So... I'm relatively new to LitRPG, and have spent the last couple weeks reading through a few of the books available on Kindle Unlimited. So far, it's been The Land: Founding, Ascend Online, and Steam Whistle Alley, with Ritualist, Regicide, Hack, Hate, and Hero queued up to follow. In my reading of Steam Whistle Alley, I've found the lack of dependency on character stats to be refreshing. I know from everything I've read here (and from The Land and Ascend Online) that stats seem to be an important aspect of LitRPG in general. But is there a place in the genre for a book that doesn't dig into the character's stats regularly? Not that the stats wouldn't show up at all, and certainly not that there wouldn't be character progression, mind you. I guess I'm just wondering how dependent the readers are upon seeing regular stat updates in order to make it feel like a game.
I wanted to choose more than one answer on your poll. Heh. It comes down to your style and your readers. There's no one set way. We have a thread around here somewhere talking about this topic...
In Incipere, Stats exist but aren't readily accessible. Characters can view their standings, their ranks, their skills, their traits, and know that they exist because different classes are supported by an area. However, Stats don't rise with ranks but with practice. I don't believe stats are important in my story because of this. Ranks dictate skill with a class, so rank is much more important than how strong or fast someone can be.
I wonder -- does anyone have a read on how books that take one path or another actually perform in terms of sales, reception, etc.?
I thought about doing a database of styles/books/best ranks, but I don't have the time to put it together. Would def be interesting data. I really think (personally) story and characters trump stats no matter how you do them - as long as they're not done horribly? Heh. Then again, what is "horrible" when it comes to stats? It's a fine line to walk.
I agree with this. But personally, I'd like something outside the book where you can see the characters' stat/gear. You know, like a bonus page in manga. For example, I'd really like to be able to go to the author's website and look up "Character A's stats/gear/skills at the beginning of Book 2", which I think would be really cool. Edited to add: I don't want to see stats at the end of every chapter or even periodically, since I feel like it breaks the flow of the story. I kinda want to be able to see stats when I choose to, though -- but that might be too much to ask.
This is where I think the story I’m working on is going to fall. Just about have Chapter One finished…
