Squad Games [Mercenary Management LitRPG] [Book One Stubbing on May 1st]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Gal'azu. A new, unexplored world. A fresh start. And a last chance.

Lothar 'Stiff' Sauer is a mercenary captain. Unfortunately, he has no mercenaries left. He never caught a break in the old world. Maybe in Gal'azu, he'll finally achieve the success he craves.

But he soon finds out things aren't going to be easy. Starting at the bottom rung, he can only recruit the mercenaries no one else wants. The feckless; criminals, and noobs; the unhinged. Can Lothar build his squad into something to be proud of? Or will this be yet another, and final, failure?

What to expect:

+ Influenced by the turn-based/tactical RPG genre, and games such as Battle Brothers, Heroes of Might and Magic, Jagged Alliance, Valkyria Chronicles, Wartales, & X-COM.

+ A gritty, medieval fantasy setting.

+ Squad members are selected for missions. If they perform well (and survive), their relevant stats improve, and they can level up.

+ Multiple points of view: the story is told from Lothar's POV but also from the mercs' POV, especially during missions.

+ Most chapters are between 1k-2.5k. The regular schedule will be 3 chapters per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays.

Appendix 1covers the game stats and mechanics. This is an optional read for number crunchers and isn't recommended until you've read some of the story and want more detail.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: LordAetius

