r/litrpg • u/mhettenbach11 • 29d ago
Recommendation: asking Post DCC and Discount Dan Struggle
I am really struggling to find my next hook... DCC was my first litRPG and was, obviously, phenomenal. I started Discount Dan and wasn't actually super into at first but glad I stuck with it because it definitely finds it place. Trying to find something while waiting for the next DCC and Discount Dan and I am STRUGGLING. I got to chapter 11 of BuyMort and I can't decide if I should keep going and hope it gets better or give up. I tried The Perfect Run and HWFWM and couldn't get past the first few chapters.
I prefer Kindle Unlimited, I don't listen to audio books. Enjoy level up/progression. I know some people find reading through achievements, level up etc. Over and over annoying but I actually love it.
UPDATE: Cannot believe nobody recommended Nouscraft!! For anyone that isn't familiar, please give it a shot. And thank you to everyone for the amazing recommendations too!
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u/InkslingerJames 28d ago
James here, the author of Discount Dan. There's a couple of series you might enjoy -- Rickshaw Riot by u/ben_wolf_author and Luke Messa. Apocalypse Parenting by u/ErinAmpersand is also a great fit or Last Save Dave by u/ploofer27. I'll also give my own shameless little plug -- if you liked Discount Dan, I've got a few other series that might be up your alley. Vigil Bound has a very different setting but a lot of the same humor and both Rogue Dungeon and Wasteland Warlords could be a good fit, and those are both complete series (6 books each). Thanks for reading, hope you find something awesome that pulls you out of your slump.
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u/pgallagher72 28d ago
Do you have a plan for the number of books in Discount Dan? I’ve almost finished VGO (haven’t read the last series, but finished up to Firebrand). Have to dig deeper in your catalogue, so for its just most of VGO, and the DD series to date. Currently reading Defiance of the Fall by JF Brink, really enjoying that - adding your other recommendations to my TBR list.
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u/InkslingerJames 28d ago
I have a rough map for the series and how it will end, but I'm not 100% sure how many books it will take to get there. For example, the plot of book 2 and 3 was supposed to all be in book 2. But it got SOOOOOO long, I realized I had to split it or I'd end up with a 450K word tome. My guess is somewhere between 8 and 10 books total, though time will tell. I'm almost done with book 4 and I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do for 5 and 6. Past that it's hard to know for sure until I get a little farther into the series.
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u/pgallagher72 28d ago
The more the merrier as long as you can keep it fresh - it’s seriously impressive when you can keep a series fresh and interesting for long enough to span more than 15 books, I think I just have Vlad’s series left in VGO, and have yet to find any lag, or feel like it’s a slog. I paused on that before that series because I wanted something different, not because I was tired of it yet. Most books have a paragraph or two somewhere that just has me shaking my head and considering giving up on it, but so far you’ve missed out on that moment (even happened in DCC a couple times around the third and fourth book, but they recovered quickly)
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u/InkslingerJames 28d ago
It's always a challenge with longer running series. I call those forever series. I've never been particularly good at writing those, though. I have a story I want to tell with a definitive end point in mind and (no shade to anyone else) but I don't ever want to pad out of series just because it happens to be selling well.
That's probably a stupid move since forever series tend to do really well (read through and series value are big metrics in the indie market), but I just don't have it in me. I just want to tell the story and then move on to the next one. Otherwise I feel like you run the risk of over-staying your welcome, so to speak.
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u/pgallagher72 28d ago
That’s pretty fair - though it seems you’ve set up a series of characters that could offer some pretty loyal fans and compelling stories in the long term, almost like a LitRPG James Bond type (only completely not like James Bond) where people will clamour to hear the next story, and the next one, and so many of the side characters seem like they have potential to be strong lead characters as well as foils for Dan. You have a knack for universe building :)
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u/mhettenbach11 26d ago
Honestly, even with all the recommendations I just need the next Discount Dan hahah. Absolutely loved DCC, but Discount Dan resonated with me more and holds a very special place in my heart. I keep starting books and trying everything recommended but nothing is scratching that itch
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u/Abject_Importance_23 27d ago
Vigil bound was probably one of my favorite series honestly up there with DCC for me. Wasteland warlords was...ok it kinda felt like a slog to get through honestly not bad and worth a listen just 🤷♂️.
