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Extra Credit: A VR MMO LitRPG adventure
Do you like… Kobolds?
Do you like… Necromancers?
Do you like… Pineapple on Pizza?
Well, if you answered yes to the first two questions than this is the book for you. If you answered yes to the third, well… my mother taught me not to say mean things to people… even if they do deserve it!
Money, as they say, is the root of all evil. Not having money that is. When budget cuts at the high school where JT teaches threaten his mortgage, he’s forced to seek an alternative source of income.
Using the latest VR technology that lets the body rest while the mind is at play, our digital entrepreneur dives into the latest VR MMO game Argos Online with a potentially exploitative character build no one saw coming: the Kobold Necromancer.
He’s got all of Spring Break to see if he can grind the system for all it’s worth… or end up Spring Broke in search of a new place to live with his wife and young son.
YES: Stats, Cursing, Kobolds, Slice of Life
NO: Harem, Explicit, Pineapple on Pizza
Do you like… Necromancers?
Do you like… Pineapple on Pizza?
Well, if you answered yes to the first two questions than this is the book for you. If you answered yes to the third, well… my mother taught me not to say mean things to people… even if they do deserve it!
Money, as they say, is the root of all evil. Not having money that is. When budget cuts at the high school where JT teaches threaten his mortgage, he’s forced to seek an alternative source of income.
Using the latest VR technology that lets the body rest while the mind is at play, our digital entrepreneur dives into the latest VR MMO game Argos Online with a potentially exploitative character build no one saw coming: the Kobold Necromancer.
He’s got all of Spring Break to see if he can grind the system for all it’s worth… or end up Spring Broke in search of a new place to live with his wife and young son.
YES: Stats, Cursing, Kobolds, Slice of Life
NO: Harem, Explicit, Pineapple on Pizza
- GenresFantasy
580 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2021
58 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 3, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: The list of mistakes I found can be seen on Goodreads. I found six in all.
Plot: A teacher trying to earn extra money by playing a video game. This story has a great pace and a lot going on. Never hit a boring patch. I liked that there is a very high turnover of his undead minions.
Characters: I really liked the teacher. I look forward to more of his adventures.
8/10
Mistakes: The list of mistakes I found can be seen on Goodreads. I found six in all.
Plot: A teacher trying to earn extra money by playing a video game. This story has a great pace and a lot going on. Never hit a boring patch. I liked that there is a very high turnover of his undead minions.
Characters: I really liked the teacher. I look forward to more of his adventures.
8/10
September 5, 2021
Very well done. There's been a few LitRPG books with weak characters as the main character, but I like the way this one was handled. The author says this was meant as a stand-alone book, but the questing certainly is left open for other books in the series, so there's hope. Also, despite the fact that the real world wasn't mentioned a whole lot in this one, it was fairly constant, and that's something a lot of LitRPG doesn't handle well, and this story wove it in well enough, it was almost unnoticeable. I liked this one, even though there wasn't any building. :)
July 12, 2022
Unfortunately, this book is an example of why I can't really get into the full-dive VR gamelit anymore and prefer isekai and portal fantasy instead. I went about 20% before dropping.
Character - 4/10, Plot - 3/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 5/10, Writing - 5/10, Enjoyment - 1/10
The character and the plot both suffered from a similar problem for me, namely that they were both only a premise and a promise, but never developed into an actual character with a personality or any sort of plot. The whole first part of the story is just this guy who thinks he can make money by being awesome at games going from one fetch quest to another while failing to display anything that remotely shows decent gaming prowess.
There are a decent amount of spells and whatnot for mechanics, but it just felt like a bunch of boxes being checked more than anything. There was a healthy variety of skills given to the MC early, but he failed to use them properly.
The writing was average if I'm being generous. There were lots of grammar mistakes, redundancy, and clarity issues. Beyond that, everything was just boring. There were no stakes and it read more like a laundry list of activities rather than any sort of progress toward anything relevant.
This is almost like the gamelit version of a porno where the plot is just a pretext to get to the action. The action in this case being to fetch more figurative bear asses.
