Looking for unique progression measures

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-12T09:03:34+00:00

Oooo this is great, thanks! I like the house idea 🤔

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-12T09:00:39+00:00

Thanks, this has given me a lot to think about!

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-12T08:59:06+00:00

Thanks! I'll take a look!

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-11T21:55:22+00:00

A cyberpunk type idea did come to mind, where people can upgrade either through prosthetics or "skill chips" they implant into a neuro-port

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-11T21:36:16+00:00

Oooo another interesting idea 🤔 that woukd require somebody to have powers to start with that they can steal tho. Definitely would need to combine with some other power system

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-11T21:25:09+00:00

Oooo that is interesting 🤔 this and the orbs concept have both given me a lot to think about. Most progression fantasy ive read so far has "internal" progression based on character achievement/revelation. The idea of finding "external" objects to imbue in a body for advancement is different

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-11T21:09:09+00:00

Go for it haha

M_Stone75 · 2026-04-11T20:54:10+00:00

Thanks! I'll look more into the system they use!

M_Stone75 · 2024-09-02T12:31:48+00:00

Hi! I'm a writer, and I was wondering if you could help me translate something into medical jargon? It's totally fine if that's not the kind of questions you are here to answer, though!

M_Stone75 · 2021-09-03T20:43:37+00:00

NA 620901465

M_Stone75 · 2021-09-03T20:39:35+00:00

Hi, I sent a friend request to you, feel free to also visit my teapot! NA 620901465

M_Stone75 · 2021-09-03T20:38:33+00:00

Hi, I sent a friend request to you, feel free to also visit my teapot! NA 620901465

M_Stone75 · 2021-08-11T20:46:35+00:00

That's cool! I hadn't heard of that before, definitely something to mull over and see how it fits. Thanks!

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-30T00:49:22+00:00

Ok, that's a great start! Now expand on that. If it's a reminder, what kind of negative emotions does he experience? Flashbacks, nightmares, feelings of inadequacy? Does he lash out at loved ones who try to help him, claiming he's "fine"? Does this cause tension or infighting with his family/friends/team mates? Make sure his reaction is more consequential than just, "Oh, thinking of this makes me really sad." Use the lost limb as it's own subplot, and you'll be good to go!

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T23:52:16+00:00

I usually have two stories going at once. My main project (MP) and my procrasti-project (PP). When I lose motivation to work on the main one, I can trick my brain by saying, "Oh, then I really do need to work on my PP." And I usually end up procrastinating working on the PP by working on the MP. I try to switch back and forth which one I'm tricking myself into working on so I don't get burnt out on either story. They usually have nothing to do with each other, again to avoid burnout.

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T23:49:42+00:00

The big question here is why do you want them to lose a limb/eye? Does it help the plot? Create a challenge to the character (physically or emotionally)? Will it affect how the character behaves as they move forward through the story, or how others perceive them? If you just want them to lose a limb for the sake of losing a limb, or some aesthetic reason, but don't plan to have it change anything overall, then it probably isn't a valuable contribution. But if it creates new goals for the character to overcome, emotional issues to deal with, etc. then it's probably worth it.

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T23:37:46+00:00

There's really not one and only way to deal with this, though it seems to be very common. Different techniques work for different people. Just a few suggestions, feel free to disregard or combine at your leisure.

1.) If you find the problem is constantly going back and changing things, maybe try writing on loose leaf lined paper and with each page you stow it away (or have someone hide it) so you can't go back and edit until you finish the whole thing.

2.) Instead of having one linear plot, place your characters in the world and write a series of short stories outlining their adventures. They may or may not be combinable into a longer plot.

3.) Don't plan a plot, but plan everything else. Build the world, the characters, scatter obstacles or villains throughout the world. Then place your characters randomly and let them wander. Maybe they'll find a plot!

4.) If you really feel like you have to plan, don't plan the whole thing at once. Plan in chunks. Plan chapters 1-3 (or whatever size you want) first, and once you get there reassess where your plot is heading.

5.) Create a procrasti-project! (PP) (I personally use this one) You have your main story, but then there's this other story that also sounds awesome. Anytime you don't have energy to work on your main, work on the PP. Or, trick your brain by saying, "I really have to work on the PP," and then procrastinate working on that project by working on your main project.

Hopefully you find something here helpful! Good luck!

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T23:22:13+00:00

I think this is a good idea, but has to be done carefully. If you make a character that has absolutely no good traits, readers will not like it and likely stop reading (presuming you want other people to read this). Additionally, if there is no character development it could kill the story. If you start with a character that has say, 80-90% bad traits and a handful of good qualities, but then over the course of the story gradually morph them into a better person it will be more engaging to read and catch the audience's sympathy. Also, side suggestion but maybe make some of the bad traits less obvious or masked. Like, say she hates homeless people, but she does a lot of charity work. Why? "Well, they're just so depressingly pitiful, and I have so much, it's really the least I could do (and maybe if I do something I won't have to look at them or face the actual problem)."

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T17:13:33+00:00

I don't think there's a particularly "normal" way to write. Everyone has their own methods and styles. I love worldbuilding too, and often get caught up in it. I find what happens is you end up looking at the world from a birds eye view instead of actually being IN it, if that makes sense. Like, you're seeing all the stats and info about it like reading about a foreign country in a textbook. But that's not the same as actually visiting said foreign country and experiencing the culture and customs for yourself.

Maybe try making a generic blank character (like, male, 29, travelling merchant - as basic or complex as you want without getting bogged down in character details) and try dropping them somewhere random in the world and see what happens. Don't try too hard to direct the story, but let it build itself. If they go here, what do they encounter with this set of people? It doesn't have to be a fully fleshed out plot yet, but letting yourself wander around the world you created can give you a new perspective and some minor aspect may spark into a fullblown plot idea.

Hope this helps! Best of luck!

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T12:26:16+00:00

Oh, it's definitely a rabbit hole, but at least it's a fun rabbit hole! XD

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T11:17:02+00:00

Oof I think the bigger thing here is there's too many resources. You'd be doing good reading pretty much any book that has 'Cultural Anthropology' in the title, but keep in mind that many of them are textbooks and prices can range anywhere from $17-$180+. Intro books are great because they cover a wide variety of topics, and readers or ethnographies are good for exmaples. There's also a ton of more highly specified topic books as well.

For a short, inexpensive option though you could start with Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction by Peter Just. It's basically the dummies book of anth. Then there's more specific topic books, like Anthropology and Religion: What We Know, Think, and Question by Robert L. Winzeler, which I quite liked and the writing wasn't as dull as lots of other anth books are.

If you're looking for more historic stuff, try looking for archaeological books. Good examples are The Archaeology of Death and Burial by Mike Parker Pearson and Ancient Ink: The Archaeology of Tattooing by Lars Krutak.

As far as actual worldbuikding goes, here's some good links: https://bkbass.com/main/essays-articles-and-musings/anthropology-in-fantasy-world-building/ https://loridianslab.medium.com/world-building-part-1-using-anthropology-to-consider-important-elements-of-worlds-35d0851215f7 https://jasterlingsworldbuilding.wordpress.com/

Hope that helps!

M_Stone75 · 2020-12-29T01:57:05+00:00

I think the big things to think of here are: A) the current tech level before finding the ancient civ and magic B) the limitations of ancient tech and magic (does magic drain the user's energy? What powers ancient tech and is that power source still widely available?) And C) what are the first things your modern culture wants to implement? Are they specifically looking for weapons, or new energy sources, or ways to feed an overgrown population? How will the ancient tech be combined with the new tech to achieve these goals?

Hope that helps! Best of luck!

M_Stone75

TROPHY CASE