ABSTRACT
Sometimes it can be hard to decide which mechanics are core to a game. Many elements may be necessary to a game without being core to its identity. From the very beginning of the game, the player has almost unparalleled mobility. The ability to fly and travel at speed through a large world creates a sense of freedom and empowerment. The game drives exploration through assigned plot missions early in the game, but play is intended to extend beyond the completion of the plot. When seeking a narrative premise that will create a sense of isolation in the player and character, a designer may wish to make use of the lone warrior trope. This trope can have significant cultural baggage, however, and developers must carefully consider how it is implemented to achieve the intended effects without unintended connotations. In its most basic form, the trope is that a lone warrior must confront the forces arrayed against them.
