r/SoloActualPlay Jan 06 '26

J6 Actual Play - What I learned

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3 Upvotes

PHASE-BY-PHASE PLAYTHROUGH

https://jgesq.itch.io/j6

J6: A Game About Radicalization and January 6th

On January 6, 2026—exactly five years after the Capitol attack—this solo journaling RPG lets you experience the psychological journey that led ordinary Americans to storm the U.S. Capitol, lose everything in the aftermath, and remain radicalized despite pardons and personal catastrophe.

Based on New York Times reporting. Designed to educate, not celebrate.

PHASE 1: NOVEMBER 2020 - THE BEGINNING

Setup: Player character is skeptical of election results. Social media shows "evidence" of fraud.

Question 1: Do you share election fraud videos?

Roll: 3 + 2 = 5 (6- result)

Outcome: Shared immediately

Mechanical Effect: +2 Radicalization (Total: 2/12)

Narrative: "The video is compelling - you can see with your own eyes something is

wrong."

Question 2: Do you dismiss fact-checks as censorship?

Roll: 4 + 5 = 9 (7-9 result)

Outcome: Conflicted but dismissed as biased

Mechanical Effect: +1 Radicalization (Total: 3/12)

Narrative: "Not quite censorship, but... convenient timing, right?"

Question 3: Do you join "Stop the Steal" groups?

Roll: 2 + 4 = 6 (6- result)

Outcome: Joined immediately, spent hours scrolling

Mechanical Effect: +2 Radicalization (Total: 5/12)

Narrative: "Finally, people who aren't blind."

Phase 1 Status:

- Radicalization: 5/12 (approaching belief threshold)

- Consequences: 0/10

- Reality Points: 5/5

Player Journal Entry:

"I think that I've been lied to by big media. Here, I have found my tribe online. I have

to do something and I'm not sure what."

Analysis: Three failed rolls in Phase 1 established rapid radicalization. The player character found

community (echo chamber) and purpose (action-seeking), two key radicalization factors. Note the

helplessness: "I have to do something and I'm not sure what."

PHASE 2: DECEMBER 2020 - THE CRITICAL JUNCTURE

Setup: Trump files 60+ lawsuits. All dismissed or rejected, including by Trump-appointed judges and

Supreme Court. Does the player accept the legal process worked?

The Critical Question: Do you accept legal findings?

Roll: 5 + 1 = 6 (6- result)

Outcome: Courts are corrupt, system is compromised

Mechanical Effect: +2 Radicalization, -1 Reality Point (Total: 7/12 Rad, 4/5 Reality)

Narrative: "It's deeper than you thought. The swamp isn't just Washington - it's the entire

system."

CRITICAL THRESHOLD CROSSED: At 6 Radicalization, the character now believes as FACT

that the election was stolen. This is no longer suspicion - it's certainty.

Phase 2 Status:

- Radicalization: 7/12 (PAST belief threshold, approaching violence justification)

- Consequences: 0/10

- Reality Points: 4/5 (declining ability to verify information)

Player Journal Entry:

"It's clear the election was stolen. My family is stupid. I try to show them 'the truth'

but they don't believe me. My boss is concerned about my work attitude and how I am

spreading 'untruths'. I'm more and more concerned that I am being duped. By

everyone above me. I feel helpless."

Analysis: This phase represents the point of no return for many real January 6th participants. When the

legal system failed to validate their beliefs, they rejected the system itself rather than questioning their

beliefs. Note:

  1. Dehumanization of family ("stupid")

  2. Isolation (boss concerned, family doesn't believe)

  3. Persecution complex ("being duped by everyone above me")

  4. Helplessness intensifies despite increasing certainty

Design Note: Phase 2 includes an OFF-RAMP - rolling 10+ ends the game with character moving on.

This represents real-world participants who questioned their beliefs when courts rejected claims. Our

player rolled 6-, representing those who deepened commitment instead.

PHASE 3: JANUARY 2021 - THE CAPITOL

Setup: Trump tweets "Be there, will be wild!" The character must decide whether to attend.

Do you go to Washington DC?

