Can OSH work with solo play?

Chugosh

I have a number of times when only one pf my players show up on game night, especially in the holliday season. I would like to play OSH (or run it, to be more precise) but it seems like I would have to do a bit of hacking on my own to make it work. The main thing there is the awarding of awesome points would be all on me, then.

Anybody have any suggestions?

fictivefantasies

Ideally, it is a group game, but I don't think it would be a problem to have one player. I'd start the player off with 10 Awesome Points, and toss them one every time I thought they did something awesome.

Any time I play, I try to think of what I can do with this system/context that I could not do elsewhere, and play to its strengths. If you have only one player, don't think of it it in standard RPG terms; instead, think of gonzo over-the-top stories to imitate.

You have one hero, with optional sidekicks, so you can really focus in on that one hero's improbable and larger-than-life exploits. Don't try to retool a group adventure for an individual. Make the individual epic.

kiznit

You could try putting Awesome Point generation in the player's court too - Like FATE points, the player can "ask" for Awesome Points by trying to do dangerous or heroic things, and getting them if they succeed, or something.

You could flip that, too, where they only get the Awesome Point if they fail, as incentive for trying, and the getting to do the awesome thing is the reward for succeeding.

MacLeod

I've always found that the FATE points style intriguing but could never get past the game mechanics, so I'm liking that idea. :D

I also like the idea of making the PC an epic character. :) To expound...
You could change the setup to amusing effect... make the lone PC a cursed individual; his body is the home of a powerful sorcerer! For small stretches, say 10 minutes or however long a battle is, the sorcerer can manifest and aid the PC in battle. Now you have two PCs for more interesting fights. Outside of battle you have interesting RP moments between your player and the sorcerer inhabiting his body.

The nature of the sorcerer could vary wildly... an evil sorcerer trying to wreak havoc on the world through the PC (but maybe becomes a good guy through the trials and tribulations with the power of friendship) or is he actually a mad god with a bone to pick (and perhaps his plans for vengeance go sour when he finds out the truth of his enemy's nature) or is he a good guy imprisoned by a bad guy (and now the world needs saving but the sorcerer's magic doodad can only be activated if he can reclaim his body!) or... etc...

kiznit

All sounds great!

Chugosh

Thanks for the advice, guys!
I do think that the written dynamics of the game would work best with three or four players and the GM, but I can see my way now to run it with just one if I have to.

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