What's your reason for not writing LitRPG fiction?

[Eldoria]

What's Your Reason for Not Writing LitRPG Fiction?​

I see the LitRPG genre as a popular genre that quickly attracts readers. Even if you release any LitRPG fiction on RR, it can quickly gain attention compared to other genres. Well, RR is indeed a heaven for LiyRPG (almost all writers know that).

I myself published the dark fantasy fiction on RR, and it took over 400 pages just to get the first rating (and the rating has not increased). Compare that to new LitRPG fiction on RR, which tends to get ratings quickly with 50 pages.

Well, the quality of the content does matter; perhaps my writing isn't good enough to attract new readers to leave ratings (I don't deny that). However, this is not my focus in this thread (this thread is more intended to highlight LitRPG as a preference).

I know the LitRPG genre can be written interestingly and provide fast engagement; however, I don't intend to write any fiction in this genre... at least now, due to preference and to focus on my current fiction (I like my dark fantasy stories).

My question is, perhaps you also see the potential of LitRPG but have not intended to write it now. What is your reason for not writing the LiRPG genre even though this genre is popular?

Note: I respect other LitRPG fiction authors. However, this thread is meant to see the preferences of other authors towards the LitRPG genre who choose not to write it despite the promise of quick engagement.

 

[LightHikari]

I write with some elements of LitRPG. I don't write full on LitRPG because the whole system thing would make my story more rigid.

 

[Eldoria]

I write with some elements of LitRPG. I don't write full on LitRPG because the whole system thing would make my story more rigid.

My fictional lore design also assumes the power level of characters, which indirectly implies LitRPG elements. However, those are more fantasy elements, not LitRPG statistics. So even dark fantasy might contain some subtle LitRPG elements.

 

[JayDirex]

What's Your Reason for Not Writing LiRPG Fiction?​

I see the LiRPG genre as a popular genre that quickly attracts readers. Even if you release any LiRPG fiction on RR, it can quickly gain attention compared to other genres. Well, RR is indeed a heaven for LiRPG (almost all writers know that).

I myself published the dark fantasy fiction on RR, and it took over 400 pages just to get the first rating (and the rating has not increased). Compare that to new LiRPG fiction on RR, which tends to get ratings quickly with 50 pages.

Well, the quality of the content does matter; perhaps my writing isn't good enough to attract new readers to leave ratings (I don't deny that). However, this is not my focus in this thread (this thread is more intended to highlight LiRPG as a preference).

I know the LiRPG genre can be written interestingly and provide fast engagement; however, I don't intend to write any fiction in this genre... at least now, due to preference and to focus on my current fiction (I like my dark fantasy stories).

My question is, perhaps you also see the potential of LiRPG but have not intended to write it now. What is your reason for not writing the LiRPG genre even though this genre is popular?

Note: I respect other LiRPG fiction authors. However, this thread is meant to see the preferences of other authors towards LiRPGs who choose not to write them despite the promise of quick engagement.

if we, non litrpg writers, look at the bigger picture. The only two websites around that have a "Display the first chapter on the homepage so that readers can actually view it," are RR and SH. Two websites almost solely dedicated to "LitRPG" and in SH case "Lit, GB, Isekai, and fanfiction" which are the biggest draws. Your observation asks why LitRPG is so popular on a LitRPG site. We, the writers of other stuff, are just feeding on the foot traffic of SH and RR main reader genre.

What sucks is that other sites that are better for our genres Fantasy, or in my case a lot anime-ish- crime stories, are not conducive as well constructed as RR and SH.

We are guests here, on a LITRPG Gender bend site.

 

[LightHikari]

My fictional lore design also assumes the power level of characters, which indirectly implies LiRPG elements. However, those are more fantasy elements, not LiRPG statistics. So even dark fantasy might contain some subtle LiRPG elements.

The only aspect of that I had in my story was really stat sheets and character levels.

