masukomi3d ago

I don't get the fascination with #LitRPG
I _especially_ don't understand why so many _authors_ are #writing it.

Ultimately, I keep coming back to the question of “Why not write the same story without the floating menus and leveling?"

Also, the "teleported to a new world & doesn't know anything” thing feels like such an effing crutch for conveying aspects of a different world to the reader.

I've seen good LitRPG but mostly it feels like the tropey 🐄💩 almost always makes things worse.

Show threadtkissing
@masukomi I don't know about authors, responding just as reader (or rather, listener, I love audio books, especially for LitRPG).
I like how "easy" most LitRPG is. It adds a certain level of transparency that frees up my mind to think about other details - or to simply be able to still follow the story when I'm distracted.
Yes, ultimately "that's how the game works" is no explanation, just like Panspermia is no explanation for the origins of life, but (for me) it's good enough in the moment.
Mar 23 at 3:11pmMastodon for Android
Show threadmasukomi3d ago

@tkissing

🤔 help me understand?

I get that the metaphor of leveling & skills & such is easy to understand BUT to me it's also wholly unnecessary. There are so many books where characters gradually gain abilities / skills without bothering with any mechanical explanation beyond mentioning that practicing and experimenting & finding instructions lets you get better

How does the layer of gaming stuff & floating menus help?

Show threadtkissing3d ago

@masukomi But there is no logical explanation why killing hundreds of orcs would grant someone to suddenly fly or spit fire or survive having their spine ripped out. LitRPG uses game mechanics as an escape hatch.
To me and others I spoke to about it, this works better than just saying "magic did it".
I don't think there is a rational explanation why.

I also heard that the mystery "are they really in a game and if not, where does the game mechanic come from" adds to the appeal.

Show threadtkissing3d ago

@masukomi Trying to put myself into the shoes of an author, I can see how game mechanics can help maintain a certain level of consistency though. Yes, this could be done silently, but putting it out there forces an additional degree of honesty?

Lastly, I think it speaks to some form of nostalgia. Almost everyone I know personally who likes LitRPG played some MMORPG excessively during their youth/college years. And none of us have the time for that right now, because we have families and jobs.