Record of Lodoss War

Traveller · Post by **Traveller** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:17 am

I found a copy of the complete series for $4 at Movie Stop. No case, just discs, which is why I got it for so cheap.

Anybody watched this? It's supposedly based upon the author's Dungeons & Dragons game.
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Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:31 am

It's pretty good entertainment-wise. Definitely some D&D elements, but deals with two parties...the first, have moved on to rule or retire, the second, are the younger whom have to clean up after the older.

not a bad investment for 4$ at all. Own it myself as part of my anime collection.
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anglefish · Post by **anglefish** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:32 am

For $4, an excellent investment!

Midway through, the show throws in a spin that offers a good lesson on the "and now for the man behind the curtain" plot twist for rpgs.

Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:56 am

The original Manga was based on Ryo Mizuno's very own Japanese version of OD&D, actually. Because the game was not available in Japan, he basically created the Record of Lodoss War game based literally on the Basic DnD Rules. This spawned the manga years later, and then the OAV animation.

So if there are DnD elements, it is because it is literally a DnD anime.

The OAV was not very true to the manga, but in my opinion was actually better in many ways. The second anime series was not nearly as good, though the manga (Legend of the Heroic Knight) kicked ass.

Mizuno also wrote the plot for the Square Enix game Infinite Undiscovery, which was not very successful but I rather enjoyed.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:02 am

I tried to get into it at few years back but just couldn't get past the first few episodes. I know quite a few folks who swear by it. It just isn't for me though.

Rigon · Post by **Rigon** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:50 am

At $4, you got quite the steal. My buddy bought this years ago for right around $50. We've watched it a few hundred times. A very good story and anime.

R-
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angelius · Post by **angelius** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:51 am

I actually quite enjoyed it but it is slow at times.
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anglefish · Post by **anglefish** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:04 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
I tried to get into it at few years back but just couldn't get past the first few episodes. I know quite a few folks who swear by it. It just isn't for me though.

The build up is slow and the very start seems to be fairly standard stuff, I admit.

Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:27 pm

I bought the VHS boxed set of tapes for $100.00 years and years ago. I must have bootlegged those for about 100 people at $5.00 a set. I could fit them on one VHS tape.

I have seen the OAV, as a result, more times than I can even begin to remember.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:41 pm

Hopefully you got the original Record of the Lodoss war series. about 4 years after the original was released (1998 or so), a japanese company put out another version of Lodoss that picks up the series and changes it a little about halfway through the original.

You'll know it's original when in the first few episodes the characters are traveling through dungeons, fighting hobgoblins and goblins, etc. These parts are some of the very best in the series IMO. There are many tedious points filled with traditional japanese anime hallmarks (dripping with drama... ugh). The end of the series picks up nicely, if rather... REDICULOUS IN SCALE.

It has been said for a long time that this series was based off of an D&D game that some of the writers or producers played in the mid 80s in Japan. That's why in this series you plainly see RACE-AS-CLASS!!!

Some of the spell casting stuff is just amazing too.

Music is pretty good too.

~O
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Post by **Breakdaddy** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:25 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
I tried to get into it at few years back but just couldn't get past the first few episodes. I know quite a few folks who swear by it. It just isn't for me though.

Word. I've had friends try to get me into some of these animated japanese shows but they just arent for me. Ive watched about a half dozen of the "entry level" or "must see" shows and was not really taken in by them. I guess Im just not the target audience for these.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:35 pm

Breakdaddy wrote:
I guess Im just not the target audience for these.

Hmm. I never knew you weren't a 12-year old Japanese girl. Learn something new every day.

~O
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Post by **Breakdaddy** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:53 pm

Omote wrote:
Hmm. I never knew you weren't a 12-year old Japanese girl. Learn something new every day.

~O

HAH! I know a lot of folks who love all of that stuff though.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:08 pm

Yeah, just playin. I know what you mean. I think I may be one of those anime people as evidenced in my hottie avatar!
~O
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Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:03 pm

Omote wrote:
Hopefully you got the original Record of the Lodoss war series. about 4 years after the original was released (1998 or so), a japanese company put out another version of Lodoss that picks up the series and changes it a little about halfway through the original.

You'll know it's original when in the first few episodes the characters are traveling through dungeons, fighting hobgoblins and goblins, etc. These parts are some of the very best in the series IMO. There are many tedious points filled with traditional japanese anime hallmarks (dripping with drama... ugh). The end of the series picks up nicely, if rather... REDICULOUS IN SCALE.

It has been said for a long time that this series was based off of an D&D game that some of the writers or producers played in the mid 80s in Japan. That's why in this series you plainly see RACE-AS-CLASS!!!

Some of the spell casting stuff is just amazing too.

Music is pretty good too.

~O

Chronicles of the Heroic Knight is the 26 episode TV series. The original episodes were straight to video and there were 13 of them. The latter series actually is based on the sequel series to the original Lodoss Manga called The Grey Witch. The original 13 were pretty different than the manga, but I believe better.

The manga of Chronicles of the Heroic Knight was really good, but the animated version was a bit of the balls.

I actually liked the ending of the OAV episodes better than any other version. There is also a spin-off anime called Legend of Crystania and its sequel The Chaos Ring. They are not as good, but they are good in other ways. They're a lot more violent, that's for sure. They only have Pirotessa and Ashram from the original series.

Lucifer_Draconus · Post by **Lucifer_Draconus** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:31 pm

I liked the Original series & love Legend of Crystania. I actually saw LC before I saw RoL. The first time I watched RoL I couldn't finish it , but after the second time , I found I really enjoyed it. Have you guys seen the other spin off Rune Soldiers? It's funny but is a MAJOR departure from all the previous material I've seen or read.

I'm a big Manga & Anime geek so I like most things I see/read ... except the really sugary kiddy fair.
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Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:38 pm

I have read the Rune Soldier manga, but have not seen the anime. I liked the protagonist.

Lucifer_Draconus · Post by **Lucifer_Draconus** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:43 pm

Didn't know the manga had been available in the US in English. If I can find it I may check it out.
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Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:16 pm

The Rune Soldier anime (another in my collection) is entertaining. More a comedic poke at D&D type adventuring than any "real" serious stuff...you could find ideas for more policital level and city type adventures in it however. Again, for entertainment purposes, I find it amusing.
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Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:05 pm

Yeah, all of Lodoss has been released in the US. The Grey Witch, Welcome to Lodoss Island (parody), & Chronicles of the Heroic Knight. When last I checked CPM Manga released them.

Lucifer_Draconus · Post by **Lucifer_Draconus** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:32 pm

I had most of EoL related manga in translated form but missed the Rune Soldier series. I need to recollect the ones I don't have.
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