One-Shots: New Adventures, Familiar Faces

I’m really excited about this new gaming venture I’m starting: hosting a different RPG each month locally with a bunch of one-shot sessions, focusing on the Starter Set adventures. We’re calling them Dice Monkey Monthly One-Shots, the perfect way to get a taste of all those game systems I’ve been curious about while keeping our tabletop games lively. Most exciting of all, though, is the opportunity to catch up with friends I haven’t played with in forever. And, in a one-shot format, it’s easy for someone to drop in or out without it being a big deal. It’s great for keeping things casual and switching it up.

We’re starting this whole shindig with Hackmaster and diving straight into the adventure White Palette, Ivory Horns. This game is the right mix of strategy and fun gameplay to hopefully get all players in the right spirit for what follows. I am excited to see in what ways we all rise to Hackmaster’s challenges.

After our Hackmaster kickoff, we ride into the sunset with Aces & Eights and its amazing “shot clock” gunfight system. The base mechanics are similar to Hackmaster, along with a ton of new ones. We’ll likely be playing their big train heist adventure, Trouble on the Sequoya Star. Then we switch gears and head off into the dystopian future with Blade Runner, where it’s not just solving cases but wrestling with deep ethical dilemmas. Interlinked.

Then we’re tackling Alien, with its signature combo of horror and suspense, stranded in space where the danger is not just from the xenomorphs on the ship but also corporate greed and deception.

In the following months, we’ll be leaping into the colorful pages of Sentinel Comics, where we will get to be the heroes—or villains—saving the day in epic comic book style. When something darker seems to suit our moods, there’s always Zweihander with its grim and perilous quests.

And, of course, we can’t leave out The One Ring. It will be our pass to Middle-earth, enjoying the beauty and adventure of Tolkien’s world in a game more about the journey than just swinging swords.

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A million reasons make one-shot RPG sessions cool. First off, they’re super flexible. You can come for a game night without any concern that it’s a serious long-term commitment. It’s perfect for the curious who want to know what an RPG is all about, without having to find empty dates in busy schedules for a regular campaign. You can actually go on a full-fledged adventure from beginning to end in just one night. After that, you’re welcome to come back for more, or just take off with no strings attached. Besides, one-shots are the ultimate playground for trying new stuff out. Ever wanted to play a sneaky rogue or a wise-cracking wizard but didn’t know if you’d enjoy doing it long term? Here’s your chance to give it a go, and without any pressure at that. This is also a great opportunity for me to play with different game systems and ideas for stories.

I get to see what’s clicked, what might need a little bit more of a tweak, but I get to keep things fresh and exciting for everyone.

And, of course, there are the social benefits. These one-shot nights serve as ideal catalysts for bringing new people into the fold. Every night of gaming is a chance to meet new folks, catch up with old friends, throw dice, and slay dragons. It keeps our gaming circle vibrant and ever-changing, which is a huge part of the fun.

These are going to be relaxed, creative, and fun monthly one-shots. I’m all geared up for the start and I am eager to see where the stories lead us. Each session is a new adventure, so I can hardly wait for the moment when we all dive in.

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