not... I come up with novel fiction all the time, but what a good story game does for me is simultaneously get me to focus on one story for awhile, and distract me enough with some mechanics to turn off my internal critic a bit more.
@@dranorter yeah that’s a good point, it’s not that it’s value-less for me, it’s just that the idea of it held less seduction for me over time. Like a lower risk/reward yield. But there’s likely more there if I go back to search again
See, I don't know how valuable this feedback would be but I can understand the shift in that comment from a more narrative focus to a more system/combat/etc focus. I am subbed to this channel because I am a solo player and I'm interested in solo gaming. I want to see you talk *about* the hobby rather than a playthrough because solo gaming to me-and I suspect to many others-is a more personal hobby. I am however more inclined to watch a playthrough if it focuses more on the mechanics and the system because I can see how it plays and decide if I want to do it myself, as opposed to just you going on an adventure so to speak.
@@elaineabreu282 I think if I did all playthroughs and nothing else I’d have the vim to do one every week, but doing it on top of other things is a bit too tiring for me. Which is sad, I don’t want to dissuade anyone from solo play based on the experience of recording a play through, because I am rarely exhausted after just *playing* - only when I’m talking for an hour straight
Well now I’m defensive, why are you trying to hurt me with this video lol this feels like a future version of myself traveling back in time to warn me about mistakes I am making or am about to make. Appreciated as always 😎
@14:20 This was really poignant. I don't like WotC, I don't want to play 5e or 5.5 or whatever it is called now, but when the algorithm puts the "LATEST HASBRO SCANDAL!!1!" video on my dash I can't stop myself from watching. It is cotton candy. It tastes good because it validates how I feel, but it's not enriching quite like a Man Alone video explaining what he loves about different RPGs. So thanks for the porterhouse, Man.
You know what would really pull big numbers? (you’d love it too!) _Heckin’ Good Doggos._ 😌 (I likely will not be watching it as I will be too busy solo roleplaying!)
Yo Man, listening to you for hours lecturing me on applied Jungian psychology, flavours of dice pool mechanics vs. rpg system deadliness, in-game divination with Tarot cards probably gave me a pang of entitlement xD Big part of what I want out of solo and group play is immersion. It may arise out of a narrative, aided by dialogue and scene details, but it must be beyond narrative novelty. I want to be part of a cool situation or storied segment, immersive and meaningful, and smell all the flowers there. And learn to do it much better, indeed. On a defensive note, I do think that narrative thinking is but one puzzle piece, insist almost on it. An old man said people have times where getting into particular weeds seems the most pertinent to us, and I respect that.
@@solmyr42 I’m glad you wrote the comment, I wrote that in the video description. I’d encourage you to try it out, model your vision of it and maybe you can make an even more powerful demonstration of what you mean!
@@amanisaloneThanks, awesome encouragement. I've participated in a few immersive group plays on yt so far, greatly enjoyed that (also the odd headache). Perhaps the future holds much more.
I love solo play of character creation and one or two videos of play. Im just interested in learning the mechanics of the game and then i can get going myself. I can appreciate that some poeple would watch a longer series of play through videos, and i might even watch them but like you say it is diminishing returns. Not worth the mental drain and hassle IMO. Keep doing what you want Man!
Video 53 of me liking and then commenting on every new upload to tell the viewers that the Man Alone Podcast is absolutely some of that sweet, unhinged audio/vocal-honey. Psssst. Continuing from my question on the last video: why the hell do we call it FRIENDLY Local Game Store? It’s like we’ve been brainwashed and conditioned into an acceptance and understanding that “game store good”. But like… that’s definitely not always my experience. Anybody been to their Friendly Local McDonald’s lately btw? Please continue discourse in comments below. Also please add your version of a random [Adjective] [Noun (Place)].
