LitRPG Podcast 179 - Hunter's Dream Online, Player Reached the Top, Village of Noobtown, Axe Druid Book 3
LitRPG Podcast 179 - Hunter's Dream Online, Player Reached the Top, Village of Noobtown, Axe Druid Book 3
July 12th, 2019
Hello everyone, welcome to episode 179 of the LitRPG podcast.
I’m Ramon Mejia. I’m here to bring you the latest LitRPG news, reviews, and author interviews. I have 4 new reviews just for you. Everything this week is slice of life, but still good.
New Releases and Reviews:
Hunter's Dream Online: Book 1: Ascension (08:54)
Middle of the road, slice of life, necromancer MC
Score: 7.2 out of 10
Player Reached the Top. LitRPG series. Book I (12:24)
Trapped in a high level zone, Russian serial without a real ending
Score: 7.6 out of 10
Village of Noobtown: A LitRPG Adventure (Mayor of Noobtown Book 2) (18:45)
Same good humor, and town building, with a slightly rushed ending.
Score: 7.7 out of 10
Into the Hells (Axe Druid Book 3) (22:42)
Continues a good slice of life series that finally resolves a few plotlines.
Score: 7.3 out of 10
(Play Music 2)
LitRPG News
Tao Wong dropped some art commissions he had done for his character Mikito (System Apocalypse) in some armor. One traditional, the other more sci-fi armor. Both very cool looking. Check out his Facebook page for the larger pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/taowongauthor/photos/
Out Now!
Morgana: Everybody Loves Large Chests (Vol.4)
Gloominess +1: Gleam of Darkness. A LitRPG Adventure: Book 1
Eight-Bit Bastards: Level Two (Eight Bit Bastards Book 2)
New LitRPG Audiobooks
The Phoenix of Altria: A LitRPG Series - Digital Sorcer: Book Two
Monster Hunt NYC: The Monster Hunt NYC, Book 1
Elven Accord - Apocalypse Gates Author's Cut, Book 4
The Realm Between: Two Brothers - Realm Between Series, Book 2
Save Point: Upload - Sci-Fi litRPG Series, Book 1
Relict Legacy - Earth Force, Book 1
Upcoming LitRPG:
Skyflare (Rise To Omniscience Book 3) (July 12th, 2019)
Beast Queen: A LitRPG/GameLit Action Adventure (Monster Slayer Online Book 2) (July 15th, 2019)
*Sequel to the Goblin King*
Arcane Kingdom Online: The Fallen City (A LitRPG Adventure, Book 3) (July 16th, 2019)
The Time Master (Interworld Network Book I): LitRPG Series (July 18th, 2019)
Controlling The Goddess (Chronicles Of KieraFreya Book 2) (July 19th, 2019)
Cannibal. Demon of the Mind. A Post-Apocalyptic Survival LitRPG Series (July 23rd, 2019)
Quest for Vengeance: A LitRPG Saga (Hero Online Book 1) (July 24th, 2019)
Raze (The Completionist Chronicles Book 4)
(July 26th, 2019)
Sky Realms Online: Grayhold: A LitRPG Adventure
(July 30th, 2019)
Imprisoned Online: Gaming the System (A LitRPG Adventure Book 1) (July 31st, 2109)
Shade's First Rule (Divine Apostasy Book 1) (Aug. 1st, 2019)
Hero GO! (Champion is Playing Book #3) LitRPG Series (Aug. 5th, 2019)
Invasion, book 1: A Second Chance (Aug. 8th, 2019)
Eden's Gate: The Ascent: A LitRPG Adventure (Aug. 10th, 2019)
Dungeons of the Crooked Mountains (Underdog Book 1): LitRPG Series (Aug. 12th, 2019)
Scamps & Scoundrels: A LitRPG/Gamelit Adventure (The Bad Guys Book 1) (Aug. 15th, 2019)
Dragon Heart: Iron Will. LitRPG wuxia series: Book 2 (Aug. 22nd, 2019)
Shadow Sun Expansion: Shadow Sun Book Two (Aug. 29th, 2019)
A Check for a Billion (Galactogon Book #3): LitRPG Series (Aug. 30th, 2019)
Zones of Alacria: The Dragon Gate: Epic GameLit / LitRPG (The Experimental Alchemist Book 1) (Aug. 31st, 2019)
First Song 2 (Aug 2019)
A Game of Villains (World of Karik Book #1) Dystopian LitRPG Series (Sept. 2nd, 2019)
Cliffs of Eldimar: A GameLit/LitRPG Adventure (Kazaran Online: Cerulean Server Book 2) (Sept. 6th, 2019)
Blood of Fate (World 99 Book #1): LitRPG Wuxia Series (Sept. 9th, 2019)
