Power Fantasy vs Weakness Fantasy

[SouthernMaiden]

Okay so we all know what a power fantasy looks like:
-smart phone in anther world
-billion stat points
-infinite levels

But if a "weakness fantasy" was a thing, what would it look like?

Maybe slowly grinding to get stronger? Or being weak and having others protect you? Or maybe you're weak but only good at one thing?

 

[HungrySheep]

Sword Art Online except you're one of the players who die to a boar on day 1.

 

[SouthernMaiden]

Sword Art Online except you're one of the players who die to a boar on day 1.

Thats like a weakness nightmare though! I feel like to be a fantasy there has to be something positive about it

 

[letmego]

getting out of the mud, becoming better, hard training,sacrifice, level up yourself over the years

thats it

 

[Our_Lady_in_Twilight]

The closest I can imagine is the times where I've tried to roleplay a commoner game in Skyrim? Just be a herbalist lady picking mushrooms and flowers, trying to level up alchemy enough to one day buy a small cottage. Able to hold her own against a wolf or mudcrab maybe, but not much more than that? There's still progression and levelling up relative to her overall goal, but its very down to earth and 'weak' I guess

 

[Cipiteca396]

They usually just call it Tragedy or Horror.

Although a more literal inverse is just every cliche fantasy story ever, where they whine and complain and grind and call it 'earning' their power.

 

[MC-Stories]

Iseka'd into a fantasy world, with a trash class, and a flesh eating virus in your body, but you can't die!

 

[SouthernMaiden]

Iseka'd into a fantasy world, with a trash class, and a flesh eating virus in your body, but you can't die!

Holy shit, what would you have done in your past life to deserve that

The closest I can imagine is the times where I've tried to roleplay a commoner game in Skyrim? Just be a herbalist lady picking mushrooms and flowers, trying to level up alchemy enough to one day buy a small cottage. Able to hold her own against a wolf or mudcrab maybe, but not much more than that? There's still progression and levelling up relative to her overall goal, but its very down to earth and 'weak' I guess

That could work!

 

[Anonjohn20]

Okay so we all know what a power fantasy looks like:
-smart phone in anther world
-billion stat points
-infinite levels

It doesn't have to be that blatant. The Batman and Kratos from God of War are two examples of power fantasies that aren't so cringe.

Maybe slowly grinding to get stronger?

The "weak to strong" genre exists. This site even has a tag for it. If you're willing to try manga, "Saihate no Paladin" blew up and it's like this.

being weak and having others protect you? Or maybe you're weak but only good at one thing?

The light novel and/or manga "Saijaku Tamer wa Gomi Hiroi no Tabi o Hajimemashita" might interest you if you like this.

The closest I can imagine is the times where I've tried to roleplay a commoner game in Skyrim? Just be a herbalist lady picking mushrooms and flowers, trying to level up alchemy enough to one day buy a small cottage. Able to hold her own against a wolf or mudcrab maybe, but not much more than that? There's still progression and levelling up relative to her overall goal, but its very down to earth and 'weak' I guess

Sounds like a slice of life in a fantasy world. I can recommend the "Flying Witch" manga by Chihiro Ishizuka or "Hakumei and Mikochi" if you like these.

 

[SirContro]

A weakness fantasy is a subverted power fantasy like my story.

 

[Lmae]

Elona plus in story form.

I only saw it in a manga in which the main character is convinced by a cute sales rep to play an unpopular rpg game. This game will base your character's stats on your real life body. So you will be an ordinary human fighting against orcs and monsters. You might get a power move if you are an athlete. The main character is a former track star so he gets a speed boost sometimes. Dependent on rng of course.

The game autosaves, so no save scumming if you mess up. The main character accidently kills a npc who was suppose to be his best friend and gets a negative flag over his head. As a result, another npc who loves the dead guy actively tries to kill him, and all the other villagers hates his guts and some refuses to sell to him.

You also feel real pain in the game. If you die, your game disc is destroyed. In story, the only people who was able to beat it were professional athletes. One was a boxer who said his match against an orc was one of his hardest fights.

 

[AliceMoonvale]

Isn't that just real life but for normal, everyday people with no standout talents or abilities?

 

[Dawnathon]

But if a "weakness fantasy" was a thing, what would it look like?

Just look at Project Moon's games. Limbus Company has assigned major scenes that basically rub in how weak and vulnerable the main cast is. It's not like this happens in the prologue then you become a chosen one badass; even years later, the main story keeps showcasing how you're still not even close to being a big fish, and that it's a very big pond. But even PM's other games love to show you how people who surpass all normal human limits, still can get ruined so quickly and easily just by a single misfortune. Maybe that ties into how a weakness fantasy would probably be hand in hand with a dystopian fantasy. Seeing Backstreet Bobby struggling in Murdertown would give you a lot more to root for than Suburbs Sam who's just a really pathetic guy in a boring peaceful neighborhood.

 

[AYM]

Starting as a 30+ yo suicidal alcoholic chainsmoking drug addict. As a teenager, you ran away from their abusive parents. Your addictions threw you into spiraling debt and you have criminal history from doing "jobs" over the years for money. No bitches - your last partner was three-timing you over several months.

In the end, you celebrate your five-year streak of staying clean with a group of close friends. You've cleared your debt some time ago.