19 April 2024: Journaling Games

My friend Daniel, the talented author behind Thru-Hiker, introduced me to the world of journaling games. In case you're unfamiliar, journaling games are a blend of storytelling and personal reflection. They typically involve prompts that inspire you to write journal entries from the perspective of a fictional character or within a specific setting.

Inspired by this concept, I've decided to incorporate journaling game elements into my upcoming project, Ghostlight, as well as several other exciting "big projects" that I can't reveal just yet. I’m also going to experiment with doing some stand-alone journaling games, because I have a lot of ideas that fit better there than in standard tabletop structures.

Why the sudden interest in journaling games? Well, for starters, I'm passionate about promoting writing, literacy, and creativity in all forms. As someone who has been journaling for years, I've experienced firsthand the power of putting pen to paper to explore characters, settings, and stories.

But journaling games offer more than just a creative outlet. In traditional tabletop roleplaying, they can serve as adventure generators and help with worldbuilding. They provide a solo play option for those times when you're between groups or simply craving a solitary storytelling experience.

What's particularly exciting to me is the potential of journaling games to reach a non-traditional audience. While they may not appeal to everyone in the tabletop gaming community, they offer an accessible point of entry for those who might be curious about roleplaying but intimidated by the complexities of traditional tabletop.

I hope you’re doing well today.

Berin