Character - 4/10, Plot - 3/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 5/10, Writing - 5/10, Enjoyment - 1/10
The character and the plot both suffered from a similar problem for me, namely that they were both only a premise and a promise, but never developed into an actual character with a personality or any sort of plot. The whole first part of the story is just this guy who thinks he can make money by being awesome at games going from one fetch quest to another while failing to display anything that remotely shows decent gaming prowess.
There are a decent amount of spells and whatnot for mechanics, but it just felt like a bunch of boxes being checked more than anything. There was a healthy variety of skills given to the MC early, but he failed to use them properly.
The writing was average if I'm being generous. There were lots of grammar mistakes, redundancy, and clarity issues. Beyond that, everything was just boring. There were no stakes and it read more like a laundry list of activities rather than any sort of progress toward anything relevant.
This is almost like the gamelit version of a porno where the plot is just a pretext to get to the action. The action in this case being to fetch more figurative bear asses.
November 5, 2022
People who enjoy text that details each blow in a series of battles, and goes over the mechanics of a game in more detail than a game wiki, may enjoy this book. However the actual story is a shriveled cactus in a vast desert of words. Extra Credit seems little more than expanding on RPG game logs.
October 17, 2021
Several typos that jumped out at me throughout the book, maybe half a dozen or more, but not too shabby for the genre.
Long story short: guy wants to make RL money by playing a game and selling virtual currency. He chooses a Kobold (weakest starter race but has a racial skill that will help his plans) Necromancer (minions to keep the squishy Kobold alive).
Not a lot of crafting involved unless you count refining raw materials into processed goods, but he doesn't do much with those other than selling them.
The out-of-game sections were relatively brief, generally applicable, and -- for a change -- not loaded down with real-world drama or dystopia shenanigans. The MC grows decently in power and, other than a few questionable interactions with some trainers, never really feels like he's being given anything -- just a lot of work on powering up.
Well, other than the last dungeon he runs with the trio he hooked up with. The rewards for that felt a bit excessive, even if it was a unique questline. However, as a standalone book, it stands alone quite well. The big rewards mentioned kinda do feel like a good reward for the climax of the book.
A fun story with a good character. Definitely recommended.
Long story short: guy wants to make RL money by playing a game and selling virtual currency. He chooses a Kobold (weakest starter race but has a racial skill that will help his plans) Necromancer (minions to keep the squishy Kobold alive).
Not a lot of crafting involved unless you count refining raw materials into processed goods, but he doesn't do much with those other than selling them.
The out-of-game sections were relatively brief, generally applicable, and -- for a change -- not loaded down with real-world drama or dystopia shenanigans. The MC grows decently in power and, other than a few questionable interactions with some trainers, never really feels like he's being given anything -- just a lot of work on powering up.
Well, other than the last dungeon he runs with the trio he hooked up with. The rewards for that felt a bit excessive, even if it was a unique questline. However, as a standalone book, it stands alone quite well. The big rewards mentioned kinda do feel like a good reward for the climax of the book.
A fun story with a good character. Definitely recommended.
June 26, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The humour was spot on and it was always entertaining with no real lulls in pace. I liked how the MC was an older person and he motivation for joining the game was purely financial to supplement his income so he could support his family. The MC was clever and was mature in his approach to the game and used logic in his decision making. He did a fair bit of research before picking his race and profession and planned how to maximise his in game reward via gathering and crafting which would then be converted to real world money. This started off mainly solo adventuring but this likeable MC eventually gains friends and goes on group adventure to gain loot and levels.
I liked the game world and mechanics. The skills and items were well thought out and lead to some good combination in their interactions.
The narrator did a great job adding to the humour and gave distinct voice to multiple characters
I know this is a stand alone book but I’m hoping it is successful enough to revisit this series and produce a sequel.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
I liked the game world and mechanics. The skills and items were well thought out and lead to some good combination in their interactions.
