Grinding

[Discount_Blade]

So the LitRPG I'm writing. I've had my MC fight various monsters like in any other LitRPG...but all of them have kind of just happened by circumstance. Not once has he went ouf of his way to fight. To "Grind" so to speak. Whether he was forced to by quest, happened to walk into an already brewing conflict, or was ambushed in the night while he slept, none of the fights he got into were of his own choosing.

So I'm at a point where he needs to grind. I can't keep introducing fights that he has no part of because that will get old quickly. Probably already has on my part. So, how do I go about "grinding"?

I have him where he has found a temporary "base of operations" that he can retreat to in the night. Food and etc. as well. The local wildlife are weaker than most of what he's fought before. So do I just have him head out and....just attack things? I mean how do I initiate the typically never-ending grinding process?

I need it to happen for a time so time will pass and allow me to introduce a few other humans that will appear due to a scene that occurs while he is grinding at a later date.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

So the LitRPG I'm writing. I've had my MC fight various monsters like in any other LitRPG...but all of them have kind of just happened by circumstance. Not once has he went ouf of his way to fight. To "Grind" so to speak. Whether he was forced to by quest, happened to walk into an already brewing conflict, or was ambushed in the night while he slept, none of the fights he got into were of his own choosing.

So I'm at a point where he needs to grind. I can't keep introducing fights that he has no part of because that will get old quickly. Probably already has on my part. So, how do I go about "grinding"?

I have him where he has found a temporary "base of operations" that he can retreat to in the night. Food and etc. as well. The local wildlife are weaker than most of what he's fought before. So do I just have him head out and....just attack things? I mean how do I initiate the typically never-ending grinding process?

I need it to happen for a time so time will pass and allow me to introduce a few other humans that will appear due to a scene that occurs while he is grinding at a later date.

Introduce someone or something stronger than he is right now, yet is a potential threat? A kind of a monster that is way higher in a level. It can be either chased out by an even bigger threat or going after some unlucky fellow(s) and end up in the same zone as the MC. There shouldn't even be an open confrontation, the presence of danger itself can be a motivation. Or something like a lockdown made by an antagonistic gang? I hope this would help you at least a little bit.

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

You would usually check out the local wild life a bit more to determine what gives the most exp and what kind of mob is the most effective on an input/ output availability basis. But I guess you have done that already.

From then on, it is just a matter of beating them up more efficiently to shorten the grind and maybe upgrade the mobs for better results.

 

[Discount_Blade]

You would usually check out the local wild life a bit more to determine what gives the most exp and what kind of mob is the most effective on an input/ output availability basis. But I guess you have done that already.

From then on, it is just a matter of beating them up more efficiently to shorten the grind and maybe upgrade the mobs for better results.

A lot of what my MC has fought has been of the same or higher level than he, so would it be counterproductive to make him now fight things weaker than himself?

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

A lot of what my MC has fought has been of the same or higher level than he, so would it be counterproductive to make him now fight things weaker than himself?

Not at all. It makes a lot of sense to fight weaker stuff.

The value we searcg for is exp/time.

A stronger monster might give more exp, 1k exp, while a weaker might only 100 exp.

But the decisive factor is the time you need to eliminate them and availability (spawn rates and such. Big monsters don't help you if they are rare.)

If the big badie 1k mob takes 60 seconds to kill and 100 only 6, then the small fry might be more efficient. Especially if you have some AoE tools and can round them up effectively.

Quantity > quality.

 

[UYScuti]

I’ve never really understood “grinding” in a LitRPG. Why doesn’t everyone just grind like the MC if they can? If grinding is something anyone can do, then why would the MC gain more than anybody else? So is it possible to increase their strength without making it appear to be a simple grind?

Can you make it into him having to fight because he needs to retrieve something? I don’t know the details, but let’s say there’s a weapon he needs or some type of plant that heals someone he cares about, or an emergency that forces his hand. So it’s not really him killing weak mobs to gain strength; it’s him progressing through an area to reach something. Make it so there are severe consequences to him not retrieving that item.

I think that would be a more natural way to gain strength.

 

[Nahrenne]

So the LitRPG I'm writing. I've had my MC fight various monsters like in any other LitRPG...but all of them have kind of just happened by circumstance. Not once has he went ouf of his way to fight. To "Grind" so to speak. Whether he was forced to by quest, happened to walk into an already brewing conflict, or was ambushed in the night while he slept, none of the fights he got into were of his own choosing.

So I'm at a point where he needs to grind. I can't keep introducing fights that he has no part of because that will get old quickly. Probably already has on my part. So, how do I go about "grinding"?

I have him where he has found a temporary "base of operations" that he can retreat to in the night. Food and etc. as well. The local wildlife are weaker than most of what he's fought before. So do I just have him head out and....just attack things? I mean how do I initiate the typically never-ending grinding process?

I need it to happen for a time so time will pass and allow me to introduce a few other humans that will appear due to a scene that occurs while he is grinding at a later date.

Boost your charisma stat and talk your way out of things, instead.
'-'


On a less jokey note, what drives your MC to get stronger?
Is there a threat out to get them?
Are they out for revenge against someone/something?
Do they want to impress someone they like?
Did they make a bet with someone where they'll have to fight this person to determine an outcome?

Knowing what drives the MC to get stronger would help determine the way of grinding, imo. If it's just for the sake of getting stronger with no time limit then it doesn't really matter whether the MC fights weaker things or stronger things. If they're under a time constraint then entering more dangerous territory to grind and push themselves to their limits.

Heck, you could even introduce a training school for those who wish to be stronger. You could have them enter a forest that has a reputation for being dangerous, etc...

