ABOUT MICRO RPG
Micro RPG It is a one person indie small press publisher of solitaire role-playing games! My name is Noah Patterson and I am a queer and autistic designer who specializes in solitaire and cooperative tabletop role-playing games. My goal is to create simple and accessible tabletop games that can be played solo, co-op, or even in a traditional manner with a Game Master. As a genderqueer, nonbinary, autistic person, I try to make all of my games welcoming and inclusive for everyone who wishes to game with an open mind. This means my game books include inclusive language, pronouns, and stories about LGBTQ+ and autistic characters.
If you don't like this aspect of my company, or disagree with the ethics and ideals of being inclusive to everyone regardless of sexuality, gender, race, etc. please find a different game system, as there are many many systems out there for you. Just not this one.
If you ARE okay with these aspects of my company and the game system, WELCOME! I am happy to have you here!
If you don't like this aspect of my company, or disagree with the ethics and ideals of being inclusive to everyone regardless of sexuality, gender, race, etc. please find a different game system, as there are many many systems out there for you. Just not this one.
If you ARE okay with these aspects of my company and the game system, WELCOME! I am happy to have you here!
What is the Micro RPG System?
MICRO RPG (also known in past iterations as Micro Chapbook RPG) is an easy solo role-playing system that spans many genres. At its heart, it is a dungeon crawler. It uses randomized die rolls and tables to build the adventure as you play! However, more than a dungeon crawler with dice and tables, it is a personal storytelling game to help you live out your deepest heroic fantasies. The system is used for the Gay Realms world of books as well as many other genres including horror, gothic, sci-fi, science fantasy, and many more.
How Micro RPG Came to Be
The earliest iteration of Micro RPG, and the advent of the company, comes from early 2016 in a game titled The Dark West. It was a tiny book that I made mostly so that me, my brother, and my closest friend could play grim Italian Western style role playing sessions. That strange and distant game book used a deck of cards over dice to capture the "poker" aspect of the wild west. After our enjoyment of the game, I put the rules together in a very, very simplistic and bare bones booklet for sale on DriveThruRPG and Amazon print services . . . and quickly forgot about it.
I did various other tiny projects over the years, including a Sword and Sorcery Barbarian version of the game, as well as other little free roll and writes (such as One Page Dungeon), but mostly never thought it would amount to anything.
Then came 2020.
I did various other tiny projects over the years, including a Sword and Sorcery Barbarian version of the game, as well as other little free roll and writes (such as One Page Dungeon), but mostly never thought it would amount to anything.
Then came 2020.
Micro RPG During the Pandemic
Micro RPG as it is better recognized now began as a single page (printed on both sides) micro game that I created and gave away for free at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020. (Skeleton Cavern, which is pictured here, was one of the most popular one-page Miro RPG releases) At the time, I only asked customers to donate a dollar or two if they could spare it to help continue supporting new game releases, otherwise, they could have the game for free and just enjoy it during a difficult time when we were all locked down inside out homes.
Thankfully, the game system really skyrocketed in popularity due to its simplicity, ease of access, and ability to play the game solo. I realized I needed to keep up with the market and began putting out new single page adventures and micro expansions each week or so. The game has grown organically over time. I've tweaked it, updated it, and changed it many many times during its lifespan thus far.
Thankfully, the game system really skyrocketed in popularity due to its simplicity, ease of access, and ability to play the game solo. I realized I needed to keep up with the market and began putting out new single page adventures and micro expansions each week or so. The game has grown organically over time. I've tweaked it, updated it, and changed it many many times during its lifespan thus far.
Growth and Change of Micro RPG
You see, I didn't set out to be a full time game designer and game book writer. This was a side hobby next to my usual ghost writing I did for a larger indie mystery publisher. However, when the game started doing so well, and I realized I could make this my full-time job, I did.
Since than, Micro RPG has morphed and changed as I saw it needed updating, or I got new ideas or inspirations. This has been a sort of "two-steps forward, one step back" sort of journey as I've learned more about indie publishing, indie game design, and how to run a micro publisher in general.
As such, Micro RPG, while always popular, hasn't always been consistent. There is a TON of content out there for the system. So much so that there is probably a little something for every gamer out there. This also means Micro RPG can be a bit confusing/overwhelming for newcomers, can get too complex in some iterations and books, and was ultimately spread a little thin as I explored and learned more.
Since than, Micro RPG has morphed and changed as I saw it needed updating, or I got new ideas or inspirations. This has been a sort of "two-steps forward, one step back" sort of journey as I've learned more about indie publishing, indie game design, and how to run a micro publisher in general.
As such, Micro RPG, while always popular, hasn't always been consistent. There is a TON of content out there for the system. So much so that there is probably a little something for every gamer out there. This also means Micro RPG can be a bit confusing/overwhelming for newcomers, can get too complex in some iterations and books, and was ultimately spread a little thin as I explored and learned more.
Present and Future of Micro RPG
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The newest edition of Micro RPG is out now. This edition is called Micro RPG-R (with the R standing for Revised, Retro, and Return). With the many many previous editions of Micro RPG, including advanced rules books reaching nearly 200 pages, I realized the game was getting much too far from the "Micro" elements I had created. Thus, this current edition is a return to form, all while using the skills I've gained in game design, graphic design, and business to make it the best version possible.
And the greatest part? It is compatible with all the older versions with a few simple conversions as outlined in the Starter and Core Rules. And these two books ARE the best place to start playing Micro RPG now if you are a newcomer to the system. Micro RPG-R (and the inexpensive Starter) is out right now in PRINT on Amazon and in PDF on DriveThruRPG. Finally, there are expansions for Micro RPG-R including mini adventure series (released every week or two on DriveThruRPG) as well as world expansions, hero packs, and more. For the majority of these, you will need either the Starter or Core Rules. |
