I really like what you’re shooting for here; an exploratory traversal mechanic that has friction (is non trivial to execute) but doesn’t require hours of repetition to complete. I really like the idea of setting out to find your next treasure and just being totally stumped. Really having to mull over all of your information and what you’ve tried until you figure it out.
One thought I have the mapping mode is if it tells you outright when you have a successful map it might take away some of the surprise and joy of finding the treasure through the act of exploring. If you know what the solution is, then execution is just a matter of getting the right RNG. Which, I think learning to use the key mechanics to balance RNG in your favour is a very cool mechanic here, but that being the only execution concern maybe takes away some of the mystery of stumbling upon something you were looking for but not quite expecting. I think if your map was able to tell you like, 90% of how to get there and the last 10% was trial and error, I think that could be quite fun. Adding items to partially reset the world so you don’t have to start each attempt from scratch might also lessen the burden of execution time.
Of course, it’s a matter of what you’re going for. If the mapping sections are very difficult to figure out, then finally getting to execute on them could be a bit exhilarating. Plus the RNG mechanics could lend a feeling of overcoming an environment that is inherently hostile to your goal, and give a sense of challenge and mastery, so it isn’t exactly rote. That said, something about combining the two steps, exploring, learning something, then going back to the drawing board is appealing to me personally. It could give the feeling of learning through active engagement with the world rather then finding the answer through study and hypotheticals. However, the separate 2 step method still involves engagement with the world, since knowing a successful combination of rooms is only half the puzzle! There really are a lot of ways you could experiment with this idea and I think each would create their own specific feeling.
Whoops, I wrote a bunch about the mechanics when I actually meant to comment on the story! I really like some of the themes you brought up here with connection vs isolation. Isolation can bring uniqueness of culture and identity but also judgment of outsiders and the unfamiliar. Connection can allow transience; being able to escape an abusive or unsatisfying place to find somewhere you better belong. But like in our world, it can cause cultural homogeneity, large scale domination of others and oppressive social hierarchies (not that such things don’t also exist on a smaller scale in small communities). I also like the conflict of fame vs obscurity. To be very well known is tantalizing, but comes with the burden of others expectations and assumptions of you. As you say, producing art obscurely for and with a small group of friends and collaborators can produce very unique and personal art. Yet without a way for that art to be shared or seen it can’t be found by those who might connect deeply to it.
In general, connection is what allows us to share ideas and grow as people and artists. I think there’s an interesting dialogue here with our lives online, how being able to navigate it, discover new art, new people, and new connections can be so meaningful. Yet something about those levels of obscurity is part of what makes that traversal meaningful, the fact that there is difference everywhere you go. These are pretty powerful themes I think, and very rich for exploration.
Anyway, I wrote a bit too much, but your blog posts gave me a lot to think about. There’s a lot really interesting things here and I hope you are able to find the time to continue working on it!