How does it look to you? A thief in a magical world.

[Dr-Jovalix]

A thief, who has no magic power, and has to run away from everyone to survive in this world without revealing his identity, does it sound interesting? if so then ask me for more details.

 

[BigBadBoi]

description is too vague tbh

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

How did he manage to trick those angry magic guardmen/women ?

 

[Empress_Omnii]

I've heard countless versions of the same thing. It's popular for a reason, but sure, I'll ask questions.

1. Why must they hide their identity, just because they'll get caught?
2. Why are they a thief?
3. Are they trained or self taught?
4. Are there magic items and can they use them?
5. Detection magic, does it exist and how does this thief interact with it?
6. Do they ever develop a skill set that let's them compete with the magic in the world?
7. What is the setting?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I would rather read about thief and his or her activities than thief simply running away.

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

Like with everything else, it depends on how well it's written. In your case, variety is literally going to be your spice of life. If it's just steal > run > escape > steal > run > escape over and over again, it'll get boring really quick. But if you can make each heist and method of escape different enough, it could be good. Like, one might require him to infiltrate a nobleman's mansion during a party, so he hides in plain sight while switching between a variety of disguises, having a few close calls with people who might recognize him, or having to bluff his way through conversations to keep from standing out. And then another could be a wild and desperate escape from a castle on lockdown while the guards actively hunt him down, where he has to do death defying stunts to stay just out of their grasp.

I will say, though, that eventually you're going to need some kind of face to face confrontation. A protagonist/antagonist relationship where they never interact with each other is an empty, boring one. And if all your thief ever does is run away from things, you're setting yourself up for an underwhelming climax. That's where things need to go catastrophically wrong, escape stops being an option, and your thief is forced to adapt to a situation he doesn't do well in by confronting his enemies. Maybe not by getting in an all-out brawl with them, but he still needs to solve the problem rather than running away from it. Otherwise, what're you going to do? Have him pull a Brave Sir Robin just like the last dozen times he got into hot water?

 

[CarburetorThompson]

One of the world building pieces I made but never put into a story was a world where the biggest hobby of wizards and mages was sleight of hand magic.

Since in a world where mages can detect traces of any magic, sleight of hand and other deceptive magic tricks become a way to showcase intellectual superiority without having to go to blows or compare research notes. In the setting a lot of wizards would select apprentices from street magicians or pickpockets who could not yet use magic, but were good at such tricks.

Idk it’s tangentially related and I’ve never been able to use it in a story so I just wanted to talk about it

 

[Empress_Omnii]

I’ve never been able to use it in a story so I just wanted to talk about it

I hope you can find a way to use it, because I like the idea. I think the visual design elements would look really good for a setting like that. Much better than just robed scholars.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

In a traditional fantasy setting I'd not really be interested.

Now if this was in a world like the one in the "Incarnations of Immortality" novel series (where magic is almost as common as tech) by Piers Anthony, it could be interesting.

Put it in a world like that from the Bloodshadows RPG (and I know there was a short story collection - have it - not sure if there were novels) - where the apparent tech level of the cities is 1920s-1930s but the area between the cities is 1500s at best - but scratch the surface and you find 90% of the "tech" is magic-based (the "Model A" cars are powered by air elementals; electricity is derived from other bound elementals, and some of the wealthy employ zombie servants, for example) and you'd definitely have my attention (especially since it's a Dark Fantasy setting so there are also Lovecraftian horrors and magic often does unexpected things).

Or, even the Deadlands setting (RPG - three editions even - and some novels; there is also a very similar series of short stories called Razored Saddles and there was a series from DC Comics in the 90s called Jonah Hex: Riders of the Wyrm that could fit perfectly in the setting) - a Wild West with Weird Science and dark magic - then you'd have something interesting too; the master thief who has to get by on his wits because he can't deal with the Manitous (literally - to cast magic you have to play a hand of poker against the spirits; the more powerful the magic, the more dangerous, and likely to cheat, the Manitou is) and maybe has an established position in society.

The setting is everything, as the plot itself is pretty vanilla.

 

[Dr-Jovalix]

read "Void Walker: Rise Of The Shadow Thief" and you'll find out.

read "Void Walker: Rise Of The Shadow Thief" and you'll find out.

Read "Void Walker: Rise Of The Shadow Thief" and you'll find out.

I would rather read about thief and his or her activities than thief simply running away.

Coming soon that part

 

[Empress_Omnii]

Read "Void Walker: Rise Of The Shadow Thief" and you'll find out.

Ah... I'm sorry but I don't think I'd find the concept interesting in a LitRPG. I prefer worlds that characters are born into and I doubt it would appeal to my tastes.

 

[Dr-Jovalix]

Ah... I'm sorry but I don't think I'd find the concept interesting in a LitRPG. I prefer worlds that characters are born into and I doubt it would appeal to my tastes.

First try, later Say. It's a diffrent type of story, where realism Is at It's peak.

 

[Empress_Omnii]

First try, later Say. It's a diffrent type of story, where realism Is at It's peak.

Again, it isn't an appealing story idea. I understand others enjoying it, but it is a bunch of genres that I like done in specific ways. I would try it, but only if it has something that appeals to my preferences.

It doesn't really matter the level of realism, because it isn't the type of story I will want to read. I am sorry, but especially after skimming through a few chapters, I can assure you. I was correct in deciding I wasn't going to like it.

I'm not telling you that it is bad. But I am not the intended audience here...

 

[Dr-Jovalix]

No problem, sir. Thanks for your time

 

[NotaNuffian]

Here is my two cent.

I am writing a story regarding MC being an outsider aka NOT people of the lands.

He is a reincarnator and people of the lands often hunt folks like him to steal their cheats, the otherworldly knowledge, future knowledge or straight up enslave them because that's just life.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Say no to LitRPG. Your body is not a dumpster!