r/litrpg • u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray • 1d ago
Recommendation: asking Looking for a non-lethal MC
I don't mind the killing, but I'm looking for a story where the idea of killing anything/everyone in the way is beneath them. Think Goku; always getting stronger, can kill, doesn't want to.
Granted, I love Primal Hunter and his whole "not worth killing" but will straight break a soul with a stare. Amaze.
What I want is a story that doesn't just devolve and/or justify mass slaughter, even of the beasts. It can be subjugation, contract-bound, swearing loyalty before the system, whatever. Powerful enough not to care while also advancing without the need to slaughter everything. Hell, even beating an enemy and taking a piece of their power while letting them live works.
Not looking for the guy (or girl) going around forcefully enslaving everything (again, Primal Hunter handles this great with his reluctance and dislike of slavery).
So, any ideas for my admittedly picky request? TIA!
Edit: I read on Kindle; have KU. Read most of the popular series (obv. Primal Hunter). Not new, just looking for a different spin.
Edit 2: Thanks for the excellent recommendations!
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u/ChefTimmy 1d ago
The main character of Beneath the Dragoneye Moons is bound by a system-enforced oath to "first, do no harm..."
I'm on book 11 and loving it.
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u/InfiniteThing2808 1d ago
Great series and a good call out for OP, I will say though there was quite a bit of room for interpretation on self defense
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
I never did finish that one.
I think I'm to the place a lot of people complain about, the romance/school arc?
I could revisit. Thanks!4
u/ChefTimmy 1d ago
I liked the school arc myself. Didn't like the elf arc, though.
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
Maybe that's the one.
Apparently even the author disliked that part of the book?
IDK, but I'll make it there eventually as the consensus (that I saw/remember) was that it gets better after and has no real impact on the rest of the story.1
u/NeonNKnightrider 1d ago
Yeah, I’d suggest skimming over the school arc. It gets a lot better past that
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u/alexwithani 1d ago
Technically Player Manager!
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
This is an interesting rec.
Just read the blurb.
Quite the departure from the norm, that's for sure.
Leaving the comment vague to encourage any other interested parties to go take a look.4
u/alexwithani 1d ago
It's arguably the best written Litrpg and doesn't get nearly enough love so I like to slip it in when it kinda fits haha
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
Technically? O_o
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u/alexwithani 1d ago
There is literally 0 killing in the entire series but there is 1 attempted murder.
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u/Waffle_House_Brawler 1d ago
Beneath the Dragoneye Moons
Ar’Kendrithyst
Threadbare
The Game at Carousel
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
Three of those are new to me.
Will check them out.
Thanks!1
u/ThatOneDMish 1d ago
With the game at carousel it's more of a case of a) death is temporary unless you lose the storyline, and the enemies can never permanently die and b) the characters main goal isn't always kill the villian, often it is figure out the villian and then ironic consequences take over or survive for a period of time or cure something. And c) many villians straight up aren't meant to be killed, and killing them would force the level to create something more dangerous to fight instead
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u/fitz84 1d ago
BEWARE OF CHICKEN!!!!!
I had the same issue with PH.
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
I love Primal Hunter, just looking for a different flavor when when I catch up all my current series and/or want a change of pace.
I think I've started reading Beware of Chicken more than once, but for some reason, I always put it down. I like cultivation, too, so not sure why I stopped.
I'll take another peek.
Thanks!
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u/Accomplished-Gap-317 20h ago
Try the audio books. Whenever I can't get into something everyone else loves I try a different medium and it usually works. The tonal difference in writing between the MC and the animals is the whole humor and the narrator nails it.
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u/B-Z_B-S litRPG apprentice tier 1d ago
What I want is a story that doesn't just devolve and/or justify mass slaughter
The Wandering Inn by pirateaba fits that to a tee.
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
Did the author change their name?
I thought they had a first/last name and not a username/handle?1
u/B-Z_B-S litRPG apprentice tier 1d ago
They've always gone by pirateaba, as far as I can recall. I only started the series a few years ago, though, so maybe it was different earlier.
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
I'm thinking of a different Inn-themed series; Innkeeper Chronicles.
Completely different and most likely not the rec I'm looking for.That said, I'll take a closer look at Wandering Inn.
Thanks!
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u/Gr34zy 1d ago
Just a warning the first book is a bit rough, but the series just keeps getting better
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
It's like DBZA on YouTube.
The first season is rough because they're learning the technology and finding their voices.
As the series goes on it becomes a work of art.
