 |
Color Variant 1
|
Practically every solo session I play, I utilize at least one oracle for inspiration or to fill any story gaps that need answers. Oftentimes, they are the driving narrative factor and influence much more than the game system itself. I have a binder with printed oracles from a variety of different sources that get regular use. All of them have aspects I like, but none of them are exactly what I want. Having to shuffle through all these oracles can get quite cumbersome, and I wanted a better solution.
In the end, I wrote my own oracle that gave me all the information I wanted on a single A4 sheet. I would love to hear your stories and feedback if you use it in your own gaming sessions.
Update December 2023
As part of the GEMulator V1.1 update, I've also updated my main oracle sheet. (more details)
Don't worry, the old version is still available at the download links below.
The Old Version
The different tables
Approach | Intent | Theme
This is the main driving force behind this oracle. Pretty much any open-ended question can be answered by combining these columns. Random events, goals, complications, and so much more can be fleshed out with this one table.
What is happening? Why is something happening? How is something happening?
Yes/No
Any binary question, that isn't covered by your chosen game system, can get answered with this table. Think about the current game state/scene and pick the most fitting probability. Use the 'Unknown' column if you want an equally weighted random answer. 'And/but' results can be complications or additions that slightly modify the basic result of your answer. They should never be stronger than a normal 'Yes/No', but think about the scene and how it could be flavored to be a bit more positive/negative.
Tip: Don't ask questions where a possible answer provides you with no new information/resolution. Think of your questions as an 'either/or' statement where both results will keep the story moving.
Misc other tables
The right side of the oracle sheet provides you with a few options to flavor other oracle results. Use them however you want, and feel free to experiment by combining different tables.
FAQ
What is an oracle?
It's basically just a fancy word for a random table that answers questions you have. I like the term (which I originally saw in this context in Ironsworn) because it fits the solo theme of offering your question up to the dice gods and being at the whims of their oracle.
Why create another one when there are already so many out there?
I looked over many alternative oracles, but none of them were what I wanted. The last push I needed to create my own was the idea of a triple 'main' oracle with a column for Approach, Intent, and Theme. Most of the other oracles were simpler than this, and I really like the flexibility the three column approach provides.
Rolling once on each column is a fantastic starting point and allows for plenty of hooks where the context of the current adventure can latch on to. Specific questions are easily answered with the Yes/No oracle or by rolling on one of the other columns.
Don't reinvent the wheel but change a few tires
The core principles of this sheet are nothing new, but I wanted to make them my own. While I was writing this sheet, I specifically didn't look at any other oracles I owned. I just sat down and tried to come up with evocative words that would be vague enough to fit any setting while also being easy to interpret and theme for any game. This obviously means that this oracle isn't perfectly neutral and is heavily influenced by the kind of games I like to run. Luckily, random tables like these are very easy to change, so you can simply replace words you don't like. Please let me know if you feel like some words are out of place and difficult to apply during a session.
Comments
Post a Comment