Power fantasy genre?

[naosu]

So I was thinking about this. I saw on Youtube and other places people think... OK if its a harem story it has to be a power fantasy where people fall all over themselves to join the MC for no reason. And this is a core element of what they paint for 'harem x power fantasy', which seemingly no reason for girls (or love interests) to fall all over the main character. And that seemingly with no effort all the girls fall for him endlessly, without even breaking a sweat.

Well if its a good story its a good story. So I'm not against this idea.

But to me it makes more sense if I can create a reason why the main character and the love interests come together. I like to make it so it takes a bit of effort also. I think this makes a better story also. Part of the fun in a harem story is 'chasing' the love. And how it blooms.

And it can also still be a power fantasy meaning very powerful main character if he has to EARN his power without it being given. It doesn't make sense that he would be given his power by others. Others want power too. So why would they just hand over part of themselves to some other guy that has nothing to do with them. So I like to create a back story for it and really make it be earned.

I think this is what makes a story fun.

Thanks for listening. And curious if others are thinking similar? Or what you think?

 

[Zagaroth]

There's a conversation about that in this thread:

Romance and Harem poll

Just trying to put into perspective what is the general sentiment with the genre. (Display votes publicly is off)

forum.scribblehub.com

If you read down to my comment, you will see an idea I had for such a scenario, but it is also specific to my setting, and I think really only works with a female protagonist because of specific issues of inheritance (with a ruling queen of a queendom, all that matters is that it is her daughter who will inherit the throne.)

I do have another scenario in my head, though it would not work on that specific world, but maybe on a different world in the same general setting. You have an immortal guy *slowly* building an empire through alliance-merging with nearby kingdoms through marrying daughters when no son stands to inherit a throne (whether king-only countries or by marrying the female heir of a king/queendom). Ideally, said wives would also gain immortality (though possibly connected to his life), which is how it would build into becoming a harem.

If a nearby country completely destabilizes on its own, he might move in to claim the territory if he feels it is best for the people there.

This is a story that *needs* the occasional time skip; once things are stable and coasting for a while, skip ahead to nearly the end of the stable period, establish some more daily routine/slice of life to make sure the reader is engaged with the character's current life, and then bring up the new situation change.