Chuck (First Playthrough)

I received the print and play copy of Chuck in July and started playing through the game. Here is a record of my first playthrough of this wonderful solo journaling game.

Introduction

Chuck’s mail had the name Andrea on it, but from the start I knew her only as Chuck. We met through some mutuals at a game store D&D night. We bonded over our overlapping geeky interests and then over introducing each other to new ones. It didn’t take long for us to share a bed and then an apartment. We were together for a few months when something impossible happened.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie holding a paint brush stands on the handle of a coffee mug with the words "The Green Dragon" on its surface. The mug is on a work desk.

One morning I finished making coffee and walked into the living room, expecting to see her working on an illustration on her tablet. Instead, she was yelling for help with a miniscule voice from beneath it. She had shrunk down to a tiny size and was trapped.

I quickly freed her and we spent days trying to uncover what had happened. The internet held no answers and we didn’t trust any level of government to keep her safe during an investigation. We resorted to every scientific or magical solution we could dream up but eventually accepted the mystery and got on with living.

There were obviously many complications for Chuck, including leaving her job. The first silver lining of her tiny size reduced our food budget. Chuck could indulge in any foods she wanted at a fraction of the previous cost; a single cotton candy grape would last her a week. She took up a new hobby of preserving foods in the smallest batches so we wouldn’t waste even the small amount we bought, but the one that made her most downhearted was that she found it impossible to create digital art.

At her small size it was hard to adapt to other mediums, but eventually we made small pencils and brushes she could use on paper and canvases that suited her size.

Chuck told her sister Em about shrinking, and unsurprisingly she was shocked and supportive. Chuck was guarded and deliberate about the other family and friends she agreed we would tell, but eventually we had a trusted few who remained our social circle after the strange shrinking.

We had shared gaming as a hobby but we had to adapt how we played. She couldn’t participate much in video games, but we made tabletop games work mostly by me moving the pieces and helping her with things like dice and cards.

She had always been a homebody, but she developed an interest in learning to forage and thrive outside. She said that the whole world now felt like a wilderness so she might as well adapt. We would go hiking with her covering the longer distances in a backpack pocket.

Each time we left the apartment Chuck would stay hidden around strangers. In the early days after her change there was always a dread of her being noticed when we were in public, but we felt at ease in the safety of our home. We made it as accessible and comfortable for her as we could.

Eventually we settled into new routines and ways of relating.

Day 1

Two red dice have rolled 3 and 2. A blue die has rolled 5 and a smaller metal die has rolled 4. Between them a meeple of a woman is standing.

A meeple of a woman stands on baseball stands in a park.

[5 (3+2) – Chuck wants to go out to do…]
[5 – something communal…]
[4 – … and new]

Chuck surprised me this afternoon by asking to go to the local park to watch a cricket match. I walked with her happily sticking out of my shirt pocket. We sat on the stands and she stayed hidden behind my backpack for most of the time we spent as spectators. On a particularly exciting play, she ran to the edge of the stands and cheered. I scolded her for almost being seen by strangers and immediately felt like an asshole. I want her to be safe but I dampened her joy.

[-4 (5-5-4) we grow a bit further apart]

Day 2

Two red dice show 5 and 6. A blue die shows 4 and a smaller metal die also shows 4. A meeple of a woman sits between the dice.

A meeple of a woman floats in a puddle where a rain drop has caused a ripple.

[11 (6+5) – Chuck wants to go out to do…]
[4 – something exciting…]
[4 – … and new]

After a rainy day there were puddles everywhere. For Chuck, every puddle was as big as a lake, so she started diving in to each one to swim. Drops of water falling from trees above sent ripples like waves through the puddles. Chuck had a wonderful time exploring every puddle and left with a huge smile on her miniscule face.

[+3 (11-4-4) we grow a bit closer]

Day 3

Two brown dice have rolled 6 and 1. A white die has rolled 2 and a black die has rolled 4. A meeple of a woman sits between them all.

A meeple of a woman holding a paintbrush stands on a stack of hardcover books.

[7 (6+1) – Chuck wants to go out to do…]
[2 – something calm…]
[4 – … and new]

Chuck decided we should spend the day at the library, and we read through a small pile of books together. She needed assistance to turn pages, so we found a secluded corner and read together for hours.

[+1 (7-2-4) we grow a bit closer]

Day 4

Two brown dice have rolled 6 and 3. A white die has rolled 5 and a black die has rolled 4. A meeple of a woman sits between the dice.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie sits on a rose flower with many Japanese beetles.

[9 (6+3) – Chuck wants to go out to do…]
[4 – something exciting…]
[5 – … and risky]

We had been playing it safe each time we went outside. Chuck wanted to be daring and be around insects. She decided to go into a rose bush where many Japanese beetles had gathered.

While she was perched on a flower, I spotted one of my old friends running past. I ran over to catch up with her. While I was distracted, beetles started landing on the flower where Chuck was and she started to panic. They crawled over her and she had to fight them off alone. She survived but was bruised and furious.

[0 (9-4-5) the day was a disaster and our relationship is extremely strained]

Day 5

Two brown dice have rolled 4 and 4. A white die has rolled 5 and a black die has rolled 3. A meeple of a woman sits between the dice and they are all on a wooden Qi charger with jellyfish stickers.

A wooden meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands beside a Cisco webcam.

[8 (4+4) – Chuck wants to stay in and do]
[5 – something communal]
[3 – and fun]

After our disastrous day outside we decided to stay in and have a day playing games online with our friends. Things started out well, with all of us using webcams to talk and reconnect. But some insensitive comments about Chuck’s small size from our friends left her soured on the experience. She quietly left and brooded alone.

