The following is a playthrough of “A Wonderful, Awful Idea” a solo journaling RPG built on the Second Guess System and available for Free/PWYW on itch.io:

15. You uncover a plot by a government agency to take you down. How do you evade their attempts?

The fools! They think they’re so smart but their trap was obvious. So I turned it against them and froze the federal agents in place with my freeze ray. It was glorious.

8. You discover a new technology that could revolutionize your plans for domination. What is it, and how do you acquire it?

Dr. Inventor was off on one of his adventures with his underage assistant (ewwww…) so it was easy enough overcoming his security system and absconding with his cold fusion core.

Unlimited power!

He has no idea what he had. But I’ll show him soon enough…

3. Your plan to infiltrate a government facility is discovered, and the superheroes are closing in. What do you do to salvage the situation?

Curses, it’s a trap! Not only that, but the guard triggered the Guild’s alarm. Those do-gooders will be here in minutes. Probably Swift first. I freeze ray the floor to all entrances to slow the speedster down. The government issued jet pack I came to stole gets me airborne and flying away before the heavy hitters show. Whew.

3. Your plan to infiltrate a government facility is discovered, and the superheroes are closing in. What do you do to salvage the situation?

Drats, I forgot to grab fuel for the jetpack! I have to go back, they couldn’t possibly expect me to hit the same place again so soon after the first time. They did. Barely escaped But got the fuel.

Busted + 1 = 1 — Roll = 3 Safe

2. You discover a hidden base of the superheroes. How do you use this information to your advantage? +1 Goal

The hunters become the hunted. I left a tracking device on a “clue” I “dropped,” assuming the Guild would take it for evaluation. It worked. Tracked it to a Waffle House just outside of town. Odd choice for a front, but smart. Very smart. But not too smart. Mwa ha ha ha ha ha.

Goal +1 = 1

18. A superhero turns against their team to join forces with you. Who is it, and what do they bring to your cause? +1 Goal

I don’t trust this kid. Swallow is a sidekick out of the Guild. Cardinal’s I think. Too many bird in that group Still, when she asked to meet via a safe drop I didn’t realize the Guild knew about I had to follow up. Prepared for a trap, of course. She offered me a code to access their hideout. Said she was sick of the way they treated her and the other sidekicks. Fair enough.

Note to self: get a new safe drop.

Goal +1 = 2

16. One of your henchmen is captured and interrogated by the superheroes. How do you prevent them from revealing your plans?

They got Number Seven. Snatched him as he left the Burger King on Floyd. He had the wherewithal to hit his panic butter which helped me know they had him. And blew out his vocal chords so he couldn’t say anything. It’s only temporary, of course. I’ll fix them when I rescue him. Good henchmen are hard to find.

12. A rival supervillain challenges your authority. How do you respond?

Sigh. Madness n’ Mystery (one person, two names, answers to both at the same time, not insane, just stupid) took the Mayor hostage and declared himself the baddest bad guy around. Said it to assembled media. And to me, because he had Facetimed me to brag. Dude call’s himself “M&M’s,” I think I’m ok.

But just to make sure, I send a quick text to Swallow through a number she recommended and ten minute later the Guild’s sidekicks were raiding M&M’s secret layer and destroying his Hummel collection. I texted him photos Swallow sent me, those porcelain cherubs shattered all over the floor.

Ding dong was on live television and looked at his phone (c’mon, man!) and immediately started to meltdown with tears and sobs. The Guild easily charged in and tackled him as he started shouting my name and how he’s get his revenge and blah blah blah blah.

Baddest bad buy my ass.

4. 1.You discover a weakness in one of your superhero nemeses. What is it, and how do you plan on exploiting it?

Swallow told me Dr Inventor was allergic to perfume and cologne. Like, throat closed, eyes swolen shut, shits his drawers allergies.

Oh, this will be fun.

15. You uncover a plot by a government agency to take you down. How do you evade their attempts?

I’ve had an odd itch for a while now. Since that run-in with the feds who tried to trap me I think. Maybe there was more to that smoke grenade they through than smoke. Ugh.

Busted 1 + 1 = 2 Roll = 3 Safe

8. You discover a new technology that could revolutionize your plans for domination. What is it, and how do you acquire it?

Dr. Inventor’s lab was empty again. Tempting. Too tempting. Like a trap. Last time wasn’t a trap though. Right? The cold fusion device was a free and clear heist.

Right?

Need to check it for tracers. Or mics. Or ants.

Busted 2 + 1 = 3 Roll = 1 BUSTED

Shit. It was ants. Thousands of micro-robo-ants who proceeded to disassemble my entire hideout at the molecular level. Every device. Even my blender. Then the walls. My car. My Roomba. My pants. But just my pants, everything else I was wearing was left alone.

Then the police arrived and there wasn’t much I could do about it.

Damn it. And they threw me in a cell with M&M. Great. Fan-freakin’-tastic.