Close
Close
Advanced Search

DM Yourself - solo roleplay for 5e, D&D and OSR adventuresClick to magnify
Quick Preview
/gs_flipbook/flip.php?xml=/demo_xml/331912.xml&w=500&h=354
Full‑size Preview
https://watermark.drivethrurpg.com/pdf_previews/331912-sample.pdf

DM Yourself - solo roleplay for 5e, D&D and OSR adventures

ADD TO WISHLIST >
Selected Option:

Welcome to DM Yourself – a guide for soloing existing adventures/campaigns written for Fifth Edition (5e), other editions of D&D or OSR. The system enables you to play these adventures with a single character, as close to the way they are written as possible. The aim is to allow players to enjoy these adventures solo with the minimum of preparation, work or additional rules, and maximum immersion. The guide includes:

  • How to Prepare for the Adventure – Increasing the PC’s power without making them invincible, putting in safeguards and rebalancing the action economy for a single PC, setting up default behaviours and choosing a difficulty level.

  • How to Read the Adventure – When to skim-read and when to deep-read, where to start and what to skip (and when to come back to it), how to avoid spoilers (but not get hung up about them), and using flashbacks.

  • How to Play the Adventure – How to act as your own GM, using immersive roleplaying rather than reading-with-dice, dealing with maps and using fog-of-war, making binding decisions and using hindsight to help you deal with secrets, traps and hidden treasure, how to run encounters and a simple AI for enemy behaviour, and interacting with NPCs.

  • …and lots more in the Appendices – a minimal DC Oracle system, pages of extended Immersion Tables and AI Combat Tactics tables, guides to soloing several of the most popular 5e adventures, how to adapt DM Yourself to other systems, and quick reference sheets.

DM Yourself was developed with the support of over 500 backers on Kickstarter, and includes all of the stretch goals from that campaign.

It’s going to be an exciting journey, so let’s get started…


pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
 
 Customers Who Bought this Title also Purchased
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
Reviews (15)
Discussions (34)
Customer avatar
Jose A November 07, 2023 6:01 pm UTC
Is it possible a group of players using this book to DM-less play?
Reply
Customer avatar
CHRISTOPHER D January 07, 2024 12:45 am UTC
PURCHASER
This book is called DM yourself. There is still a DM (it is yourself) but you do not prepare or read the adventure module beforehand. You can use this book's method to play with a group but one of the players will still need to be the DM using the book's methods.
Customer avatar
Brian H September 06, 2023 5:26 am UTC
PURCHASER
Was the font ever fixed for the physical copy? I had to throw away my 1st copy, because it gave me a headache trying to read it. I can't read the pdf for the same reason.
Customer avatar
Noni Kent K August 11, 2023 1:59 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is it possible to run 2 PCs with this?
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S August 12, 2023 5:02 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Absolutely. The book recommends you run a single PC and a sidekick. If you want to convert the sidekick into a second PC, you'll have a bit more character upkeep to do and the game will be a bit easier, but apart from that you won't need to change a thing.
Reply
Customer avatar
Noni Kent K August 13, 2023 1:56 am UTC
PURCHASER
What if it's more than two PCs?
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S August 13, 2023 9:19 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Well, the great thing about playing solo is that you can play however you want :)

DM Yourself has rules for scaling adventure difficulty so you can play a normal four player module with just a single PC and sidekick, but if you want to play a full party you can just ignore those difficulty scaling rules.