The narrator did a great job adding to the humour and gave distinct voice to multiple characters
I know this is a stand alone book but I’m hoping it is successful enough to revisit this series and produce a sequel.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
February 3, 2022
I loved the MC, his goals in and out of game, and the relationships he builds on the way. I had a great time with the story and its development. The MC finds himself in a lot of unique quests which furthers his character development and helps build good fun relationships along the way. There is a lot of crunch to this one, but it doesn't detract from the overall experience, even in audio format. Audio Version: This was the first performance I have listened to with 2 narrators, it worked at times and didn't for me at other times. Toward the end it grew on me but at first it did detract from my experience.
May 24, 2022
Pure, distilled litRPG Gold.
This story is a rarity in the genre. It is utterly unpretentious, well written, pure RPG goodness.
No epic save the world plotline. No grand conspiracy. No implausible real life side plot. Just a man playing a game, and giving you that vicarious thrill that makes litRPG so addictive.
I often really enjoy something that pushes the envelope, but this one was pure joy because it didn't try to be anything beyond just what it is, but made sure it did that one thing really really well.
I highly recommend this one if you miss your glory days of MMORPGs.
This story is a rarity in the genre. It is utterly unpretentious, well written, pure RPG goodness.
No epic save the world plotline. No grand conspiracy. No implausible real life side plot. Just a man playing a game, and giving you that vicarious thrill that makes litRPG so addictive.
I often really enjoy something that pushes the envelope, but this one was pure joy because it didn't try to be anything beyond just what it is, but made sure it did that one thing really really well.
I highly recommend this one if you miss your glory days of MMORPGs.
January 3, 2022
A simple romp, with almost no drama
It’s a fun little GameLit story that has a new ability every single level. What bugs me is that the there’s hardly any tension to the story. Not even a countdown to when his test is over, nor is there enough calculations shown as to how close he might be to making his finish. It’s all one big question mark up to the last moment, but I’m not excited by it as there’s no real signposts/goalposts nor any real setbacks.
But if you want just another GameLit story and don’t care too much for an exciting plot, then this is good.
It’s a fun little GameLit story that has a new ability every single level. What bugs me is that the there’s hardly any tension to the story. Not even a countdown to when his test is over, nor is there enough calculations shown as to how close he might be to making his finish. It’s all one big question mark up to the last moment, but I’m not excited by it as there’s no real signposts/goalposts nor any real setbacks.
But if you want just another GameLit story and don’t care too much for an exciting plot, then this is good.
March 21, 2022
Straight Up LitRPG Adventure
This refreshing LitRPG has practically nothing to get in the way of the main story. It is extremely direct, succinct, and doesn’t get sidetracked in any way. This is the beauty of the plot, where the player enters the game for one main purpose: and his pursues it.
You might think that this means it is boring, but it definitely isn’t. In fact, there’s enough content to make an interesting sequel. It’s a great weekend read. Well done and definitely recommended (15+)
This refreshing LitRPG has practically nothing to get in the way of the main story. It is extremely direct, succinct, and doesn’t get sidetracked in any way. This is the beauty of the plot, where the player enters the game for one main purpose: and his pursues it.
You might think that this means it is boring, but it definitely isn’t. In fact, there’s enough content to make an interesting sequel. It’s a great weekend read. Well done and definitely recommended (15+)
October 3, 2021
Great Fun... but needs edits for continuity
This was a blast to read. Good setup. solid action. Interesting numbers for the LitRPG fan. But noticeable moments where author forgot previous points, such as a time limit to enact a spell, then being disabled for longer than the time limit, but spell still works anyway. All such instances are forgiveable, but the book would benefit from some more indepth editing. I hope the author creates more in the series.
This was a blast to read. Good setup. solid action. Interesting numbers for the LitRPG fan. But noticeable moments where author forgot previous points, such as a time limit to enact a spell, then being disabled for longer than the time limit, but spell still works anyway. All such instances are forgiveable, but the book would benefit from some more indepth editing. I hope the author creates more in the series.
