Stories that left you disappointed for a reason

[Ireth313]

Y/n cannot be too outstanding so an average reader can relate to her

Yeah, but the 'ordinary character in extraordinary circumstances' formula is, basically, a premise of the whole realism and modernism writing school in literature. I know in the case of BoS and similar romances the goal is self-fulfillment, but it bums me that a tried and tested solution that allows you to develop plot and have sound character logic is basically half a step away, but it gets ignored

 

[AGoldenExperience]

Bit of a short comment here but I think this subject somewhat weighed down my chest recently so I have to get it off.


Why do so many books have stats and heavy stat checks only for them to be functionally useless to the plot or lead to the same outcome, or hell, have a specific event that you always lose despite having effectively the highest stats possible?, why even bother then?

 

[seneya]

but it bums me that a tried and tested solution that allows you to develop plot and have sound character logic is basically half a step away, but it gets ignored

Because the end result would be a completely different kind of work; almost a deconstruction, I think. My idea of a 'realistic' depiction of a soulmate bond, for example, is closer to horror than romance lol
I mean, imagine that... you meet a person. You don't know them. You're drawn to them. You feel bad without them.
They might not be a good person. You might even dislike them! But when you're next to them, you smile. You laugh. Everything they say seems just right. Then you are away, and... are these words really your? You remember saying them. They do not feel like they came from you.
You try to keep your distance. You're going insane. You can't sleep, you can't be away for long. You have to go back... and lose yourself. Again.
VERY ROMANTIC 11/10 ROMANTIC FANTASY

 

[BiscuitB]

Why do so many books have stats and heavy stat checks only for them to be functionally useless to the plot or lead to the same outcome, or hell, have a specific event that you always lose despite having effectively the highest stats possible?, why even bother then?

Same it's also the case if the stats matter. Cause then I start to focus on getting all my stats high for just in cases instead of reading the plot, as I don't want to miss out on anything. I get that it's a way to get people to play again but I want to get the most of game, then choose if I want to play again even for the small scenes I enjoyed

 

[silvermoonn]

ditch them both, team up with Kerach instead, and make a quick getaway with their only mean of transportation (Kerach).

Same here
This may be wishful thinking, but some scenes imply that Kerach is not so simple and is definitely more reasonable/ respectful. I bet the wolf has some kind of trump card, and he could be a future path for the MC, one that actually uses brains.

 

[Ireth313]

This may be wishful thinking, but some scenes imply that Kerach is not so simple and is definitely more reasonable/ respectful. I bet the wolf has some kind of trump card, and he could be a future path for the MC, one that actually uses brains.

Ok, as a former patron I will spill some beans: the author said that he is the only one of the three who would've taken in MC as a lover with her past disfigured self. I assume he'd be the only one willing to look past that? Which is actually a peak romance, imo, compared to all this soulmate stuff.

 

[seneya]

he is the only one of the three who would've taken in MC as a lover with her past disfigured self

Uhh, pair it with Valdricht's "No I see no other uses for you than ***" (peak romance), and yeah guys do run away with the wolf

one that actually uses brains

sorry, all the stat points went into Appearance, we had to dump Intelligence

 

[yourstalkeroutside]

And if seriously, this is clearly "smut with plot" written for fem players with sub/breeding kinks, so whatever. It's just about what I expected out of such a premise.

Ironically, I dropped this because I hated the lack of plot along with how wooden the LIs were. The smut isn't worth it. Unfortunate because it's one of the few IFs that have pregnancy and motherhood as a part of the plot. Most IFs avoid the topic.