History VideoGame / DragonsDogma

** Though the map pinpoints the location of a quest objective or NPC, some points either require you to explore the not-so-obvious route, or look further above or below. For example, finding Pip in a sidequest may lead you inside a shack, but he's actually in the rooftop of said shack. And in the Salvation quest where you have to find Mason, the marker may lead you to a spot with no NPC in sight, so unless you've thoroughly explored or wandered Gran Soren out of curiosity beforehand, it can be hard to realize that the marker actually points to the underground aqueduct Slums where Mason is.

** The quest-giver Jasper is one of the [=NPCs=] who go in and out of Gran Soren as they please. This means that he may be unavailable for periods of time when you're about to turn in the "Land of Opportunity" sidequest (which may be possible if you haven't finished the quest on the same day he gave it). This led to players trying to figure out [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G4luTExR6M how and when he spawns back in the city]].

* {{Roofhopping}}: While you're in a city or town, the game's traversal and LeParkour mechanics allow you to climb up ladders or the edges of walls, then jump from roof to roof. Oftentimes, this is encouraged to reach [[InexplicableTreasureChest treasure chests that are somehow placed above houses]]. It's also the primary way of reaching Pip in the "Land of Opportunity" sidequest when he tries to isolate himself in the roof of a shack.

* PeninsulaOfPowerLeveling: There's an easy way to gain as many DP as you want without even having to touch the controller, but only after you've beaten the main quest. The first plot quest in the [[PostEndGameContent post-game]] involves [[spoiler:fighting the now-aged and insane Duke, which naturally brands you a traitor and gets the entire royal guard on your ass.]] This causes [[spoiler:an endless amount of soldiers]] to spawn whenever you enter the Noble Quarter, but since they can't climb walls, have no ranged attacks and only target the Arisen, you can park on one of the walls there and just sit still while your Pawns murder them endlessly: their EXP also easily scales so that it's slightly under 100, allowing you to get the maximum amount of DP per kill.

A sequel, titled ''VideoGame/DragonsDogmaII'', is set to release on March 22nd, 2024.

An UpdatedRerelease, titled ''Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen'', was released in April 2013 and added a lot of new content and re-balancing, most notably a new [[BonusLevelOfHell optional challenge dungeon]] called "Bitterblack Isle" (which takes more than a few cues from ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''). A free-to-play MMORPG, ''Dragon's Dogma Online,'' was released in 2015 in Japan and was available to play until its shutdown in December 2019.

** Wyrm dialogue heavily implies that [[spoiler: ''all'' dragonkin are transformed humans, possibly Arisen killed in ordinary combat.]]

* DropTheHammer: The other weapon of choice for warriors.

** The Warrior advanced vocation trades the shield of the Fighter for [[BigFreakingSword Greatswords]] and [[DropTheHammer Warhammers]], which no other class can. This makes them more reliant on their heavy armor to protect them.

A sequel, titled ''VideoGame/DragonsDogmaII'', was announced on June 16th, 2022 to be under development.

* DevelopersDesiredDate: There are a few that get more focus, but the clearest example would be Aelinore. She is given the most focus of all the female NPCs in the game, particularly romantically, especially given that she is the only character the Arisen can sleep with before the endgame. In general, male NPCs get the shorter end of the stick than the female ones; during [[spoiler:the true ending, all of the major female NPCs will have something to say when the Arisen's Pawn wakes up as the Arisen, even the major male NPCs will just silently embrace the Arisen's Pawn.]]

''Dragon's Dogma'' is an [[WideOpenSandbox open world]] [[ActionRPG action roleplaying game]] that was developed by Creator/{{Capcom}} Europe for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}. Directed by Hideaki Itsuno, known for his role with the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series, it was released in May 2012.

A PC version of ''Dark Arisen'' was released on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on January 15, 2016. It features technical improvements such as higher resolutions and an increased frame-rate (up to 144 FPS). A version with revamped graphics for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne was released in October 2017. A version for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was released on April 24th, 2019.

* {{Bishonen}}: The character creation sliders for body and face are extremely detailed and varied, and typically-female hairstyles and makeup are available to male characters, allowing the player to create some seriously pretty men as Arisen.

** The [[JustForPun ur]] [[UrExample example]] is the Ur-Dragon. This is essentially a PaletteSwap of the original dragon, but with a few key differences. It has different elemental weaknesses and strengths, a few new moves, and has multiple weak points. As it receives damage in battle, its true form is revealed to completely rotten, with bones and flesh all barely held together. Don't let that fool you though, [[LightningBruiser as this monster never slows down, hits much harder than his story mode counterpart, and has more hit points than any other enemy in the original version or the expansion]].

** Spots to be gathered from, chests to be opened, and items sitting on the ground to be picked up will all activate your ShinySense.

* SuspiciouslyCrackedWall: In a few dungeons, you may come across walls with a bunch of rubble sticking out of them, forming a noticeable crack that triggers your ShinySense. Attempting to strike them with your weapon also produces a distinct sound. These cracked walls can be torn down by throwing explosive items at them.

* UrExample: InUniverse example with the Ur-Dragon, [[BonusBoss an incredibly powerful dragon that literally requires hundreds of people to defeat]].

