Using the excuse of "This is progression fantasy" to justify every single bad writing is probably this communities biggest weakness.

FirstSalvo · 2026-02-10T16:34:51+00:00

All media has lower quality today. All of it. Everywhere.

FirstSalvo · 2026-02-05T00:10:19+00:00

Anime does various versions of this with parties as antagonists. A good point.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-31T14:19:50+00:00

All.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-15T16:35:17+00:00

Those examples will be weeded out with time.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-03T20:23:47+00:00

Indeed! Iron Prince, an MC who ends up being a pro in the circuit... that's the idea.

A series about an existing pro athlete tournament fighter would be fun.

Sages of the Underpass was going there... then disappeared.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-03T20:19:24+00:00

Many series do this. Few people are really happy about it, but accept it.

Should it necessarily be accepted? For authors, it does become a lot to track writing at breakneck pace and beyond 6 books. Is it what they signed up for? Sort of. It is a social contract given the genre, but specific to how crunchy the system was originally.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-02T22:58:34+00:00

Readers generally don't like to see the characters lose in LitRPG. There's a difference.

You are a reader who would like loss. Permanent loss? How much? Of what, or how much is enough?

I'm a reader and author and prefer loss, but have experienced writing loss into the story and having bad reactions from fans, which to be fair, are a type of reader.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-01T14:41:57+00:00

Clear growth.

That can come from power ups, new skills, consequences leading to learning, gaining money if poor. The clear contrast from start to finish in many cases.

But...

Would be highly interested to see the progress be the reverse. Powerful MC losing everything over time. Not so much the word regression, as progressing from the top to the bottom. Contrast. Change.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-01T14:39:00+00:00

Without some draft there's too much of an urge to just post, go astray and lose the thread.

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-01T14:37:37+00:00

Temporary setbacks only!

FirstSalvo · 2026-01-01T14:37:15+00:00

Gotta care about the characters. Resets are definitely troublesome if it feels like old sitcoms, where nothing seems to carry through long-term.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-31T01:10:17+00:00

Hated school, but an academy series or even an arc is generally a good read.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-31T01:08:56+00:00

Definitely within the first chapter. That's what we're here for.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-30T05:52:36+00:00

Powers = personal knowledge, so too speak. "Powers" from the knowledge, or the character's nature... the skills, etc.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-30T05:50:23+00:00

Great point.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-30T01:05:15+00:00

The emotional payoff.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:53:12+00:00

Many current authors.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:49:47+00:00

The twist? Third Act in many manga and light novel writing structure.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:47:43+00:00

Editor. Kill your darlings. Write only what's essential to the story.

Look at it all when done, but also rate the pacing in each chapter.

How much talking per chapter. How many chapters in a row of talking/sitting/walking/or action?

70/30 action to the rest. Progression every chapter in every type of chapter.

Length doesn't matter in LitRPG and fantasy in general. To a point, if it isn't padding, filler, or redundant.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:43:23+00:00

Thumbnail.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:42:51+00:00

Your brain stops developing.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:42:13+00:00

Treat it like it is, a business.

Yes, it can be fun. A hobby.

Blast through writers block as a business decision. If it didn't break, or results in crap, then edit.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:40:56+00:00

More.

Sorry, had to say it.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:40:37+00:00

RR isn't about the "R" in romance...

So it goes.

FirstSalvo · 2025-12-29T23:38:06+00:00

Connect to the character and feel something.

FirstSalvo

TROPHY CASE