How does LitRPG passive skills level up?

[NotaNuffian]

Yeah I asked google the same question, but I don't like the answers AI provided.

Acitve skills such as Dash, Slash and Smash require to use the skills constantly to level up.

For passive skills however, it is suppose to be the same thing, just use.

But my issue is that passives are always on while active the user have to actually use?

Does that actually mean that passive skills grow passively? It should not be.

 

[Deleted member 34529]

Meditative focus on the feeling of the passive.

Like manual breathing.

 

[L1aei]

I'm curious about this too. I'll be watching what other LitRPG experts have to say.

 

[Deleted member 34529]

Or

It doesn't grown.

Just upgrade with surgery or doping.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Or

It doesn't grown.

Just upgrade with surgery or doping.

Yeah, google actually gave answers such as "use earned ability points or currency to increase passive skills"

Which makes me puzzled.

So does it also apply to active skills? If yes, why do I bother to grind? If no, why the double standards?

 

[Deleted member 34529]

passives are always on

Actually... are they always on?

Name a passive. Let's think it thru.

Regen+
Not always on, only on when you are hurt

Flame resist
Not always on, only on when you are burning.

What passive is always on?

 

[Anonjohn20]

Yeah I asked google the same question, but I don't like the answers AI provided.

Acitve skills such as Dash, Slash and Smash require to use the skills constantly to level up.

For passive skills however, it is suppose to be the same thing, just use.

But my issue is that passives are always on while active the user have to actually use?

Does that actually mean that passive skills grow passively? It should not be.

The thing with LitRPG is that authors can do whatever they want:

1. Have the passive skill improve/evolve whenever the character levels up.
2. Have the passive skill change due to outside influence. Like finishing a quest that gave you another passive or improved an existing passive skill/perk.
3. Tie the passive skill's effectiveness to a stat and have the character train the stat instead. Ex.: "My increased jumping ability passive goes up whenever my dexterity stat does; let me prioritize dexterity to..."
4. Have it merge with another passive skill the character gets later. Ex: "My improved hearing, improved sight, and improved smell have evolved into superior detection ability."
5. Have your character improve with consumables. Ex: "My reduced sleep passive ability is even more effective when I'm on meth."

Actually... are they always on?

Name a passive. Let's think it thru.

What passive is always on?

-tougher skin
-Improved sense of smell
-intimidating aura (or any aura ability)
-Supreme wisdom
-unlimited stamina
etc.

Many stories with OP MC could have permanently active passives.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Actually... are they always on?

Name a passive. Let's think it thru.

Regen+
Not always on, only on when you are hurt

Flame resist
Not always on, only on when you are burning.

What passive is always on?

I could think of ones that add stat points directly.

For example:
Iron Body lvl 1:
+ 15 Phy Def

The thing with LitRPG is that authors can do whatever they want:

1. Have the passive skill improve/evolve whenever the character levels up.
2. Have the passive skill change due to outside influence. Like finishing a quest that gave you another passive or improved an existing passive skill/perk.
3. Tie the passive skill's effectiveness to a stat and have the character train the stat instead. Ex.: "My increased jumping ability passive goes up whenever my dexterity stat does; let me prioritize dexterity to..."
4. Have it merge with another passive skill the character gets later. Ex: "My improved hearing, improved sight, and improved smell have evolved into superior detection ability."
5. Have your character improve with consumables. Ex: "My reduced sleep passive ability is even more effective when I'm on meth."


-tougher skin
-Improved sense of smell
-intimidating aura (or any aura ability)
-Supreme wisdom
-unlimited stamina
etc.

Many stories with OP MC could have permanently active passives.

Meth.

 

[L1aei]

I could think of ones that add stat points directly.

For example:
Iron Body lvl 1:
+ 15 Phy Def

Maybe taking hits and shrugging it off? Or would that be closer to Iron Will?

 

[Deleted member 34529]

Or some kinda tempering process.

Get really hot
Get beat up a bit
Then Get thrown in to an ice bath.

 

[L1aei]

Or some kinda tempering process.

Get really hot
Get beat up a bit
Then Get thrown in to an ice bath.

Ah, the standing under a waterfall meditation thing?

 

[Deleted member 34529]

Ah, the standing under a waterfall meditation thing?

Hahaha, that make it more "realistic" and less comical than my method.

 

[L1aei]

Hahaha, that make it more "realistic" and less comical than my method.

Well, on a less realistic note, I remember that series where the protagonist only knows how to parry, there was a training regime where boulders were thrown down for warriors to block or throw off to the side with their bare hands. So there is that for increasing defense.

 

[MFontana]

Ultimately that is something you'd have to consider for yourself within the system you design for your own story's narrative.

My approach was to work skill improvement and growth into the core structure of the LitRPG mechanics and system within my setting, but this may not necessarily work for you or your narrative.

Spoiler: The Level System

The Level System​

The Level System employed here is the primary means of tracking advancement and growth within the setting of Elaria, but the level of a character itself does not often track their overall power within the setting, only their current state of advancement within their current class. This is because whenever a new class is taken, the character's level is reset to 1 (Covered as part of the Class System), allowing them to once more grow within their class. However, their stats remain unchanged after the reset.

The Level Cap

While the hard-cap to a character's level is theoretically limitless, the classes all have a soft-cap on their advancement, as noted below.

• Base Classes - No Base Class may be advanced above Level 20
• Advanced Classes - No Advanced Class may be advanced above Level 40

Level Increases are earned with every 100 Experience Points (XP), however I will not be incorporating this directly into the stats-system utilized in my story, as it would detract too much from the narrative itself to do so, instead, at the conclusion of each chapter, I will include Author's notes to update the various levels of the characters involved in the chapter.

