So you want to do some solo tabletop gaming? We went absolutely batty during the pandemic and starting to explore all sorts of ways to get the most out of our games. I started buying up half of Amazon trying to improve my games. Much of the lists on this page are things I would put in my backpack if I was going to a park or would generally just keep on my desk to help me out (see more of my kit in this article). Eventually I thought I would start asking others what they use to help their games and decided to share this list with you!

These are organized into the following sections:

1. The general kit
2. Oracles & generators
3. Recording & art
4. Organizing & mobility
5. Getting into the "zone"
6. Maps

This list will constantly be expanding any time I find or learn of something I think should be added. Have a suggestion? Reach out to @bugandclaw on Twitter. The main things that won't be on this list is gaming books. The best books of things like oracles, random tables, and so on, are such expansive topics that we'll get into that separately. There are also items on this list that may have you ask but why wouldn't I use my computer/phone/device for that? And the answer to that might be go ahead, but if you're feeling like a purest, don't want distractions, to get pulled out of the experience, or just want to avoid the glow of a screen, some of these options are for you. They're options, not prescriptions.

So, without further delay...

Equipment tables

The general kit

Oracles & generators

If you aren't familiar, oracles are game mechanics that uses randomness to answer a questions or guide narration in an uncertain situation. They have evolved a lot over the last few years, especially during the pandemic when solo play gained major traction. There are entire books of self-contained oracles, as well as artificial intelligence apps that play the role. As for me, I like dice, cards, simple game mechanics, prompts, and imagination, before I head to a hefty book or table. If you get used to it, it can keep things moving faster, too. Try some of them out!

Recording & art

If you're interested in adding more sketching and art to your gaming kit then, as a trained illustrator and professional product designer with a bachelor's degree in design, these are some of the starting bits I recommend. I will try to add to this over time as well. I can't speak enough about straps/pen loops and roll-ups for your pencils though so they don't bang against each other causing the leads inside to break or for the tools to otherwise get messy.

Organizing & mobility

I've noticed a lot of folks trying to sell these big, expensive, specialized TTRPG bags with all of these neat compartments for dice, printouts, and things like that. I don't think we need things like that. A simple bag or backpack to put things in, and a few things to help you read, travel, and roll (or however you play), is all I think you need. I was hesitant to add point counters to this list but a lot of folks report them aiding memory and the tactile aspect aiding like a fidget spinner would with attention.

Getting into "the zone"

There's no one item that can help you get into the zone. I've had some really interesting recommendations, though. For example, one person on reddit told me they would use spent bullet casings as their tokens in a game where their character had to shoot a gun to track ammunition. Many folks like to hold something (like a focus object), fondle or squeeze something (I sometimes wear mala prayer beads and flip them back and forth between fingers), or some other folks just like to have interesting objects nearby. I've read about a couple of players who like to try and eat what their character might eat while they play– though you may want to be careful with that!

You might even bleed this into your other equipment: playing a spy game that requires a deck of cards? Maybe you get a James Bond themed deck of cards. Whether it's a shiny stone, candle, or spent bullet casing, it's important to add items to your solo roleplaying equipment that help get you into "the zone".

Maps