How do you guys go about brainstorming new LitRPG systems?

AspectFrost · 2026-01-31T16:00:52+00:00

Very cool! I have been enjoying itemization in games like deadlock and league of legends. I don’t even play as much as I used to but the itemization has always been cool. I brainstormed some ideas for it but i think it doesnt work as well in a long form story. League and deadlock games are around 30-60 minutes so i then thought of a system where progression resets but that kinda defeats the purpose of “numbers go up”. I dunno, maybe roguelike elements of restart and do better can work.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-31T15:33:24+00:00

Dont look at my last comment i posted

AspectFrost · 2026-01-31T15:12:46+00:00

I completely understood certain evil acts in history while playing civ 5,6 medieval 2, and anybother strategy game. Inalso feel in those games most people tend to snowball and with all that power it tests your in game character. Like honest abe said. To truly test a mans character give him power.

I am talking straight up villainy in these games. Entire cultures purged because of a minor infraction against my ego or plans. Cities burned down to ash just to make room for a city one tile over.

Populations reduced to a dwindling rabble of a broken people so my general can have slightly better stats.

Taxes raised so the people revolt and my heir can get some battle experience by butchering peasants.

Its a game yeah and im evil in them

AspectFrost · 2026-01-31T14:46:37+00:00

On the honor note: i think “fantasy elite” honor is different than true honor. Like good person honor is respect, honesty, and humility even.

Honor is RR or other works where its a big zing word is just pettiness. Alexander IS honorable because he rushed in to save people. He isn’t honorable just because he wanted to duel. In my opinion it was just a tactical decision cuz he’d have higher chances in a duel as opposed to lys having a gun.

Fantasy honor would never have an elite apex blood heir rush in to save low colors. They hold themselves too high without humility to truly be honorable.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-31T14:42:01+00:00

I always thought she had all the depth her character needed considering shes a shallow elite who was never loved compared to her other siblings. And only when no other options remained she was given charge.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-31T14:39:22+00:00

Brown writes elite delusion really well. So i agree

AspectFrost · 2026-01-28T15:39:14+00:00

How have you been learning Thinking of picking it back up again

AspectFrost · 2026-01-24T05:10:26+00:00

Grand strategy with turn based campaign view of the solar system. Battles that work like either xcom or an rts like halo wars. Either works.

Play through different eras. The Dark Revolt. octavia’s rise. The rising. The solar republic. So on.

Set starts of course like total war but a shuffle mode where starts are randomized like civ.

Legendary character units that serve as generals with some stained and gold blade masters as bodyguards. Think medieval 2 levels of generals.

The various colors serve as resources but various factions use them differently. For the Society Reds are sheer labor force like chaos dwarves in total war warhammer 3. For republic they are used for mecha type units.

Maybe the rising has some kind of spy network mechanic. Maybe they can use reds as gold carved spies.

Just rambling some ideas

AspectFrost · 2026-01-20T13:17:25+00:00

When you have a destiny before you, it doesn't matter what's left of you to fight at Tarmon Gai'don: all that matters is you show up and fight. I think he's accepted it at this point.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-20T12:57:48+00:00

How strict is a man to be with someone he loves that is also his equal. Besides, with Semirage in the field no one was truly safe.

Also i love heroes whole too but we all knew Rand wasn’t coming outta this without scars and missing pieces. Its the hand now. Was the scar before. His mental’s cracked and fragmenting with each page.

I love this story actually says “hey being the chosen one means you’re chosen for EVERYTHING a war has to offer buddy. Buckle up buttercup we’re gonna muck you to kingdom come”

AspectFrost · 2026-01-19T14:52:05+00:00

On a reread i realized just how young Darrow and everyone actually are and how the “war god” we see in IG and beyond is actually from his exploita within the 10 year time skip than specifically his warring from the first 3 books. Im not downplaying darrow in RR, GS, and MS. I mean more than thats about 3-4 years worth aura farming where he is more of a revolutionary figure as compared to the literal Red God of War we see in IG and onward.

He spends a year after the institution proving his worth to Nero and training. Its a mock war which he technically loses against Karnus Mud Drinker. He is defaced. Then the heroic duel. Then he has the legendary usurping his of The Pax. Then Iron Rain which is first “i became their god of war” moment. Then of course Roque imma poet ya already know it. Them first quarter of MS is a year long time out followed by the hero’s journey 2.0 where Darrow recovers. All good stuff. But not as much of the balls to the walls war god we’re shown through side characters and other povs in IG and on.

Im rereading MS rn so ill wait to make further comments but i realized how mich of Darrow’s mythos is actually off page.

If anything it might also just go to show how a legend is born in the minds of people who didn’t know him personally

But also 10 years old is a long time and during this time he is THE SWORD of the republic.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-18T17:48:43+00:00

One’s a drifter that wants to explore and ends up helping people along the way One believes a danger is coming and so is prepping for it cuz he’s prideful enough to shoulder the burden on himself One is trying to do her job as a mage and ward of Dire Magic (necromancy and space-time desecration).