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 602
Views: 246,033

Chapters(181 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

longwindedone1Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This review comes after reading the first seven chapters of Squad Games. I apologize for any spoilers in this review.
Story
This is a tactical, turn-based LitRPG that follows Lothar. He is a weary veteran mercenary, trying to carve out a new life in the frontier city of Avolo. Lothar recruits a ragtag team of rogues and mercenaries to complete a series of missions. Each mission pushes his team to the limits. Sometimes, the team's tension rises, especially with volatile characters like Stricken (great name for a character - also a great Disturbed song title).
Style
The tone of Squad Games is gritty with an edge of humor. The author gives us a mix of action and introspection. We see the hard decisions Lothar must make as a leader. The tactical mechanics add a nice flavor. It gives the feel of an RPG. The pace is tight, driven by Lothar's new challenges.
Grammar
There were no noticeable grammatical issues. The writing flows well, especially given the format, and fits the tone of the story. This said, I always listen to my RR stories using the app, so I'm not the best judge of this category.
Characters
Lothar is the MC. His interactions with his crew are the highlights of the story. Wade (the rogue) brings a sharp wit. Stricken's unpredictable violence adds tension to the missions. The secondary characters, like The Baron and Mila, provide comic relief. Watching the team barely hold together while carrying out missions is really fun.
Fans of LitRPGs with a tactical twist will find a lot to enjoy here. While the story is dark there’s enough humor in the characters to keep things fun. Highly recommended. 5/5
WeavervaleRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style 5/5 so this is very similar to rune bound professor. I see this as a good thing period. This is delivered in a tight third person with a lot of first person asides.
This would be great as an audiobook.
Story 5/5 this is A wall is delivered from terrorist story that would do well as a published book. I have read far worse works out in the wild.
Character 5/5
The characters shine here. I get a sense for the MC immediately. Wade has well thought out plans that will go
Think that this is well-set-up to be a good character Arc as well as this interaction in the local scene is shaping up to be epic.
Grammar 5/5 Cause I'd like to say about the period I would say that the only difference I would have to do here is for the authentic third or first person overall and stick to that they are doing the assignments, and I would not advise that for a new author but they're doing it like a rune bound Professor so it's acceptable. I think that is the style and grammar coming together here.
Check it out! I cannot recommend it enough.
AEVRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A wonderful story, containing a fantastic balance of action, characterization, and humor. There's a rather wide cast of mercenaries present here, and each one is pleasant to varying degrees: while this wide cast stops any one character from being very deep, they're still dynamic, interesting, and well-written. The system and progression elements are also well done, and are not very intrusive. People who want an emulation of Squad Games inspirations might end up disappointed – character deaths are few, far-between, and foreshadowed – but honestly, it serves the story well. Fantastic work!
Ana87Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall
Squad Games is a tactical LitRPG novel that combines strategy, mercenary management and military narrative with a dark and detailed fantasy setting. The story follows Lothar 'Stiff' Sauer, a mercenary captain seeking to rebuild his company in a new and hostile world full of opportunities. With a focus on tactical combat, mission planning and character development, the novel offers an immersive experience for fans of the genre.
Story
The premise of the story is simple but still appealing: the hero arrives in a new city and starts recruiting people for risky missions. The author has opted for a realistic approach, which means that progress is slow and tactical decisions can make the difference between survival and annihilation. I found this quite enjoyable because, unlike other stories where a slow pace can potentially run the risk of being boring, in this case it works because the author manages to successfully balance action and intrigue with the world-building. The latter is the novel's forte. The narrative feels so immersive and realistic that at times I felt like I was inside a video game with the advantage of not having to do all the work.
Style
The writing style is direct and efficient. The author's knowledge of war stories and strategy games is evident. The descriptions are detailed and the combats are well developed and you can feel the tension in the action sequences. The author manages to convey the physical and psychological toll on the characters.
Grammar
I found no errors that interfered with the reading. The story is very well written.
Character
Unlike many LitRPG stories centered on overpowered protagonists, Lothar is a down-to-earth hero who must deal with real problems: the abilities of his recruits, lack of resources, threats from his rivals, etc. As the story progresses we learn more about the secondary characters. The interactions between them are realistic and dynamic.
Conclusion
Squad Games is an excellent choice for fans of tactical Lit
D.N. NewynRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: The descriptions are strong. For example, the author doesn't linger on describing a place too much, just giving us enough details (and the best detail) to activate the imagination of the readers. The explanations of the things like action rounds are clear and not intrusive or take away from the immersion. I find the style of writing to be very strong. The LitRPG elements are just enough for me, I love when they exist but not when they're overwhelming. This is fine.
Story: If you like merc building and army building books, you'll like this one. Personally I'm into this genre, and this is one of the more appealing and immersive ones I've read. The setting gives off a medieval vibe, but the dialogues are more modern. I'm fine with that, really.
The pacing is fine. Love that the MC was (very light spoiler)
immediately off to a very bad start.
The mission scenes afterwards are entertaining, and I'm very invested in the outcome of those missions. Pretty funny to see Lothar
having to do business with those he'd just robbed.
Grammar: Clean. The misspellings are intentional (namely the accents of speakers). I find having the accents written into the dialogues to be a bit distracting, but that's just me.
