Solo Supers: The Impetus

Me:  So, we just can't seem to get the solo D&D game going for very long.

She: I know you're trying to play it differently than you're used to.

Me: A little bit,  yeah.

She: I had fun with the first D&D city game we played... with whats-her-name as my character.  I liked trying to figure things out.  There was a mystery going on that I wanted to unravel.

Me: I know.  I've been trying to recreate that, but when I do it just comes off as dopey and cliched to me.  Why did we quit that one again?

She:  For the space thing. 

Me:  Oh yeah.  Hmmm... what do you think about super powers?

She:  You mean in principle or would I like to have superpowers?

Me:  As in "would you like to play in a game with super-powers?"  I've had this idea for either a graphic novel or a Supers game that I can't quite get rid of, so I might as well do something with it.  I can't draw for shit, so...

She: Sure... I mean, look... I really don't care if its super powers, or spaceships  or whatever.  My favorite parts of playing have to do with figuring stuff out, and I liked being a thief.  The fighting part just isn't my thing.  The setting just needs to be interesting.  And mysterious.

Me:  Great, it'll be like a cross between Lucifer's Hammer, the Heroes series and maybe Watchmen.

She:  I only know what two of those things are.

Me:  Don't worry, I'll explain it all better when we play.  It'll take place mostly in Philly.

She:  I hope you're not doing that for my benefit, I can't get around in the city.

Me:  I know, but its the city I know best so it'll be easier to prep.  So you're cool with trying out a new game?

She:  Yes.  Just no giant frogs and I don't want to stab any goblins.

Me:  You don't like the giant frogs?

She:  No

Me:  You've broken my heart. 

Yesterday I casually mentioned that I was starting up a Supers game for my wife.  Above is a "based on real events" conversation that actually played out as several conversations in real life over the course of a few days.   While my normal D&D game runs along relatively smoothly, the solo games I run with my wife just haven't been clicking.  We've tried a few passes at D&D and a short-lived run with Traveller.  At times things worked well and we've had enough fun that we want to keep it going, but overall nothing has lasted for very long. 

Maybe its the oft-mentioned gamer ADD.  Maybe I just haven't been in the right frame of mind to deliver the kind of game we're looking for.  I'm not going to analyze it too much.  I've got an idea I'm excited about involving an asteroid, a conspiracy to subvert western democracy and people in tights that shoot laser beams from their eyes.  How could it not work?