 

[dukerino]

Just not really a fan of them ?‍

 

[Exiled_From_Earth]

I tend to even avoid reading the genre in general, not because I have any resentment against it, but because I am incredibly bad with numbers lol.
Even looking at a stats sheet makes my mind go blank.

 

[Paul__Michaels]

Because you'll cultivate an audience that will be sticklers for the numbers and you need to keep track of those numbers. If you quantify things with stats then you better come up with a good reason to break the rules you created if your MC is underpowered or overmatched. Or you will be questioned

 

[Racosharko]

For me, in an interesting litrpg novel (don't remember one) the most interesting thing has never been the gimmick of the litrpg.

I find people... or just me... like to "cheat the system", not that they like having a system.

 

[Golden_Hyde]

What is your reason for not writing the LiRPG genre even though this genre is popular?

To finally get into the point of this question, it's tiring and not everyone is nerdy enough to keep up with the numbers.

And more often than not, those same numbers are one of the primary source of why LitRPGs (and to some extent power fantasy) has gotten so bad, if I ask this forum what they think about the genre, high chance they would shit on it.

So the reason why I didn't do it? It's because it took me a long time to subvert it, by not focusing on the numbers and focusing on the technicalities.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I just don't understand the gaming mechanics. I've been a Dungeons&Dragons admirer for decades, but as far as actually trying to WRITE an adventure like that, with points, and skills, and all that...uh-uh. I can't. I admit my limits.

 

[Cipiteca396]

Because I'm not smart enough to design a perfect simulation of reality. I did try, and I imply that it partially exists, but I try to emphasize that it's not perfect.

I often fail to show certain information just because it would be impossible for me to write out in detail; example being the detailed layouts of the Body, Heart, Mind, and Spirit "stats".

With that being the case, I chose to give my story the Game Elements tag instead of the LitRPG genre. I had other stories in the works that would have been true LitRPG with simplified stats and skills, but I doubt I'll ever actually publish them...

 

[Nekyo]

My reason originally was that I have one main story which encapsulates all of my love for Anime. Specially the Shōnen Anime kind that's why I'm more attracted to the idea of creating my own worlds with their own rules inhabitants and power systems.

But as of late I released a new story that is indeed a LitRPG. It was mainly a story that I just brainstormed to subvert the tropes.

So instead of the typical Dragon Quest style world I wanted a more Soulslike style world that was true to the games' premise. So a Dark Fantasy LitRPG.

I have no problems with the stats as I've been playing stats based games all of my life (Pokemon, Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy, Dark Souls, Persona) and after reading enough isekai and system Manga I know for a fact that even 99% of the time I'd dare to say (even in actual game worlds like SAO) the system and numbers are just styling rather than have actual values to the plot other than pseudo reference.

So if anything, I wanted to try a compromise between the number systems as an approximate calculation of the concepts of the world rather than hard numbers. But still presented as such for convenience to the MC and reader mainly.

So for example my MC starts with 120HP so when he see a monster with 1500HP he instead of thinking raw damage numbers he says "so I'll need the damage needed to kill me about 13 times over in order to kill it"

Sorry if I complained a bit about the systems in the middle but it's been a bit of my gripes with the formula as I don't think I've read any stories that has delivered completely on the Stat points premise other than when convenient so I belive there is a lot of room to do whatever in such system as long as they are mentioned and occasionally referenced I guess. (Slime Tensei, Reincarnated as a Sword, Shield Hero, etc)

 

[empalgepuk]

I'm old fashioned. I also can't be bothered to track so many stats and make it presentable to readers as well. Even as a reader, I find it hard to make any sense of it.

Sure, I enjoy reading Cave King's Road to Paradise, but the stats are not too intrusive and easy to track. Even if I turn a blind eye to the stats, I can still enjoy the rest of the story.

So if I can't write LitRPG well and don't even like it to begin with, I have no right to write that.

 

[Jerynboe]

I’m currently a litrpg writer, but my plan for my next story that I’m planning is not Litrpg. It feels like a crutch, if that makes sense? There’s a feeling to litrpg where power growth is easier than in real life, but also formulaic. So my next story (still a side thing I’m planning and won’t be priority for quite a while) is urban fantasy instead.

