I’ve been experimenting with MUDs, CRPGs, Interactive Fiction, Rogue-like games and other solo RPG experiences. In every one of them, I feel that I, the player of those over processed experiences, am missing something.
I’ve enjoyed all of those, but I love the feel of throwing dice–that sensation–the tactile clink gem dice make in my hands and rolling across the table. I love following the dice with my eye, hoping for just the right result–my eyes follow brightly colored dice across the table, or box, until their explosion of sound and color come to rest.
I love the smell of a freshly opened pack of blue-lined graph paper, and that scratching sound of graphite as it is drawn across the fresh clean sheet. I love the creative process of designing the map that wasn’t pre-generated. I have a room or hallway or a concept shown to me, then I have to put it together and try not to get lost in the fictional world or structure I’m exploring.
No. I’ve experimented with all those over-processed, fully-presented solo RPG experiences and found them lacking. I need to make something else. Something that requires interaction and creativity–something less sterile.