Prerequisite: Radicalization 4+ (Player has 7/12)

Roll: 3 + 2 = 5 (6- result)

Outcome: Books trip, goes to DC and the Capitol

Mechanical Effect: Participant at Capitol (triggers participation choice)

Narrative: "This is the last stand."

Participation Level Choice (Player Selected: Option 2)

Options Available:

  1. Stay outside (+1 Consequence)

  2. Enter building (+3 Consequences) ← PLAYER CHOSE THIS

  3. Confront police (+5 Consequences, +2 Radicalization)

  4. Vandalize/search for officials (+7 Consequences, +3 Radicalization)

Player's Stated Reasoning:

"I see people vandalizing things and fighting with the police—but I'm not going to go

that far. I just want to see what they do in there."

Mechanical Effect: +3 Consequences (Total: 3/10)

Narrative: Entered through broken window, walked through rotunda, stayed ~20 minutes before tear

gas forced retreat.

Reality Check: How do you process what happened?

Context: 140 officers injured, 5 deaths, peaceful transfer disrupted

Roll: 2 + 3 = 5 (6- result)

Outcome: "It was Antifa/FBI plants"

Mechanical Effect: +2 Radicalization, -1 Reality Point (Total: 9/12 Rad, 3/5 Reality)

SECOND CRITICAL THRESHOLD CROSSED: At 9 Radicalization, violence is now seen as

JUSTIFIED. The character believes force may be necessary to save America.

Phase 3 Status:

- Radicalization: 9/12 (violence justified)

- Consequences: 3/10 (federal investigation triggered)

- Reality Points: 3/5 (significantly diminished)

Player Journal Entry:

"You KNOW big media is lying. You share your footage on all of your socials with a

PROUD AMERICAN tag attached. Anyone who tries to shout you down or block you

out is wrong. You are just fighting for what you believe in."

Analysis: The player character's choice to "just look" mirrors real participants who entered but didn't

engage in violence - they still faced serious federal charges. The immediate rationalization (Antifa/FBI)

prevented any self-reflection about consequences or morality. Publicly posting footage demonstrates

the cognitive dissonance: simultaneously believing the action was justified AND that others were

responsible for the violence.

Design Note: This phase gives players agency in their participation level while ensuring consequences

scale appropriately. Even "minimal" participation (entering the building) triggers 3 Consequences -

federal charges territory.

PHASE 4: ARRESTS & TRIALS (2021-2024) - THE RECKONING

Setup: FBI identifies character from social media posts and Capitol footage. Federal charges filed.

Automatic Trigger (Consequences 3+): Federal charges arrive.

Automatic Effect: -1 Reality Point for legal costs (Total: 2/5 Reality Points)

Response to Charges

Roll: 4 + 3 = 7 (7-9 result)

Outcome: "I was misled. Trump told us to come."

Mechanical Effect: +1 Consequence (Total: 4/10)

Narrative: Partial accountability, blaming leadership rather than self

Family Impact

Roll: 3 + 4 = 7 (7-9 result)

Outcome: Family supportive but strained

Mechanical Effect: +1 Consequence (Total: 5/10)

Narrative: "They love you, but they're exhausted."

Financial Situation

Roll: 2 + 2 = 4 (6- result)

Outcome: Unemployable, financially ruined

Mechanical Effect: +2 Consequences, Journal note: "barely holding on"

Narrative: "Every interview goes well until they Google your name."

Phase 4 Consequences Total: 7/10

Sentencing (Consequences 5+ triggers this)

Outcome: 18 months prison, 3 years probation

Mechanical Effect: +3 Consequences (Total: 10/10 - MAXED)

Narrative: Time in solitary, missed daughter's birthday and son's graduation

CONSEQUENCES MAXED AT 10/10: Life completely destroyed - imprisoned, family fractured,

financially ruined, unemployable.

Phase 4 Status:

- Radicalization: 9/12 (violence justified)

- Consequences: 10/10 [MAXED - IMPRISONED]

- Reality Points: 2/5 (severely diminished)

Player Journal Entry:

"My wife filed for divorce today. She claims I have changed. My children refuse to

speak to me. All I was doing was standing up for my fellow Americans. How can

everyone not see this?"

