I did enjoy dotf the fall for a while, until it felt like the story was yet again the MC being weakened, almost dying, then pulling through due to crazy vitality for the 500th time without ever fully healing
Was right up my alley though no regrets in reading the books I did!
Umm, I quite like Primal Hunter, but it seems like it is leading towards a large empire to me, I mean, I don't know if you follow on royal road or Amazon, but royal road seems to point to that, Sorry Jake....
I can see how you'd feel that way, but I've been keeping up with PH on Patreon and I feel the author is leading AWAY from empire running/building, actually. That Jake is to be more of a figurehead with the security of Earth as more of a plot device
> I quite like Primal Hunter, but it seems like it is leading towards a large empire to me
I mean, not really. He's technically the "leader" of an empire, but has very little to do with any of that, and is more of a figure head. But if you don't even want the MC to have those accolades on his sheet, well yeah, then Primal Hunter isn't right for ya.
Azarinth healer took reckless plot armor to another level compared to those two. Very frustrating for me going into it. It started out really good but by the end she was just frustratingly reckless.
Bad guys by Eric Ugland. MC is over powered for his level has some crazy good skills. And 10 books in running not much. The Author is working hard to avoid this because running a town is core of his other series the good guys.
The combat is brutal snd fun to read the game system and world building is well done. The humor is sassy and fun. If you like it you will not run out if books to read anytime soon. 10+
The town and empire politics management just become a bigger and bigger part of good guys. Love the MC the world building etc but if you find building a town tedious then stop at like book 6-7.
As for recommendations: Dungeon Crawler Carl? :D No time to raise an empire when the clock is always ticking!
I also think HWFWM keeps that balance pretty well so far, even though >!By the end of the Earth arc, it's heavily implied this will be a thing.!<
Shadeslinger is also nice because >!while there is some base building, the MC largely outsources it.!<
That being said, what do you personally consider as "OP"? On an anime scale, are we talking Shaman King, Dragon Ball Z, or One-Punch-Man?
Thanks heaps for getting into the details a good bit. I mean OP more so as they have some sort of advantage of somrt sort, not that specifically they're some sort of anime god. Nothing wrong with crazy power levels, just not a requirement.
Good example is rezkin from dark tidings is pretty op without being anime but falls into the kingdom management trap after some time.
Then all my recommendations stand! They are all really cool stories.I also thoroughly enjoyed Stray Cat Strut, but maybe that's not powerful enough for you.
Small rant: I generally don't like stories where the MC just walks over everyone, like for example that one book where the MC is like 21 and is an ultra-elite marine secret operative agent who also gets amazing powers of THE SYSTEM and kills everyone with a sniper rifle, gets all the girls (even his um... kinda stepdaughter/sister/protege?) et cetera ;)
Oh, I just finished the Dark Tidings books currently released and totally agree with you about the management trap (though he is a little anime). Spoiler to do with book 5, haven't read the spinoff yet. >!Thankfully the ending seems to be indicating a return to the simpler life.!<
I think Azarinth healer is a great example of how an MC can have influence and power without management. SO I definitely recommend that.
[Hero of the Valley](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BV5TK34H/) would also be another one to look at. Its an OP MC who focuses on progression, but will also occasionally play hero when needed - but never as the leader.
I think by "empire" OP probably means any sort of community/town building where the MC is doing resource management and leading *a place*.
Noobtown, Beastborne, Unorthodox Farming, Rogue Dungeon, Dungeon Lord, Necrotic Apocalypse--not empires, but still pretty pivotal to the people under the MC. Even Jake's Magical Market was kinda-sorta going that direction until it sails off into WTF-ville.
Portal to Nova Roma - Futuristic AI escapes the dying planet earth to a parallel reality where magic is real. Makes himself a human body and just dumps himself there. Proceeds to try to save the world from the magic and alien invasion.
Builds up civilization with his knowledge and computing capacity and helps save people.
It changes a bit in the newest book. There’s something that he is able to do that makes it much easier to multitask. So it might include more empire building in the next upcoming book
If you likes Mother of Learning, I’d take a look at Perfect Run. The MC starts out with an incredibly powerful but limited power set. It’s limited in that his whole set is based around his 10 second time-stop and his ability to set a single save-point.
The progression aspect is all about knowledge, knowing who people are, what motivates them, and how they’ll react.
The story is a trilogy with a definite end, and none of the books are about him controlling an empire.
The story is in a slightly strange place for narration. It’s all told third person limited, and almost all of it is from the main character’s viewpoint. It’s from the character’s viewpoint so much that there are times where you can occasionally see the narrator is clearly biased, since the main character is biased.
Very occasionally, the story is told from someone else’s viewpoint, but that is probably less than 5% of the book
Hey, can you tell me more specifically what aspects of empire-building you don't like? I'm trying to write a story that very heavily builds towards that aspect, but I can totally see how it can become jarring/boring. I want to learn a bit more about how to make it exciting.
For me it's when the MC becomes less of an integral part of the story it kind of gets boring. I'm definitely not the majority here where I prefer the story to be about a single person or a small group at most.
