American Revolution Solo: A Wargaming Campaign for One Player

07/01/2025

Warlord Games box art

Looking to play with your Thirteen Colonies to overthrown the tyrannical British Government, but can’t round up any opponents this weekend? Play solo – it can be very fun! Here’s a guide for my solo American Revolution campaign, with story-driven branching paths and unique event cards.


1. Establish the Scope of Your Campaign

Before diving into scenario planning, decide on the overarching narrative and scale of your campaign.

  1. Geographic Focus
    • Will your campaign center on a single region (e.g., the Hudson River Valley or the Carolinas), or span the full Eastern Seaboard?
    • A tighter geographic focus can lend depth, while a broader scope offers variety in terrain and strategic choices.
  2. Time Frame
    • Do you want to cover the entire war from Lexington and Concord in 1775 to Yorktown in 1781?
    • Or will you zoom in on a shorter period, like the pivotal Saratoga campaign of 1777?
  3. Forces and Factions
    • Decide which sides you’ll represent. Perhaps you’ll command Continental forces, while an “AI” system directs British (and Hessian) opposition.
    • If you want more complexity, include loyalist militia or French allies as wildcard forces.

2. Create a Branching Narrative Structure

A narrative campaign shines when the outcomes of each engagement have real consequences for future battles. By planning out branching paths, you can ensure that your decisions and results tangibly affect the unfolding story.

  1. Decision Points
    • Identify key decision moments before or after each battle:
      • “Do I send reinforcements to defend a frontier fort or move them to intercept a British raiding party?”
      • “Should I attempt a nighttime ambush or prepare a fortified defensive position?”
  2. Victory and Defeat Consequences
    • Each scenario’s outcome should shape the next:
      • If you secure a victory, perhaps you gain an advantage card (e.g., extra supplies, intelligence on enemy movements).
      • If you lose, you might face a resource penalty (e.g., fewer troops or less artillery support).
  3. Optional Narrative Threads
    • Not every decision has to be a grand turning point. Sprinkle in smaller, optional missions (like scouting an enemy camp or rescuing a captured officer) that yield small but meaningful campaign modifiers.

3. Designing Your “AI” Opponent

Playing solo means you’ll need to devise a reliable yet challenging system to control the opposition. This “AI” can be as simple or complex as you like, but the key is consistency.

  1. Scripted Behavior
    • Pre-write guidelines for how the British (or whichever faction you’re not actively controlling) respond in different scenarios.
    • For example, if the enemy is on defense, you might roll a die to decide whether they stage a counterattack or hold their ground.
  2. Randomization Tables
    • Draft a small table that dictates AI behavior at key moments.
    • Example:
      Roll (d6) AI Action
      1–2 Aggressive maneuver/charge
      3–4 Steady advance/hold ground
      5 Defensive fallback
      6 Attempt a flank attack or special tactic
  3. Escalation Rules
    • If the AI is consistently losing, it might start deploying reinforcements more aggressively.
    • If they’re winning, they could undertake riskier tactics in an attempt to crush the rebellion quickly.

4. Incorporating Unique Event Cards

Event cards can add an element of unpredictability and storytelling to your campaign. Draw one at the start of a turn or after a particular trigger (e.g., once a side has lost a certain number of units).

  1. Types of Events
    • Strategic Events: “A local militia unit joins your cause,” granting extra forces in the next battle.
    • Logistical Events: “Supply lines are disrupted,” reducing the ammunition or artillery available for your next battle.
    • Weather Events: “Heavy rains set in,” making musket misfires more likely or muddying roads.
    • Character-Driven Events: “Patriot Spy Network Expands,” revealing enemy deployments in the next scenario.
  2. Designing the Cards
    • Keep the text short and the impact clear.
    • Use historical flavor text to immerse yourself in the period: “Spurred by the rhetoric of Tom Paine’s Common Sense, local farmers rally to aid your cause!”
  3. Balancing Good and Bad
    • Shuffle a roughly equal mix of positive, negative, and neutral events into your deck.
    • Adjust the ratio depending on how much you want to challenge yourself.