I have two channels, this one games, the other making 20-30 minute talking-head video essays for writers. A guy has now popped up twice to tell me he wishes he could watch my videos, so I should make them 3-5 minutes, ie a tips and tricks channel. wut? TikTok's that way. Anyway, I can have the same response you do to suggestions from people who watch my free content. I'm also trying to take away the nugget of truth. My ability to tell stories on my own in the form of fiction kept me from ttrpgs entirely for 2 decades, because I always felt I could just write a novel, and then I can control the whole story, not just one character, and I walk away with something publishable. For solo play, I've needed entirely game-ified systems like 4AD, because telling summaries of stories in my head didn't satisfy. Then I read someone say they make a script. I don't know exactly how they meant this, but I find writing screenplays much faster and more fun than writing fiction, and recently realized I could do that as I go. I've recorded a couple of videos of this and I'm having fun and I think it's providing something different. I've posted one journaling game and recorded but haven't yet posted 2 scarlet heroes games. I won't post board game playthroughs for the same reason you feel nervous about posting playthroughs of rpgs you don't know well. I don't want anyone to try to learn from my faulty playthroughs. RPGs though... I've made 3 dice rolls in the last 5 hours of gameplay, so I'm going story forward, and that's the part that makes me proud to post, even though I don't know the rules well.
RU-vid can’t measure how much fewer people got out of watching something. Oh you just mentioned engagement so I guess it can somewhat. Edit: not counting when video creators say thing like “write your favorite color in the comments”
The decrease in numbers is depressing for sure. Table for Two is a great Ironsworn series; first video has 8k views, but it falls quickly to around 200 to 300. Every series is like this. Just as a random example, Minecraft SMP's get lots of views at the beginning too, but they wouldn't generate hype for episode one if they never made it past episode 3. (UNINFORMED OPINION:) I think you gotta think of it like an individual RU-vid video. The first second or first twenty seconds is going to have 10x or 100x the views as the middle or end of the video does. Does that mean you shouldn't have made the middle? No -- it means 95% of people hate seals or clicked on the video accidentally or whatever. You could've retained some of them a little longer with editing tricks (cold opens or whatever) but every youtube video has that watch spike at the beginning. The same goes for longer series... people see "episode 3" and that's a filter on who watches, because they aren't going to start in the middle of something.
How do I start playing? I'm an experienced play, terrible DM having tried a dozen times to run games. But I keep finding systems to try, I love reading them, but I keep adding new books, tables, pdfs, etc, that I haven't done any playing yet? (I know all activities are play.) What's enough to just start, and how to avoid feature creep?
Where are you getting stuck? Where do you stop when you try to sit down and play? Do you pick a place on the map to start? Do you introduce your character to yourself? Sounds like you have everything you need outside of yourself to start, sounds like something INSIDE you is getting stuck?
If you’re asking how much prep is enough - zero prep is fine. If you’re asking how many random tables is enough - Trevor Devall says to just pick out two or three supplements at most, don’t slow your play down with too many options. Have a procedure you’re interested in following. Maybe you’re interested in playing straight Mythic + Draw Steel. Focus on framing the next scene, rolling for interrupt/alteration, then taking actions in-character. Don’t ask too many oracle questions, especially things your character doesn’t know, focus on what your character is seeing and doing. Of course, if you’ve had many failed attempts to run games, maybe that’s related? What goes wrong there?
Actual plays are cool of course, but people just don't get the physical, mental, emotional toll of making such content regularly. Everything's easy to say when you're just consuming the fruits of the effort.
