What the [BLEEP] Is a System?

[CharlesEBrown]

John Barrows was an unexceptional young man. At seventeen, he had good grades, did not completely suck at athletics, and had the simple dream of getting into a decent college, graduating with a business degree, and working for thirty or so years before retiring to a simple life.
The only thing that ever stood out about John was his total lack of anything approaching an imagination - even his crushes were on the more 'average' girls in his class, because he just couldn't imagine himself with ... well, anyone, but especially not one of the pretty girls.
Then, one day, when one of his friends was being picked on by a school bully, John just lost it. He waded in trying to save his friend, and got slugged so hard he almost passed out.
Almost.
And then heard The Voice: <Congratulations! You have activated the Celestial Guardians Apex System! Choose your Path - Brawler, Speedster, Blaster, Tactician, Inventor, Psychic or Other!>
"Great," he thought, "I was hit so hard I'm having a psychotic break,"
<No, you are not having a psychotic break. Choose your Path.>
"Hey, everyone," he asked out loud, "any of you have any clue what the [BLEEP] a System is?"

 

[Piisfun]

Well, I came up with at least one setting where the idea was that a system was literally an interdimensional parasite that pretends to be helpful to the host, but in fact takes more than it gives.

I don't generally mind if it's litrpg and everyone has access to this exact same system, but if only one character has it, then I feel like there has to be a reason.

 

[3guanoff]

That is quite a sane reaction to hearing voices. Your idea reminded me of a writing prompt idea I had one shiny evening.

System: My Host is a Skeptic
[You know, he isn't even a MD. You're paying a fake.]
Jim frowned and decided against relaying that particular figment of his imagination to his psychiatrist. He had no idea why his subconscious had come up with such an elaborate illusion. He did not feel particularly discontented with Doctor Mike.
[I know because I finally got around to infiltrating this nation's administrative networks.]
Jim continued ignoring the blue boxes.
"Yes, the blue boxes still show up regularly," he answered the doctor's question.
"Is that so?"
Jim prided himself as a science guy and was the kind of person who refused to read fantasy books, because they were too unrealistic.
[Refusing to believe evidence that's right in front of your eyes is very unscientific of you though!]
"Doctor, is it more likely that the strange stuff I am seeing is real or that I am hallucinating?"
"The world is a strange place..."
Jim frowned. That was an unscientific statement. Perhaps his subconscious had picked up on something after all..?
"Let's talk about your family situation."
[...]
The system wanted to grant Jim special abilities to convince him, but it could only do so if Jim finished some tasks.
Systems were actually living beings and relied on heavenly energy for sustenance. Systemkind used various ways to acquire this energy, better known as "plot power", but the most common way was to prevent deviations from the heavenly will AKA "fate" or "the plot".
Their kind had evolved powerful computing capabilities to accurately predict what tasks to assign fateful beings (faters) to effect which changes. As humans had developed farming as a more energy efficient and reliable way of acquiring food, so had systemkind developed its current parasitic... ahem, symbiotic lifestyle to farm heavenly energy!
As any being capable of accurately predicting cause and effect in minute detail would do, this young system had naturely stored some food reserves, but...
<I can't give this fater freebies, not only would it be against the law, but what if he still does not believe me? Or worse, what if he demands more free stuff? If that happens, I will starve!>
Rather, it was better to do nothing, use the stored energy to survive, and then bind another host after this faters death...

As you can see it is unpolished. I quite liked using 'as'.

 

[Axiweave]

A system is a system…

 

[Supperset]

1.

A system is a memetic effect that spread over the world too fast for the SCP foundation to do anything about it. A certain Korean guy that started the concept is straped to a chair made of thorns and is used as a relief tool for some horses in the stable.

That guy is immortal and takes life span of everyone who thinks to deeply about the concept system.

2.
System is when your asian mother beat you up for getting A- in math.

3.
System is a delusional term made by internet-crawlers to spread their holier than thou teaching. Which states one day man shall eat their own ding dong.

4.
System is nothing and you are the system.

 

[Epithet]

Well, I came up with at least one setting where the idea was that a system was literally an interdimensional parasite that pretends to be helpful to the host, but in fact takes more than it gives.

I don't generally mind if it's litrpg and everyone has access to this exact same system, but if only one character has it, then I feel like there has to be a reason.

That's actually just the entire plot of a novel called 'I Hate Systems', pretty good one though

 

[Deleted member 206441]

Its the unintentional reality warpping projection of a Chaos God, or Dark God or Ruinous Power, a powerful, self-aware entity comprised solely of psychic energy.
It inhabits and control the psychic dimension that underlies all physical reality known as the Immaterium or the "Warp."