Recommendations for 1 player scenario sought

[razortoy]

Hello all, I haven't played CoC for many more years than I care to admit though lately I have had the bug. There are a few potential players in my area but only one "definite". I'd like to run a really awesome game for him and then use word of mouth to bring in the others.

Do y'all have any suggestions/recommendations on either scenarios or gaming tips? He's an actor and I'm a screenwriter so we are both very much more into the roleplaying aspects than the "killing everything" aspects.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Sinclair]

If you have access to the Cthulhu Companion (might be Fragments of Fear, the sequel, can't remember) the "Paper Trail" scenario is ok, with only 1 possible combat, that is a result of the players being too gun-happy. Although the hook has to be worked in well.

[richardwatts]

I'd also recommend everyone's favourite introductory scenario 'The Haunted House' (to be found in the rulesbook), which can and does work fine for a single investigator.

[wendigogo]

I recommend „Pickman’s Student“ from Dreamlands or “Mansion of Madness” from “Mansions of Madness”. Both can be scaled down to a one-player scenario, are very atmospheric and mostly investigative.
The apparently inescapable fight at the end of the stories can be survived by a single prepared investigator.
I played both the scenarios as a one-on-one.

[GreveMagnus]

I'd also recommend everyone's favourite introductory scenario 'The Haunted House' (to be found in the rulesbook), which can and does work fine for a single investigator.

But for Yog's sake tone down the main bad guy's powers, otherwise your lone investigator is gonna come to a very sticky end!

I find that 'People of the Monolith' (Shadows of Yog-Sothoth) works well for one player.

A lot of the scenarios set in Innsmouth, such as those in Before the Fall, would work well too. 'The Crawford Inheritance' in Escape from Innsmouth should also be very playable with one investigator - even if I managed to lose five investigators when I ran this one!

You could start an Innsmouth campaign using your lone player and one of the scenarios mentioned above, gradually adding investigators as more people become interested, then finish off with 'The Raid on Innsmouth' once you've got a large enough group, for example.

[Sinclair]

5 investigators KIA in "The Crawford Inheritance"? Holy crap! I can understand that for the other 2 scenarios, but unless the players are aggressive, there's, what, one combat?

[GreveMagnus]

5 investigators KIA in "The Crawford Inheritance"? Holy cr***! I can understand that for the other 2 scenarios, but unless the players are aggressive, there's, what, one combat?

The sad episode is summarised in this thread if you really need to know what went wrong. Believe me, nobody was more surprised than I was at the bloodbath that ensued in this apparently straightforward investigation...

[christian]

One player could play a thrilling game with "The Warren" reissued in SOYS. A great adventure, which might end in a gruesome death but will hook your player. Classic adventure: a mystery, lots of digging in the files and books, then the discovery of the ruined house, and a horror beyond human ken. I recommend it. If he's alone, this guy will p*** himself!

[Danharms]

The Unspeakable Oath 13 had my scenario written for one Keeper and one player, if you happen to see it somewhere.

Be careful when retrofitting scenarios for one player. In some scenarios, you can count on the law of averages allowing for a greater chance for some clues to be found. A single player raises the possibility of "roll or die!" situations. Perhaps an NPC servant or other appropriate character should accompany them?

[razortoy]

One player could play a thrilling game with "The Warren" reissued in SOYS. A great adventure, which might end in a gruesome death but will hook your player. Classic adventure: a mystery, lots of digging in the files and books, then the discovery of the ruined house, and a horror beyond human ken. I recommend it. If he's alone, this guy will p*** himself!

I almost picked up SoYS but was scared off by the introduction saying it was for more experienced players.

[christian]

SOYS if a great adventure, the first I played, 20something years ago. It is a campaign for many players. The Warren is a great scenario that could be tailored for one player, maybe with some outside help. And reading soys will make you want to run it anyway