Writing To all the litrpg authors out there, do you plan everything down to the tiny details?

[BlackKnightX]

Litrpg is an interesting genre because it usually doesn't conform to the standard story structure. Okay, wait, before you argue with me that it does—as a whole—it doesn't fit perfectly if you zoom in and examine each scene or story beat. So I'm curious how do you guys plan it? What about the power progression? Do you plan each and every step of the progression the character makes? Do you plan every skill the character's gonna get and how they get it and how it will payoff later from the get go? Please, enlighten me, oh wise ones.

 

[APieceOfRock]

Make skills and then make threats that can be resolved with said skills; not the other way around.
Also definitely there has to be some semblance of planning. Since litrpg often have a rigid power scale, you wouldn't want your character to be too weak or too powerful (especially if there's EXP and LVLs in your novel)
So personally, I plan down to even the insignificant grunts that the MC kills.

 

[J_Chemist]

Layout the ladder and then guide the MC up it, giving them the skills and power spikes along the way that explains how they were able to get to the next rung. Throw in some training arc or a spout of practice to show where they learned the new stuff and then continue with the plot to the next stage.

 

[Vnator]

pfft, no

Nitty gritty number details are what computers are for. I've gotten to the point where numbers are just relative and used as a tool to tell how much stronger someone is. And Skill level ups are based on narrative necessities, with perks coming in when they'll be useful soon. But at the same time, those level ups and perks come when they actually feel and are deserved after a character's hard work.

 

[Syringe]

It's pretty complicated. Long write up incoming.

Planning

Ultimately, the planning/scenes/story beats are kinda normal. You have set pieces, and you work your way through there. But I think the cool thing about LitRPG is that you have a bigger set options, it's just that authors tend to rely on numbers/stats waaaay too heavily for any meaningful growth. Those things should accompany the story, even if it's the focus of the genre.

Planning also ties in with the power progression.

This is just one folder for planning.

Power Progression

MC's obviously going to get stronger, as is everyone else, but you really need to be careful with it. Too strong too soon and the story's a write off unless it works well with the story itself (like Overlord. MCs OP, but the story itself complements it). Bad LitRPGS get stuck on this and there's pretty much no meaningful threat/development at all. For me, there's always the psychological aspect to tap into (it's a major point of the story after all), and other means (i.e, technology, emotions, and a plethora of other... eldritch, existential-threat-kind of methods).

It's reflected in stats, attitude, mentality, resilience, etc - not just numbers. MC used to be a non-violent healer, now they're considered the most violent and has a taste for blood (literally, since eating is their biggest asset). MC needed to break down and come to terms with this, and still laments it but to a much lesser and professional degree (psychological progression) - Also progressing from human to whatever they've become.

Funnily enough, I do not update the stats that often. Just at major points.

Basically: Yes. I plan the power progression step by step.

Skills on the otherhand is a mix.

Skills

Some skills are there to complement the character, others are set pieces waiting for their payoff. Something like 'cooking' wouldn't need one as large as something like 'Appraise Object', which periodically reveals missed information vital to the story as it gets stronger, or Punch which had a payoff of being the MCs laughably pitiful skill to being one of their strongest moves, as well as setting up another major set piece awaiting its payoff.

Every skill gained serves a purpose as well, and ties massively to the characters + their personalities. Skills are actually an indicator to tell what sort of a person is like. For instance there's a violent tomboy character that's completely 'manly', but has skills that suggests they're far more feminine than they are (like berry picking, weaving, etc), which clues us into their real selves and subtly sets up their sub-story.