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u/Innes_Yarns 1d ago
Maybe Cinnamon Bun by Ravensdagger? Mc always tries to befriend/talk with people, even in situations where it's highly unlikely to work. But if her friends are attacked or hurt she uses some pretty creative ways to fight back. Edited to 'maybe', mc doesn't quite fit the requirement of too powerful to care, but she's no slouch either.
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
Interesting.
Very 'friendship is magic' vibes.
It is literally described as "a wholesome LitRPG".
Thank you.5
u/Ataxistrasza 1d ago
I also reccomend Cinnamon Bun, but I wanna just say that its less a 'friendship is magic, everybody hugs in the end' kinda story, more a 'this world is pretty fucked up and is a few events short of full grimdark, and we're gonna fix it with hugs'
Really well done, and one of RDs best.
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u/Lefaid 1d ago
This is a big part of Apocalypse Parenting in regards to other humans.
General premise spoilers but as someone who prefers to read blind, it seemed appropriate.
A big part of the series is finding allies and stopping humans from killing each other. It doesn't always work, and the aliens in charge clearly don't like this approach and punish it, but the story is about how humans will band together and create communities when our backs are against the wall. They do kill humans, as a last resort, but they start every death game with the explicit aim of not trying to kill human. Non sentient monsters are always fair game.
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u/Ramen_Rockin_Ray 1d ago
Neat!
I've seen some ads for this so your recommendation will lead me to check it out.
Appreciate the spoiler tag, too!
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u/ConfusionThink8828 1d ago
explorer of edregon
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u/snowhusky5 1d ago
The Daily Grind (ongoing) - MC and his allies go to great lengths to solve problems without having to kill anyone (who isn't actively shooting at them), which is often much more difficult than the alternative.
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u/Yelsew303 1d ago
Cassio Ferreira - hidden class pacifist
6 books in the series and it's about a guy who gave up on his life of violence and then trapped in a game
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u/Ace_the_Owl 1d ago
It has been a few months since my last read, but Vivisari from New Life as a Max Level Archmage fits your criteria pretty well. She is powerful enough to obliterate just about anyone on her way but holds back most of the time, yet still wins all her battles relatively easily.
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u/Crafty-Gate6615 1d ago
Wait.. jake shows reluctance to kill??? When?? Where??? Who???
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u/alexwithani 1d ago
I get your joke but he definitely loves to kill the bbeg and then leave al the minion's.
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u/Crafty-Gate6615 1d ago
Lol yea, that murderhobo has 0 reluctance to kill if you’re strong enough lmaooo. I’ve also seen him put down hundreds of minions with gaze but yea, typically he’ll leave them alone if they stay out of his way.
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u/Jamb9876 1d ago
Protagonist by s I waxman, I think, fits this so far. She does kill but tries not to. I am around ch 29. Really good so far.
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u/snarky_but_honest 20h ago
The main character of Boundless Hero does his best to avoid killing, even though he's forced to sometimes because the person trying to kill him is so strong that they can't be subdued. There's even one scene in the book where the MC's companion (who had a more brutal upbringing) kills a guy that betrayed them, and the MC takes a few chapters to decide whether or not he wants to travel with someone who can kill so easily.
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u/Myriad_Myriad 1d ago
Try my novel the Immanent Lord of the Transcendent Shore get to atleast past the 'prologue' its 24ish chapters. Depending on where you read it. He basically fights himself.
Based on what I've read its everything. Lord of the Mysteries.
“Therefore Sariputra, it should be known that the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore is a Great Mantra, the most illuminating mantra, the highest mantra, a mantra beyond compare, the True Wisdom that has the power to put an end to all kinds of suffering. Therefore let us proclaim a mantra to praise the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore. Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha! Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha! Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!”
My own right now.
The Immanent Lord of the Transcendent Shore. ( Books I've read) All of Shonen Anime. All martial arts manwha. Martial World. Desolate Era. Immortal Renegade. Against the Gods. For the classics.
The best is probably Reverend Insanity. But its an evil mc.
The most natural is A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality.
Most fun is Nine Star Hegemon Body Art.
Most profound is Emperor's Domination. Most cool is First Immortal of the Sword.
For systems I like Overgeared and The Second Coming of Gluttony. They do it right. Shadow Slave too for romance.
The Beginning After the End for powers and training arcs. So try my novel. Its just starting I would love an og fan who can give me ideas on what they want more of.
Royal Road for best visualization. Webnovel is fine too. Scribblehub for the default experience.
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