How to Use RPG Spark
Whether you're a Game Master prepping your next session or a solo adventurer exploring alone, here's how RPG Spark fits into your game.
GM Session Prep
Prep a one-shot or improvise at the table in minutes. Here's a real workflow using RPG Spark's generators, campaign system, and inline tools.
Pick Your Genre
Choose between Fantasy (free) or Cyberpunk, Post-Apo & Horror (Pro). All generators adapt their output to match your setting.
For this example, we'll use Fantasy mode to prep a classic OSR dungeon crawl.
Generate a Quest Hook
Start with a Quest Hook generator to set the premise. One tap gives you the seed for tonight's adventure.
Objective: Investigate the abandoned mine and bring her back alive.
Create Key NPCs
Use the Quick NPC generator to roll up the people your players will meet. Generate 2-3 and you have a cast.
Occupation: Merchant
Personality: Anxious, protective
Quirk: Constantly wringing his hands
Hook: Will pay double if you don't ask questions about why the mine was closed
Occupation: Retired miner
Personality: Blunt, superstitious
Quirk: Spits on the ground when mentioning the mine
Hook: Knows a back entrance but won't go near the place herself
Build the Location
Use the Tavern generator for the starting location, and Dungeon Room + Trap generators to fill the mine.
Feature: Mining tools hang from the ceiling as decoration. The ale tastes like copper.
Roll Random Encounters
Use Creature Encounter and Creature Motivation to stock the dungeon. Each creature has a reason to be there.
Motivation: Scavenging for ore to trade with a larger clan deeper in the mine
Add a Plot Twist
Use the Plot Twist generator to add a surprise your players won't see coming.
Bring It All Together
Open your campaign's Prep Board - an open-ended editor built for session planning. Write your notes in markdown, add checklists, and roll any tool inline: generators, dice, oracle - results appear right inside your prep notes. Pin the quest hook, link Harlan and Dalla as NPCs with thread connections, and build out your session outline without leaving the editor.
At the table, switch to the Journal to log what actually happens. It works the same way - narrate, roll dice or generators inline, and @mention your NPCs and threads. Every result is tied to your campaign.
That's a complete one-shot prepped in under 10 minutes. Every generator above is available in the free tier.
Solo Play with SPARK DICE
RPG Spark is the perfect digital companion for solo RPG play. Here's a complete example session using our own SPARK DICE system.
What is SPARK DICE?
SPARK DICE is a fast, setting-agnostic solo RPG system. Your character has 4 Sparks (skills/traits), each with a die rating. When you attempt something risky, you roll your Spark die against a Fate die. Higher wins, ties create twists.
Character creation takes 2 minutes. The system works with any genre - fantasy, sci-fi, horror, westerns, anything.
RPG Spark Tools Used in Solo Play
All of these tools are accessible inline from the campaign Journal - roll dice, ask the oracle, generate NPCs, and narrate without ever leaving the editor. Your entire solo session lives in one place.
Step 1: Create Your Character
Pick a concept, choose 4 Sparks, assign dice (d8, d6, d6, d4), and start with 3 Grit. Done in 2 minutes.
Kael, Wandering Herbalist
"I left the monastery when they started burning books instead of reading them."
Step 2: Play a Session - All Inside the Journal
Open a journal session and play start to finish without switching screens. Write your narration, then tap to roll dice, ask the oracle, or generate an NPC - results appear inline as part of your story.
Scene 1 - The Village of Ashenford
Scene 2 - Into the Forest
Scene 3 - The Clearing
NPC: Brina Ashwood (Ashenford village)
NPC: Forest Spirit (the clearing)
That entire session was played inside the campaign Journal - narration, dice rolls, oracle questions, NPC generation, all without leaving the editor. The free tools (dice, Yes/No oracle, meaning tables, NPC generator) are enough to play a full session. Pro tools (scene checks, NPC actions, random events, discoveries) add twists and surprises you couldn't have planned yourself. Use the Prep Board between sessions to plan what's next.
SPARK DICE works beautifully with RPG Spark, but the generic tools are system-agnostic. Use them with Scarlet Heroes, Mythic GME, or any solo-friendly RPG. Want full system integration? Check out the Ironsworn track below.
Solo Play with Ironsworn
RPG Spark has full, first-class support for Ironsworn and Starforged. Create a system campaign and everything is ready to play - moves, oracles, character sheet, and assets.
What are Ironsworn & Starforged?
Ironsworn is a tabletop RPG built for solo and co-op play by Shawn Tomkin. You swear iron vows, make moves against your stats, and let the dice drive the narrative. Starforged takes the same engine into space.
RPG Spark integrates the full Ironsworn SRD - moves, oracles, assets, and character rules - so you can play without flipping through a PDF.
RPG Spark Tools Used in Ironsworn Play
All Ironsworn SRD content is free. Pro unlocks unlimited campaigns, characters, and expanded limits.
Step 1: Create a System Campaign
Open Campaigns, tap +, choose Fantasy genre, then select System Campaign and pick Ironsworn. Your campaign is pre-configured with system moves, oracles, and asset decks.
Step 2: Build Your Character
The system creates an Ironsworn character sheet with all the fields you need. Set your stats, pick starting assets, and begin with momentum at +2.
Thara, Shield-Bearer of the Havens
Edge 2 / Heart 1 / Iron 3 / Shadow 1 / Wits 2
Step 3: Swear a Vow and Play
Open the Journal, create a session, and swear your first vow. The Move Reference shows the full move text. Tap to roll against your stats and see the outcome.
Scene 1 - An Iron Vow
Scene 2 - Gathering Information
Scene 3 - Burning Momentum
NPC: Cloaked merchant - raider leader?
Thread: Who is arming the raiders and why?
Every move roll, oracle result, and momentum burn happened inside the campaign Journal. The Move Reference showed the full move text and rolled dice against Thara's stats. System oracles replaced the chaos factor with Ironsworn's own tables. The character sheet tracked momentum, health, and progress automatically.
RPG Spark supports both Ironsworn and Starforged with the same level of integration. The generic tools (dice, generators, Spark oracle) remain system-agnostic - use them with Scarlet Heroes, SPARK DICE, or any solo-friendly RPG.
Ready to Roll?
RPG Spark is free to download. No account needed, works offline.