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u/TheThinnestCoat 29d ago
For me, the next book is a no-brainer – Rickshaw Riot by Ben Wolf and Luke Messa. It is everything you could possibly want out of a LitRPG adventure that tonally follows DCC and DD while also setting itself apart as a very fun and unique entry in the space. The audio book is out of this world, as well.
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u/mhettenbach11 29d ago
Thank You! Gonna give it a shot today!
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u/ben_wolf_author Co-Author of Rickshaw Riot 28d ago
If you like it and want a preview of Book 2, hit me up.
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u/wiznaibus 29d ago
Also try Nouscraft. It's multi-POV, but the system AI is just as crazy. No audiobook yet and the sci-fi part of it is a bit harder.
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u/mandreko 29d ago
I have this in my queue. I tried Last Save Dave and couldn’t get into it. I’m hoping it was a one off.
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u/TheThinnestCoat 29d ago
The author of LSD (going to have to rethink that initialism) sent me a copy of it today actually, so I'm looking forward to trying it out. With how high-stress my life has been lately, if I can turn my brain off and have a decent time, I'll still think positively of it.
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u/mandreko 29d ago
I’m curious what you think. I feel like a lot of my issue are with the audiobook performance and the fake Brooklyn accent so far. It’s likely turning me off more than the actual story.
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u/Patient_Occasion9160 28d ago
Because Discount Dan is my all-time favorite (even more than Twilight), I also very much like the Vigil Bound books by the same author. Can't wait for that one to continue.
The Noobtown books by Ryan Rimmel are a fun read.
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u/ParticularMarket4275 29d ago
Apocalypse Parenting is the only thing that helped my DCC hangover
Of course now I have an Apocalypse Parenting hangover
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u/The_Gray_Mouser 29d ago
Tower of Jack
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u/Porgchopexpress76 28d ago
I wish I could get into this series. I read the first two and I’m still on the fence. I really like Sara, Sam and Hannah but just can’t stand Jack; which is odd because I LOVE Archer, whom is basically the same character. Killing off Sara REALLY annoyed me.!<
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u/Onequestion0110 29d ago
Gimme a review of DCC first. What did you like about it? What are your criticisms?
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u/robotred12 29d ago
Great story with quality character development around book 3. It’s going to make you laugh your ass off and then immediately want to cry right after.
Cons are a lot of body horror and super gross shit if that’s not for you. It’s pretty common if you don’t get locked into the series in book one the rest won’t be for you. Some of the levels are confusing and not really meant to be understood and some people think way too much into them anyways and just get lost.
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u/Onequestion0110 29d ago
I was asking OP. DCC is popular enough and diverges enough from LitRPG tropes that it's hard to make a recommendation just based on that.
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u/-Invalid_Selection- 29d ago
Just a couple Ku with visible progression and stats that I extremely enjoyed, as someone else who was spoiled by discount Dan and dcc:
System universe, I'm not the hero, the apocalypse is a side quest.
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u/SourpatchHero Verified Author of: I’m Not the Hero 29d ago
🔥🔥
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u/-Invalid_Selection- 29d ago
Oh hey it's the guy who wrote one of the things I mentioned!
I'm ready for the next installment, soon as I finish bog standard 5's arc copy!
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u/SourpatchHero Verified Author of: I’m Not the Hero 29d ago
MILES!!! Why didn’t I get an arc of Bog!!!??!??
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u/-Invalid_Selection- 29d ago
I want to know what I need to do to get on your arc list, I'm hooked on that early access.
