Links from This Episode
🔹 Grim Dark Future: Star Quest by One Page Rules
🔹 Five Parsecs from Home by Ivan Sorensen (Nordic Weasel Games)
🎙️ Podcast Summary: Solitaire Sci-Fi Wargaming
This podcast summary was generated using AI. It has been checked for accuracy by Kev & Tom.
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In this solo episode, Kev explores solitaire and cooperative wargaming through two games:
🔹 Grim Dark Future: Star Quest by One Page Rules
🔹 Five Parsecs from Home by Ivan Sorensen (Nordic Weasel Games)
🛸 Why Solitaire Wargaming?
Kev shares a personal story from 1999 about outsider culture, relating it to his preference for less mainstream, miniatures-agnostic games. He enjoys systems that allow for creativity with old or unusual miniatures, outside the commercial dominance of Warhammer.
🕹️ Game Comparisons: Star Quest vs. Five Parsecs from Home
| Feature | Star Quest | Five Parsecs from Home |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity | Simple (1-page rules, web app support) | Deep (180-page rulebook, mostly D100 tables) |
| Character Creation | Quick, predefined options | Procedural generation with rich backstories |
| Story Depth | Minimal built-in narrative | Emergent storytelling with patrons, quests, rivals |
| Gameplay | Fast, light, good for casual fun | RPG-lite campaign with evolving crew & ship |
| Combat Feel | Slog at times, dice randomness | Deadly, tactical, story-driven |
| AI / Enemy Behavior | Basic automata | Six AI profiles, complex enemy tables |
🎮 Key Takeaways
- Star Quest is a quick, accessible experience, ideal for light cooperative play sessions.
- Five Parsecs offers a rich, evolving campaign world, suited for players wanting an RPG-lite wargame with deep narrative.
- Both use simple D6 mechanics, but Five Parsecs shines in its procedural storytelling.
🤖 Creative Use of AI in Gaming
Kev highlights how his friend James used ChatGPT to generate dynamic missions for Star Quest, turning it into a more story-driven experience by creating a “vibe-coded” retro terminal interface.
🧠 Final Thoughts
- Five Parsecs deserves a full episode of its own, given its depth.
- Kev appreciates the accessibility of Star Quest for casual fun but values the depth and emergent stories of Five Parsecs.
- The episode underscores the charm of solitaire gaming as a personal, narrative-rich hobby.
📣 Outro
Kev invites listeners to check out the podcast’s back catalog, join the Discord community, and consider supporting via Patreon for bonus content and early access.
Twenty Minute Tabletop Podcast 
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