LitRPG Harem Books?

Discussion in 'All Things LitRPG' started by Paul Bellow, Jul 18, 2018.

?

LitRPG Harem Books?

  1. Love 'em

    5 vote(s)
    18.5%
  2. Hate 'em

    8 vote(s)
    29.6%
  3. Meh

    14 vote(s)
    51.9%
  1. Paul Bellow

    Paul Bellow Forum Game Master Staff Member LitRPG Author Shop Owner Citizen Aspiring Writer

    100%
    Messages:
    9,471
    Likes:
    7,372
    xp:
    5,313
    Zone:
    Midwest, US
    LitCoin:
    14,716,157
    Zorkmid:
    1,335
    Any thoughts on Harem books in LitRPG?
     
    Alexis Keane likes this.
  2. Alexis Keane

    Alexis Keane Level 14 (Defender) Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    62%
    Messages:
    443
    Likes:
    594
    xp:
    562
    LitCoin:
    109,599
    Zorkmid:
    589
  3. Paul Bellow

    Paul Bellow Forum Game Master Staff Member LitRPG Author Shop Owner Citizen Aspiring Writer

    100%
    Messages:
    9,471
    Likes:
    7,372
    xp:
    5,313
    Zone:
    Midwest, US
    LitCoin:
    14,716,157
    Zorkmid:
    1,335
    You think they're HOT!?

    ;p
     
  4. Alexis Keane

    Alexis Keane Level 14 (Defender) Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    62%
    Messages:
    443
    Likes:
    594
    xp:
    562
    LitCoin:
    109,599
    Zorkmid:
    589
    Umm... yeah, sure :p
     
    Paul Bellow likes this.
  5. Jay

    Jay Hiatus. LitRPG Author Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    30%
    Messages:
    755
    Likes:
    1,176
    xp:
    1,059
    LitCoin:
    347,508
    Zorkmid:
    0
    Hate is too strong a word because I don't have that much energy to devote to them.:p

    So I went with "Meh!". I dislike them and not exactly fond of them suddenly drowning the genre, but I'm sure they must have fans since they appear to be fairly successful. I've really only accidentally read one series that claims to be LitRPG + Harem (that boring Tamer's business) because I wasn't paying attention on my Kindle. Haven't had the slightest interest in reading any more. So definitely "Meh."
     
    Alexis Keane and Paul Bellow like this.
  6. Windfall

    Windfall Level 18 (Magician) LitRPG Author Citizen

    25%
    Messages:
    689
    Likes:
    1,066
    xp:
    925
    LitCoin:
    3,647,673
    Zorkmid:
    257
    I've stayed away from them, not only in LitRPG, but in anime/manga and other forms of entertainment, too, because I think they're immature (whether harem or reverse-harem or unrealistic love triangles), and ultimately these titles give the genre a bad name.

    I'm perfectly okay with polygamy or polyamory portrayed realistically -- but I've yet to see that. And I think the word 'harem' itself implies wish-fulfillment, which is never done well.

    Anime/manga have started to claw their way out of that kind of image and I think we can do the same thing for LitRPG by presenting a vast variety of LitRPG and reward stories that do something original and different.

    Also, original content talking about LitRPG, like what's happening on this forum and to a certain extent on reddit now. For example, even "Top 10 Best LitRPG Harem stories" (at least that will establish that there are non-harem stories out there), or even "My Top 10 LitRPG action scenes" -- the more voices, the more opinions, the better. (Which is why again dropping the banhammer on conversation is ultimately counterproductive -- you don't know when your readers are gonna change their mind about your product, and when they do, you would wish that there are other readers out there you can reach...) And... we need lots and lots and lots of better reviews and thoughtful articles...

    And... someone sponsor a YouTube game channel episode to cover LitRPG as a concept maybe?

    Sorry for the off-topic rambling again...
     
  7. Brian Foster

    Brian Foster Level 10 (Filcher) LitRPG Author Citizen

    92%
    Messages:
    119
    Likes:
    189
    xp:
    296
    LitCoin:
    3,038,970
    Zorkmid:
    197
    I loved Super Sales on Super Heroes and the first War God's Mantle. I think, though, that the harem part of those books was incidental to a good LitRPG story. Most of the books classified as harem seem to be attempts at erotica, which isn't what I'm looking for in the LitRPG genre.
     
  8. Jason Maskell

    Jason Maskell Level 11 (Thief) LitRPG Author Citizen Aspiring Writer

    16%
    Messages:
    164
    Likes:
    177
    xp:
    308
    LitCoin:
    1,436,635
    Zorkmid:
    178
    Honestly they make me want to stop writing LitRPG and write in a genre unpolluted by it.
     
  9. Jay

    Jay Hiatus. LitRPG Author Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    30%
    Messages:
    755
    Likes:
    1,176
    xp:
    1,059
    LitCoin:
    347,508
    Zorkmid:
    0
    Sort of agree, but sadly there's no genre that's going to stay "unpolluted" unfortunately. Any market that's doing well is going to attract people trying to make a quick buck by mixing that success with some kind of erotica. And there's nothing wrong with that exactly, but it does sometimes make it seem like the whole damn genre is nothing but that fetish. Which is highly frustrating because it can drive off new readers who are curious, but then think "Oh, it's nothing but a bunch of crappy sex stories. Ugh. That's not what I want."
     