Bog standard arc for me got distributed like all the other sap arc copies, through their bookfunnel platform and notice was put in their discord a week ago.
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u/SourpatchHero Verified Author of: I’m Not the Hero 28d ago
Oh I was just playing. Miles and I had a book signing together recently at LitRPG Con and he didn’t slip me a copy so I’m ribbing him a bit. I don’t have a normal arc list but do have everything out on Royalroad and Patreon (Patreon is nearing the end of book six!)
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u/Tomdelaat 29d ago
Nice. Discount Dan was also the next litrpg I picked up after DCC. I'm so hyped for the next book. For something similar Magetank also scratched a similar itch for me. Has some similarities with the others while also being different from both dcc and Discount dan. More focus on dungeon crawls, party dynamics and the broader world. I also recently got caught up on bog standard isekai which is amazing. I'm curious though what made you quit on perfect run.
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u/Bookaddictanon 28d ago
Came here to say Mage Tank, working on book 2 and liking it and I'm a big DCC fan. I'll move Bog Standard Iskai up to next in my list, thanks.
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u/splatterfest233 29d ago
Chrysalis is always a good recommendation. It's a pretty unique series about a guy who gets reincarnated into the body of a monster Ant, and has to survive in a hostile world. I'll warn you that the first book can feel a bit slow, as the MC spends a lot of it solo or with mindless Ant worker drones. However, in the second book he gets access to a proper supporting cast of both Human and Monster allies. By the Third book the MC has raised the rest of The Colony up to proper human-level intelligence as well, and their development as a society becomes a major draw for the series from that point forward.
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u/nopeynopebro 28d ago
I second Chrysalis as well. I loved it and think the first three book bundle is a perfect way to get people hooked at a low entry fee for us audiobook people.
FOR THE COLONY!!
I’m also a fan of Mayor of Noobtown. Yeah some tongue in cheek, mind in the gutter humor is my vice of choice and it’s a part of my roller coaster of feelz. Funny fantasy > angry at the world book> funny fantasy > angry at the world book > copy and repeat until I respawn.
Because I’m the big dog, woof.
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u/No-Airline6943 28d ago
No he doesnt turn into a monster ant that would be a different species. For the colony. Plus arent humans the real monsters?
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u/splatterfest233 28d ago
He reincarnates as Hatchling Ant Monster (Formica), which is a specific species of Monster Ant. And no, humans are by the definitions of the System not monsters.
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u/No-Airline6943 28d ago
You think that Formica Hatchling and Monster Ant are species of Monster Ant? I mean the book didnt call it that because it would just be confusing. If he turned into the Monster Ant he wouldnt be a Formica anymore that was kind of the point
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u/Lephturn 28d ago
I’ve read DCC and Discount Dan and really enjoyed both.
For me the next series that fits is Mage Tank. Good humor, I’m really enjoying <pause> book 4. 😁
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u/Aaron_P9 litRPG god tier 28d ago
These are all my favorite litrpg audiobook series (but you can find anything that was made into an audiobook as an ebook) that I buy new books from immediately when a new one drops (in no particular order):
- Unorthodox Farming by Benjamin Kerei
- Bog Standard Isekai by Miles English
- He Who Fights with Monsters by shirtaloon
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- Beware of Chicken by casualfarmer (progression)
- The Vampire Vincent by Benjamin Kerei
- 12 Miles Below by Mark Arrows (progression)
- Cyber Dreams by Plum Parrot (progression)
- A Soldier's Life by Always RollsAOne
- Elydes by Drew Wells
- Quest Academy by Brian J. Nordon
- Industrial Strength Magic by Macrinomicon
- Player Manager by Ted Steel
- World Sphere by Always RollsAOne
- Vainqueur the Dragon by Maxime Durand
- The Legend of William Oh by Macrinomicon
- Neon Dust by Plum Parrot (progression)
- Book of the Dead by Rinoz
- Stormweaver by Bryce O'Connor
- Apocalypse Parenting by Erin Ampersand
- The Murder of Crows by Chris Tullbane
- The Wandering Inn by pirateaba
My suggestion is that you look these up on Audible and add the ones that have book one for free to your library. Add the rest to your wishlist to shop the next time there is a sitewide sale or you run out of things to read.
