Checkpoint system

[ACertainPassingUser]

Would you like to read about "checkpoint system", in which the main character has unlimited checkpoint to wherever they visited and it can be activated anytime they want.

There's a pause menu as a bonus, which is freeze time but MC can't move.

Totally no limit of checkpoint, but you can't delete old checkpoint, and scrollling speed is capped to old RPG speed, therefore good luck scrolling thousands of checkpoint you've made a thousand lifetime ago for the next 500 year or so in the frozen time.

Or just click quit button.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

If it's a cooking story or a penguin documentary, maybe.

 

[TransCatGirl]

Short answer: no
long answer: The high stakes of might need to scroll for ages won't be as high stakes for the reader.
You can have the dialogue of them complaining but that will get real annoying real fast.
I'd worry this would lower the tension without giving anything in return.
Probably not a problem with a comedy or slice-of-life.

 

[Santaisblue]

So basically Undertale with a Skyrim menu, id read it but i feel like the scrolling of the menu would be annoying after a while.

 

[Arkus86]

The very nature of this system would mean there can be no real stakes in the story, no sense of danger or tension, if the MC can go back any time. Even the scrolling speed is nothing more than a gimmick that might discourage overuse, but has no practical impact, since the MC can scroll it while time is paused.
As such, it can only work in a story that does not have or need any stakes to begin with.

 

[georgelee5786]

No. It destroys any stakes

 

[BearlyAlive]

Unless you torture your MC because all routes lead to ruin, nope. The ability to just load a save file removes any and all stakes that aren't used to kill vampires.

The story wants MC to kill a demon king? Just rush to the final fight, find out the gimmick, load the game, build anti-gimmick, cheesy win.
A certain character is secretly good/evil? Load a file and enable/remove them. Terminal illness? Maybe needs two loads, so there's your suspension and thrill.

Congratulations, you have turned your whole story into a giant collection of escort and fetch quests, now enable fast travel and DLC powe-ups for extra boring plot.

 

[aattss]

So, like a time loop story? I'd be interested. I like those when they're done well.

Just make sure that a majority of focus is put on the MC's experiences/relationships (which better not be devalued by the unlimited time travel) and character development (which btw is different from growing stronger and gaining new skills). Just because there may be a next attempt doesn't mean this life is any less valuable.