    Alexis Keane and Paul Bellow like this.
  10. Jason Maskell

    Jason Maskell Level 11 (Thief) LitRPG Author Citizen Aspiring Writer

    16%
    Messages:
    164
    Likes:
    177
    xp:
    308
    LitCoin:
    1,436,635
    Zorkmid:
    178
    I could go on a long rant about how it's not just that it's sex stories, but if you want that I'll do it in private. :D
     
    Jay, Alexis Keane and Paul Bellow like this.
  11. Paul Bellow

    Paul Bellow Forum Game Master Staff Member LitRPG Author Shop Owner Citizen Aspiring Writer

    100%
    Messages:
    9,471
    Likes:
    7,372
    xp:
    5,313
    Zone:
    Midwest, US
    LitCoin:
    14,716,157
    Zorkmid:
    1,335
    The Amish Romance erotica is the craziest!
     
  12. Brian Foster

    Brian Foster Level 10 (Filcher) LitRPG Author Citizen

    92%
    Messages:
    119
    Likes:
    189
    xp:
    296
    LitCoin:
    3,038,970
    Zorkmid:
    197
    To be honest, it seems to me that LitRPG is less polluted than almost any other genre I read.
     
  13. Alexis Keane

    Alexis Keane Level 14 (Defender) Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    62%
    Messages:
    443
    Likes:
    594
    xp:
    562
    LitCoin:
    109,599
    Zorkmid:
    589
    Sort of ironic though that those stories are getting read on kindles :p
     
    Declan Heyse and Paul Bellow like this.
  14. Viergacht

    Viergacht Thunderdragon LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    94%
    Messages:
    756
    Likes:
    1,208
    xp:
    894
    LitCoin:
    60,135
    Zorkmid:
    4
    My personal opinion is I don't want to pay to read some other dude's wank fantasies; they should be paying me to do that.
     
  15. Paul Bellow

    Paul Bellow Forum Game Master Staff Member LitRPG Author Shop Owner Citizen Aspiring Writer

    100%
    Messages:
    9,471
    Likes:
    7,372
    xp:
    5,313
    Zone:
    Midwest, US
    LitCoin:
    14,716,157
    Zorkmid:
    1,335
  16. Alexis Keane

    Alexis Keane Level 14 (Defender) Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    62%
    Messages:
    443
    Likes:
    594
    xp:
    562
    LitCoin:
    109,599
    Zorkmid:
    589
    Hey, isn't that the guy from the university of nottingham or something? he does awesome chemistry videos
     
    Paul Bellow likes this.
  17. Tom Harem

    Tom Harem Level 7 (Cutpurse) LitRPG Author Citizen

    18%
    Messages:
    17
    Likes:
    24
    xp:
    109
    LitCoin:
    859,115
    Zorkmid:
    52
    as someone who wrote a litrpg harem (and will write more in the future), I'm going to try to explain why I did it, and why a few others do it.

    My reasons;
    I have a background in erotica/romances so it's easier to start with harem books while I read other books in the genre and learn more about the concept (I'm reading awaken online).
    English is not my main language so I don't think I'm suited to write a full litrpg novel yet. Harem readers tend to worry less about the writing than the rest.

    There are people who read them because they like the romance/sex part more than the stats/fighting part, or maybe it's just a fantasy they can indulge in. I also don't think it affects what people think of litrpg as long as the books are properly tagged. If the book says it's a litrpg harem and someone reads it and then complains about having too much romance/sex that's on them. as it happens with everything it also depends on the quality of the book itself.

    There are people who write them because they also have a background on erotica, or because they enjoy their fantasy or they're trying to make a quick buck. It happens. The truth is that there are dozens of people reading them like there are a lot of people reading normal litrpg stories. There's space for everyone. Most people who read harem stories wouldn't probably be reading normal ones so it doesn't change a lot. They know what they are reading, and what they're getting, and that's what they were looking for.
     
  18. Brian Foster

    Brian Foster Level 10 (Filcher) LitRPG Author Citizen

    92%
    Messages:
    119
    Likes:
    189
    xp:
    296
    LitCoin:
    3,038,970
    Zorkmid:
    197
    I think you've made a good decision for you. Making money as you learn craft is a great idea.

    I wouldn't take the responses in this thread as "Hey, you shouldn't write or release in the harem subgenre." I think the responses are actually saying, "Most of the people active on this forum prefer straight up LitRPG, and it can get a bit annoying when books in subgenres crowd out the books we're looking for."

    Truthfully, though, that happens with every genre on Amazon.
     
  19. Viergacht

    Viergacht Thunderdragon LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    94%
    Messages:
    756
    Likes:
    1,208
    xp:
    894
    LitCoin:
    60,135
    Zorkmid:
    4
    No kidding - it's impossible to find a good werewolf book without having to wade through a ton of paranormal romances.
     
    RauthrMystic, Paul Bellow and Jay like this.
  20. Jay

    Jay Hiatus. LitRPG Author Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

    30%
    Messages:
    755
    Likes:
    1,176
    xp:
    1,059
    LitCoin:
    347,508
    Zorkmid:
    0
    That's fair. No harm in making money and I'm not going to knock indie writers making a living! But yes, it's basically I wish I didn't have to suddenly dig through a huge pile of harems to find new books to read. I'm not begrudging those who enjoy them reading them. I just wish they were a tad less overwhelming in the LitRPG genre at the moment.
     




Share This Page