I was one of those people who didn't feel great about the 5e comment/post, being that my friends play 5e and I don't want to trade in that lovely group of people and our adventures, just because possibly I'm the only one dissatisfied with it, yet can't run my own game because I have trouble with taking spotlight. I'm ok with the idea of not being completely satisfied with the system I'm playing, because I get more important benefits out of it than that. I decided not to get too upset with that post and just move on, and I didn't want to unsubscribe, because I don't feel that one curmudgeonly moment defines Man, alone. AS AN AVID CROCHETE- oops, sorry, didn't mean to yell, caps lock- as an avid crocheter, a common theme on reddit among fiber artists is you don't make your art for people who aren't "crochet-worthy" or "knitting-worthy", and though I cringe a little at those slightly elitist phrases, I do get the sentiment that you don't want to gift something to someone who you already know won't appreciate... but calling it "blah-worthy" is a bit of a cope, because somebody didn't like your stuff, and now you are putting them down to make yourself feel better. So I guess its a fine line of adjusting between real, helpful criticism, and just being something to pass over because a person is being a jerk. Bibi making whole blankets is amazing, I always plan to make one and then balk at the idea of how much determination and patience it takes. I do make some projects that take a long time, but they have to have different stitches on every single row for me not to get bored 😅 so i make very pretty lacy doilies in pastel colors (I swear they look cool in my place and don't look elderly 😅😂)
thank you for giving me a second chance...we can't all share the same opinions all the time, and we can't all share our opinions elegantly all the time!! But onto your comment...I'm getting tripped up here where you say "I do get the sentiment that you don't want to gift something to someone who you already know won't appreciate... but calling it "blah-worthy" is a bit of a cope, because somebody didn't like your stuff, and now you are putting them down to make yourself feel better." Are you saying I said that in the video, or is that what the CROCHET PEOPLE are saying? Did I call something blah-worthy? I don't remember. I do say blah a lot.
@@amanisalone You didn't say it, this person is analyzing their own community's coping mechanism. The analogy is like, crocheters don't/shouldn't crochet things for people who won't want the item, and, Man Alone doesn't/shouldn't make videos for people who won't enjoy the video. You Alone (treating Alone like a title) are dismissive of haters without particularly using elitism as far as I've noticed. I do think the knitting/chrocheting advice is probably good... I once committed to make hand-bound journals for something like ten different people, and for me the focus was entirely on committing to make books in order to learn and practice. Because I was really doing it for myself, I wasn't picky about who I promised a book, and I've gotta admit, not all of them were that appreciative and I wasn't immune to that criticism. It's hard to keep in mind your original motivations / original emotional investment when you spend many hours on a project.
@@amanisalone lol, no, it's the only the crochet people i meant, thank you for responding kindly, because it was a bit of risk for me to put myself out there, especially in expressing a moment of "disapproval" for someone I respect, and risking the chance of being rejected for expressing it. I know that I'm only expressing it because I was feeling kind of rejected by proxy, and even am trying to preserve my own feelings by throwing my friends under the bus a bit too, lol, by saying how it's them who want to play it, and yet, I'm still enjoying learning how to run my new Rune Knight, Ash, who just got revenge on the person who who killed his sister, who was my previous character, Fritha (both references to Watership Down, lol), the Circle of Spores druid, who I ran very poorly but survived a long time 😅 due to those selfsame friends guidance. I appreciate then, and I appreciate you, and here's to lots more great role-playing fun in the future!
@@dranorter thank you for your response, you got my point. Since I mostly make doilies I don't gift people often, lol, because I don't like to gift decor items to people (tastes are so very subjective) but I do have a friend who I've made Christmas ornaments for and little earrings, and I've made a few scarves for her daughter and am currently making a knitted scarf for her that is a really satisfying pattern and she's always very appreciative of the things I make, but I also always take her taste into account, and with this scarf, I showed her the pattern first.
What happened to Just Crocheting? What happened to Just Solo Roleplaying? Why do we need other people's approval? We need to be more Zen. When you are sitting, just sit. When you are eating, just eat.
My man; you should adopt the Rogan approach and don’t even read or reply to the comments - not one! Just create content and release. Eff all the commentators
I don’t get why those comments bothered you (even just slightly). The poster is engaged enough to make a suggestion which is always good! It’s not like they’re posting vitriol or anything 🤷♂ Even for hateful comments (which the one you mentioned was not), we should all learn to take them with a grain of salt. In real life, people behave much better. It s the semi-anonymity and non face to face nature that makes people be less sociable online. Take care 👌