However, DM Yourself suggests one PC plus Sidekick is the sweet-spot for solo roleplaying for a number of reasons:
You are playing a single character - just like in a non-solo game - this means you can stay in-character and don't have to swap between characters
The sidekick gives you someone to banter with, and someone who has your back and can get a healing potion down your throat if it all goes wrong
Playing four PCs means that combat lasts a *long* time - things are much quicker when there's only you and a Sidekick
Having four PCs mean you spend more time managing their health, abilities and actions, and less time being immersed in the environment/story
...See more
Customer avatar
Brian B April 14, 2023 5:14 pm UTC
PURCHASER
How would this book would work for non-D&D style systems, like Savage Worlds, or d6 based RPGs?
Customer avatar
Roger P March 31, 2023 5:49 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hi, I think it should be usable for Adventures in Middle Earth, which is a Tolkien setting for 5e. Tom, what do you think about it?
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S March 31, 2023 9:12 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Roger. I'm not familiar with the Adventures in Middle Earth system, but I just had a quick look at some resources and I think it would be possible-but-tricky. Possible because it's based on 5e, Tricky because the published adventures don't appear to have the boxed/italicised location description text that makes it easy to navigate standard 5e adventures solo, and there are systems such as Journeys which would need adapting. Overall: not impossible, but not straightforward.
Reply
Customer avatar
Roger P April 01, 2023 11:46 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Many thanks Tom for your answer. Journeys is an interesting system but requires skills of a full party. I think I could improve some skills of the 2 PCs for giving them fair chances to success on some rolls. I will try soon or late. AiME adventures are great and the books are beautifully illustrated, so they deserve to be played solo, and DM yourself is the best system for this (in my opinion).
Customer avatar
Patrick G January 26, 2023 8:16 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi, would it be possible to have an ebook version? The pdf never look good on a kindle/kobo!
thanks
Customer avatar
Joe C December 31, 2022 12:51 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hi Tom, just finished reading your guide and can’t wait to give it a try. I’m curious if you have solo’d any other modules since the release of this guide that you felt were particularly good or bad for soloing, wotc or otherwise. I was given Strixhaven for Christmas and haven’t opened it yet, and also have Witchlight and Frostmaiden waiting to be played.
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S December 31, 2022 12:25 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hey Joe. I haven't got Strixhaven or Witchlight so can't comment on those. Frostmaiden is tricky to solo but really worthwhile - there's a four-page guide on how to solo it in the back of https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/385435/DM-Yourselves - along with a guide to soloing Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. If you want a one-off adventure to practice on before embarking on a campaign, I recommend https://media.wizards.com/2014/downloads/dnd/DDEX16_TheScrollThief.pdf - again, there's a short guide on how best to solo it in the back of DM Yourselves, but you don't *need* that.
Customer avatar
Ryan B December 13, 2022 1:17 am UTC
PURCHASER
I'm curious how well this could be adapted to work with Star Wars D6?
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S December 22, 2022 11:17 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hey Ryan. I don't really know the system, but having a quick look I think it should work as well as any other OSR system. It depends a lot on how the modules are usually structured - if locations have boxed/italicised description/read-aloud sections then it should work just fine. If not, then it will be harder to adapt.
Reply
Customer avatar
Ryan B December 24, 2022 6:13 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks for the reply Tom. I think I'll give it a try.
Customer avatar
Brian C October 24, 2022 12:42 pm UTC
@Tom S - Just tried to purchase the physical copy of this but it seems to be unavailable on POD, any idea when this will be available again to get ?
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S October 24, 2022 3:53 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hey Brian. I just tried it and it's working okay for me. Please can you try again - maybe it was just a temporary glitch?
Is the "PDF + Softcover, B&W Book" option there for purchase for you?
If it's still not working, the only other thing I can think of is that it's a country specific problem - which country are you based in?
Reply
Customer avatar
Brian C October 24, 2022 4:38 pm UTC
All options are there for me, am in the UK and ordered this and 2 of the Tiny D6 books at the same time those have shipped fine :S. Never had a problem with DTRPG in the past. I’ll try when I get the current package, will let you know how it goes, hopefully technical issue at the printer
Customer avatar
Anthony C October 09, 2022 12:56 am UTC
PURCHASER
Great title and content as expected. I was just a little disappointed with the font size. I knew it was a smaller A5 size, but it's pretty small compared to other similar books that size. I hope the PDF will allow me to print a larger font size on letter size.
Customer avatar
Craig W September 17, 2022 1:28 pm UTC
I know this is for 5E, but I imagine it should be usable for OSE as well?
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S September 17, 2022 3:48 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
There's a page in the Appendices on how to use DM Yourself for OSE and similar RPG systems. About 80% of DM Yourself will work as is, the other 20% will need some adaptation.
Customer avatar
Chris T April 23, 2022 6:42 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Purchased, got the confirmation email. Couldn't download, kept getting the "this is embarrassing" error message. Now it doesn't show up in my library and prompts me to purchase again. Is this a joke? Not funny
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S April 23, 2022 7:10 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Chris. I'm sorry that you're having this issue. However, I'm afraid it sounds like a DriveThruRPG problem rather than anything I have control over. If you scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Contact Us" button, I'm sure DriveThruRPG Support will be able to sort out the issue for you.
Customer avatar
Ryan C April 17, 2022 6:35 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Would this be great to help myself learn the game? I'd love to join a group IRL but I have a very basic knowledge watching College Humor's Dimension 20 series. Just picked up the Starter Set and some extra dice.
Customer avatar
Nox S March 03, 2022 10:45 am UTC
PURCHASER
For someone who wants to play on his own, this is a pretty good Resource
Customer avatar
John S February 25, 2022 4:44 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hello Tom,

Let's take it back a bit more - do you see any reason your recommendations would not be readily usable or adaptable to B/X or 1e?

