The (Un)Naturalist: A Solo Journaling Expedition

Hi. Is there any chance of more community copies being added? This looks really cool but I currently can't afford it

Here is a video of several submissions to Zimo including The Unnaturalist! Thanks to Goblin Mixtape for spreading the word on all of these: 

Just wanted to say, I bought this game two days ago. It's my first solo roleplaying experience and I am obsessed. The prompts are brilliant, and I've already written 11 pages in my journal. So much fun! 

Hi!

Is the mentioned playmap under construction, missing or is assumed I make it myself?

Thanks!

The sample entries show the first 3 levels of the 'scientific method flow chart' and a proposition for the fourth level. Is that generally the way to make the journal entries or am I meant to do all 6 levels (from observation down to communicate results), if so would it be possible to include a sample entry that demonstrates all 6 levels as an example?

Regarding to the 'First Return' section: if my character returns to a location they had previously been to, they go there to examine their original hypothesis. In the case of locations where there were (Prey) events, does my character get stalked by the monster predator again, or do they just re-examine what's there? Does returning to a (Prey) event square count towards the loss of scientific method tracker?

I think either option here could make sense, but really does affect the pacing of the game/story. If it counts as either another (Prey) event or even just freaks out my character with the possibility (and contributes to the loss of scientific method), this shortens the game and makes it more dangerous to the fate of the expedition. If returning for new examination does not count towards (Prey) encounters, then my playthrough is very long...

Perhaps I could flip a coin to see if returning to reexamine (Prey) encounters puts my character in danger? That might be a good middle ground...

Additionally, I did use a four-sided die instead of spinning a pen to decide which direction I travelled. I think that might be a good accessibility option to include for low-dexterity folks? Especially since that can be done in a dice-rolling app.

All this to say, I really love this game! Thanks so much for putting it out here, I'm really enjoying it. I feel like it naturally (ha) led me to thinking of a Victorian Era sort of fantasy setting? But the conceit could really easily be turned toward mapping out a section of new planet in a sci-fi setting.

Oh, I also added to my playthrough a mysterious company/corporation that commissioned the expedition, which was fun. Maybe a table to roll on with updates and news and letters from friends and rivals might be fun in your game? It definitely added some drama :)

I wonder if some intrepid writer-artist created a game like this for themselves and generated the Voynich manuscript that folks scramble and obsess over trying to understand at least the sketches if not as much the cyphered and perhaps nonsensical text.

I actually want to try this with some kind of Alone Among the Stars hack, and using a d6 to create doubt on rolls of one pip. I tend to prefer more open prompts for myself.

hi, i haven’t played a lot yet but i wanted to comment regardless; i like the game very much so far! it has just enough guidance to hold up its own weight, without feeling constricting or stilted, and the minimal setup is great. i feel it could be also be a really fun framework to explore other “weird fiction” scenarios like QZ and adapt them to solo play as well. and i wonder what it’d be like to play as a scientist in a world with a different natural baseline, if that makes sense? wandering into spec bio territory. anyway, i really like this game! it’s very fresh and enjoyable, and i’m excited to see what else you make of it in the future :)