October 28, 2021
A crafting heavy LITRPG
The author of this book has taken a unique approach to the LITRPG genre introducing grind-heavy mechanics that dictate character growth and display a surprising amount of synergy with the main character’s profession. The cast of the book are surprisingly easy to remember in the sense that beyond NPC’s we meet approximately a dozen different characters and witness how their actions and specializations shape the world around them
The author of this book has taken a unique approach to the LITRPG genre introducing grind-heavy mechanics that dictate character growth and display a surprising amount of synergy with the main character’s profession. The cast of the book are surprisingly easy to remember in the sense that beyond NPC’s we meet approximately a dozen different characters and witness how their actions and specializations shape the world around them
October 14, 2023
He will not let the dead rest
This book was funny, and I was a little was a little sad to hear that it was designed as a stand-alone, but if there is not another one, it is fine because it was well rapped up. I really liked the game interface prompts. They were clean and not convoluted. I did borrow this book to read, but I plan on buying my own copy once I have a little extra money. That is how much I liked this book. The idea of a necromancer kobold is interesting.
This book was funny, and I was a little was a little sad to hear that it was designed as a stand-alone, but if there is not another one, it is fine because it was well rapped up. I really liked the game interface prompts. They were clean and not convoluted. I did borrow this book to read, but I plan on buying my own copy once I have a little extra money. That is how much I liked this book. The idea of a necromancer kobold is interesting.
August 28, 2021
Fun, fantastic book. Love the kobold character!
This was a very enjoyable story. It was very well edited and written. The characters were well flashed out (hah, necromancer pun) and they were actually very likable. The game mechanics are nicely laid out and fun to read. It will be fun to see where this series goes in the future!
This was a very enjoyable story. It was very well edited and written. The characters were well flashed out (hah, necromancer pun) and they were actually very likable. The game mechanics are nicely laid out and fun to read. It will be fun to see where this series goes in the future!
September 3, 2021
A fun and innovative LitRPG.
Such a good author with a clean writing style and great humour.
Sometimes you have to pick your battles and for Kababala the tiny, his battle is acquisitions.
Lucky for him he has plenty of teammate options for soaking up damage.
Great story, i was hooked from start to finish.
I hope to see a second!
Such a good author with a clean writing style and great humour.
Sometimes you have to pick your battles and for Kababala the tiny, his battle is acquisitions.
Lucky for him he has plenty of teammate options for soaking up damage.
Great story, i was hooked from start to finish.
I hope to see a second!
September 4, 2021
Very very good.
I normally hate necromancy in litrpgs. But making it into more of a crafting class that just uses zombies to complete tasks was super refreshing. I know the author said this was more of a standalone book, but I genuinely want another book in this series. I hope it happens!
I normally hate necromancy in litrpgs. But making it into more of a crafting class that just uses zombies to complete tasks was super refreshing. I know the author said this was more of a standalone book, but I genuinely want another book in this series. I hope it happens!
September 29, 2021
Fast and fun
Great little story - it left me wanting to know how this would continue in a future volume. It goes to show you what a focused attention can do from the storytellers perspective. It is perhaps a little too easy on the major finds and advancement but the story is engaging and interesting.
Great little story - it left me wanting to know how this would continue in a future volume. It goes to show you what a focused attention can do from the storytellers perspective. It is perhaps a little too easy on the major finds and advancement but the story is engaging and interesting.
April 10, 2022
A good read!
An enjoyable read! The author doesn't skip around and takes the time to tell a complete story with just enough to intrigue readers for a potential sequel.
Good interactions between the PC's and a unique game system that stayed interesting throughout! A few literary errors, but nothing that stole me from the story!
An enjoyable read! The author doesn't skip around and takes the time to tell a complete story with just enough to intrigue readers for a potential sequel.
Good interactions between the PC's and a unique game system that stayed interesting throughout! A few literary errors, but nothing that stole me from the story!
August 30, 2024
This is an enjoyable standalone book in a genre noted for multiple book parts. The author did a very nice job creating an online game and reason for playing. The character he created and its development was interesting to read about. I loved some of the NPCs, like the alchemical lady. I would read a sequel, if the author changes his mind and writes one.
