Addressing three typical questions on the format, from those first introduced:
Yes, you can play Stableford alone—unlike match play.
Yes, you can play Stableford without a handicap—though you likely won’t score as well as if you did.
Yes, you can maintain an index with Stableford rounds.
An improving game will show up in your numbers and show up on the locker room bulletin board. A declining game will also show up in your index. As you improve, the format will make the game more difficult, just like what happens in match or medal. (See the R&A for more on this matter.)