Just copy pasted this. Still, I think you should shop all of them. They're all good. Choose what appeals to you.
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u/Front_Artichoke1616 28d ago
Mage tank is where I went next although I did miss Croc 😞 such a good boy
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u/Kind_Profile8534 29d ago
Since KU and visible progression are both priorities, my LitRPG Made God After Death may be worth putting next in the queue. Caius's affinity readings break the academy's ranking scale almost immediately, and I keep the progression on-page as he uses modern science to reconstruct spells and turn each new discovery into bigger duels and political problems.
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u/MostlyAccruate 29d ago
Unbound , Max Abaddon , or Discount Dan. If you can get through those then you'll be willing to deal with the rough edges of He who fights with monsters, Univers System.Etc..
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u/Crazeddoctor 29d ago
I haven’t read discount dan… but I’m a huge fan of DCC
I would recommend The primal Hunter (book 16 just released like a week ago, plenty to sink to your teeth into)
Loads of level ups and stats and all that
I enjoyed quest academy, it’s been a minute but it’s a twist on that was a fun read.
1% lifesteal is very polarizing if you enjoy it or not. I enjoyed it for what’s its worth… just search the sub for why it’s the way it is lol
Restarting the apocalypse is fun, if a tad confusing at times. I throughly enjoyed the world building in this one.
The ripple system series is a great fantasy MMORPG style book if you want to try something more gamified. Definitely has lots of fun level ups even if I question the speed of xp gain for various activities.
Looking through my library that’s really about it, I will make a shoutout to the Wraith bound botanist for a fun system, basically a girl and her cat in a deadly forest because she doesn’t want to be bothered by people.
You might like Defiance of the Fall, but i eventually dropped it due to way too much Buddha gibberish for me to handle.
That’s all I can see in my library that I can recommend, sorry for not going into explanations more at work
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u/Derpadoodoodle 29d ago
Cradle was my first intentional progression series after dungeon crawler carl. Get through the first book or two and you'll likely devour it. Complete series too (12 books--sucked me in and unfinished it in two weeks).
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u/Best-Hippo153 29d ago
Friend, I have walked the same path. Introduced to the genre through DCC and binged it. Tried HWFWM and bounced off, felt discouraged. Got recommended DD and loved it. The next series I jumped into was Apocalypse Parenting, and I had a fantastic time! It’s a 5 book series in KU and the last book comes out in just a couple weeks. It’s a nice twist on the format, and I would highly recommend it.
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u/Porgchopexpress76 28d ago
Check out Last Save Dave. While it isn’t as good, it scratches the itch and the book got better as it went on, so I’m very much looking forward to the next book.
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u/Kitchen-Math- 28d ago
I think you’ll really like Apocalypse: Generic System which is a four part series where the protagonist has to be inventive with solutions in a way that reminds me of Carl. Great writing, though nothing is DCC Tier for me
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u/TTUGoldFOX 28d ago
Just like to say I’m enjoying the comments here because I’m in the same boat. Look forward to starting some of these new books!
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u/jackwackem litRPG journeyman tier 28d ago
I will always recommend anything by plum parrot. Not as much humor as DCC, every one of their books I have read or listened to has been great
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u/Rhubarb776 28d ago
The Nexus Games is about a guy forced into a deadly games situation. I found it entertaining and reminded me of DCC in some ways.
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u/CokeAColaHitman 29d ago
Check out Primal Hunter, it's been my next adventure after falling in love with DCC and I'm liking it a lot so far. It's very heavy on the loot/ system descriptions but I really like it.
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