History RolePlay / RecordOfLodossWar

In commemoration of the series' thirtieth anniversary, a MetroidVania style game entitled ''Record of Lodoss War - Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth'' is in development.

* WhiteAndBlackMorality: At the end of the day in Lodoss, the epic battle is always between the forces of good and the forces of evil. However, there are some exceptions, such as with the [[WellIntentionedExtremist Karla]] and [[AntiVillain Ashram]] who are more in the grey.

* ActionHoggingOpening: The opening of ''Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight'' features absolutely gorgeous animation and an award-worthy song. The show itself features far sparser action sequences, more still frames, and far more talking.

%%* RedOniBlueOni: Shiris and Orson.

%%* RescueRomance: The last arc of the series.

%%* {{Sneezing}}
* SparedByAdaptation: Inversed. [[spoiler: Orson]] was not killed in the OVA adaptation, though the OVA came out years before the TV series [[spoiler: where Orson most definitely did die.]]

See also ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'', which is set in the same world as ''Lodoss'', on the northern continent of Alecrast (but which is otherwise unconnected to the series), and ''Legend of Crystania'' (A film and OVA series that serve as a DistantEpilogue about Arsham and Pirotesse). The same author later wrote ''LightNovel/RecordOfGrancrestWar''.

** Parn and Deed have a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} when he ''finally'' clues in after the fight against Shooting Star. He's still tongue-tied around her, but manages to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B51qNuzPrcw express his feelings via a white rose]] -- and she understands the message perfectly.

* OminousLatinChanting: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZH6aKq9w9o Okoreru Kyousenshi/An Angered Berseker]]. Fits SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic also.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/447.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Clockwise from top; Deedlit, Slayn, Etoh, Parn, Ghim and Woodchuck]]

* AntiVillain: Ashram and Pirotess.
* ApocalypseMaiden: Little Neese.
* ArcVillain:
** For Parn's campaign, it's Karla.
** Orson's campaign, Ashram.
** Spark's campaign, Wagnard.
* AscendedFanFic: Yup. ''Record of Lodoss War'' started out as nothing more than a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' fan fiction – the Dungeon Master's BroadStrokes re-write of how he wished the game had gone, complete with the female elf character (Deedlit) falling in love with the male Human Fighter (Parn). In fact, these were three different D&D campaigns (Parn's party, Orson's party, and Spark's party), with the older games' heroes appearing as {{GMPC}}s in the later two campaigns.

* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind / FinalBossNewDimension: This is where the final showdown takes place in the TV series.

** BerserkButton: That being said, '''DON'T''' hurt women in his presence. Double if it's Shiris, his partner and MoralityPet. [[spoiler: The TV series gives us the heartbreaking reason for that particular button: he became a berserker upon witnessing his older sister's HeroicSacrifice.]]

** Most of the good wizards fall under this as well. And Orson.

* BlackMagic: Wagnard, [[ObviouslyEvil the Dark Wizard]], majored in this - only he got kicked out of the magic school for doing so.

* BreastPlate: Deedlit's armor, which did little to cover anything below her shoulders and chest. (Note, however, that she is ''wearing'' something under said armor.)

* ChekhovsGunman: In the beginning of the TV series, Spark and Little Neese are briefly introduced as children. Later, they become two of the most important people in the series. Lampshaded in one of the omake episodes.
** Wagnard counts as well, as he and his plans are introduced in the first half of the series, but he doesn't become a major villain until the time skip.

--> '''Kashue to Parn in episode three:''' "If you hadn't stopped to think about the consequences, then you might have won."

-->'''Spark:''' "Yes sir! I will never abandon my duties like I did last night!"
--> '''Parn:''' "Don't do that either. It's wrong to abandon yourself. Don't become a man who lives only for the duty that's given to him. You'll understand someday."

* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Parn. Lampshaded by Deedlit in the TV series.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Deedlit, sometimes.
* CoDragons/ DragonAscendant: Ashram, who, ironically, fights a lot of ''real'' dragons himself, and Wagnard, who becomes the BigBad of the OAV.

