I'm Thinking About Trying a Journaling Game! Help me out!
Seeking recommendations to get started
Hey folks, this is a quick post for the weekend, and I’m looking for a little help from my Substack friends…
In about two weeks, my wife and I will be jetting off to Italy for a two-week holiday.
Now, I could take Ironsworn or Fallout 2d20 as I tend to travel light, and there’ll be plenty of room in the suitcases. But I figured it would be cool to try something different to my usual jam.
As I’ve plunged headlong into the wonderful world of solo roleplaying, I’ve discovered that there is a sub-genre called “journaling games.”
So what I’m seeking are recommendations for solo RPG journaling games that (broadly) fit the following criteria:
Playable with stuff that I can throw into a suitcase, like a notebook, pen, dice and maybe a pack of cards, as I doubt there’ll be anything useful in our apartment and I’m not trawling the back streets of Rome for equipment, lol
…and I wouldn't be averse to something using a tarot deck (although I’d need to actually buy a tarot deck…doh!)
Something with tables and oracles - I like rolling on tables lol
Preferably a physical book (I can print myself at a push, but prefer the tactile nature of “a book”). That said, I do recognise that people are going to suggest going to itch.io for games…
Definitely NOT in the tried and tested (and overused) medieval-style fantasy genre. Possibly sci-fi or post-apocalyptic. Or something completely off the wall
Something I can pick up and put down easily, and has light rules overhead. I like a bit of crunch, but I don’t want to spend the first half of the vacation learning rules!
I tried asking on Reddit and got some decent suggestions, but I’m sure the good people of Substack can suggest even more suitable gems.
Hi, is not completely journal but my favourite to travel is Notorious by always checkers (ilustrated by the Amazing TurboTorbo). You only need 2d6, the book and one sheet (or a phone with the pdf, notebook and dice app). Its really simple but amazing. And have and amazing expansion. Its like play an star wars adventure but without copyright haha.
Maybe if you looking for more traditional journal maybe Her Odyssey or The final Girl Self-help club if i recall.
But try notorius!
Both Mythic GME 2 and Starforged have apps that include their tables. I'm someone who Journals my games but dislike most "journaling games". The difference being one provides tables that spark ideas that get me going, and the other (in my experience) ask question prompts that leave me flat. Once you've read and understand the Starforged main book, you really only need the slimmer wire bound reference tables or the app to play, as they contain both "the moves" and the oracle tables.
Before I used Starforged, I used Mythic which can be used on its own or in conjunction with any RPG system of your choice. The app contains all of the tables from the book, but of the two I still recommend Starforged.
Another lightweight option would be to get Mörk Borg, plus Feretory and Solitary Defilement (both available on Itch). My version of playing Mork Borg is more adventure and less combat, but that's up to your preference.) I hope all this helps.