Writing is something that evolves over time, even concepts as old as the novel can change.

Exploding in the late 2010s and early 2020s, LitRPG is a relatively new storytelling medium that draws a lot from both video games and TTRPGs.

It’s fiction that runs on some level of ‘video game logic’ – character power is quantized, generally goes up explosively over time, and unlike most TTRPG ‘Actual Plays’, the characters themselves are aware of this quantization of power.

They may be able to look at their own stat sheet, formulate build plans and strategize around targeting known achievements.

How much individual characters understand the “System” will vary from series to series. Some litRPG stories such as Defiance of the Fall and Dungeon Crawler Carl have main characters that know almost nothing. Others, such as Apocalypse Redux, have main characters that understand the “System” very well indeed.

Archangels of Phobos begins with humanity knowing nothing at all.

Many litRPG stories use letter grades as power levels, with ‘S’ above ‘A’. Archangels of Phobos adopts this, with slight twists you’ll see within a couple of chapters.