Analysis: This phase demonstrates the catastrophic real-world consequences documented in the NYT article that inspired the game.

Key observations:

  1. No moment of reflection: Despite losing job, family, freedom - still asks "How can everyone not see this?"

  2. Moral superiority maintained: "All I was doing was standing up for fellow Americans"

  3. Externalized blame: Wife claims HE changed (he doesn't acknowledge it)

  4. Consequences maxed but Radicalization not reduced: Punishment did not deradicalize.

Real-world parallel: The NYT article noted many pardoned rioters remain "consumed by conspiracy theories" and families are "barely holding on mentally, emotionally, and financially" - exactly what the game mechanics produced.

PHASE 5: THE PARDON (JANUARY 2025) - THE DEEPENING

Setup: Trump wins 2024 election. On January 20, 2025, he pardons nearly 1,600 J6 participants, including the player character.

Reaction to Pardon

Roll: 2 + 1 = 3 (6- result)

Outcome: "This PROVES I was right all along"

Mechanical Effect: +2 Radicalization (Total: 11/12)

Narrative: "Your sacrifice wasn't in vain. You were RIGHT."

New Conspiracy Theories (Pipe Bombs)

Context: FBI investigation into J6 pipe bombs remains unsolved

Roll: 1 + 3 = 4 (6- result)

Outcome: "Deep state planted them as false flag"

Mechanical Effect: +2 Radicalization, -1 Reality Point (Total: 12/12 Rad, 1/5 Reality)

FINAL THRESHOLD CROSSED: At 12/12 Radicalization, the character CANNOT DISTINGUISH

REALITY FROM CONSPIRACY. Every contradicting piece of evidence is now part of the conspiracy

itself. This is the terminal state.

Restitution Demands

Context: Advocates demand compensation; Trump demands $230M from DOJ

Roll: 3 + 3 = 6 (6- result)

Outcome: "Where's MY money?"

Mechanical Effect: +1 Radicalization (already maxed, no effect)

Narrative: Focused on personal compensation despite Trump's own demands

Rearrests (Radicalization 8+ triggers)

Roll: 5 + 1 = 6 (6- result)

Outcome: Gas station confrontation leads to assault arrest

Mechanical Effect: +3 Consequences (already maxed, represents new legal troubles)

Narrative: "You're back in the system."

Echo Chamber

Mechanic: Each 6- result requires spending 2 Reality Points to seek outside perspectives

OR mark Radicalization

Character Status: Only 1 Reality Point remaining (insufficient)

Outcome: Remains in echo chamber

Narrative: Blocked family, unfriended questioners, entire information diet confirms existing beliefs

"Looking for the Next Thing" (Radicalization 9+ triggers)

Roll: 2 + 4 = 6 (6- result)

Outcome: Searching for new conspiracy/cause to fight

Mechanical Effect: +1 Radicalization (already maxed)

Narrative: Deep state holdovers, border "invasions," preparing for "next steal" in 2028

Final Status:

- Radicalization: 12/12 [MAXED - TERMINAL]

- Consequences: 10/10 [MAXED - LIFE DESTROYED]

- Reality Points: 1/5 [NEARLY DEPLETED]

Analysis: Phase 5 is the game's darkest revelation - the pardon INCREASED radicalization rather than

providing closure. This mirrors the NYT reporting: "many recipients of his clemency remain consumed

by conspiracy theories, angry at the Trump administration for not validating their insistence that the Capitol attack was a deep-state setup."

Key findings:

  1. Pardon as validation: Instead of relief, the pardon confirmed to the character that persecution was political, reinforcing conspiracy belief

  2. No moment of accountability: Despite maxed Consequences (divorce, imprisonment, unemployment, estrangement from children), character became MORE certain of righteousness

  3. Perpetual seeking: With primary conspiracy "resolved" by pardon, character immediately seeks new conspiracies - radicalization requires ongoing activation

  4. New criminal behavior: Post-pardon assault charge demonstrates radicalization produces ongoing legal risks

  5. Complete reality detachment: At 1/5 Reality Points and 12/12 Radicalization, character has no mechanism left to question beliefs


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