September 1, 2024
If you love YouTube series such as swampletics or others where player try to achieve goals in unorthodox ways, then this book will ping that sweet spot in your brain, watching the main characters plan slowly start to work out is underpinned so well with the lovely interludes where he talk to his family, greatly looking forward to the sequel.
August 30, 2021
DEEKIN would be proud
A new take on the kobold. It was very impressive I have to admit ever since nwn sou and especially and hotu those who know know. A must read for any kobold fans
A new take on the kobold. It was very impressive I have to admit ever since nwn sou and especially and hotu those who know know. A must read for any kobold fans
September 17, 2021
Nice online litrpg
I generally dislike the litrpg that involves online gaming, preferring litrpg that involves a world SIMILAR to an online game. But this is well written and I really enjoyed it.
I generally dislike the litrpg that involves online gaming, preferring litrpg that involves a world SIMILAR to an online game. But this is well written and I really enjoyed it.
September 28, 2021
Never thought I’d love a book with a kobold hearing
Such a great surprise. I normally hate necromancy but what a great Concept. Great Litrpg elements. Can’t wait for the next one.
Please tell
Me there’s a next one!!
Such a great surprise. I normally hate necromancy but what a great Concept. Great Litrpg elements. Can’t wait for the next one.
Please tell
Me there’s a next one!!
October 24, 2021
Excellent story-telling!
This is a sodding magnificent story, no better way to put it. The reasons for the characters actions, the effects, the issues and the rewards were all brilliant and I’d read a second one straight off if I could!
This is a sodding magnificent story, no better way to put it. The reasons for the characters actions, the effects, the issues and the rewards were all brilliant and I’d read a second one straight off if I could!
October 26, 2021
Good read, and a standalone!
Worth reading. A strong slice of life aspect with heavy tabletop RPG influences. A bit vanilla and maybe a little too much effort put into making it a feel good family friendly story.
I still recommend it.
Worth reading. A strong slice of life aspect with heavy tabletop RPG influences. A bit vanilla and maybe a little too much effort put into making it a feel good family friendly story.
I still recommend it.
October 31, 2021
A very good book
It was a very good and interesting read, here’s hoping for a sequel.
It has a very different start than most litrpg books I have read.
There is more common sense and rational thought behind the main character’s choices.
It was a very good and interesting read, here’s hoping for a sequel.
It has a very different start than most litrpg books I have read.
There is more common sense and rational thought behind the main character’s choices.
November 9, 2021
Love it!
I'm definitely a 'rare drops' kinda guy, but I think given the chance we all are. This playstyle really calls out to my natural gamer instincts and I think I would really love to play alongside Kababala. A really good Literary RPG and worth the read for sure.
I'm definitely a 'rare drops' kinda guy, but I think given the chance we all are. This playstyle really calls out to my natural gamer instincts and I think I would really love to play alongside Kababala. A really good Literary RPG and worth the read for sure.
December 2, 2021
You had me at kobold
A wonderful book that felt like it was tailored for me because the MC is literally designed from a underdog race and those are my faves to play in Dnd type games
A wonderful book that felt like it was tailored for me because the MC is literally designed from a underdog race and those are my faves to play in Dnd type games
December 12, 2021
A refreshing perspective on the litrpg
I liked the fact that everything felt real and the storyline was actually refreshing. The mc motivation to play at first made me think that he would not have much fun while playing but he was able to manage to balance the play work ratio.
I liked the fact that everything felt real and the storyline was actually refreshing. The mc motivation to play at first made me think that he would not have much fun while playing but he was able to manage to balance the play work ratio.
December 15, 2021
Encore please
Definitely needs another book or 2 so that way we can see what happens when he gets to max lvl but gotta say that it definitely had its bad sides as, 1. He seemed to lvl way to fast and 2. Only died twice (i think) but otherwise a pretty good read
Definitely needs another book or 2 so that way we can see what happens when he gets to max lvl but gotta say that it definitely had its bad sides as, 1. He seemed to lvl way to fast and 2. Only died twice (i think) but otherwise a pretty good read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews