All the world's a game table, And those around it merely players; They have their critical hits and misses; And one group in their time tells many tales, Though more remain untold. The first character Chosen at a whim, paper-thin and doomed, Steps aside for a proper heroine; Brimming with backstory, ablaze with Potential; but her campaign is cut short. The player, alone, seeks solace in rules; Builds someone unstoppable, optimal, Unplayed. This mighty adventurer lives And dies in the player's dreams, character sheet Pristine, never used in a single scene. But then, a call: there's a new game to play. Five friends gather together fortnightly. A new hero lives and loves and levels; Wise and dextrous, strong and bright. At last The campaign ends in glory! What comes next? A long rest, a fresh start. Then the friends try New journeys, a new party, for a time: A princess, a warlock, a paladin, A bard. But scheduling is hard. Game nights Slain by the deadliest of dragons: Time. It demands one last sacrifice, a toll; Someone to run every role, every roll. A servant served up on the altar of fun; The master of games, but player of none.
In "All the World's a Stage," Shakespeare describes the different roles a person plays over the course of their life, until we reach the inevitable end.
Reading it, I couldn't help but think about role playing games the different characters we play. So I ended up writing this... 😁