Onto New Releases and Reviews
(Play Music 3)
New Releases and Reviews
(Picture 1)
Hunter's Dream Online: Book 1: Ascension
With his chance to join the world's first VR MMORPG, Robin takes the class of necromancer in a world of constant conflict. Facing off against gods, monster and other players. Will he be able to stay the tide of destruction and save the village he swore to protect or will Ignis and his guild prevail and lay waste to the land? Join Robin, his undead companion Charon, and his friends as they take on the world and other players! Dungeons, pvp tournaments, large scale battles, and a deer leasing agent named Chester.This is Hunter's Dream.
My Opinion: 247 pages, $4.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
A good slice of life story about a guy that is playing a fantasy VRMMO as a necromancer. He creates character, grinds XP, figures out his powers, and groups up for some quests. There's a novel goal and hints at something for a series but this is still action adventure.
There are fairly regular technical writing issues. Mostly punctuation stuff like: Missing quotes, periods and commas in the wrong places, missing dialogue tags, small things like that. The author says that he’s fixed many issues, but it may not have been pushed to people with the novel already.
Combat is pretty good but occasionally disorganized and hard to follow. There are a couple instances of game mechanics not being followed exactly as described, but nothing story breaking. For the most part the RPG progression is nice and I liked where the necromancy class stuff went.
Overall, a fine middle of the road good slice of life LitRPG story with a necromancer MC. Perfect for anyone that wants a story they can pick up and put down at their leisure.
Score: 7.2 out of 10
Hunter's Dream Online: Book 1: Ascension
Player Reached the Top. LitRPG series. Book I
Two Thousand Forty-Four. The world of games changed long ago.
"Ascension" has become one of the most popular VRMMO games. It is a huge world divided into a hundred Floors, with each Floor a boundless location with its own countries, tribes, and millions of players.
The object of the game is to unlock all the gates and conquer the top.
Having joined the game, Will Thomson doesn't realize that he is all by himself. Then he accepts the first quest ...
Cursed Rat: level 46 ...
My Opinion: 509 pages, $2.99, Available on Kindle Unlimited
According to the novel description, this is a translation of a popular Russian series with over 300 chapters in the original version and a planned 1000 chapters. As a translation expect some translation or technical writing issues occasionally.
This is a multi-narrative story that switches between the main character (MC) and the higher level stuff he's trying to get through, and other players. The MC is a new MMO player that starts in a high level area by accident instead of a starter town. He has to figure out a way to level, gets skills, and money when even the rats are 40 times his level. The other POVs are particular clan leaders looking to find out who the MC is, or just random players used to tell a short story or develop a quest line background.
I liked the initial thoroughness of the story. There weren’t any illogical cheats or OP abilities. For example, the MC can't afford the high level gear or items on his level so he finds a friend who spawned on a lower level to send him gear and level appropriate stuff. Still the MC has to grind social quests because he initially can't survive the combat quests. This shifts a little bit as the story hits the midpoint and the MC gets a little higher level and is able to contribute to combat, eventually getting unique skills and equipment from the high level quests.