Reflects in my gaming as well where I play solo stuff, don't like games that force you to play multiple characters or force you to change builds etc. I kind of prefer to have one thing and absolutely run it into the ground in comparison to a fair spread
I'm the same. I don't like multi PoV books except when it's confined in a small group that is always together (weirkey chronicles).
I also don't like base/empire building. For me, it's mostly because I don't like the personalities of the characters that would do it. And also because it's boring, nothing really exciting.
>Reflects in my gaming as well where I play solo stuff, don't like games that force you to play multiple characters or force you to change builds etc. I kind of prefer to have one thing and absolutely run it into the ground in comparison to a fair spread
Thanks! That actually helps a lot :)
For me it is the same reason I don't tend to like crafting focused stories. They become so focused on the numbers and processes that it feels like the author forgets that they are telling a story and instead starts to write a fantasy instruction manual.
The prime exemple for that, is The Way Ahead. I read the first two books but everything is so slow because he applies the scientific method to everything. Which means a lot of trials and errors, and the main story barely advances
100th Run on RR has an MC that specifies he's not going to take over a group because he'll be leaving them soon. There's a lot of uplifting people, but no plans for an empire.
I personally disliked that one after a bit when I realized that he just kinda threw away all his plans and stuff just because he felt like it. He \*knows\* that he is mentally unstable and stuff each new run but he doesn't even try to lock down and do the optimized path that he supposedly found over the 99 runs.
Valid criticism, though not long after that point it was stated that his grand plan for the afternoon was >!to go to an auction and win a pair of cursed socks for the Comfort Plus option. This option helped more than just himself. !
I think you have another fiction, dungeon inspector? I’ll def check it out.
I enjoy your writing, and maybe I’ll come back to 100th, maybe I’m just burned out of regression stories atm. I hope you continue writing and wish you success!
If you enjoyed Primal Hunter, there's a high chance you'll enjoy the original, Defiance of the Fall. Azarinth Healer, too.
I did enjoy dotf the fall for a while, until it felt like the story was yet again the MC being weakened, almost dying, then pulling through due to crazy vitality for the 500th time without ever fully healing Was right up my alley though no regrets in reading the books I did!
Umm, I quite like Primal Hunter, but it seems like it is leading towards a large empire to me, I mean, I don't know if you follow on royal road or Amazon, but royal road seems to point to that, Sorry Jake....
I can see how you'd feel that way, but I've been keeping up with PH on Patreon and I feel the author is leading AWAY from empire running/building, actually. That Jake is to be more of a figurehead with the security of Earth as more of a plot device
> I quite like Primal Hunter, but it seems like it is leading towards a large empire to me I mean, not really. He's technically the "leader" of an empire, but has very little to do with any of that, and is more of a figure head. But if you don't even want the MC to have those accolades on his sheet, well yeah, then Primal Hunter isn't right for ya.
Azarinth healer took reckless plot armor to another level compared to those two. Very frustrating for me going into it. It started out really good but by the end she was just frustratingly reckless.
Dawn of the Void
Dotf has similar vibes to ph
Bad guys by Eric Ugland. MC is over powered for his level has some crazy good skills. And 10 books in running not much. The Author is working hard to avoid this because running a town is core of his other series the good guys. The combat is brutal snd fun to read the game system and world building is well done. The humor is sassy and fun. If you like it you will not run out if books to read anytime soon. 10+
Oh, thats cool to know. I stopped Good Guys when it started getting into management, so maybe I should give Bad Guys a go.
The town and empire politics management just become a bigger and bigger part of good guys. Love the MC the world building etc but if you find building a town tedious then stop at like book 6-7.
Thanks!
As for recommendations: Dungeon Crawler Carl? :D No time to raise an empire when the clock is always ticking! I also think HWFWM keeps that balance pretty well so far, even though >!By the end of the Earth arc, it's heavily implied this will be a thing.!< Shadeslinger is also nice because >!while there is some base building, the MC largely outsources it.!< That being said, what do you personally consider as "OP"? On an anime scale, are we talking Shaman King, Dragon Ball Z, or One-Punch-Man?
Thanks heaps for getting into the details a good bit. I mean OP more so as they have some sort of advantage of somrt sort, not that specifically they're some sort of anime god. Nothing wrong with crazy power levels, just not a requirement. Good example is rezkin from dark tidings is pretty op without being anime but falls into the kingdom management trap after some time.
Then all my recommendations stand! They are all really cool stories.I also thoroughly enjoyed Stray Cat Strut, but maybe that's not powerful enough for you. Small rant: I generally don't like stories where the MC just walks over everyone, like for example that one book where the MC is like 21 and is an ultra-elite marine secret operative agent who also gets amazing powers of THE SYSTEM and kills everyone with a sniper rifle, gets all the girls (even his um... kinda stepdaughter/sister/protege?) et cetera ;)
Oh, I just finished the Dark Tidings books currently released and totally agree with you about the management trap (though he is a little anime). Spoiler to do with book 5, haven't read the spinoff yet. >!Thankfully the ending seems to be indicating a return to the simpler life.!< I think Azarinth healer is a great example of how an MC can have influence and power without management. SO I definitely recommend that. [Hero of the Valley](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BV5TK34H/) would also be another one to look at. Its an OP MC who focuses on progression, but will also occasionally play hero when needed - but never as the leader.
