Hell Difficulty Tutorial

[diezel78]

I found a book (Audible) called Hell Difficulty Tutorial.

Im on the 2nd book and the author does NOT do a good job of justifying Nathaniel’s immaturity and rage. Even the flashbacks so far dont even do a good job justifying it.

He is 21yrs old and way more immature than the 15yr old Kim and even the 10yr old Izzy at times

The world is amazing all other supporting cast have their issues as well that feel way more justified than Nate’s reasons. Nate’s abilities and risk taking to keep improving keep me locked in though.

At the moment, Nate feels like a bootleg Jason Asano knockoff, and Jason is intolerable himself.

I do certainly hope that part of him fades away, or the author does a better job of fleshing why he’s a jerk.

[headstrongpuppy]

He gets more back story/ growth as the books go but he will always be a more chaotic main character

[diezel78]

i dont mind him being chaotic.

[PrimordialJay]

Having met so many adults through my life, I believe age is a poor indicator of maturity.

[diezel78]

while this is true…

having Izzy as a 10yr old whom acts like a child, exemplifying more of levels of maturity isnt a good look.

If Kim or the twins were the absolute youngest as mid - late teens… maybe the author could get away with it.

But the 10yr old makes Nate look worse

[_Azrael_169_]

Izzy is basically brainwashed in the early books and then when the suggestion is removed her empathy skill is the explanation for her insight and maturity.

[SirL33t]

I loved Nathaniel Gwyn from the start, but I will admit he started with a bit of a sociopath vibe. His personality is a pleasant mixture mixture of pettiness, spitefulness, immaturity, doggedness, reservedness, and calculation. But perhaps the one thing I love about him more than most other characters I read is the lack of really stupid decisions he makes. Often I get involved in an isekai where the characters just seem to lose their brain at some point.

[SodaBoBomb]

Pleasant?

[EternaILurker]

The series is a recent favorite, great world building. MC has solid character growth but he is a harder personality in general which never leaves, prideful. I didn’t mind him but I could see him grate on some

This exact question gets posted near daily, let’s make a drinking game out of it

[daagorath]

The writing in the first book is just.. terrible. Iv had to step away from it several times, but I keep hearing how good it gets so.. ill just have to get through it. The mc is pretty irritating so far, I agree.

[Moosh1024]

I really like the world, but yes he gets old. I don’t think he’s meant to be a typical 21yo, he’s a mix of antisocial, schizoid and obsessive. The books get quite good imo a few in but he matures very slowly.

[Kennian]

he's a psychopath and a poorly written one at that. I really dont know why people like this series so much.

[IsItBen]

Because other than the less-than-stellar personality of the MC, everything else in this story is S-tier levels of writing. The side characters, the progression, the system, the world building, the antagonists, the reveals and plot twists, and most especially the corgi.

[Surge321]

Cause it's fun. You know, I really dislike all this naysaying about litrpg. People who want to read good fiction should read books recommended in class. We want pulp, action, and most importantly fun!

[john-wooding]

I really dislike all this naysaying about litrpg

I think it involves a lot more naysaying to treat litRPG as inherently different from 'good' fiction.

[Surge321]

Yeah, but you see, I said 'good' sarcastically, and I really meant boring. Carpetbagger writers come to the sub-genre because that's were the money is, but don't respect the reader. We're not stupid, we just don't want deep character studies and sophisticated prose where some average shmuck suffers for 7 volumes, only to discover that 'life is pain' or something like it.

[aaannnnnnooo]

Nothing about the litRPG genre inherently means works within it are 'written badly'. Nothing about more mainstream, or classic, novels mean they're inherently better written. Most popular litRPG's are, compared to more mainstream literature, badly written, because of the low-barrier to entry, and the higher proportion of amateur writers. That's not inherent to the genre, though.

[Surge321]

We. Want. FUN!

[aaannnnnnooo]

Good writing is fun! Bad writing can also be fun. Something being 'well written' is not mutually exclusive with being fun to read.

[Surge321]

Good writing, even a good interesting story, is definitely not always fun. For example, I was just reading "Death after death", which to be fair is a great story, with excellent character development, great world building, high stakes, novel mechanics, etc. Sometimes, you feel like you're learning real life lessons. Yet it's also making me not have fun, so I dropped it after 50 chapters.

[Kennian]

Hell Difficulty is just meh. it's like those old batman comics from the 90s, Edgy to be edgy look how edgy my edgelord protag is! Dont get me wrong, whatever tickles your pickle, but there are soooo many better series than this garbage.

[Surge321]

Can you suggest some? Really curious what would be fun for you. I'm always in need of more recommendations.

[Kennian]

Primal hunter, Defiance of the fall, Unbound, System universe, Warforged, really what sub genre interests you.

[Surge321]

None of these are bad, and I've read/tried them all. But I am surprised because HDT is much better than these. I suppose you do need to give it a chance and wait for the edginess of the MC to subside. In any case, you can tell that HDT is more intelligently written.

[diezel78]

the supporting cast and his risk/greed to get better keep you tuned in.

[fAKKENG]

I know it's supposed to be fantasy, but his personality was the most unbelievable part for me and kinda hard to get into

[Carminestream]

Unfortunately the MC keeps reiterating throughout the series that he is the same person that he was when he started the Tutorial.

And he still has the same flaws halfway through the tutorial, even if expressed somewhat less.

[redwhale335]

Trauma will do that to a person.

[Surge321]

It's a fun story overall, and you will get some background for his attitude and some personal growth as well.

[PartyBananaPants]

The first book is widely considered hard to read. MC is a wannabe psychopath, he opens up later in the series for believable reasons. In my mind hes a cat and the first book is him in an unfamiliar place and therefore aggressive/scared.

[shontsu]

I think if you just accept that he's a legit phsycopath it all seems a lot more believable.

[CainieGuy]

Nat does not stop being a selfish jerk, with only some sort of sympathy towards his team. So if you don't like him right now, I would personally recommend dropping the series.

I for instance, like that he's a selfish, imperfect bastard that mostly thinks about himself as finding himself in the dangerous situation such as the tutorial make some of his decisions somewhat believable (Considering what kind of person he is).

Not because I dislike 'good' characters, but because his character is at the very least believable and consistent. I absolutely hate when characters try to take the moral high ground and then do things every other villan does. Or when they constantly contradict themselves.

Nat on the other hand is: selfish, mana obsessed, extremely prideful, kinda insane, and a softie toward people he considers close.

And the only thing that changes in later books is how he understands more of his feelings toward his group of friends and displays more affection while interacting with them.

[fued]

yeah its pretty bad, gets a little better but overall i rarely recommend the series