All Things Solo

We all have problems and not enough time to solve them. Thematic thinking is key for this. You'll see how easy it is in practice as I expanded it into an engaging playstyle in 8 easy steps. Let's jump right into it. BUT IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE.

Few Guidelines:

1. * NEVER go too hard on yourself or your PC / Sidekick. Even your archnemesis. Wisdom should be your aim instead of temporary emotional satisfaction. Know that we are all trying to be ourselves in this world. And sometimes, that means conflict.
2. * If you just want to combat your archnemesis to let steam off it is a way to go but it won't get you too far. Understanding the nature of your conflict to resolve it in your own way is better. Up to you, though.
3. * You can set your scenes from past events with the intention the UNDERSTAND them from a better perspective. BUT if it gives you problems, STOP IMMEDIATELY.
4. * Know what this method is: This is NOT a method to cure mental illnesses or serious problems. It's just a way to widen your perspective on problems that everyone can experience in life.

# A Therapeutic Way of Using Themes

1. Create yourself as the Player Character. Pick the theme(s) that exactly relates to the problem you want to solve. There's a theme for every situation. Here's a huge list to search your theme from.
2. Research and Incorporate it at the heart of your Plot AND your PC's background story or character type.
3. Create opposing NPCs, especially The Villain and its monsters with the opposing themes, in prep phase. (Antonym of the theme word).
4. Keep things organic. DON'T force anything but place all these things at the back of your head.
5. Play as you would normally.
6. But at the first natural chance, bring out your arsenal of your opposition against your PC. Remember that your PC is not a character but the representation of your problem, in theme format.
7. Make them clash and play each actor according to their nature. You need to be honest on this one.
8. Enjoy your simulation as you proactively gain wisdom on it, instead of worrying about your problem.

This way is expanded from the end of Conjuring Sparks From Themes. You don't need to read it. All you need is Numbered Titles below, the rest is just my examples.

1. Write Down Who is in YOUR Cast

My PC: (Not-so) Tempered7 - Rebellion Theme
My Sidekick: My old best friend Scarlet Rabbit - Poverty Theme
The Villain: Let's call him Freddy the Psycho - Dominance Theme
NPCs: Villain's 2 goonies (Hot Dog and Darko) - Toxicity Theme


2. Write YOUR Short Background Story

My Setting: Middle School

Two best friends get bullied by a psycho and his two goonies in school and everyone remains silent to their pain. This is the story about their struggle in their early lives. And the things they've learned from this conflict.


3. Find Out About the Themes in YOUR Story

## My Themes: Rebellion, Power Struggle, Meaning of Life

Rebellion States: All authority is suspect. Following the rules can be more dangerous than fighting them. Rebellion is the cure for injustice. Question everything. Freedom versus Dominion.

Power Struggle: It is as you think it is. It's the struggle for dominance in between authority and "subjects" but it also contains subject vs subject dominance.

Meaning Of Life: Isn't this what everyone search for. I was gonna find out about this way after the events or my attempts on gamifying them. But I'm not telling that I know the meaning of life. I'm saying that I know the meaning of "MY" life. It used to seem so meaningless, though.


4. Determine The External Conflict and Internal Conflict(s) it Caused on YOU

## My External Conflict: Bullying

## My Internal Conflicts: Isolation, Loneliness, Fear

Isolation: No need to describe it. I found the meaning of this theme in the lyrics of Ayreon's Human Equation Album (Day Two: Isolation) way after I've experienced it but it was always on my mind.

Loneliness: Feeling it especially while everyone is around sucks. "No one cares about anyone's problems unless they are famous or rich." Oh, I know it isn't as easy as this statement but even when my best friend couldn't do anything about those bullies, it felt like so. This is what the "conflict" at hand tells you when you experience it.

Fear: This was the hardest part to resolve since it requires a leap of faith and determination on "facing" it even in games. So, don't go too hard on yours at once. Give them to some other character than your PC to keep them away from your focus, if you want.


5. Simulate the Problem Through Roleplay

Keep things organic. DON'T force anything but place all these things at the back of your head. Then just roleplay all characters according to their nature as you would normally.

5.1 An Example Of Simulation

THE SCENE: *Break time in school. Everyone gets out of classes. Tempered goes to toilet as he leaves his sidekick in the classroom.*

Darko: *Hits Tempered's head with a school bag full of books behind him as he enters the toilet room.*
Tempered: "Enough you -REDACTED!-" *punches the goony in the face.*
Darko: "Freddy!"

GAME MASTER: All of a sudden it's 3 v 1 COMBAT. Roll for Initiative as other students cheer for the fight! And you can guess who lost the battle. Yours truly. In our simulation it doesn't matter. It's just a game to broaden our understanding of our past or present.

SCENE RESOLUTION: *As Tempered is being brought to dean's office he is dubbed the "guilty" student. All the teachers who watches him pass were apathetic. Other students were laughing. Isn't "Injustice" the best theme suited for this part?*

NEXT SCENES: I'd go from there and improvise whatever part I want to think about. Make two opposing characters clash, make protagonists bond, etc. Simulate the events that happened with the intention to understand them.


6. Enjoy Wisdom Through Fictional Conflict

You know how you sometimes say "My good side say nevermind them but my evil side says BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" Well, you can turn this into a game to make your mind about it.

This is what all fiction writers do as fiction enables us to make sense out of life's messy teaching style. But in Solo Play, I use this to understand people and the problems they create with thematic thinking.

Just like in Disco Elysium, you can turn the inner cogs of your mind into characters or dialogues and make them speak their minds to understand them. You don't need to rhyme but an Ayreon song (from Human Equation album) is the best example for it. All you have to do is to make the distinction of which "cog" says what so that you don't get confused. And make up your mind about them. You'll see that it's best to listen to the good ones.

~Day Eight: School by Ayreon (lyrics are in the description of vid. Name of these "voices" who sing the song writes there.)

2:27 - Internal Conflict: Pride versus Reason.
...
[Pride] You've got to prove you are not like the rest
[Reason] There's no need if you know you're the best
[Pride] That's not enough, let the other kids know
[Reason] What's the use, go with the flow
[Pride] Be a man, give into hate
[Reason] You better learn to communicate
[Pride] Better to learn to protect yourself
[Reason] That's not the way to get out of this hell
[Pride] See that kid, wipe the smile off his face
[Reason] He's just like you, feeling out of place
[Pride] Well I don't care, let's show him who's boss
[Reason] That's not the way to get your message across

Disco Elysium: This is a surreal RPG but its methods can be used.

Conversation in between Logic & Volition & Authority & Pain Threshold & Drama & Perception & Inland Empire of the PC.

7. Think About The Lessons Life and Games Teach Us

Always keep 5W1H Questions in mind: What, where, who, why, when, how? Assess themes rather than events, people or feelings.

Maybe right now you are in a bad spot, but don't think it's the only state of being.

Years later from those bad moments in school, I understood why I had to live those experiences. Everything about it was hidden in time. In my future. It was all for being Proactive and do some good in life with them.


8. Proactive Response for a Good Cause

So, instead of listening to my Pride and "give into hate," I chose to "get my message across" now as Reason said, in the song. It doesn't matter I did this mistake at those moments to understand that it was wrong. Maybe I made mistakes to get to this point but now as a less stupid man, I took things into my own hands to be a river for my people. That's why I'm writing all these series as I see that my old hobby is now in demand for many people who struggle in today's world. If you told me this was gonna be my calling back in mid school, I'd just laugh. Heh. Life...

But that's my calling. Don't worry, you'll find yours, too.