5. Scenario Development

Once you know your campaign outline, AI system, and event cards, it’s time to craft the individual battles.

  1. Historical Inspiration
    • Look to real skirmishes or battles for scenario frameworks. For instance, replicate the terrain of Bunker Hill or the approach to Saratoga, even if the actual forces or outcomes differ.
  2. Scenario Objectives
    • Objectives might include capturing a vital crossroad, seizing artillery, or evacuating civilians from a threatened settlement.
    • Use variety: sometimes the Continentals might be on offense, other times on defense, or perhaps you run a timed scenario (hold out for X turns until reinforcements arrive).
  3. Layering Mini Objectives
    • Alongside the main objective, add small challenges that could influence future battles.
    • For example, “Recover the British officer’s dispatches for +1 intelligence bonus next game.”

6. Tracking Progress & Record-Keeping

Keeping good records is essential for a solo narrative campaign. This ensures continuity and helps you see the bigger picture as your story unfolds.

  1. Campaign Journal
    • Maintain a simple notebook or document where you record outcomes of each battle, key decisions, and event cards drawn.
    • Include brief summaries—did you pull off a surprise flank maneuver, or were your forces routed by superior firepower?
  2. Casualties and Reinforcements
    • Keep track of which units were depleted or destroyed.
    • If you plan multi-battle arcs, you might allow battered regiments to recover some strength between scenarios based on supply levels or event draws.
  3. Narrative Highlights
    • Jot down memorable moments or “heroic” actions taken by certain units or commanders.
    • These details can inspire later scenarios or shape special event cards (e.g., “Sergeant Wilkins Rallies the Men” grants a morale boost).

7. Adding Thematic Flavor

To bring your solo campaign to life, go beyond the tabletop. Immerse yourself in the era’s sights, sounds, and stories.

  1. Historical Atmosphere
    • Listen to period music or ambient sounds of drums and fifes while playing.
    • Display period-appropriate flags, documents, or mini props to set the scene.
  2. Notable Personalities
    • Incorporate historical figures like George Washington, Benedict Arnold, or Banastre Tarleton.
    • Give them special abilities or event cards that reflect their historical reputations. For instance, Washington might confer a morale bonus, while Benedict Arnold could present a surprise betrayal scenario if certain conditions are met.
  3. Newspaper-Style Reports
    • After each engagement, write a short “front-page” blurb as though published in a local gazette.
    • This extra step can transform a simple dice-and-minis session into a living narrative.

8. Tips for Sustaining Interest

Long campaigns can peter out if not managed well. Here’s how to keep your momentum:

  1. Vary Scenario Types
    • Mix standard battles with raids, ambushes, siege scenarios, or infiltration missions.
    • This variety keeps your creativity engaged and your tabletop experiences fresh.
  2. Pace Yourself
    • Don’t over-plan. Too many branching paths can lead to “campaign overload.”
    • Focus on a handful of key decision points that shape the story without bogging you down.
  3. Reward Exploration
    • Include “secret” events or hidden bonuses for scouting or controlling lesser-known locations.
    • These pleasant surprises encourage you to explore more of your campaign world.
  4. Check in with Your Motivation
    • Periodically ask yourself what aspects of the campaign are most fun or interesting. Adjust accordingly if you find parts of the experience are dragging.

9. Conclusion

A solo narrative campaign set during the American Revolution can bring the drama of 18th-century warfare to your tabletop in a uniquely personal way. By crafting a branching storyline, designing an “AI” opponent, using thematic event cards, and immersing yourself in the era’s details, you’ll create a dynamic and satisfying solo experience. Keep track of your progress, celebrate the high and low points, and let the evolving story guide your path to either a fledgling republic’s triumph or a British victory that changes the course of history.

Now muster your miniatures, set up that tabletop, and step into the shoes of a commander – your solo American Revolution campaign awaits!

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