So it's not quite solo play as it's still the GM and one player, but due to my current living circumstances I have people interested in playing, but can't get them together in one physical place and internet is expensively pay-by-mb so over the internet is not an option. As such I'm considering managing a couple of single character games.

Has anyone run single player games, and if so, do you have suggestions, pointers, tips, how it may differ from multiple party members games?

What are thoughts on stronger supporting NPCs to fill in for the potential lack of other PCs abilities - dare I even ask up to the point of the dreaded GMPC?

Thanks for your time.

GMPC issues are player(GM)-based, not character-based. It can be pulled off successfully, despite the horror stories of how bad it is when it goes bad. I'd recommend making multiple NPCs to help keep you from getting too devoted to any one of them and to prevent a perceived need to have one of them filling too many roles.

.....pay per megabit??????? WTF??? what kind of internet company does that?

One of our two EoE games involves one player and me as GM. It actually makes for more focused, character driven stories as I'm just focusing on one player.

I have a GM PC (who somtimes interfaces with the other group) but I'm very careful to keep her in the 'sidekick' role and not overshadow the others. She has skills that the PC doesn't (Driver and Trader Talents) and the Fringer spec keeps her alive with a whole bunch of helpful talents. However, she's not much use in a fight. She's mostly there to be a perky sidekick and offer helpful in-character advice and film the PCs exploits for her holovid series.

Also, because their games are explorer-related, there's usually not many NPCs to interact with, just distant planets, ancient tombs and wild beasts. It has a very different feel and tone to the main group, and I've really enjoyed running it.

You could run a resistance cell where members communicate by dropping notes, working to accomplish things separately but still focusing on one overall goal. Same could be true of a group of slicers or bounty hunters. It would allow you to create one story and a group of NPCs that get used for all the various one-on-one sessions.

I am actually planning on something similar at my next session -- one of the PCs has a huge bounty on his head and I'm planning on having his capture be a big plot point. I know I'll have to be very careful in writing it, so nobody gets bored, but I feel like if I try to keep it feeling cinematic like the movies, it will work very well. After all, Han, Luke and Leia are not always together and their paths still intertwine sometimes. I think trying to think of ESB in terms of storyline is a good way to consider how to split a game like that. BUT that's different than the OP's situation, as it sounds like you're having single sessions with people. I've been considering doing that, too, to help my folks develop more backstory and such. I think it could work very well, so long as you take their strengths and weaknesses into mind and remember it's all about having fun together.

If you do go the more traditional EotE route, I'd consider letting the player narrate their (low-rival) crew as well as their own action, with the understanding that you, as GM can step in and move or adjust these shared NPCs as you need for the story. (Like if Han's player also played Chewie, or Luke also ran R2). On that note, Droids are also a wonderful way to fill out skills in a naturally subservient way. They also tend to be very focused in their abilities.

I second the idea of considering linking the different games, particularly if these people know each other. It both creates a living world, and a way for them to 'play together' even if they're not together. (A smuggling ring, or even all different employees/couriers for the same Hutt could work as well)

I have bounty hunters can be great to run as a solo character. Bounty hunts can be great with a group, but I have always felt they were best with just one or two people.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

.....pay per megabit??????? WTF??? what kind of internet company does that?

Outside of the US. Most of the internet in New Zealand is pay per data, for example.

One of our two EoE games involves one player and me as GM. It actually makes for more focused, character driven stories as I'm just focusing on one player.

I have a GM PC (who somtimes interfaces with the other group) but I'm very careful to keep her in the 'sidekick' role and not overshadow the others. She has skills that the PC doesn't (Driver and Trader Talents) and the Fringer spec keeps her alive with a whole bunch of helpful talents. However, she's not much use in a fight. She's mostly there to be a perky sidekick and offer helpful in-character advice and film the PCs exploits for her holovid series.

Also, because their games are explorer-related, there's usually not many NPCs to interact with, just distant planets, ancient tombs and wild beasts. It has a very different feel and tone to the main group, and I've really enjoyed running it.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking, having a GM PC or two whose role is to fill in for skills that may be really useful to have but aren't stellar and don't overlap with the PC's - probably mostly picking from the "support" specializations: doctor, trader, quartermaster, mechanic, etc. while staying away from heavy combat/interaction specializations.

It definitely would be a more character driven story and gameplay. One of my players is really interested in the conflict between spice addiction and a large debt, while being a minor force sensitive charlatan rigging dice games. The story practically writes itself...

On that note, Droids are also a wonderful way to fill out skills in a naturally subservient way. They also tend to be very focused in their abilities.

I second the idea of considering linking the different games, particularly if these people know each other. It both creates a living world, and a way for them to 'play together' even if they're not together. (A smuggling ring, or even all different employees/couriers for the same Hutt could work as well)

Right, droids are a good option. And yeah, that's basically what the situation is. I had intended on having the PCs occupy the same universe and getting them together somehow when we as people could all get together, but I hadn't really considered letting the characters impact each other in a way the rest of the time. That'll be a fun concept to ponder.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

.....pay per megabit??????? WTF??? what kind of internet company does that?

Outside of the US. Most of the internet in New Zealand is pay per data, for example.

Right....dont more to new zealand...they rip you off on internet...