Thank you
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S February 25, 2022 9:17 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi John!

Yes, it's definitely usable with B/X or 1e with a bit of adaptation. There's a page in the back of the book on how to adapt for older editions of D&D.

A lot of the systems will work without any changes. For the characters, you'll want to run 2PCs instead of 1PC and a Sidekick. You may want to play using the 'easy' difficulty settings given how brutal 1e is compared to 5e. The other main difficulties come from the format of B/X/1e adventures - often these don't have boxed/italicised room descriptions which DM Yourself uses as a way of avoiding spoilers, and they don't have the equivalent of DC skill checks which are another thing which lessens the amount of DM judgements you have to make when playing solo. Both of these difficulties can be worked around, however.

Here's a Reddit play review of someone using DM Yourself to play B4 The Lost City: https://www.reddit.com/r/Solo_Roleplaying/comments/kuyomg/dm_yourself_actual_play_and_review/
Customer avatar
Guillermo C February 14, 2022 5:50 pm UTC
Hi Tom, I don't know if it was answered but, Can I use it for 3.5?
Thanks
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S February 14, 2022 8:57 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Guillermo!

There's a page near the end of the book on how to use DM Yourself with older editions of D&D.

About 80% of the book will work without any changes, the rest you'll have to adapt.

There are two main issues with running DM Yourself with D&D 3.5: Firstly, the abilities of characters and monsters are much more grid-movement and miniatures-based than 5e. The combat AI in DM Yourself handles how enemies behave in general it won't get them to the exact square to flank, or avoid being flanked (and the same goes for many other spells/abilities). Secondly, DM Yourself uses the idea of a 5e Sidekick. For D&D 3.5, you'll either have to adapt a 5e Sidekick, or run two PCs.

Having said all that, I know people have successfully run D&D 3.5 adventures using DM Yourself, so it can definitely be done!
Reply
Customer avatar
Guillermo C February 16, 2022 5:25 am UTC
Thanks Tom.
Final questions. These supplements work with the boo? Dreams of the Red Wizards: Dead in Thay (D&D Next) and Legacy of the Crystal Shard (Next).

also, the DM Yourselves Red, helps with the rules for 3.5?
Reply
Customer avatar
Tom S February 17, 2022 11:13 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I don't have either of those adventures. From looking at previews/reviews of them I think that Legacy of the Crystal Shard should probably work okay (treat the italicised paragraphs following "Read or paraphrase the following:" as the boxed text). I'm not so sure about Dreams of the Red Wizards: Dead in Thay - it looks like there are big puzzles/mechanisms across the whole dungeon that might be difficult to work without reading a big chunk in advance.

As for DM Yourselves - it does have advice on the best way to read non-5e adventures, but there's nothing more on older editions of D&D that isn't in the first book. So, it has lots of extra stuff - on running GM-less games ,and speeding up combat, and emulating Sidekicks/PCs, but nothing specific to 3.5
See 16 more
Narrow Results
$ to $
 Follow Your Favorites!
NotificationsSign in to get custom notifications of new products!















Product Information
Adamantine seller
Author(s)
Artist(s)
Pages
64
File Size:
5.43 MB
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

For PDF download editions, each page has been run through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to attempt to decipher the printed text. The result of this OCR process is placed invisibly behind the picture of each scanned page, to allow for text searching. However, any text in a given book set on a graphical background or in handwritten fonts would most likely not be picked up by the OCR software, and is therefore not searchable. Also, a few larger books may be resampled to fit into the system, and may not have this searchable text background.

For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
pixel_trans.gif
Original electronic format
These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.
File Last Updated:
December 21, 2020
This title was added to our catalog on November 03, 2020.
Publisher
Tom Scutt
Publisher Average Rating