#hermit mode

[magick-memes]

[thesorceresstemple]

[poligraf]

Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.

— Marcus Aurelius

[harmonyhealinghub]

Hermit Mode

Shaina Tranquilino

January 17, 2024

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the constant hustle and bustle of modern life? Do social interactions drain your energy, leaving you longing for solitude? If so, then you might be familiar with the concept of hermit mode.

Hermit mode is a term that has gained popularity in recent years to describe a state of voluntary seclusion from society. It's not about being anti-social or avoiding people altogether; it's more about taking time for yourself and prioritizing self-care.

In today's fast-paced world, where we are constantly bombarded with information and expected to always be available, hermit mode offers a much-needed break. It allows us to recharge our batteries, reflect on our lives, and reconnect with ourselves.

During hermit mode, we intentionally disconnect from social media, limit our interactions with others, and focus on activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. This could include reading books, practicing meditation or yoga, pursuing hobbies or passions that have taken a backseat due to our busy schedules.

One of the key benefits of hermit mode is increased self-awareness. By spending time alone without distractions, we can delve deep into our thoughts and emotions. We gain clarity about what truly matters to us and identify areas in our lives that need attention or improvement. This introspection can lead to personal growth and a better understanding of ourselves.

Moreover, hermit mode provides an opportunity for rest and relaxation. Our minds and bodies need downtime to function optimally. In the solitude of hermit mode, we can sleep longer hours if needed, take naps throughout the day when we feel tired, or simply enjoy moments of stillness and silence. These periods of rest help reduce stress levels and promote overall well-being.

Another advantage of hermit mode is the freedom it brings from external expectations. When we retreat from society temporarily, we release ourselves from societal pressures and the need to conform. Instead of worrying about fitting in or meeting societal norms, we can focus on our own desires and aspirations. This newfound freedom allows us to explore our creativity, try new things, and follow paths that truly resonate with us.

However, it's important to note that hermit mode should not be confused with isolation or social withdrawal due to mental health issues. While solitude can be beneficial for everyone, those struggling with anxiety or depression may require professional support. It's crucial to seek help if you find yourself unable to engage in healthy social interactions or experience persistent feelings of loneliness.

Hermit mode offers a valuable opportunity for self-care and personal growth in today's fast-paced world. By deliberately retreating from society for a period of time, we can recharge our energy, gain self-awareness, and prioritize our well-being. So next time you feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life, consider taking some time off and embracing the peacefulness of hermit mode.

[kaznaths-thoughts]

Hermits: Playing RPGs Alone

I personally enjoy one-player RPGs. They can be a little weird for some, certainly, but as a Goblin in a world of elves and men, it is nice to sit down now and again, flex my creative storytelling muscles, and match them against fate in a game of singular minded striving. 

Now, you can play Sword & Backpack as a singular player. It is quite easy. You split your D20 into 10 and 10, rolling 11 or above as a success and 10-below as a failure. You have to create your own setting and your own obstacles, but that is all part of the freedom of it. 

But as a RPG Hermit, I have played a few other systems I would like to recommend. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and depending on what you want in your Hermit games, each might suit your desires. The ones I find most helpful are “the Basic Fantasy RPG 3rd Ed,” and “The Black Hack” - “Stormbringer” and “Ironsworn”. 

“The Basic Fantasy RPG” is an Old School Renaissance game, emulating the mechanics of older Dungeons & Dragons editions. It is free online, which is fantastic, and has a number of online adventures to run in various settings [it is also easy to run Old D&D adventures that are often free online as well]. It has the simple four iconic classes and races, spells to use for spellcasting in its Vancian system, and a series of tables to create random encounters. Mechanically, you roll your six D&D stats, then when you perform a check, you roll under the number on the stat to succeed; while maintaining the combat mechanic from D&D of overcoming an Armor Class to hit an enemy. Its clearly defined numerical lines make it possible to play alone, with its drawback being rolling for the monster and tending to have more of a mechanical “video game” feel than a “story crafting” feel. I recommend for anyone who wants to have a quick adventure all to themselves with minimal hassle and maximum “huzzah!”.

For those uncomfortable with rolling for the enemy, I recommend “The Black Hack”, which is also free online. The Black Hack was put together by David Black and has the same “roll under” mechanic as the Basic Fantasy RPG; but replaces the combat mechanic of D&D with its own Black-Hack Roll-Under system. The mechanics become more uniform in the Black Hack and make it easier to arbiter your own games. The Black Hack also comes with its own miniature bestiary, spells, and mechanics for various classes; and for the most part, it can be easily run with the supplements and adventures of the Basic Fantasy RPG and older D&D adventures. 

“Stormbringer” is a little bit more complicated than Basic and the Black Hack, but for those looking for a more Dungeons & Dragons sort of experience, it is a good choice. It runs off of the Basic Role Playing System, currently in use by Runequest. Character creation is a bit complicated, dedicated to dolling out various statistics for various feats - but those who want something more D&D adjacent won’t feel out of place. Each stat falls within a percentage scale - essentially denoting the odds of success on a one-hundred point scale. The player then rolls a d100 to try to roll under the necessary stats for a particular action. Stormbringer is easy to convert over other old adventures and even Basic adventures, simply taking the 20 point stats of D&D or Basic and multiplying them by 5 to get the percentile. Once again, the roll-under mechanic enables single player play, and with a little Black Hack mixed in, one need not even roll for villains. Its drawback is its statistically heavy nature and the need to prepare materials ahead of time; even with short cuts, character creation took me 2 hours my first try. The benefit of Stormbringer though is in its setting, which comes pre-stocked with content and challenges based on the Stormbringer Novels; with adventures online for free. I recommend this for those looking for a more comparable game to that of Dungeons & Dragons in statistical heft, intentionality, and long term play. 