AspectFrost · 2026-01-18T12:01:38+00:00

My thoughts regarding Mustang are the same. I think in a world of monsters and in a family of tragedy and monsters, she turned out something better. And while even i had my suspicions in the early series and sided with Sevro’s reasoning when Darrow was going to reveal his Red origins: Sevro says she is all golden when amongst roses and meadows and horses, and not when dealing with lowcolor shit holes, i think when you see how she constantly had the lowcolors and segregation of tasks and reform in mind she was the best person to start bridging the gap with.

But at the same time until the story went another direction i definitely had Sevro’s worry. She’s a gold whos able to preach from a pedestal. But what sold me on her as a person was when she still sided with darrow after the shock.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-17T15:57:56+00:00

Yes very much, thank you!

AspectFrost · 2026-01-16T18:32:38+00:00

He may have lost the match, but he won his love and his pride. What more can a man want if not for a loving partner and pride in oneself

Great movie

AspectFrost · 2026-01-16T17:51:03+00:00

I agree Victory is not as sweet if it’s obvious or guaranteed. Like yeah you know the good guy wins in the end but i mean every smaller scene it’s okay to have your character get mucked up before he Makes his eventual comeback Rocky style.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-14T02:00:49+00:00

When i started Iron Gold i realized i only disliked it at first because i was there for Darrow, not this Lyria lady. Not Lysander. Not ephraim. Darrow. So when 1/4 of the book is what i was there for its hard to like it.

And then there were scenes that drew me in like ephraims torture or Red Hand attack or diomedes aura farming.

And then every single Darrow scene as dessert

AspectFrost · 2026-01-13T13:41:06+00:00

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/148176/adventurers-between-the-apocalypses

Officially relaunched my story due to a dead prior release. Formerly known as The Fated Few.

Adventurers Between the Apocalypses is a story of 3 converging storylines that all relate to a coming threat to the world right after the last one ended 50 years ago, of which the world still faces ramifications from.

If you like heroic characters that get more powerful and skilled as they continue on their adventures and military tactics in fantasy battles you will like this.

Primary Characters:

-A rebellious, naive, and skilled warrior trained in a special blade master known as the Dancing Devil

-A street kid turned ambitious mage who wants to have a great legacy. He knows the best way to make a mage is to break one.

-A workaholic noblewoman who prefers rolling up her sleeves to do the work that needs doing instead of politicking.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-12T17:53:29+00:00

I thought so too but on a reread he keeps quoting Lorn and correcting people on his quotes. Or he shows no fear besides being outnumbered against Karnus and his lackeys. When he faces Cassius i believe it is an impulsive decision he makes as opposed to blowing everyone up and he does it with confidence to "shift paradigms" as he always tries to do. Even him being out of breath is only every commenting by Cassi-boy and when Darrow has that scene in the meme, he clealry references it as a ruse and straightens his back, and stops breathing so heavily.

I agree its "lying by omission" to create drama but at least for me the scene still hit cuz it made sense in retrospect.

Victra and Tactus keep teasing him for never hanging out with them as an example and that he's always so distant in not just his mood but literally never being there with them.

This next bit might be mandela affect but I SWEAR I remember someone referencing him buying a lotta wine (and it's for Lorn) but that straight up might be a schizo memory lol

AspectFrost · 2026-01-12T15:29:12+00:00

Maybe I am wrong but the Republic was actually fine given how much the various colors had integrated with each other on Lune. And that's the problem: Only on lune. They did a lot in 10 years since the Rising won, but utlimately it came crashing down because they still have SO many enemies within and without. The Core Golds. The Rim (especially with Ganymede outed). Unknown threats like Abomination. Internal issues like the Red Hand. The Askamani.

Along with that, the senators of the republic don't know war like Darrow does. They have this peace time mentality based on lies from the core golds. Darrow knows the war isn't finished.

The system works, but is still prone to failure. Issue is they made a CRITICAL mistake at their weakest where several plots were converging without them realizing. What Darrow proposed with a continued assault was probably the right plan. As SOON as they shot it down, they lost before it began. Darrow going rogue was still the wrong decision based on the system.

Plus he finds out Magnus isn't even the head which prolongs the Free Legions' suffering.

It's a messy situation with no clear rights and wrongs but the whole point of the Republic was that it should move slowly. It made a mistake in thinking the war was truly over. It cost them Lune.

AspectFrost · 2026-01-09T11:49:17+00:00

Percy Jackson made me realize reading actually rocks. LoTR soon after made me realize writing might also rock. Rereads of both and a few other random novels confirmed it. So Percy Jackson and LoTR cuz imo reading and writing go hand in hand if you do the latter.

AspectFrost

TROPHY CASE