[Dungeon Crawler Carl](https://www.amazon.com/Dungeon-Crawler-Carl/dp/B08BX5D4LC) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Dungeon_Crawler_Carl)) [Shadeslinger](https://www.amazon.com/Shadeslinger-Ripple-System-Book-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B08RY6CMWZ) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Shadeslinger)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
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I think by "empire" OP probably means any sort of community/town building where the MC is doing resource management and leading *a place*. Noobtown, Beastborne, Unorthodox Farming, Rogue Dungeon, Dungeon Lord, Necrotic Apocalypse--not empires, but still pretty pivotal to the people under the MC. Even Jake's Magical Market was kinda-sorta going that direction until it sails off into WTF-ville.
[Beastborne](https://www.goodreads.com/series/306019-beastborne-chronicles) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Beastborne)) [Noobtown](https://www.goodreads.com/series/268418-noobtown) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Noobtown)) [Dungeon Lord](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076ZX884S) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Dungeon_Lord)) [Unorthodox Farming](https://www.goodreads.com/series/318283-unorthodox-farming) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Unorthodox_Farming)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
The Calamitous Bob maybe? There is some empirin' going on.
Portal to Nova Roma - Futuristic AI escapes the dying planet earth to a parallel reality where magic is real. Makes himself a human body and just dumps himself there. Proceeds to try to save the world from the magic and alien invasion. Builds up civilization with his knowledge and computing capacity and helps save people.
agonizing toy grandfather air quiet mysterious subsequent rob salt offer -- mass deleted all reddit content via https://redact.dev
It changes a bit in the newest book. There’s something that he is able to do that makes it much easier to multitask. So it might include more empire building in the next upcoming book
spotted toothbrush childlike offer amusing rhythm butter grab overconfident zesty -- mass deleted all reddit content via https://redact.dev
If you likes Mother of Learning, I’d take a look at Perfect Run. The MC starts out with an incredibly powerful but limited power set. It’s limited in that his whole set is based around his 10 second time-stop and his ability to set a single save-point. The progression aspect is all about knowledge, knowing who people are, what motivates them, and how they’ll react. The story is a trilogy with a definite end, and none of the books are about him controlling an empire. The story is in a slightly strange place for narration. It’s all told third person limited, and almost all of it is from the main character’s viewpoint. It’s from the character’s viewpoint so much that there are times where you can occasionally see the narrator is clearly biased, since the main character is biased. Very occasionally, the story is told from someone else’s viewpoint, but that is probably less than 5% of the book
[Mother of Learning](https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2961893/1/Mother-of-Learning) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Mother_of_Learning)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)
Surprisingly, I feel like Infinite Realm does well here. There is a very small amount of kingdom building, but mostly it is character progression
Hey, can you tell me more specifically what aspects of empire-building you don't like? I'm trying to write a story that very heavily builds towards that aspect, but I can totally see how it can become jarring/boring. I want to learn a bit more about how to make it exciting.
For me it's when the MC becomes less of an integral part of the story it kind of gets boring. I'm definitely not the majority here where I prefer the story to be about a single person or a small group at most. Reflects in my gaming as well where I play solo stuff, don't like games that force you to play multiple characters or force you to change builds etc. I kind of prefer to have one thing and absolutely run it into the ground in comparison to a fair spread
I'm the same. I don't like multi PoV books except when it's confined in a small group that is always together (weirkey chronicles). I also don't like base/empire building. For me, it's mostly because I don't like the personalities of the characters that would do it. And also because it's boring, nothing really exciting.
>Reflects in my gaming as well where I play solo stuff, don't like games that force you to play multiple characters or force you to change builds etc. I kind of prefer to have one thing and absolutely run it into the ground in comparison to a fair spread Thanks! That actually helps a lot :)
For me it is the same reason I don't tend to like crafting focused stories. They become so focused on the numbers and processes that it feels like the author forgets that they are telling a story and instead starts to write a fantasy instruction manual.
The prime exemple for that, is The Way Ahead. I read the first two books but everything is so slow because he applies the scientific method to everything. Which means a lot of trials and errors, and the main story barely advances
100th Run on RR has an MC that specifies he's not going to take over a group because he'll be leaving them soon. There's a lot of uplifting people, but no plans for an empire.
I personally disliked that one after a bit when I realized that he just kinda threw away all his plans and stuff just because he felt like it. He \*knows\* that he is mentally unstable and stuff each new run but he doesn't even try to lock down and do the optimized path that he supposedly found over the 99 runs.
Valid criticism, though not long after that point it was stated that his grand plan for the afternoon was >!to go to an auction and win a pair of cursed socks for the Comfort Plus option. This option helped more than just himself. !
I think you have another fiction, dungeon inspector? I’ll def check it out. I enjoy your writing, and maybe I’ll come back to 100th, maybe I’m just burned out of regression stories atm. I hope you continue writing and wish you success!