X

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

Boost your charisma stat and talk your way out of things, instead.
'-'


On a less jokey note, what drives your MC to get stronger?
Is there a threat out to get them?
Are they out for revenge against someone/something?
Do they want to impress someone they like?
Did they make a bet with someone where they'll have to fight this person to determine an outcome?

Knowing what drives the MC to get stronger would help determine the way of grinding, imo. If it's just for the sake of getting stronger with no time limit then it doesn't really matter whether the MC fights weaker things or stronger things. If they're under a time constraint then entering more dangerous territory to grind and push themselves to their limits.

Heck, you could even introduce a training school for those who wish to be stronger. You could have them enter a forest that has a reputation for being dangerous, etc...

X

Charisma seems lame. You have to actually sound convincing as a character then. A hard task to accomplish.

 

[AdLeto]

*Applies buffs

 

[Temple]

introduce small concrete goals. For example he needs to craft an item then he needs 1000x of item A 500x item B. So those becomes his goals like he farmed 300x item A today but item B is going to be difficult and then you can introduce a guy to help him. If it's pure levelling can be something like that too. Like benchmark 5 levels to unlock this skill for example. I'm just giving her examples how to chop up the story so it wouldn't be one long grind. At the end of the day you can say I collected this items etc. Or I levelled up this. And just introduce small things to break up the monotony like I encountered a shiny pokemon or something while killing my 5000th mob.

 

[Discount_Blade]

Awesome thanks guys. I'm a little iffy on the idea of using charisma, not because I can't but because my character is a moody, grumpy bastard with a hard chip on his shoulders. Charisma doesn't particularly play into that very well. Still, thanks peeps.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

I would do most of it in a montage and only pause for the highlights.

 

[Deleted member 1244]

I think that would be a more natural way to gain strength.

if this is the "grinding" as I understand it in game terminology it repeatedly do the same action over and over that grants superficial "level up".

I am not so sure.

the concept itself is fundamental unrealistic. so for a world where never ending grinding is a possible option, and readers are already buying in to this form of world building. the suspension of disbelieve will be strong enough to accommodate un-naturalness of it .

I would even say if readers of wish fulfillment fantasies who looks for a quick *ding* [level up] making the character gain strength naturally might be consider unnatural.

the same way most consumer of pornogarphy is not exactly looking for a logical narrative, some are, but most are not.

 

[Chaos_Sinner777]

Introduce something worth hunting, then throw in a little timeskip, after that, show how much he has progressed. Status update, or have him fight something he would have had trouble with before and win fairly handily. No real need for the grinding to happen "Onscreen".

 

[Nahrenne]

Awesome thanks guys. I'm a little iffy on the idea of using charisma, not because I can't but because my character is a moody, grumpy bastard with a hard chip on his shoulders. Charisma doesn't particularly play into that very well. Still, thanks peeps.

I was more saying it as a joke since a lot of console rpg's that have stats like strength, constitution, dexterity, intelligence, wisdom and charisma tend to have a feature of being able to talk through the game.
An example is in Mass Effect: if your character is max paragon in terms of goodness or max renegade in evilness they can literally talk the final boss into committing suicide.
'-'

[Edit: forgot to add constitution in the list of stats]

X

 

[DreamOfRen]

Really difficult to say without knowing more but...
I think you should expand the lore of monsters in your world.
What purpose do they serve other than XP mining?
With that, maybe you could explore mid bosses who begin to appear because the MC is damaging the population of monsters.
Or, a monster hybrid that whisks the MC away and forces them into labyrinth or dungeon that they must use their wits and strength to fight their way out of.

Just a few possible ideas.

 

[Eleven_M.A.]

When I think of grinding, the first thing that comes to my mind is how tiring, boring and soul-crushing it feels. Hence the name. It came from the workforce slang, remember.

So, if I were to describe that, I'd concentrate on the feelings and stress just how much of a slog it is. You have to walk around another hour, find another monster, fight another pointless fight. You're tired, sweaty, probably aching all over, and it just refuses to stop. Rinse and repeat. I'm pretty sure everyone who ever had to grind (minus people who enjoy it) will sympathise.

(Also, note that it lets you actually skip describing the whole thing in long term ? )

Charisma seems lame. You have to actually sound convincing as a character then. A hard task to accomplish.

Eh? It's actually really simple. Make everyone else sound like they're barely capable of verbal communication. Voila, your MC is the most charismatic person in the room ?

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

When I think of grinding, the first thing that comes to my mind is how tiring, boring and soul-crushing it feels. Hence the name. It came from the workforce slang, remember.

So, if I were to describe that, I'd concentrate on the feelings and stress just how much of a slog it is. You have to walk around another hour, find another monster, fight another pointless fight. You're tired, sweaty, probably aching all over, and it just refuses to stop. Rinse and repeat. I'm pretty sure everyone who ever had to grind (minus people who enjoy it) will sympathise.

(Also, note that it lets you actually skip describing the whole thing in long term ? )


Eh? It's actually really simple. Make everyone else sound like they're barely capable of verbal communication. Voila, your MC is the most charismatic person in the room ?

You know, I once contemplated to write a chapter where such a system gamer meets my MC and tries to persuade her with his "charisma". He would fail the charisma check and would be murdered brutally.

 

[Eleven_M.A.]

You know, I once contemplated to write a chapter where such a system gamer meets my MC and tries to persuade her with his "charisma". He would fail the charisma check and would be murdered brutally.

I really, really want to post a relevant Epic NPC Man video right now, but I'm not sure if it's not against the rules

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

I really, really want to post a relevant Epic NPC Man video right now, but I'm not sure if it's not against the rules

I am waiting.