[0 (8-5-3) the day was a disaster and our relationship is further strained]

Day 6

Two brown dice have rolled 5 and 4. A white die has rolled 3 and a black die has rolled 2. A meeple of a woman sits between the dice and they are all on a stump.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie has been placed in a hole on a tree, where a flower has been placed as well.

[9 (5+4) – Chuck wants to go out and do…]
[3 – something familiar…]
[2 – … and relaxing]

Chuck needed a relaxing day so we visited a local park. We picked flowers and lounged in the shade of trees. We took the time to unpack what we felt about the recent missteps and conflicts in our relationship. It was exactly what we needed to reconnect.

[+4 (9-3-2) we grow a bit closer]

Day 7

Two brown dice have rolled 6 and 3. A white die has rolled 2 and a black die has rolled 6. A meeple of a woman sits between the dice and they are all on a mossy rock.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie has been buried in sand.

[9 (6+3) – Chuck wants to go out and do…]
[2 – something calm…]
[6 – … alone]

Chuck wanted to visit the beach today. She asked to be buried in the sand and left to enjoy some quiet time.

[+1 (9-2-6) we grow a bit closer]

Day 8

Two brown dice have both rolled 4. A white die has rolled 5 and a black die has rolled 2. A meeple of a woman sits between the dice and they are all on a stack of sticky notes with a Donkey Kong branding.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands on a purple stone above a chess board.

[8 (4+4) – Chuck wants to stay in and do…]
[2 – something calm…]
[5 – … but risky]

Chuck has started practicing martial arts and doing strength training, driven by wanting to be able to calmly face the dangers of her new, miniscule state. Today I helped her shift into harder training, pushing her to face dangerous situations in the controlled environment of our home.

[+1 (8-2-5) we grow a bit closer]

Day 9

Two brown dice have rolled 2 and 6. A white die has rolled 5 and a black die has rolled 1. A meeple of a woman stands separated from the dice by a bracelet.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands on a blue cloth where small metal dice have been placed.

[8 (2+6) – Chuck wants to stay in and do…]
[5 – something communal…]
[1 – … together]

We got together with our D&D group today and played a long session. Chuck appreciated being able to join in just as she always had and we fell into the easy comradery of playing around a table with friends. Chuck was beaming when she rolled a critical hit to defeat our campaign’s antagonist.

[+2 (8-5-1) we grow a bit closer]

Day 10

Two brown dice have rolled 2 and 5. A white die has rolled 5 and a black die has rolled 1. A meeple of a woman stands with the dice on a Canada Post box.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands looking out over a rocky cliff.

[7 (2+5) – Chuck wants to go out and do…]
[1 – something nostalgic…]
[5 – … and risky]

Before she shrunk, Chuck and I would always visit rocky beaches for walks. Now those rocky cliffs and rocky shores are challenging for her. As we walked along them, she worked on her climbing and jumping.

[+1 (7-1-5) we grow a bit closer]

Day 11

Two brown dice have rolled 1 and 3. A white die has rolled 5 and a black die has rolled 2. A meeple of a woman stands with the dice on a toppled fire hydrant.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands in front of a pink drink with boba.

[4 (1+3) – Chuck wants to stay in and do…]
[5 – something communal…]
[2 – … and relaxing]

Chuck invited friends over to watch movies and order delivery. Our guests all seemed to be having a good time but I could recognize Chuck was feeling wistful as she watched adventures unfolding on the screen.

[-3 (4-5-2) we grow a bit apart]

Day 12

Two brown dice have rolled 5 and 4. A white die has rolled 1 and a black die has rolled 2. A meeple of a woman stands with the dice clustered together on a rock.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands has been placed in a Perle von Nürnberg Echeveria in a cluster of there of the succulents.

[9 (5+4) – Chuck wants to go out and do…]
[2 – something calm…]
[1 – … together]

Chuck and I visited the Public Gardens for a day of relaxing amid the flowers. With her tiny size she could experience them in ways I never could, so I asked her to explain the sensations. She marveled at being surrounded by succulents when we visited a part of the garden where many were planted.

[+6 (9-2-1) we grow closer]

Day 13

Two brown dice have rolled 3 and 4. A white die has rolled 3 and a black die has rolled 2. A meeple of a woman stands with the dice on a rock with dried leaves.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie has been placed in a decorative element of a shell on a fountain.

[7 (4+3) – Chuck wants to go out and do…]
[3 – something familiar…]
[2 – … and relaxing]

Chuck and I returned to the Public Gardens today and spent our time around one of the fountains and in the shade of an old tree. Chuck spent time painting and drawing to capture the garden from her new perspective.

[+2 (7-3-2) we grow closer]

Day 14

Two brown dice have rolled 3 and 2. A white die has rolled 4 and a black die has rolled 1. A meeple of a woman is with the dice on moss.

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands in a crumbling brick wall.

[5 (2+3) – Chuck wants to go out and do…]
[4 – something exciting…]
[1 – … together]

Chuck and I spent a day exploring the ruins of battlements in Point Pleasant Park. Her strength and climbing abilities had improved and she even fended off a seagull that got too close to her.

At the end of the day Chuck confessed that she had decided she needs to go out into the world on her own to discover who she is in her miniscule body.

[0 (5-4-1) our relationship ends]

Ending

A meeple of a woman in a hoodie stands on top of a lion sculpture on a fountain.

Over the coming days we disentangled our lives. Chuck geared up and was soon ready to go out into the world alone. We tried not to fall into reminiscing about our time together and focused on her plans to experience the world. Soon she headed out the door in search of adventure.

I had a lot of fun playing a round of Chuck each day for two weeks. The simple mechanics work really well for telling a relationship story and the concept is robust enough to keep it interesting.

When I receive a physical copy of the game I’m thinking I will play it in first person for a different experience.