Lastly, there is Ironsworn. Ironsworn is truly unique in that it involves its own mechanics, its own world, and its own special tables for generating an adventure. It even comes with instructions on single player. Ironsworn has taken the hermit community by storm, and rightly so. It is the most comparable experience to the feelings, thought processes, and striving of playing Dungeons & Dragons with a group. It has a three dice system, in which two d10s are rolled against a d12 - how many of the dice roll above whatever the D12 rolled determines a full success, a partial success with consequences, and a complete failure. Its character stats are used to boost the d10 rolls when completing a task related to a stat. It is used for all actions, including combat - paired with an interesting combat mechanic involving momentum, allowing a player to continue striking so long as they succeed. I recommend Ironsworn for anyone who is looking to have a genuinely holistic “one-player” RPG experience, with all the detail and intense thought that comes with that. 

Hermit play can be very fun. We are lucky to live in an age when the internet transports free adventure content right into our homes and creative people craft ways for us to enjoy ourselves when we are apart from the adventure team we love. And for those of us struggling to find a group to play with, Hermit play offers a lot of opportunities to continue honing our storytelling and game playing. Lastly, to all of my Hermits out there, please know you are not alone in playing alone - and so in that sense, we are playing together. 

[dontbelasagnax]

11, 17, and 29 for the ao3 wrapped? <3

Mia!!!!! Thank you for asking!! 💞💞

AO3 Wrapped

11: What work took you the longest to write?

I'm... unsure. Going just by this year alone, perhaps 'I Promise'. It took a couple weeks. I set a personal challenge to publish at least one fic a month, which I mostly accomplished and sometimes failed. It definitely limited how long I could spend on things since the clock was always ticking down and I am so slow.

17: Your favorite character to write this year?

Cody!!!! Hands down!!! Above all else!!!

29: Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

All the bits that immediately spring to mind are from unpublished works (I have a Good Omens wip that, in particular, is brimming with lines and passages I'm obsessed with)... but there is this part from 'what's left unspoken' that goes pretty hard:

"I find you in the sunrise of every new day," whispers Obi-Wan.

"I love you," neither of them say. But they know.

And there you have it, I spoiled the namesake of the fic if you haven't read it 😂

[phasesofamoonchild]

How does a genuine good ass guy like myself get to know you and approach you respectfully if you don’t want stupid men messaging you in the DMs?

for one, maybe not be anon so ik who you are. honestly tho im not looking to be approached.

[mystic-moon-maiden]

I constantly go between wanting to live in a small cottage in the Scottish highlands surrounded by lush grass and mountains, a rustic A-frame in the middle of the woods near running water, or an enormous Victorian house with beautiful stained glass and gargoyle statues

[opalagetribune]

Editor's Letter | Hermit Edition / virgo szn 2023 I dream of Opal Age - ig

[sweetblkhottie]

Healing ❤️‍🩹

Some days I wake up with a chip on My shoulder. Like it’s Me vs the World. When I know I got folks willing to support Me. Sometimes I wake up with this weight on Me. Like I’ll never be enough or do enough for the World. Some days.. sometimes, I just don’t feel welcomed at all. Today was one of those days. Feeling restless and antsy. Feeling unworthy. Talkin' to God and crying, not even sure about what. Nobody has mistreated Me, yet I’m still on guard. I can have moments where I get extremely defensive and suspicious of those around Me. Sometimes it’s empathic, sometimes it’s just trauma. I feel like I should hide from those who wish to see Me. Like, TRUE Me. Like that typa intimacy you can see through Me and deeply within Me. I think I’m scared of that. I wanna shy away from that. Keep a mask and armor up to keep Me safe. Yet, a bigger part of Me wants that. Craves that. Doesn’t this mean I lack a type of emotional availability? I just got some scars that aren’t old enough yet, but they aren’t fairly Nu either. I struggle with this transformation sometimes.. it gets heavy, too personal, isolating and lonely (at least physically). But I'ma be okay. Keep going.

Sweet Black Hottie 🤍🧿 xoxo

[lunerojo]

Neptunian Haze

Neptune is exactly on my IC in this moment and I've been feeling pretty distant from everything for a long time. When Saturn went into pisces recently, I took my relationship with "God" more seriously. My faith , my spiritual life has been pronounced in my everyday life. For me, it's always been essential to have a connection with the divine but now I need it every second.

I understand that this could lead me to ignoring my body so I have reminders in place to prevent that. I don't want to get too lost in this space.

I'm planning to be away from my home for days to retreat in nature, if the weather permits. I'll be in hermit mode for a while so I won't be as active on social media. The call is stronger than ever.

[empyllon]

My DMs have been visited by the automated KokoBot. I have no idea about what this is (I do now after some research), or why it chose to message me (new account, tags maybe occurring often with mental health issues).

I am okay. In fact, this is the longest I've gone without feeling like I'm barely floating along my baseline, half drowning. But I get it, I get why automated systems would have a bias against differently abled individuals. My /dis/ability does not have to be the reason I'm having other issues, my body consists of parts that all has needs, and identifying them myself and healing them is what I've chosen. It's not on some chatbot to do.

Currently I've ignored this bot, but it doesn't have an option to decline, which makes me feel bothered, especially when it keeps messaging you. If you have automated systems, at least allow consent, or it's just annoying. I could block it too, but the idea of opting out by forcefully setting a boundary like that is gross, and screams of poor programming.

[mankocrumbs]

I’m such a wholesome bby. Back on my gym grind, not drinking, eating healthy, and reading in my free time. I need some corruption lmao.

[thecozymystic]

[poligraf]

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

[spookyhotmess]

My plans for the next 3 days at least