* CreepyMonotone: Orson's voice.

* CynicismCatalyst: [[spoiler: The horrible death of Orson's older sister in front of him is what unlocks his [[TheBerserker berserker]] side.]]
* DarkActionGirl: Pirotess.

* DisproportionateRetribution: So, Wagnard crossed the line with the academy of magic by switching over to TheDarkArts and was therefore justifiably booted out. And this has driven his whole agenda of resurrecting the almighty evil black goddess Kardis and wanting to become the King of the Dead. Even Neese pointed out that this was a childish vendetta.
** Also, when Kashue's forces fail to slay Shooting Star, the dragon says that he would kill a hundred humans for every scale that was scratched. We can't do the math for that, but damn!

* TheEmperor: Beld, who rules over...
** TheEmpire: Marmo, which, being evil, is also a {{Mordor}}-type country. Ironically, the "empire" covers far less land than any of the other kingdoms (which might be why Beld is out to conquer them all).
* EndingTheme: Notably, the OVA actually has an English version of the closing credits theme for the dub (as well as the opening theme) - and it fits remarkably well.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Governer Rabido is so ludicriously villainous that the high council of Marmo dispatches Ashram to express their "disappointment" in him.
** Ashram also disapproves of Wagnard's resurrection scheme for different reasons. In the OVA, it is partially out of revenge for losing Pirotess and being manipulated. In the TV, he simply objects to Wagnard torturing Neese as a sacrifice (but he doesn't try to stop him there).

* EvilIsHammy: As he becomes the central villain, Wagnard chews huge bits of scenery with gleeful villainy, with a [[NightmareFuel frighteningly scary laugh to boot]].
** He especially gets DrunkOnTheDarkSide at the climax of the OVA when he blasts both Ashram and Parn with his scepter with lightning bolts. [[spoiler:Even when Ashram kills him, he still gets to get in one final scene to chomp on as he screams, "All Lodoss is doomed! Hahahaha! Nothing will remain! NOTHING! Hahahahahahahaha!"]]

* EvilSorcerer: Wagnard, Gaberra, Astar.

* GrandTheftMe: Karla the Grey Witch, whose magical circlet allows her to take over anyone she wants. And we mean ''anyone''. [[spoiler:Poor Woodchuck!]]
* GreaterScopeVillain: Kardis, [[GodOfEvil Goddess of Destruction,]] who the forces of Mormo worship, and Wagnard plans to summon.
* HaveIMentionedIAmADwarfToday: Ghim.
* HermeticMagic
* HeroWorshipper: Spark toward Parn.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Ghim]].
** In the TV series [[spoiler: Garrack]].
* HiddenElfVillage: The home of the elves is called [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace The Forest of No Return]] and they're not too enthusiastic about intermingling with the [[BystanderSyndrome worries of the outside world.]]

* HighFantasy: One of the best known examples in anime.
* HotBlooded: Parn and Spark.
* IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace: The Forest of No Return. That sounds welcoming.

* IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight: Not a fight with the person in question, but in the TV series finale [[spoiler: Spark is struggling and fighting against dark energy that is being spewed at him by Neese, who is being possessed by the dark priestess Naneel, in order to get through to her. She is able to free herself of Naneel's grip on her soul enough to allow Spark through to her subconscious right before she is absorbed into darkness. [[FinalBossNewDimension Once there]], [[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind the real battle begins]].]]

* IdealHero: Parn.

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Inverted with Little Neese, in that she is the reincarnation of Naneel, the evil high priestess of the even more evil goddess Kardis. However, Neese herself is a priestess to Marfa, the goddess of light, but unfortunately is a candidate for being the vessel for Naneel's soul on account of her being a virgin. During the final showdown, [[spoiler: Neese fully accepts Naneel into her]]... [[DoublySubverted However]], [[spoiler: the girl is that damn devoted to Marfa that Naneel AND Kardis are pretty much ''vanquished on contact.'']]
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: The Dark Elf in the TV series [[{{Omake}} omakes.]]