 

[Author_Riceball]

What's Your Reason for Not Writing LiRPG Fiction?​

I see the LiRPG genre as a popular genre that quickly attracts readers. Even if you release any LiRPG fiction on RR, it can quickly gain attention compared to other genres. Well, RR is indeed a heaven for LiRPG (almost all writers know that).

I myself published the dark fantasy fiction on RR, and it took over 400 pages just to get the first rating (and the rating has not increased). Compare that to new LiRPG fiction on RR, which tends to get ratings quickly with 50 pages.

Well, the quality of the content does matter; perhaps my writing isn't good enough to attract new readers to leave ratings (I don't deny that). However, this is not my focus in this thread (this thread is more intended to highlight LiRPG as a preference).

I know the LiRPG genre can be written interestingly and provide fast engagement; however, I don't intend to write any fiction in this genre... at least now, due to preference and to focus on my current fiction (I like my dark fantasy stories).

My question is, perhaps you also see the potential of LiRPG but have not intended to write it now. What is your reason for not writing the LiRPG genre even though this genre is popular?

Note: I respect other LiRPG fiction authors. However, this thread is meant to see the preferences of other authors towards the LiRPG genre who choose not to write it despite the promise of quick engagement.

I do litrpg but the litrpg panels are a fucking pain to do.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I do have one, actually - though it might as well not be, as I wound up writing faster than I could track the character sheet (and then getting a second job and grinding to a near halt)... it also has a system. And is a Western... mostly...but also a bit of cyberpunk, a bit of noir, a bit of space opera, with dinosaurs and zombies and cyborgs in it.

I write to challenge myself, and that was one of the challenges I set forth.

 

[OniKaniki]

I don't write litRPG because it's such a pain in the *ss to remember the stats, when i could take that time to study other aspect of character, culture and world building.

 

[FRWriter]

Currently writing two stories. One is a LITRPG story, the other one isn't. Chapters are much easier and faster to write if you don't have to constantly care about balance, numbers, and other important information, trust me. Especially if your story reaches 300-400 chapters, things WILL get complicated, earlier decisions WILL bite you in the ass, they WILL destroy balance.

You need to invest a lot of time and effort into keeping your story believable and fun, without succumbing to making everything and everyone OP. If you are not ready to do that, don't write LITRPG stories. If you do, my biggest advice is to think about these things beforehand and start out slow! Do not begin with 20 stats and numbers ranging in the hundreds.

These things fucked me up so bad that I started a second story just to recover, where I don't have to think about these things and can just type away.

 

[Lakstoties]

LitRPG tends to stagnate quickly and is really prone to chasing the latest fad. Yes, it happens overall, but the degree that LitRPG does it is astonishing. You occasionally get one person to actually do something innovative or interesting... And it everyone dogpiles that trend and strips it to nothing in a month. What's more boredom inducing is that it becomes super-formulaic and gets established as a sub-genre soon to be drilled into mediocrity. So, instead of getting a "Neat New Thing" that holds it own for a bit... You'll be drowning in a "Neat New Thing" refined, derived, and evolved clones within a month that burns you out on whatever the original brought to the table.

With LitRPG... The numbers are ultimately pointless. (Don't tell the readers that) Yes, the writers try to drum them up. But, unless there's some proper context to them, they don't matter. But, I've listened to people debate such endlessly. And I'm just left thinking, "And so... What did it ultimately mean? The MC just won anyway by either pulling something out of their ass, taking advantage of some edge rule of the arbitrary system, or having some special feature unique to them." It just feels like LitRPG fans fell in love with the concept of the Scouter numbers from Dragonball Z, but conveniently forgot that even Toriyama dropped the whole concept fairly quickly. To quote many characters from Dragonball Z Abridged, "Power levels are bullshit."

So in summation... LitRPG seems to be obsessive over something that's ultimately inconsequential in greater scheme of things.

I find everything else outside the numbers far more interesting.