The actual game mechanics are fairly standard and are picked up from MMOs. There are lots of item and skill descriptions and the MC levels up eventually picking a class buying skills and equipment. Mid to late story, the actual leveling up becomes less important and is used mostly to show the power difference between the MC and the monsters or other players. The bigger game progression comes from gaining unique skills and equipment that changes the way the MC fights and adventures.
The end of the story isn't really an end as much as a pause. The novel description mentions that this is only a small part of a much longer serial and this ending reflects that really just pausing the adventure at a convenient place.
Overall pretty good, as long as you’re not expecting a traditional novel structure and don’t mind a few translation issues.
Score: 7.6 out of 10
Player Reached the Top. LitRPG series. Book I
Village of Noobtown: A LitRPG Adventure (Mayor of Noobtown Book 2)
Well, it could be better. Jim and his literal shoulder demon have survived, so far, by the skin of their teeth.
After finding a long-abandoned starter village, Jim has begun the process of rebuilding his town. Unfortunately, for our favorite adventurer, the threats he now faces are far more complicated than mere monsters. The poor Noob has to deal with angry townsfolk, trade negotiations, and a talking badger.
With goblins and bandits also sniffing around, will Noobtown, I mean Windfall, survive?
My Opinion: 551 pages, $2.99, Available on Kindle Unlimited
Overall a good sequel too book 1. The beginning is a little tedious, but it is meant to be to reflect the reality of trying to run a town and address the daily needs of a large group. But it is also not super fun to read. After the 6% mark things get back to more adventuring and it’s better. The big highlight of the story is the humor which returns and even increases as the MC has another companion to banter and joke with. There is a lot of good town building mechanics as town gains 3 levels and Mc can select town specializations and perks. Good RPG progression from the MC as he expands into the magic classes, I particularly liked the biological aeromancy jokes. The end of the story felt a bit rushed, with several of the story threads being resolved with in few pages when their setup took chapters.
Score: 7.7 out of 10
Village of Noobtown: A LitRPG Adventure (Mayor of Noobtown Book 2)
Into the Hells (Axe Druid Book 3)
Hunting for allies. A rescue mission that goes against the natural order. Time to delve deep.
Zeke and his friends have a final few obstacles standing in their way before they can try and find a way into the Hells. Everything to this point has been an effort to rescue their buddy, Balmur. One obstacle happens to be a mythical beast that might sooner eat than help them, but no big deal… right? Beyond that, all the group needs to do is find the hidden city of the High Elves and convince them to join their cause.
Searching and survival: if only it were that easy. Now there is active opposition to their goals of saving not only this world from War’s influence but Earth as well.
Will a hungry beast be picking its teeth with their bones? Even if they survive long enough to search for Balmur, the best case scenario is the team diving Into the Hells.
My Opinion: 419 pages, $5.99, Available on Kindle Unlimited
Full disclosure: I received an advanced copy for review, but purchased a copy when it became available.
A good continuation of the series. Still a little light on RPG progression sometimes, but an entertaining story. There’s good crafting and more of a solo story in the first quarter which is a nice counterpoint to the large scale battles and group stuff. Novel is still very slice of life with random-ish adventures and quests, but it does make some solid progress on several storylines established in books 1 and 2.
Score: 7.3 out of 10
Into the Hells (Axe Druid Book 3)
That’s it everyone!
You can follow us on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/litrpgpodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LitRPGPodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3-eBvpm-g7IkjfVktObGAA
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/geekbytespodcast
Our Webpage: www.litrpgpodcast.com
Other LitRPG facebook pages
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGsociety/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheFantasyNation/
If you enjoy the podcast and want to support us you can also find all the other ways to support the podcast at www.litrpgpodcast.com/support
Thanks for hanging out with me today. Until we can hangout again, remember to go read some LitRPG!
(Music 4)
Music Credits
"Blip Stream" "Mighty Like Us" "Big Shift" "Vivacity"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License