Glossary of Solo RPG Terms
Quick definitions to help you read guides and get playing faster.
A#
- Actual Play#
- A recorded or written playthrough of a game session. In solo, this often takes the form of a session log.
- Ask the Oracle#
- A common solo technique: pose a yes/no or multiple‑choice question to a randomizer to decide what happens next.
B#
- Brief#
- A short statement of intent for the next scene or session to keep play focused.
C#
- Clock#
- A segmented tracker used to represent progress or impending threats over time.
- Compel#
- A move in some systems (e.g., Ironsworn) that pushes characters to act when pressures mount.
D#
- Domain#
- A theme or area of focus for oracles or encounters (e.g., wilderness, dungeon, space station).
E#
- Emulator (GM Emulator)#
- A tool that simulates a game master by providing prompts, answers, and twists.
- Encounter#
- A discrete situation or scene challenge faced by the character(s).
F#
- Fiction‑First#
- Resolve what happens in the story first, then choose mechanics to reflect it.
G#
- GM (Game Master)#
- The facilitator of a game. In solo play, the role is simulated with oracles and procedures.
- GM‑less#
- Games designed to run without a dedicated GM; often a good fit for solo with minor tweaks.
H#
- Hard Move#
- A decisive consequence applied by the rules when outcomes go poorly; used to escalate tension.
- Hook#
- A lead or unanswered question that points to what might happen next.
J#
- Journal#
- A record of your sessions and scenes to track continuity and decisions.
L#
- Looming Threat#
- A danger or problem that advances if ignored; often tracked with a clock.
M#
- Move#
- A rules procedure you trigger in certain fiction; common in PbtA and derivatives.
- Mythic#
- A popular GM emulator/oracle system that uses a chaos factor and event tables.
N#
- NPC (Non‑Player Character)#
- Characters controlled by the world; in solo, you interpret their behavior via prompts and rulings.
O#
- Oracle#
- Any randomizer used to answer questions, spark ideas, or introduce twists.
- Outcome#
- The result of an action, roll, or ruling that advances the fiction.
P#
- PC (Player Character)#
- Your protagonist or party that you control during play.
- Prompt#
- A cue to inspire ideas, scenes, or details; can be text, cards, or tables.
R#
- Random Table#
- A list you roll on to generate results like names, encounters, or events.
- Ruling#
- A clear decision you make when rules don’t cover a situation; keep rulings consistent.
S#
- Scene#
- A focused unit of play with a goal, obstacles, and an outcome.
- Session Log#
- Short notes or a narrative record of what happened; helps with continuity between sessions.
- Solo‑Friendly#
- A system or tool that works smoothly without a GM or group.
T#
- Table (Oracle Table)#
- A structured set of results you roll on to determine answers or details.
- Twist#
- An unexpected change in direction generated by an oracle or a ruling to keep play interesting.
Definitions are intentionally brief. When a term mentions a specific product or system, it is for clarity only.