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This one page document serves as both a guide and a template for crafting SGS (Second Guess System) games.

Initially crafted  while musing on an Edgar Allen Poe Inspired setup for a game that came to be called One White Eye, I later wrote the following explanation of my thought process:

This also came quickly with the realization that a game of such narrow scope really only needed to be a single page. Thus, the system would have to be short and tight as well. As mentioned, I've been researching a great deal of Wretched and Alone games over the past few months. It's a great system and setup. I only had to figure out how to strip it down in size as 52 prompts is a great deal to fit on that single page. I needed a smaller number, but still needed some random determination to change the flow of the game. And thus, a d20 with twenty prompts.

Of course, one of the best features of W&A using a deck of cards is that it eliminates the recurrence of the same prompt more than once. With a d20, this is a problem, unless you institute a reroll each time you get a number you had previously used. But a simple reroll felt narratively and mechanically flat. Where's the risk or reward in this game? How does it end?

Which lead straight to the idea that the game won't stop you from rolling the same numbers and prompts, but it will twist what happens. Everyone lies all the time. They lie to each other and the lie to themselves. What if each time you rolled a prompt over again you had to admit to something that you had lied about previously in that prompt? Surely someone imprisoned like this has been lying about something.

From there, we just add a quick d6 roll and an escalating tracker of your Dread which must be beaten or elsewise you succumb, and there you have it - a game!

Check out the full document for a little more insight into the core factors that make up a Second Guess Game such as uncertainty and quite possibly, inevitability. 

Other SGS Games by Gamenomicon:

One White Eye - Poe inspired horror reminiscent of The Pit & The Pendulum and The Tell Tale Heart,

The Date - Full of trepidation, you head out on your first date with a new potential lover.

The Second Guess System was inspired by:

StatusReleased
CategoryPhysical game
Rating
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
(37 total ratings)
AuthorGamenomicon
GenreRole Playing
Tagssolo, srd, system-resource-document, Tabletop

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Click download now to get access to the following files:

Second Guess System SRD final.pdf 110 kB
Second Guess System logo.png 158 kB

Comments

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(+1)

Love the Second Guess System, got me into solo journaling RPGs. Finally settled on an idea of my own. Thanks for the great inspiration! https://serialprizes.itch.io/a-wonderful-awful-idea

(+2)

Great SRD, it gives me a lot of games ideas! 

(+2)

I just wrote one actually
https://nadg.itch.io/cracks-in-the-shell

(+1)

I really like the one-page SRD for designing one-page games. I'm a big fan of Wretched and Alone, and cant wait to see what comes out for Second Guess. I have included a review on my Solo RPG blog https://rpgsologames.com/second-guess-system-srd/

Thanks, Ray! It means a lot to me that you reviewed the SRd and even better, you like it!


Keep your eyes peeled for a second Jam this summer!

(+2)

Thank you for the very clear SRD. I put together my very first ttrpg game EVER using The Second Guess System. =)

That's great! Would you link the game here so I can check it out?

Oh certainly! I changed the mechanic a little bit, I wanted to give the neutral prompts a little more punch, so that's where the d6 went in. https://harvestmousegames.itch.io/the-long-road-to-edo

(+1)

Hi there! I am putting together a Second Guess game and after stumbling into a way better design solution than I had before, I think I'm looking at white text on a dark background. Do you happen to have a white version of the Second Guess logo?

(+1)

Updated here -- I published my Second Guess game! Your info and CCBY4 are in there. If you end up making a lighter logo for dark backgrounds, I'll happily add it in. Thanks so much for putting this out there, I really love this system. 

(1 edit) (+1)

A clear and concise SRD. I'm especially fond of the fact that it's a one-page SRD for a one-page TTRPG.

(+1)

Is there anything specific that needs to be put on a Second Guess game crediting the system? Is the image necessary or just a line saying what system is used?

(+1)

No, the logo is a nice extra but not required.

(+1)

ok, thanks! Just wanted to know going into things what all to factor into the layout.

(+1)

The Jam is live! https://itch.io/jam/second-guess-jam

(+2)

Also, expect a jam coming this summer!