For the LitRPG writers or fan's

[TheJudger]

So, i've been thinking, what turns an normal LitRPG something unique? Besides the world construction or macro things, i'm talking about the micro

Unique classes? Like, beside the usual swordsman, mage, rogue/assassin, archer, etc...

Maybe unique races? Besides the elves, beast/demi-humans, angels and demons.

Maybe a different magic system? That changes the usual "i study and now i learned how to launch a fire ball!"

Different elemental magic? A elemental magic with more than the usual elements?

So, thinking about that, what are your unique ideas about these things?
Which race you can think that isn't usual? Which class? Which elements? Which magic system?

I personally love the ideas of classes, like "Barriermancer" or "Magitecher"

 

[gaylolis]

when they could turn their story into an actual good game.

 

[Deleted member 54065]

when they could turn their story into an actual good game.

Or they can turn their characters into 'humans'.

It's one thing that irks me in LitRPG. Human characters that don't feel 'human'.

 

[Le_ther]

Actual characters that ain't 1 dimensional or a copy paste system leveling format

 

[Syringe]

I think showing the difference between people that have a system and that do not is interesting. Creates a massive gap in the balance of powers, and the few that do have these LitRPG systems could even be revered as Gods. Makes OP characters believable since others wouldn't have access to it.

A twist on a traditional class is also pretty cool to see. Like a Healer that's as proficient as as a Fighter at beating people to a pulp.

 

[gaylolis]

Like a Healer that's as proficient as as a Fighter at beating people to a pulp.

that's basically a lot of healers in arknights.

 

[RobBanks]

Maybe try doing something less orthodox than usual. Try different angles for chars, or mix in something that's not found that often in the genre. Sports, lesser known settings, maybe make it about something crazy and weird like jungle survival, or even STREET RACING (totally not self-promoting here or anything :P).
In any case, the key, as cliché as it sounds, should be to be earnest. Even if we come off as boring and unoriginal, the important part is that we're having fun. To go all out and put out something genuine, that we would enjoy to read ourselves, should come before any worry that it won't be a completely new idea. And that's my ramble lol

 

[melchi]

I think a good litrpg has characters a reader can cheer for. Like with cultivation novels the systems can turn into jibbeerish and the characters into demigods no one can relate to. Like with any action novel if the characters are too hard to identify with then why would anyone care what happens to them next?

Don't get me wrong, I love a good power fantasy but the moment the characters don't seem to have any human traits anymore is when I want to drop the novel.

 

[AiLovesToGrow]

Depends on what you mean by unique. I feel a good narrative is what makes any story good. However, here’s a few aspects that make my LitRPG a little more unique than typical:

Main Races included in the first book are Ymirian, Succubus, Goblin, Holstaur, Naga, Beastkin (otter), Kikiyaon and Cheetaur. Additional Races met by characters include Troll, Cyclops, Living Vines, Incubus, Beastkin (elephant), Lich, Greater Succubus, Kitsune and a few other spoilers Races.

Classes include a Collector (uses sex to bond and upgrade those collected), an Alchemist (makes potions), a Brawler (martial artist specializing in groups), a Swarmlock (bug warlock), a Bulwark (barrier specialist), a Cleric (healing and buffs), and a Dualist (minor control of individualized gravity).

And those are book 1. Book 2 has a few more radical ideas for both Races and Classes.

 

[Cipiteca396]

Unique classes? Like, beside the usual swordsman, mage, rogue/assassin, archer, etc...

Gimmick.

Maybe unique races? Besides the elves, beast/demi-humans, angels and demons.

Gimmick.

Maybe a different magic system? That changes the usual "i study and now i learned how to launch a fire ball!"

Gimmick.

Different elemental magic? A elemental magic with more than the usual elements?

Gimmick.

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So, i've been thinking, what turns an normal LitRPG something unique? Besides the world construction or macro things, i'm talking about the micro

This might sound silly, but you can't make something unique by just doing the same thing and tacking on extra features.

You can make a unique LitRPG with a completely conventional System. What matters more is the story being told. It's fine to add gimmicks, especially if you're really excited about those gimmicks and they make you want to write more. But really, all that matters is the plot and the entertainment.

---

So, thinking about that, what are your unique ideas about these things?

Now see, that's a different question.

I guess my favorite gimmicks that I would like to use are probably...

Respec. Being able to reset your stats and skills mostly at will.
Most games can't handle that because it throws balance out the window. And LitRPG follows that idea because the idea that 'a game has to be balanced' is super ingrained into our heads. Also, it makes readers constantly suggest new builds, which might get super annoying if you're not okay with backseating.

Zones. Places where only people and monsters of a certain level can appear, and anyone who overlevels gets kicked out. That seems like it might be an interesting gimmick. Especially if the 'Zone' is an entire world.

I have way too many ideas for races to relate here, and I don't like classes. That just leaves my magic system which... I don't wanna spend the time to explain. I guess Zones and Respec are all the answer I'm giving here.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

fraternal polyandry

 

[BearlyAlive]

Anything that makes a normal story into a unique experience. You can't just write down the everything on the "how to LitRPG"-trope list and then say "BUT my character has pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis so it makes my story special!" and hope people remember your story for things other than using that word correctly. If you do things the same way everyone else does it, then your stories aren't special, they're generic.

Starting with Technerd, Rugby Player and Slim Shady as classes instead of Mage, Warrior and Scout/Thief doesn't make your story different, it'd be just a rose by any other name.

What if instead of picking classes at certain levels people get to pick between a few random ones where the clases that get shitty skills get good stats and the ones with good skills get shitty stats?
Say your MC gets 'Toilet Cleaner' and 'Holy Knight' as random choices but the first one gets a plus +50% stat modifier in setting where base stats are more important than everything else. Sure the HK might have better skills, but does 'Holy Blade of Promised Victory Excalculator' seem impressive if a 'Cloaca Sweep' does tripple more damage?
And suddenly you have the twist of normal classes being bad plus you get to be creative with "joke classes" that turned legit. For example.

 

[Empyrea]

Every writer is a unique person. So I think that as long as you aren't just copy and pasting from other stories, if you write enough of your imagined world it will end up unique. Write your own story, don't stress too much about being unique because that's not going to be what keeps you writing. Probably.