About time skips.

[NotProudofmySmut]

What do you think of larger time skips in stories with a level-up system? Do you prefer experiencing the entire character progression up close, or do you value a fast-developing story more? I’ll leave out the classic ‘character accidentally defeats a super strong opponent and gains enough experience points to become overpowered’ trope here.

 

[Envylope]

Time skips are a tool to skip boring stuff. If it makes sense for the story, then do a time skip. If nothing interesting happens for a year, then do a time skip.

 

[NotProudofmySmut]

Time skips are a tool to skip boring stuff. If it makes sense for the story, then do a time skip. If nothing interesting happens for a year, then do a time skip.

I've just realized that it heavily depends on the genre. If I'm going to stay in a more slice-of-life style, it might make more sense not to skip. If it's more adventure-focused, I should rather skip.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I've just realized that it heavily depends on the genre. If I'm going to stay in a more slice-of-life style, it might make more sense not to skip. If it's more adventure-focused, I should rather skip.

Well, that depends. Slice-of-life stories can skip; especially if you're dealing with a childhood scar from the start of the story and want to sip ahead to high school age or college to revisit the character for progression. ?

 

[LiteraryWho]

I've just realized that it heavily depends on the genre. If I'm going to stay in a more slice-of-life style, it might make more sense not to skip. If it's more adventure-focused, I should rather skip.

There is possibly less skipping in slice-of-life, but often instead of time skips such stories operate timelessly. A good example is a sitcom where we are never given any indication how much time has passed between episodes. Even if you're doing slice-of-life, it's still important to focus on the *interesting* slices of life.

I suppose on a more "content-mill" style site like here on SH or RR, you can probably get away with meandering through minutia, but you might find that tiring after a while. Also, gen-ai slop is likely to start horning in on that market, so do with that as you will.

 

[Hush25]

Time skips are a tool to skip boring stuff. If it makes sense for the story, then do a time skip. If nothing interesting happens for a year, then do a time skip.

What they said. ? Otherwise you could use * * * (centred) which is industry standard to indicate a scene change (which can be the same or next day).

 

[Cipiteca396]

What do you think of larger time skips in stories with a level-up system? Do you prefer experiencing the entire character progression up close, or do you value a fast-developing story more? I’ll leave out the classic ‘character accidentally defeats a super strong opponent and gains enough experience points to become overpowered’ trope here.

You shouldn't be skipping fights or challenges that grant level ups most of the time. The only acceptable time to skip fights or challenges would be if you do da ting, show the character learning and refining how to win, and then skip past them doing the exact same thing over and over (grinding).

Frankly, I'd advise doing the 'beat a strong opponent' approach instead, if you didn't directly say it's not allowed. Fighting strong opponents is both better for engagement and faster than grinding, without requiring a time skip. But uh... You do you, I guess.

I would never, ever skip level ups themselves though, unless they don't matter... And they should matter or why have them at all? Theoretically, you could review the level ups after a time skip, and that should be okay though.