Scene Unfolding Machine for Solo RPG
A downloadable game
The Scene Unfolding Machine (SUM) is a supplement of random tables to get ideas during your roleplaying games. It has been created for solo or GM-less play in mind, but you can use it as a way to improvise content as you play.
Its focus lies on Scene content, and NPC interaction and personalities. It gives you innumerable combinations of character behavior, personalities, first impression and even dialogue prompts. On top of that, it includes elements of surprise, reactions, and ways to open up new scenes.
SUM is a must-have resource to expand your Solo RPG setup by giving your Scenes and NPCs a lot more of depth, particularly when you run out of ideas! It expands any solo system, working best with my other supplements: PUM and GUM.
Now available! PUM Companion - The app to play PUM-SUM-GUM seamlessly
Features
- Scene Emulation
- Help yourself to get scenes started, and wrapping them up
- Figure out what happens while your PCs are still thinking
- Discover how the universe would react to your PCs crazy ideas
- Design exploration, combat, and investigation scenes
- Flesh out your characters' discoveries and the clues they find
- Character Emulation
- Get a feel of the attitude of characters you meet
- Learn how characters react to your PCs ideas
- Get a distant impression of your characters
- Figure out what do characters talk about
- Find out whether the characters are being honest
- Figure out your characters' parallel agenda
- Define interesting bonds between your characters
- Customize your dice rolling with a BIAS, so things fit your expectations
Discuss SUM on Discord
LANGUAGES: English, Spanish
Difference between PUM, GUM, and SUM?
PUM is a GM emulator for driving plots and storytelling. SUM is a supplement for Scene and NPC emulation and bringing them to life. GUM v2 is a set of abstract random tables and generators for game prep and world building. With all three you have an infinite Solo RPG setup and a source of ideas to play on the fly.
This video explains these differences much better.
Digital Tools to play SUM
- PUM Companion the official app for PUM-SUM-GUM
- Play as you type in your PC with Play by the Writing
- Play in Foundry VTT through the Mythic GME Tools module
Join me and let me know how this works for you :)
Check out my blog here: https://www.unfolding-machines.com/ for actual plays and other goodies
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of 6.00€ EUR. You will get access to the following files:
Development log
- Scene unfolding machine v8 update!25 days ago
- Scene Unfolding Machine v7 FINAL release!Mar 22, 2024
- SUM v6 Released!!!Dec 13, 2023
- SUM v6 rev3 updateDec 12, 2023
- SUM v5 Rev 2 Release + SPANISHDec 04, 2023
- Scene Unfolding Machine V5 (2023) Released!Dec 03, 2023
- SUM v4.0 ReleasedNov 07, 2022
- SUM v4.0-Preview is released!Nov 06, 2022
Comments
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May I suggest that older versions be preserved for download if some sections were moved to another product / removed from this product? I feel that I have to buy all three just to not lose access to chunks of oracles. First the grand oracles were moved from SUM to GUM, and now the character archetypes are gone.
Hi, sorry about that, I know it may feel frustrating, I am trying to align the purpose of the oracles as much as I can so they are better represented and new players understand their meaning.
I can't permanently show older versions as that might cause more problems than solutions. But I'll enable the previous one for a few more days for others feeling like you do. Of course GUM is getting really powerful for building characters, so all character creation ideas are in one place now :)
Best of funs!
Where can I get the free versions of SUM and GUM?
Hello Moondragon077, unfortunately they are not available anymore, I could not maintain them.
If you can't afford them please send me a message and we can find a way so you can play.
Best
Where do I send a message? I tried your blog link, and it gave me a safety warning.
On Discord in the server links above, or jeansenvaars@disroot.org - thanks!
Hi - I finally purchased SUM (along with PUM) and so far I'm really impressed :)
I do have one question however, how can I acess the tables (action, adjective, etc) from V.6? The latest version (7) does not seem to include them.
Hey xel! Thanks. Made a hard call and to avoid repetition, those oracle tables are in the GUM file. You can also find them in the free versions of SUM and GUM.
Thanks a lot for the reply as well as your work on the GMEs!
Understandable. I did check out the older version that has 'em, but I still preferred to ask in case much has changed about them or I ended up missing something. The variety is insane on those tables and so they're definitely a must-have for me :) will definitely keep using them.
Hi JeansenVaars, I think the product looks great, unfortunately, they have recently disabled PayPal in Thailand for non-Thai's. Is there any other way I can get some funds to you?
Cheers and happy festive season:-)
Thank you, Opus, don't worry so much. Your thanks and liking this product is already a huge thing for me. Please enjoy it, and why not share an actual play someday :)
HI Jensen, Happy New Year 2025:-) is there anyway I can get the funds to you as I really liked the look of App. PayPal still has a problem in Thailand. I have a bank account in SNG if needed I can TX some funds to you:-) Take care of your self:-)
Hello Opus! It is also available on DriveThruRPG if you look for it, they have other payment methods. Have you tried? Thank you and happy new year too!
Thank you! I'm excited to try this and PUM!
Ooh I love the look of those d100 tables! For some reason I keep finding myself gravitating toward big tables of adjectives (I constantly need to know things like "What does this cool new item look like?" and "So we found some kind of building in the wilderness, but what is it?") and the one included here will give a big boost to my collection. 😃
And the subject/topic table is great for "What does the NPC talk about?" and "What's written in the letter?" or "What does the inscription say?"
Thanks for the great resource!
Thank you for your kind words! Indeed, the Inspiration Prompts tables should definitely help with those kinds of questions. Complement them with yes/no oracles of PUM to refine them afterwards :)