Starting a solo play TTRPG podcast

Hi, I’m Coop the GM. This is a brief outline of the reasons I wanted to start a solo play of tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG), Degenesis. The game was developed by Berlin-based studio SixMoreVodka, but was conceived in the early 2000s as the brainchild of Marko Djurdjevic and Christian Gunther.

1. Solo play scratches an itch

As much as I love being an active player character (PC) in table top roleplaying games (TTRPGs), I’ve always loved storytelling more and found myself leaning toward bigger game master (GM) roles. I’d voraciously consume the foundational mechanics of the game to craft robust gameplay sessions for my PCs. This has extended into this experiment you’re listening to now. I felt that the combination of apocalyptic audio-drama and solo play RPG really lends itself to this system and it’s diverse cast of characters that encourages more roleplaying with less dice-rolling.

2. Building a community is rewarding

If you’re new to the TTRPG community, welcome! I have found lasting friendships that encourage creativity and self-expression (as well as a provide a reason to stay in on weekend nights around a table, or a webcam). Thankfully, I found encouragement to pursue this type of storytelling by other similar podcasts. I’d like to give a shoutout to Red Moon Roleplaying and Tale of the Manticore, specifically, for their inspired approaches to storytelling in this space.

3. Easy rules to learn, but a challenge to master

Echoes of Eshaton is an audio drama with an emphasis on immersive storytelling. Episodes will tend to be short (15-30 mins) but action packed to keep things clipping along. Additionally, I will recap every few episodes to keep new listeners up to speed and continuing listeners apprised of the current story. Rather than slow down the pace of the game with excessive breaks to explain every facet of the system or world writ large, I plan to take diligent notes about rolling stats, overworld beats, and character profiles. Look for new episodes every Friday, available wherever podcasts are found!

Let your voice be heard! Vote in polls, answer Q&As, and leave a rating on Spotify!

4. Telling a mature (but fun) story

Degenesis is a mature world in which people live, sweat, bleed and die. I will not shy away from descriptions of violence, gore, sex, or drug and alcohol use in the stories I write. However, I will not embrace gratuitous use of these elements if they do not benefit the story. There is plenty of pulp fiction to be found elsewhere, but I want to write and record something gripping and genuine. I hope you listeners feel the same!

5. Creating is better together

Although there is a wealth of freemium content on the internet, I’m always keen to have people contribute something of their own to the show. You can send me a piece of artwork, music, or anything you’ve put some creative power into at echoesofeschaton@gmail.com

Thanks for reading and listening ❤

Yours eternally,

Coop the GM