The Good Guys Books in Order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path

If you are new to the world of Vuldranni, the absolute best place to start is with the first book of the main series: One More Last Time. This introduces Montana Coggeshall, the mechanics of the game-world iNcarn8, and sets the foundation for the entire universe. While there are spin-off series that run concurrently, starting anywhere else will spoil major plot points and leave you confused about the political landscape of the empire.

You have two primary ways to read these books: the Main Series Release Order (focusing solely on Montana's adventures) or the Chronological Crossover Order (which weaves in the sister series, The Bad Guys, to show the concurrent events happening elsewhere in the world).

The Good Guys Publication Order

For readers who want a straightforward, uninterrupted story, following Montana's journey in publication order is highly satisfying. The main series consists of the following books:

1. One More Last Time (2018) – Montana enters iNcarn8 as a hulking warrior and heir to a chaotic new dukedom.
2. Heir Today, Pawn Tomorrow (2018) – Montana attempts to build his settlement while dealing with local threats.
3. Dungeon Mauling (2019) – A classic dungeon crawl where Montana must rescue a captured ally.
4. Four: The Loot (2019) – Montana deals with expansion, local monsters, and political intrigue.
5. Dukes and Ladders (2019) – The challenges of governing a growing population take center stage.
6. Home, Siege Home (2019) – Montana's home comes under direct attack, forcing him into defensive action.
7. The Bare Hunt (2019) – A quest targeting corrupted ursus beasts that test Montana's brute strength.
8. Eastbound and Town (2020) – Travel, diplomacy, and new locations expand the boundaries of the series.
9. Four Beheadings and a Funeral (2020) – Political schemes and dangerous encounters in the empire's cities.
10. Eat, Slay, Love (2020) – Montana tries to balance personal goals with his duties as a ruler.
11. Killing Them Awfully (2021) – Action-heavy encounters as enemies mount threats against Montana's dukedom.
12. Wild Wild Quest (2021) – A high-stakes mission that takes Montana into uncharted, dangerous territory.
13. Flex in the City (2022) – Set in the Imperial Capital, featuring arena battles and intense political confrontations.
14. Of Slicing Men (2023) – Montana deals with the immediate aftermath of his capital run and new threats.
15. Bad to the Throne (2024) – Power struggles escalate to a peak as Montana's choices reshape the empire.
16. One Man's Laughter (2025) – The latest entry, showing the consequences of the massive shifts in Vuldranni.

The Ultimate Chronological Crossover Order

For the ultimate experience, many readers prefer the community's integrated "machete-style" reading order. Because The Bad Guys series runs parallel to the timeline of The Good Guys, characters occasionally cross paths, hear rumors of each other's exploits, or experience the same imperial events from different perspectives. Here is how to read them together for maximum continuity:

• Step 1: Read The Good Guys Books 1–6 (introducing Montana and establishing his dukedom).
• Step 2: Read The Bad Guys Books 1–4 (starting with Scamps & Scoundrels, which introduces Clyde, a thief trying to play a Robin Hood role).
• Step 3: Read The Good Guys Books 7–12.
• Step 4: Read The Bad Guys Books 5–9.
• Step 5: Read Flex in the City (GG 13) and On a Throne of Lies (BG 10) together. These two books are highly synchronized, covering the exact same timeframe and events in the capital from different perspectives. Some fans even alternate chapters, but reading GG 13 followed immediately by BG 10 works perfectly.
• Step 6: Read Of Slicing Men (GG 14) and Bad to the Throne (GG 15).
• Step 7: Read 2 Lies, 2 Thrones (BG 11).
• Step 8: Read One Man's Laughter (GG 16).

Understanding the Spin-offs and Companion Series

The Bad Guys

The first and most prominent spin-off is The Bad Guys. While Montana is a high-strength, low-intelligence tank who solves problems by hitting them, Clyde (the protagonist of The Bad Guys) is a high-dexterity rogue who uses stealth, cunning, and magic. The series highlights the darker, urban, and underbelly aspects of the world of Vuldranni. It offers a fantastic change of pace and provides vital context to the political situation in the capital that Montana eventually runs into.

The Grim Guys

Launched with the novel Press Start (2023), this series introduces Greg and Julian, two new arrivals to iNcarn8. It is set in the same universe but is largely self-contained so far. Readers can pick it up at any point after getting a basic handle on the world through the first few books of the main series, though reading it after catching up on both primary series is recommended to appreciate the shared lore.

What to Know Before You Start

Eric Ugland's books are fast-paced, humor-filled, and feature a lot of action. The LitRPG elements include character sheets, leveling, stat points, and quest notifications. While the rules of the game are solid, the author focuses much more on character interactions, witty banter, and the chaotic choices of his protagonists than on hyper-dense math or optimization. Be prepared for a main character in Montana who is lovable but notoriously impulsive, often making decisions that drive detail-oriented gamers crazy, which is exactly where much of the series' comedy and charm come from.