Solo RPG Hexcrawls: A Beginner's Guide to Solo & Co-op Hexcrawling

Second edition: An updated version with new chapters is now available in paperback.

When I first stumbled upon the concept of hexcrawls, I had no idea how much it would reshape the way I thought about tabletop role-playing games. It was a simple idea—explore the world one hex at a time—but within that simplicity, I found something truly profound. Unlike traditional, linear RPGs that guide you from one pre-defined plot point to the next, a hexcrawl allows you to carve your own path. It hands you the map (sometimes quite literally) and says: Go. Discover. Shape the world as you explore it.

That sense of freedom is what drew me in. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching your characters venture into the unknown, knowing that every choice you make has the potential to lead to adventure, danger, or discovery.

Solo RPG Hexcrawls is born from a desire to explore that potential, to unlock what makes hexcrawling such a powerful and flexible tool for role-playing games. It explains the concept of hexcrawls and how to implement them in solo and cooperative play. The book offers a historical overview of hexcrawls in RPGs, tracing their roots from early wargames to modern solo and co-op Hexcrawl RPGs.

This title is a sourcebook on hexcrawl exploration, practices and tools. This is not a ready-to-play hexcrawl system, adventure module, or setting. Instead, it provides instruction, analysis, and recommendations for utilizing hexcrawls effectively. Solo RPG Hexcrawls also discusses emergent storytelling, where the narrative unfolds through the players' exploration and decisions. The book emphasizes the flexibility of hexcrawls and how they can be adapted to various RPG systems and genres, including fantasy, science fiction, and historical settings. It provides advanced strategies and tools for long-term campaigns.

This book is ideal for:

• Beginners interested in learning about hexcrawls and open-world exploration in RPGs.
• Solo and cooperative players looking for structured ways to explore and create stories without a traditional game master.
• Players looking to learn how to facilitate emergent storytelling. Discover how player choices and exploration drive the narrative in open-world environments.

This book may not be suitable for:

• Players seeking a ready-to-play hexcrawl system, adventure module, or pre-written campaign with a fixed plot.
• Those who prefer highly structured, linear RPG experiences.
• Players who dislike randomness and unpredictability in their games.

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