* {{Kaiju}}: The Ancient Dragons.

* LeftHanging: The fate of Woodchuck. He comes back briefly in the TV series, but then vanishes for good with no word on what ultimately happens to him.

*** Woodchuck's fate is reportedly revealed in the recent Record of Lodoss War Next Generation novel series.

* MedievalEuropeanFantasy

%% * NonActionGuy: Marr.

* OjouRinglets: On a 2 meter tall heavy weight ''prince''!

* OneWePreparedEarlier - A formal introduction of the characters and plot is not made until the second episode. Additionally, it is unclear exactly where the first episode fits into the continuity of the series, though it has been theorized that it takes place between the events of the fifth and sixth episodes.

* PowerOfTheVoid: Kardis/Naneel don't just want to destroy the world - they want to engulf it into nothingness!
* PrivateMilitaryContractors: Mercenaries make up at least twenty-percent of each {{team}} in the series, such as Shiris, Orson, Leaf, and even King Kashue is known as the Mercenary King. The most badass of them is Garrack, the "[[RedBaron Blue Meteor.]]" [[spoiler: He's not a real mercenary, but a knight of the Kingdom of Flaim.]]

* SchmuckBait / DontTouchItYouIdiot: In the first episode of the OVA series, none other than Deedlit falls for this in an underground passage when she spots a pretty item on a pedestal. Ghim told her not to touch it, but unfortunately [[spoiler: [[GenreBlindness she does]], which causes the item to lock her in a vice and the whole surrounding area to cave into an even deeper underground area below.]]

** [[EmotionlessGirl Emotionless Guy]]: A RareMaleExample.

* SuperDeformed: The TV series featured a ending [[TheTag tag]] with the characters in SD style making jokes, sometimes vaguely related to the plot.
** The [[{{Dubbing}} dub]] often tried to translate these jokes and puns.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Garrack and Ryna - and [[ShipperOnDeck Leaf]] ships them from time to time.

* YouCantThwartStageOne: In ''Chronicles of the Heroic Knight'', Spark and his guys constantly try to get one step ahead of Wagnard by getting to the [[MacGuffin Soul Crystal Ball]] and to the [[MacGuffin Staff of Life]] first. All plans fail - including [[spoiler: losing [[LivingMacGuffin Neese]] to Wagnard]], and the turmoil can only be settled right when [[spoiler: Naneel has already been resurrected in Neese, [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt with the world on the verge of impending doom]].]]

See also ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'', which is set in the same world as ''Lodoss'', on the northern continent of Alecrast (but which is otherwise unconnected to the series), and ''Legend of Crystania'' (A standalone film that serves as a DistantEpilogue about Arsham and Pirotesse). The same author later wrote ''LightNovel/RecordOfGrancrestWar''.

* AndTheAdventureContinues: While the main cast's major quests appear to be over at the end of the anime, [[spoiler:Ashram and Pirotess take the people of Marmo away from Lodoss to found a new kingdom somewhere that isn't a monster infested wasteland.]] This tale would be continued in the standalone anime film ''Legend of Crystania''.

See also ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'', which is set in the same world as ''Lodoss'', on the northern continent of Alecrast (but which is otherwise unconnected to the series). The same author later wrote ''LightNovel/RecordOfGrancrestWar''.

* AndTheAdventureContinues: While the main cast's major quests appear to be over at the end of the anime, [[spoiler:Ashram and Pirotess take the people of Marmo away from Lodoss to found a new kingdom somewhere that isn't a monster infested wasteland.]]

See also ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'', which is set in the same world as ''Lodoss'', on the northern continent of Alecrast (but which is otherwise unconnected to the series).

** Parn and Deed have a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming when he ''finally'' clues in after the fight against Shooting Star. He's still tongue-tied around her, but manages to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B51qNuzPrcw express his feelings via a white rose]] -- and she understands the message perfectly.