The specific attributes will all be addressed in the General Notes on Character Status Sheets in a separate 'chapter'.

Gaining Skills

Additionally, whenever the character attains the appropriate level, they gain one of the skills of their choice associated with their current class. Any Mage Class gains an additional spell at every level in their class as well, but must meet the level requirement to learn that spell. (Specifically Detailed in the Class Details Notes in a separate chapter).

Base Classes

• 1st Level - Gain Class-Entry Skill
• 3rd Level - Character Choice
• 5th Level - Character Choice
• 7th Level - Character Choice
• 9th Level - Character Choice
• 11th Level - Character Choice
• 13th Level - Character Choice
• 15th Level - Character Choice
• 17th Level - Character Choice
• 19th Level - Character Choice
• 20th Level - Gain Class-Mastery Skill

Advanced Classes

• 1st Level - Gain Class Entry Skill
• 5th Level - Character Choice
• 10th Level - Character Choice
• 15th Level - Character Choice
• 20th Level - Character Choice
• 25th Level - Character Choice
• 30th Level - Character Choice
• 35th Level - Character Choice
• 40th Level - Gain Class Mastery Skill, and One Additional Class Skill

Gaining and improving skills is tied to the level-up system and milestones (levels) earned by characters. Whenever they reach a set level in their class, they can either learn a new skill from that class's set of skill options, or improve one of their current skills by one rank.

Humans possess an additional ancestral trait that allows them to do both at those levels. If they would learn a skill by levelling up, they may also improve a skill they know. If they would improve a skill by levelling up, they may also opt to learn a new Generalized Skill (Weapons Skills, Crafting Skills, and other skills that are available to multiple classes). Alternatively, they may choose to improve two skills they know, or learn two new skills, provided only one is a specialized skill.

 

[Corty]

Questions like these always reaffirm why I believe that litrpg novels are inferior to every other genre.

Nobody asks why a dragon can breathe fire or why Naruto has enough chakra to create a 1000 kage bunshin in ep1. They also don't ask about why a cultivator gets stronger by meditating or why Goku knows he can go further beyond.

 

[JayMark]

I have two main growth styles for my passive skills and curses.

1. Remains static: The player maintains the skill or curse 'as is' with very rare opportunities for change.
(Often in the form of an oddly specific ability or curse)
2. Improves or Degrades: Depending on use and set conditions. The skill or curse will evolve positively or negatively over time.
(Often in the form of a more mundane passive that boosts skills by a percentage)

My passives and passive curses don't level up and degrade as quickly as stats and skills though.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

My MC has a passive skill, Tonal Connection. It helps him connect with others through the tone of his voice.

Just talking doesn't strengthen it, though. Actual thought out dialogue with others is how I choose to increase its strength. Either heart to heart chats, speeches where he appeals to a crowd, or other things that have an impact on the person he is speaking to.

 

[HungrySheep]

They just level when the plot demands it. You don't need to use your brain to write this stuff.

"OPMC grit his teeth as his opponent's latest blow struck him square in the chest. He could feel his heart pounding against his ribcage, the sound echoing through his eardrums thanks to his [Invincible Omega I Can Hear God and Anime] skill. Instinctively, he knew there was no chance of surviving this encounter unless—

DING!
DING!
DING!
DING (gotta get a fourth one in here to boost wordcount)!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

Heh. Just in time. OPMC smirked. He stood, his wounds regenerating in an instant. Receiving that one attack had managed to increase his [Plot Armor Skill] just enough for him to recover."

Ad nauseam. This works for literally any skill in a litRPG.

 

[NotaNuffian]

My MC has a passive skill, Tonal Connection. It helps him connect with others through the tone of his voice.

Just talking doesn't strengthen it, though. Actual thought out dialogue with others is how I choose to increase its strength. Either heart to heart chats, speeches where he appeals to a crowd, or other things that have an impact on the person he is speaking to.

See, here's my issue. How is it a passive skill instead of an active one, considering that you need to "activate" it to use it?

Also, do you have an example of an active skill?

Lastly, I believe ditching the "passive/ active" label makes sense because of pigeonholing, but I still want to hear about your side regarding "passive/ active"

They just level when the plot demands it. You don't need to use your brain to write this stuff.

"OPMC grit his teeth as his opponent's latest blow struck him square in the chest. He could feel his heart pounding against his ribcage, the sound echoing through his eardrums thanks to his [Invincible Omega I Can Hear God and Anime] skill. Instinctively, he knew there was no chance of surviving this encounter unless—

DING!
DING!
DING!
DING (gotta get a fourth one in here to boost wordcount)!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

[Plot Armor Skill] has leveled up!

Heh. Just in time. OPMC smirked. He stood, his wounds regenerating in an instant. Receiving that one attack had managed to increase his [Plot Armor Skill] just enough for him to recover."

Ad nauseam. This works for literally any skill in a litRPG.

Yeah I agree, but as an abuser of my own smack, I still want a level of deniability instead of this "subversion and being openly about plot armor" thing. Personally I don't like reading those kinds of novel. I like reading embellished BS that bothered to think of convoluted reasoning for said BS.

 

[HungrySheep]

See, here's my issue. How is it a passive skill instead of an active one, considering that you need to "activate" it to use it?

Also, do you have an example of an active skill?

Lastly, I believe ditching the "passive/ active" label makes sense because of pigeonholing, but I still want to hear about your side regarding "passive/ active"

Passive skill: [Plot Armor]. The MC doesn't have to do anything to activate it. It's always on and automatically blocks every attack that isn't convenient for the plot. Doesn't have to think about it or anything, it just happens.

Active skill: [Plot Sword]. The MC has to activate the skill by thinking of it, willing it, or some other conscious action. It instantly kills anyone who gets in the way of his harem collecting.