itch.io

Also note these are flat topped hexes. If you prefer pointy tops, that works too, I'd recommend using 1st letter =+NE/-SW, 2nd = +E/-W, 3rd = +SE/-NW.

An example map.

I am currently testing a clock system! This will likely be the subject of my next devlog.

Wow, some very nice words, thank you.

I'm intending to put together an actual play that shows the tools in use. I know what you mean about mental fatigue; I'd say more about it but I haven't solved that myself, yet. Basically if I end a session on a good note, I'm ready to play again very soon. And if it's mediocre, I find it hard to get back into it. But I think that's true about any solo RPG.

Regarding memorization and mental grids, this is a big subject. I've studied techniques like the Method of Loci, and the Major System. While worthwhile to learn, and a fun party trick to recite 100 digits of pi,it's overkill to learn them JUST FOR HANDS-FREE. If I could come up with a simplified version...

As for PWYW, I intend to put up a donation box after Hands-Free settles a bit more. I keep making lots of changes. I'm glad you learned the acronyms, but you know know I'm actively considering changing some of them. I think "BEGINS" needs some more work. I've also been toying with a better genre randomizer.

The TIMERS thing means I'm terrible at editing. It will be fixed in the next version. As for AI, I thought if I was completely above board on what parts of AI art I did use that people would accept it, but I completely underestimated how much the RPG community hates AI art. I want focus to be on the game  and not AI, so when I have the time I'll excise the offending elements. Thanks for your feedback.

Death portals and the artificial core were both courtesy of the "secret" category. I love that you roll it last, adds a nice twist.

I did it rockless, but I love the idea. The creation of the planets bit by bit and analysis of colony viability was a blast to play. The summary from my crew of colony engineers:

Fonda-3 is the worst. It is breathable, but landmass is scant, no native food to be found, and temperature spikes are deadly. A artificial metallic core with no known purpose also leaves us concerned.

Fonda-1 is breathable in a pinch, but we’ll have to subsist on ice bugs and invest in tunnel infrastructure between bases which must be positioned between ridges to protect from intense weather.

Fonda-4 is next best. Breathable atmosphere, but the surface is dangerous (flying beasts, meteors, stray death portals) and an underground base built to be structurally sound will be quite costly.

Fonda-2 is clearly the best choice. Full stop. Requires work with lightning and pest mitigation, but otherwise is a beautiful planet for us. Welcome home, folks.

I made Lick-29, a frog ship, a sloshy but sleek colony vessel hopping its way to Swamp Candidate 462. Many amphibians gave their life so that the future generations could visit Licky, which is now a history museum, and eat Impossible Flies that nobody eats anymore and you only try it here out of nostalgia.

The musical interludes were fantastic. I wound up playing Frogs by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds during the final rest. It was majestic.

After five turns of guilt, I am a master of procrastination. I defeated guilt once and had to clean my kitchen. :(

I saw your request over at /r/Solo_RolePlaying. Making the document screen-readable sounds like a great idea for a system like this. A Doc version is a bit hard to do because it's all in Homebrewery Markup, but the markup is a text file and in itself might be interpretable by a screen reader. I'll upload it here.

That's awesome! 

Zoltar is a great way to ask for more information without yes/no.  Instead of asking "Is there a magic portal?" you could ask, "What do I discover?" In one shot, the resulting word could lead you to a magic portal or a dwarf in a tree or just an eerie silence.

I would LOVE to hear what you've done with it!