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x.5 chapters should NOT count towards the total chapter count.

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Jun 15, 2024 7:22 AM
#1
Offline
Jul 2020
8
I've read plenty of manga with x.5 chapters, and none of them count as a whole number towards the total chapter count.

Recently I've almost finished Elf-san wa Yaserarenai, just to find out someone has set the chapter count to 56 when the last chapter is 47. That makes it incredibly confusing to keep track of chapters.

If I set the chapter read tracker to "2" that assumes I have read "1, 1.x, and 2". You don't need to list it as a whole ass chapter! (on a side note MAL should let us set the chapter tracker to n.x) The Mangaka doesn't label it as a chapter, so why should we? Hell, maybe MAL should make another counter for bonus chapters (Volumes: 0, Chapters: 0, Bouns Chapters: 0).

This is about consistency, no other site I looked at (including all other manga trackers, and Wikipedia) counted the x.5 chapters toward the total chapter count.

I can't finish this manga until this is fixed bc it will fuck up my statistics.
Jun 15, 2024 7:33 AM
#2
Isekai Trucker

Offline
Oct 2015
2564
Bonus chapters are usually the ones I have an issue with. When I have finished a series, I check the books and count the chapters, prologues, epilogues and everything else to see if it's correct. Sometimes it's correct in MAL, sometimes not. If it's a physical manga/light novel, then my counted chapter amount should be correct compared to MAL... probably.
As for Elfie, I counted 56, if I remember correctly.
"You only realize the real value of something you discarded when you get the chance to pick it up again." - Rudeus Greyrat

Jun 15, 2024 7:41 AM
#3
Offline
Jul 2020
8
Reply to Azuchi
Bonus chapters are usually the ones I have an issue with. When I have finished a series, I check the books and count the chapters, prologues, epilogues and everything else to see if it's correct. Sometimes it's correct in MAL, sometimes not. If it's a physical manga/light novel, then my counted chapter amount should be correct compared to MAL... probably.
As for Elfie, I counted 56, if I remember correctly.
@Azuchi

Azuchi said:
As for Elfie, I counted 56, if I remember correctly.


Yes, but counting those makes the tracking awkward.
You have two options:
1. Track normally (when you finish reading chapter 7, set the tracker to 7), and then once you finish chapter 47, set it to 56. This fucks your statistics.
2. Count the n.x chapters (so when you finish 12.5, set it to 13, then when you finish 24.5 set it to 26), now it no longer represents what chapter you were reading last, making it easy to get lost.
Jun 15, 2024 7:45 AM
#4
Isekai Trucker

Offline
Oct 2015
2564
Reply to EstrangeSonej
@Azuchi

Azuchi said:
As for Elfie, I counted 56, if I remember correctly.


Yes, but counting those makes the tracking awkward.
You have two options:
1. Track normally (when you finish reading chapter 7, set the tracker to 7), and then once you finish chapter 47, set it to 56. This fucks your statistics.
2. Count the n.x chapters (so when you finish 12.5, set it to 13, then when you finish 24.5 set it to 26), now it no longer represents what chapter you were reading last, making it easy to get lost.
@EstrangeSonej I agree. Makes it quite hard to talk in the right chapter forum as well. I don't think this is something they are going to fix though.
Only solution would be is to count absolutely anything as a chapter, even if it would be a 12.5 or a 2 panel bonus.
"You only realize the real value of something you discarded when you get the chance to pick it up again." - Rudeus Greyrat

Jun 15, 2024 9:49 AM
#5

Offline
Feb 2016
15140
Reply to EstrangeSonej
@Azuchi

Azuchi said:
As for Elfie, I counted 56, if I remember correctly.


Yes, but counting those makes the tracking awkward.
You have two options:
1. Track normally (when you finish reading chapter 7, set the tracker to 7), and then once you finish chapter 47, set it to 56. This fucks your statistics.
2. Count the n.x chapters (so when you finish 12.5, set it to 13, then when you finish 24.5 set it to 26), now it no longer represents what chapter you were reading last, making it easy to get lost.
EstrangeSonej said:
Track normally (when you finish reading chapter 7, set the tracker to 7), and then once you finish chapter 47, set it to 56. This fucks your statistics.

The statistics are worthless. Chapter counts aren't even consistent between editions of a single manga. My edition of Kaze to Ki no Uta lists "chapter 8" as the final chapter. Even if you count the prologue and bonus chapter, that's only 10 chapters. MAL lists 139 chapters for a 17 volume story.
その目だれの目?
Jun 15, 2024 10:26 AM
#6

Offline
Sep 2016
129
I agree, I really don't like it. A lot of the time I'll just read the manga as usual and when I reach the "end" aka the # that is the actual end without all the extra chapters, I'll just click "Completed" here on MAL so it adds all the extra chapters for me. Sure, sometimes it then somehow seems like I read like 90+ chapters in one day, but realistically its just because of the bonus chapters and I know that.

I NEVER count by chapter + bonus chapter like MAL expects us to. If I read chapter 1, 1.5, and 2, then I have read 2 chapters, not 3, and that is how I keep track on here.
Jun 18, 2024 9:35 AM
#7

Offline
May 2020
2065
Hmm, I do agree that it can be confusing and a little irritating when keeping track of chapter counts but I believe that MAL counts chapters as they are recorded in official volume releases. This might differ from how other sources count chapters.

Personally, I think its fine if they are counted towards the official count. Many (not all) bonus chapters tend to be a little relevant (in terms of character development or showing a cute side story) so I'm not super mad about it.
Jun 19, 2024 2:20 AM
#8

Offline
Jan 2021
7014
I don't think I have an issue with it anymore. If I read 25 chapters of a manga and read 3 bonus chapters, then I don't update my list to 28. I keep it at 25. Makes it easier. I only add the bonus chapters when I complete the manga (it automatically includes it).
If you enjoyed the time you wasted, then its not a waste of time.

Jun 19, 2024 6:18 AM
#9

Offline
Apr 2021
282
Agree, they are usually bonus chapters or extra content. Sometimes I hate when chapter is split in a lot of parts.
It's bit pointless to count bonus chapters, since it may be decision of scanalating group to divide chapter in more parts.
My Candies (2025):
Jun 21, 2024 7:04 AM

Offline
Mar 2021
6643
I agree. Having to account for extra chapters is just confusing.
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Jun 21, 2024 4:08 PM
lagom
Offline
Jan 2009
107741
i do not mind either way so im neutral but if they separate all the extra chapters then that means im gonna be too lazy to add the new manga entries

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