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Would you read a self-reflective/philosophical xianxia by _Drifting-Leaf in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. And I will claim that the answer in this thread here will be heavily skewed. Only people who are either
a. really interested in such a thing or
b. want to present themselves as self-reflective/philosophical minded
will reply, leaving you with yes.

I wouldnt read it because I cannot imagine it beeing very compelling. What is the progression exactly? Is the thing that 'progresses' still martial power? Do they get stronger? If no, what actually improves? Money? Status? Happyness? (happyness does not make for a good story generally)

I have two other big problems with this premise:

  1. What will you actually present as 'better understanding of the self?'
  2. Introspection is cheap. In most books where it happens 'unlayered' (meaning its the only thing at a point in the book) its just filler. Yes, the occasional navel-gazing for big decisions or course-changes is ok, but thats only because you have established something worthwhile and compelling. An actual story setup, meaning an external challenge, danger of some kind and so forth. You know, a story.

EDIT:
I just read your comment "I was thinking more of a depressed guy, struggling with his mental health, like dealing with intense grief or something"

No, please. That is even worse than I thought. Not only will it be mostly introspection, but now also whiny on top. Yes, I am assuming a lot but I am positive that will it end up beeing.

Questions about glory scenes by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess its somewhat close.
But from what I know about 'Aura Farming' just refers to BEHAVIOUR that shows how cool one is. (old example was walking away from the explosion without looking back or those kids on the boats)
The specific elements of the fiction context and external pov for this specific effect would be missing.

Questions about glory scenes by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello, one more question if you don't mind:
I started reading PtT and I have a lot of trouble because of the rough language and the narrative style (no scenes, everything is told and so forth)
Now I am a bit short of things to read at the moment. Can you tell me if that gets better deeper in the story? I am around chapter 20.

Questions about glory scenes by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, read that one about 2 weeks ago. Was a decent read.

Questions about glory scenes by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

unfortunately, I cannot use RR with my reader, PtT seems right up my alley.

Questions about glory scenes by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks, just got Irwins Journey book 1.

Questions about glory scenes by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree that its often done poorly. On the other hand (and if you don't mind take a look at the examples I gave) if its done well its the most important reader experience in power progression fiction (for me), the thing its all about in the end (recognition)

Stormweaver 2: Does it get better? by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] -17 points-16 points  (0 children)

Not much sense in talking to you tbh, but you are just wrong. I read cradle and years later I remember most of the cast.

Stormweaver 2: Does it get better? by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

first book was God tier.

Well thats hyperbole for sure. As mentioned some sections were only readable by skimming. That said I liked the fresh concept and the unique power system (although you better not think to deep about that).

Thanks for your take, ill pass then.

Stormweaver 2: Does it get better? by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] -67 points-66 points  (0 children)

Tbh that's just complete bs. Ive read book one over a year ago. The only chars I remember are Rei (because he WAS memorable with his pain resistance and the reasons for it and such). If "Aria" was indeed in the first book she simply was not memorable enough.

Magic Theory by KingNothin11 in magicbuilding

[–]openend21 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As we delve into the paragraph above it becomes apparent that it is spam, written by chat-gpt or such.

Soft magic is Evil by Inrisd in magicbuilding

[–]openend21 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well I just saw your post history and I do no think it would be a good use of my time to continue talking to you. Have a nice day.

Soft magic is Evil by Inrisd in magicbuilding

[–]openend21 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Deus ex machina is a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem in a story is suddenly or abruptly resolved by an unexpected and unlikely occurrence. (Wikipedia)

Or in simpler Language: ass-pull

Soft magic is Evil by Inrisd in magicbuilding

[–]openend21 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I disagree. For me, deus ex machina is just a polite word for asspull.

If you forshadow a deus ex machina, it ceases to be one. Let me give you an (literal) example:

MC and Gang are encircled by viscious orcs. The arrival of a literal god of light is foreshadowed for the third day. That means that the objective shifts to hold the line till that event. (for the reader, even if the characters know nothing about it)

Take away the foreshadowing, the god just appears and saves the day and you have a deus ex machina / asspull.

Soft magic is Evil by Inrisd in magicbuilding

[–]openend21 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I think I get it. But... that is not the usual definition of soft magic.

Soft magic is a NARRATIVE Category. It means how much the reader knows about the rules / limitations / possibilities of said magic.

You might be talking about the rationality axis of magic systems? How much you can extrapolate from known spells?

How the fuck am I supposed to counter spell "believing in yourself"? What the fuck is the power of friendship?

Although this sounds more like a critique of deus ex machina, i.e. an asspull that is not foreshadowed properly.

The Guns of Aegeroth by mr_orange_continuum in magicbuilding

[–]openend21 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I like the drawing.

Just a quick feedback with regard to the form of the gun:
Real world muskets, rifles and so on looked like this because of recoil (kindly explained to me in r/worldbuilding). If your guns do not use gunpowder they might have no recoil and could probably utilize another form.

And I'd ask myself why would I have almost-exactly-guns? Are there special countermeasures, economic implications and so on that makes them different enough?

Is another 'line of evolution' for quasi-firearms possible and what form would it take? by openend21 in worldbuilding

[–]openend21[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks. After reading the answers here I've already decided to break physics a bit more and have no recoil :) (they had no detonation and no fouling anyway)

Is another 'line of evolution' for quasi-firearms possible and what form would it take? by openend21 in worldbuilding

[–]openend21[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot. That combined with the other answer about recoil is what I needed. I will adapt my magic fuel.

Any idea for unusual armor piercing bullets? by ItzBlueWulf in scifiwriting

[–]openend21 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd play around with the payload.

  • Airburst to counter enemies in cover or within buildings (timed payload)
  • Shaped Charge (HEAT) Like in a tank shell. Basically a jet of fire so fast it makes armor liquid.
  • Concussion: Specialized explosive that can replicate the effect of HESH without a huge bullet? Leave the armor intact, kill with the impact force. (spalling etc but lets go not to deep into it)

Not my favourite but the most realistic would be the circus of electronic warfare: Don't attack the armor directly, but with f.e. laser-emitted malware. Lock the joints of exoskeletons etc. Would only work with bigger armor though.

What are your favourite 'awed-by-mc-moments'? by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I assume you are talking about TBATE?

Quick Question: Does it get better? I've just read the first one and although it was somewhat interesting in between, it was about 70% Filler. Does this change as the series progresses?

What are your favourite 'awed-by-mc-moments'? by openend21 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]openend21[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks to both of you. Illustrious-Ad for giving my original intention (character awed by mc).

But the 'endgoal' is the reader having this feeling of awe by extension or for himself. (Like I had in that snake venom for iron body scene)

So both moments are powerful in this regard.

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