Character: I find the characters enjoyable, even the rogues Lothar's just recruited have life to them the moment they're introduced. Some of them can be real nasty. The large cast can be a downside, but for now? It's a joy.
Dylan KingRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Story:
Squad Games is something that is, to my knowledge, fairly unique on Royal Road: a tactical turn-based LitRPG. It follows failed mercenary captain Lothar Sauer as he travels to new lands to start fresh. The narrative is paced well, with a smartly-judged balance between mechanics and action, and I very much enjoyed the change of pace of our MC being the orchestrator--though I do wonder how this would play out across an extended story in terms of keeping up a reader's investment in the characters.
Character:
The characters so far all seem pulled from various archetypes of lovable rogues, which creates interesting dynamics and opportunities for conflict between Lothar's growing crew. At the moment they all feel very familiar, so I am looking forward to see how the author deepens each character over time, as at the moment, they are definitely treading the line between archetype and character.
Style + Grammar:
Prose is clean and generally pretty functional. Critiquing style is always very subjective, so your mileage may vary, but I struggled a little with the lack of setting description. No real grammar issues or major spelling errors that I can see.
Overall, I would say this is well worth a go if it sounds like it might be even close to being up your alley. Competently written, well-paced, with just enough wit and fun; as well as a nice break from the standard fantasy LitRPG structure.
JimQuillRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is an almost episodic story with two really unique things going for it. First, its set up is perfect to maximize the storytelling potential. It focuses on a mercenary company as a whole, not one or a few individual characters.
second, it's turn based combat. The turn based combat is written into the world, and it is really unique and interesting. I don't know of any other stories that do actual turn based combat. The possibilities of it are really cool.
Style: It's very easy to read in a good way. The prose is short and sweet, and the combat is fast and satisfying. It also does a great job of cementing the grim dark, gritty aesthetic of the setting.
Story: Story is interesting to score, because it is not just one story. Like I said, it's almost episodic with reoccurring characters going on different missions, with some overarching stuff. But the focus is on the missions. I think this is a BRILLIANT way to dive into the systems. You will see every kind of build and character imaginable, and they could be sent to do almost anything.
Grammar: No noticeable issues. Well written, short paragraphs.
Character: The characters are fascinating and all interact in interesting ways. With a huge cast of mercenaries, pairing them up for adventures immediately creates all sorts of jokes, tension, and clashing personalities.
Mischievous HundRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Your writing style is fluid, with a balance of description and dialogue that keeps the narrative moving. The pacing works well, especially in the introductory scenes, giving the reader a sense of place and character without overwhelming them with information. The occasional introspective moments from Lothar add depth, but at times the narrative could benefit from a bit more variation in sentence structure to maintain momentum. Some sections feel a bit more like exposition dumps, especially when stats or mission details are introduced, but overall the style is engaging.
The premise of an unexplored land and a protagonist starting over in a harsh, unforgiving world is intriguing. The inclusion of rival factions like the Golden Blades adds a layer of tension and stakes, giving Lothar immediate challenges to overcome. The strategic, methodical approach to world-building and mission setup is refreshing.
The grammar is clean and precise, with only a few minor issues regarding punctuation or sentence flow. The dialogue feels natural for the setting, and the overall presentation is professional. There were a few sentences that could be clarified or restructured for smoother reading, but they don’t detract significantly from the experience.
Lothar is an interesting protagonist, driven by his past failures and determination to rebuild. However, while he’s well-developed, some of the other characters, like Usa and Izil, feel more like archetypes. They serve their roles but don’t yet stand out in a memorable way. The introduction of the Golden Blades adds an exciting antagonist dynamic, but more depth to the supporting cast would enrich the story. Wade and The Baron have a fun dynamic, but their rivalry could be explored more to create stronger character tension.
R. C. VettaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I gotta say I wasn't sure what turn based meant going into this, but this story is just awesome.
The meat of the story lies in the dialog and exposition. There is some turn based elements woven through that add flavor to the "system" of the world, but it all flows cleanly.
Style- The style here as some grimdark elements to it as a byproduct of having military/ mercenary elements to the characters. The multitude of characters make for a fun cast that grows over time. The "crew" make up some of the best interactions!
Grammar- I didn't spot any errors, but I did notice the occasional block of text that readers on royal road typically want to see broken up by smashing the ol' enter key fifty times a chapter. I personally don't mind the blocks and they are correctly indented.
Story- Overall the story is engrossing! I started reading and didn't stop until I ran out of time. I got a low level rpg vibe, where the characters do not have abilities or anything that makes them overpowered. Everything they get they have to earn, and there is even a bit of failure mixed in. I'm interested to see how the system progresses.
Characters- There are quite a few characters because of the "crew" situation. There are a couple consistent characters and a few others who might be rotating in and out. I really like the idea of having these side characters popping in and out. I feel like that could make for some dramatic events in the future.
SqueeWritesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm shocked the story doesn't have a higher rating. I'm guessing the few chapters it took for the author to find their footing dissuaded a few, but to me if this sounds like something you'd like give it a few chapters and I promise you'll like it.
This story has amazing characters. They are all distinct with their own stories and interests and knowing the type of story holds quite a bit of tension in it. I'm a huge fan.
Thanks for the story!