* OminousLatinChanting: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZH6aKq9w9o Okoreru Kyousenshi/An Angered Berseker]]. Fits CrowningMusicOfAwesome also.

''Lodoss'' is the great-granddaddy of all Western-style Sword-and-sorcery anime. From is near-contemporary ''LightNovel/TheHeroicLegendOfArslan'' through ''{{Anime/Berserk}}'' to ''Anime/SwordArtOnline'' they all trace back to this series.

* OfferedTheCrown: Early in the anime, Kashue mentions to Parm that if he decided to place a claim on the throne of Alania (where Parm was introduced protecting the locals from overly ambitious nobles), most people would accept him as a worthy ruler, including the villages that had been declaring independence. In the end, Parm decides not to do so.

* OfferedTheCrown: Early in the anime, Kashue mentions to Parm that if he decided to place a claim on the throne of the rulerless kingdom to his North (where Parm was introduced protecting the locals from overly ambitious nobles), most people would accept him as a worthy ruler, including the villages that had been declaring independence. In the end, Parm decides not to do so.

* TheAlliance: Fallis and Flaim, though in the anime, it's referred to as [[TheFederation a federation.]]

* AlternateContinuity: The TV series is not at all a sequel to the OVA, as it follows up on Parn's campaign as it was told in the manga and the novels, adapting Orson's and Spark's campaigns in greater detail. Specifically, Parn's backstory in the TV series only involved the war against Beld and the campaign against Karla, which played out slightly differently than was shown in the OVA, and the Shooting Star and Kardis resurrection arcs were redone as arcs in the TV series.

* AlternateContinuity: The TV series is not at all a sequel to the OVA, as it follows up on Parn's campaign as it was told in the manga and the novels, adapting Orson's and Spark's campaigns in greater detail.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Karla the Grey Witch, whose atrocities were part of an effort to "balance power" in the world and keep it from being destroyed by any one faction.

* UnusualEars: Deedlit and Pirotess, whose ears are far longer than what most Western fantasy fans would attribute to elves. The character designer was supposedly inspired by the antennae on ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' robots. It's worth mentioning that this seems to have influenced the appearance of "elf ears" in all Japanese media afterwards and even bled into Western productions like ''WorldOfWarcraft''.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lodosswarposter.jpg]]

It first began as a series of [[TabletopGames role-playing game sessions]] (first-edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', no less), [[AfterActionReport recorded and transcribed]] into a series of novels by Ryo Mizuno. In 1990, it became an animated 13-part {{OVA}} series, and from then on it branched into movies, manga and TV series (some of which were alternate universe versions of the OVA, but which followed the story in the original novels more closely). It even returned to its roots as the most popular Tabletop Role Playing Game in Japan. The ''Lodoss'' RPG was created after Creator/{{TSR}} turned the world down as a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' supplement.

What is "it"? It is ''Record of Lodoss War'', a sprawling epic which incorporates nearly every Tolkien-esque fantasy cliche in the book, but does so with style. The lovely art and character designs by Yutaka Izubuchi and Nobuteru Yuki make the OVA series a visual feast, in spite of its rather limited animation. The swelling orchestral score by Mitsuo Hagita makes it an aural feast as well.

* VirginSacrifice: In order for the dark priestess Naneel to be reincarnated, it must be done so with the body of one who is of pure blood. The high priestess of Marfa Leyla was the first contender for this position, but after giving birth to a daughter, it was passed on to her. It makes you wonder why the good guys didn't just put Spark and Neese up in the honeymoon suite at one of the inns where they stayed during their quest and let them [[IncrediblyLamePun screw up]] Wagnard's plans for another generation. Garrack and Ryna were both pragmatic enough to come up with that solution, and [[ShipperOnDeck Leaf]] was rooting for them to get together anyway. Aldonova wouldn't have liked it, but he was enough of a naif and a pushover, despite his size and magic, that the others could probably have either distracted him or just told him to shut up and mind his own business.

Not to be confused with ''RecordOfAgarestWar''.

* GoshDangItToHeck: The English dub of the OVA remove all instances of profanity.