Recommendations A small fish in a big pond

[nyannein]

Looking for some good read. I like the concept where the MC has to respond to the situation with limit control of his/her own fate, like forcing hard choices. A small fish in a big pond.
Or perhaps you are not even a main character in your own story, just merely an observer/narrator to the shit show trying hard just to survive from a strayed bullet, something similar to Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes. Maybe this is too specific but could be a fresh new perspective to read from, well this starts to sound like getting cuckolded.
Anyway, back to the point. I generally read War genre but anything is welcome. I don’t hate OP character, just the lack of resourcefulness to utilise any thing meaningful. Ecchi/Harem is avoided but willing to compromise. The list is getting too specific and I guess I will stop it here.

 

[Arkus86]

You can try They Were All Nobles, "otome game reincarnation" comedy, written from the PoV of the reincarnated main character's sidekick childhood friend. Unfortunately it has not been updated in years...

Or The Eagle's flight. There's a single chapter on Royal Road, oterwise it was moved to Amazon. It's completed, but not all books have been published there yet. Predominantly it follows the heir of a bastard branch of the ruling dynasty, through battles and wars as he tries his best to keep together a realm threatened by civil war and external enemies. He's a strategic genius, but lacking when it comes to playing politics, and this often leaves him with powerful enemies and limited ability to act.

Emberstone, from what is up so far, seems to be in the theme you're looking for as well. MC, a regular thief from a slum, trying to make the best of a bad situation. Gets a very tempting opportuity, makes some poor choices, and drags his friends into it as well.

Possibly also Outrun – Cyberpunk LitRPG. Arguably, the MC is cheating by getting a system and making generous use of it, but even with those advantages, she's still very much a small fish in a big pond.

Then there is Legend of the Galactic Heroes, either a 10-book series, or anime (the 1980s-90s anime does the books justice, can't speak for the newer reboot). It follows two main characters on opposing sides, with wastly different situations, and plenty of support cast.

Oh, and almost forgot Spice and Wolf, which is literally about a simple travelling merchant whose greatest ambition is to open his own store one day, and his travelling companion, the spirit of wheat.

 

[Cookiez_N_Potionz]

Looking for some good read. I like the concept where the MC has to respond to the situation with limit control of his/her own fate, like forcing hard choices. A small fish in a big pond.
Or perhaps you are not even a main character in your own story, just merely an observer/narrator to the shit show trying hard just to survive from a strayed bullet, something similar to Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes. Maybe this is too specific but could be a fresh new perspective to read from, well this starts to sound like getting cuckolded.
Anyway, back to the point. I generally read War genre but anything is welcome. I don’t hate OP character, just the lack of resourcefulness to utilise any thing meaningful. Ecchi/Harem is avoided but willing to compromise. The list is getting too specific and I guess I will stop it here.

I have a story that you might like, but idk. My first ever LitRPG

The Succubus and The Maverick [LitRPG]

5 Systems. 5 Royal Families. Greetings, Champion! 17 year-old, Collin Rex is a football player with a heart of gold. But his easygoing life is flipped upside-down when his older siblings fall into a mysterious coma and no one knows why. With no more tricks in their playbook Collin's parents...

www.scribblehub.com

 

[JayMark]

You might like my story:

Sorry, The Only Power Left Is Alteration.

Circe is transported to Azoria's world to play a power progression game with a thousand other selected contestants. Unfortunately, her only power is a single highly limited alteration spell. All her other stats besides magic aptitude are permanently locked at their starter levels. Yet Circe...

www.scribblehub.com

There are central characters but no main character.

It shifts character POV often, which is a problem for readers who want to follow a single or small set of characters.

But if you're asking for characters trying to survive with a limited power set in difficult situation, then yes, it meets that criteria, possibly too much.

 

[Deleted member 166465]

Kingdom of Fire and Shadows I: Useless magic and II Salamanders | Scribble Hub
Try any of mine
Hydra Project | Scribble Hub
might scratch your itch.
Kingdom of Fire and Shadows I: Useless magic and II Salamanders | Scribble Hub
Maybe... but to get to the action you have to read a lot... like 30 chapters (5000+ words chapters).