I Thought It Was a Short Drive, But Now I'm Questioning Life Choices

Overview: So, you have decided to embark on an adventurous solo TTRPG journey—by sitting alone in a car that probably hasn’t had an oil change in years. “I Thought It Was a Short Drive, But Now I'm Questioning Life Choices” offers you all the excitement of a cross-country trek, minus the scenic views, heroic deeds, or good company. You won’t be slaying dragons here; instead, you’ll be navigating traffic and daily errands as you ponder life's deep questions like, “why did I take this trip?” and “why won’t this warning light stop blinking?”

Objective:  You ride your car every day, and each drive presents you with a unique blend of the mundane and the mildly inconvenient. Your goal? To survive the daily commute, manage unexpected detours, and reflect on the bigger picture while you wait at red lights.

What you need to play: a standard deck of cards minus jolly and king. A digital or analog way to record your journey.

How to Play:
1.    Draw four random cards and place them face up, left to right. Each card gives one prompt from its suit and one from its value. Use these four cards to set the scene.
2.    Now sit comfortably in the car and think about the drive ahead. Record in your journal the assigned scenario, make up a destination or itinerary, and note how you feel about it.
3.    Turn on the engine, start driving, and draw a card. Its suit and value generate a random sighting, encounter, event, or thought. Deal with it and keep going. Draw a card every 15 minutes for the first in-game hour, then every 30 minutes. Conclude your ride and record it in your journal.
•    Limit your playtime to a maximum of two rides per day.

Acknowledgements: This game is dedicated to Paolo. The rules of the game are inspired by: Takuma Okada. (2018). Alone Among the Star. noroadhome.itch.io/alone-among-the-stars; and Possum Creek Games. (2019). Alone In Your Car. possumcreekgames.itch.io/alone-in-your-car. Image Credits: nakhon100.