*** Holy Focused Bolt. It's just your upgraded regular attack with a Holy enchantment, but it deals high damage, is fast to cast and, most importantly, has homing capabilities which removes the need for manual aiming. It may not look as flashy as summoning meteors down on your enemies, but this attack will easily carry a Sorcerer through the entire game, and completely wrecks the resident BonusBoss.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: They only come around to mark the end of an age, bringing with them a huge surge of monsters around the world then await their respective Arisen on a mountain or other high, easily noticeable place. They come in six different flavors: [[ShockAndAwe Wyverns]], [[AnIcePerson Wyrms]], [[KillItWithFire Drakes]], Bitterblack Isle's [[DracoLich Cursed Dragons]], [[BigBad The Dragon]], and the BonusBoss, the [[DracoLich Ur-Dragon]]. [[spoiler:All dragons are also [[WasOnceAMan fallen Arisen]], with the larger main Dragon being one who failed to defeat the Seneschal, while the Drakes, Wyverns and Wyrms are strongly suggested to be fallen Fighters, Striders and Mages respectively.]]

* PinataEnemy: [[BonusBoss Daimon]].

* BonusBoss:
** [[spoiler:The Ur-Dragon, a much more powerful version of the dragon apparently made up of the hearts of several Arisen. It can be fought at any point in a NewGamePlus.]]
** [[spoiler:Daimon's awakened form as well. You only get to face it if you fight your way through the entire dungeon a second time with much harder encounters along the way.]]

* FantasticRacism: Pawns are considered subhuman and barred from entering the Duke's Castle. [[spoiler: It's actually because any pawns would recognize the Duke as an Arisen and potentially risk it being revealed struck a deal with the Dragon since he still doesn't have his heart.]]

* SchrodingersGun: You are rewarded with [[InfinityPlusOneSword powerful]] Dragon weapons after defeating [[spoiler:the Dragon Grigori]], but which one depends on the type of weapon(s) you've equipped (and by extension, the vocation you had) when you defeated said boss.

* MoneyMultiplier: Golden Talisman is a consumable tool that increases the gold dropped by killed enemies within a limited time. In ''Dark Arisen'', the Banker's Periapt serves a similar purpose.

* WarpWhistle: Ferrystones, which will whisk you away to a Portcrystal of your choice (by defeault, you have one outside the Pawn Guild in Gran Soren, and one outside Cassardis). [[spoiler:After defeating the griffin or venturing into plot-relevant dungeons, you can obtain moveable Portcrystals that you can set up anywhere on the open world to teleport there.]] Bitterblack Isle has the similar Liftstones, which take you back to the Isle's entrance.

* TimedMission: In the "Trials and Tribulations" quest, you are given just a few days to collect evidence or testimonies to prove Fournival's guilt or innocence in his trial. The game will constantly update you on how much you have left with each passing day, and if you don't deliver in time (or choose not to give anything), he will be declared guilty.

* VideogameCaringPotential: A possible side effect of having to lead a team of naive, dependent Pawns through various dangers. Particularly when they become distressed and call for help; time to go MamaBear on whatever's threatening them!
* VideogameCrueltyPotential:
** You can pick up and throw pretty much anything or anyone. This can range from [[CombatPragmatist pragmatic tactics]] like tossing an enemy off a cliff, to random dickery like a back-and-forth game of "catch the pig" between you and your Pawn. Or throwing random people into the [[spoiler: Everfall]].

** Be careful what animals you pick on, or you'll find yourself on the business end of an ox’s horns. And don't attack people in town, or the guards will get you and throw you in jail.
** A subtle one: [[spoiler:If you complete a quest to find a magic book for somebody in Gran Soren, you can choose to give him a non-magickal forgery. Do that, and his attempts to help you out during a boss fight with it fail for obvious reasons, with the man becoming bitter toward you as a result]].

* WakeUpCallBoss: Many of the dragon bosses can count as this.

* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler: The Dragon was an Arisen who failed to defeat the Seneschal. As was every Dragon that had ever ravaged Gransys before him. This fate can befall the player as well, should they be defeated in the final battle]].

** [[spoiler: Daimon]] of Bitterblack Isle was an Arisen who [[spoiler: refused to comply with his Dragon's SadisticChoice, instead bitterly wishing to destroy the gods. The Dragon abided his wish, giving him a form that could do just that.]]
** [[spoiler: Even [[TheGrimReaper Death himself]] is a transformed Arisen]].
* WarpWhistle: Ferry Stones, which will whisk you away to the Port Crystal outside the Pawn Guild in Gran Soren. [[spoiler:After defeating the griffin, you can obtain a moveable Port Crystal that you can set up anywhere on the world to teleport there.]] Bitterblack Isle has the similar Liftstones, which take you back to the Isle's entrance.

* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: If one of your Pawns is killed in battle, simply waltz over to it and press circle to help the poor thing back on its feet (with about half-full HP, even, meaning sometimes it's more efficient to let a Pawn die and then resurrect it than to actively heal it with a spell or pass the herbs). If ''you'' die, however, your Pawns will simply begin screaming and refuse to continue the fight, forcing a reload from your last save. This is [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as the Arisen, while ageless, is still human and mortal. Death is permanent for them. For the Pawns, however, unless they're granted a piece of their Arisen's soul, death simply returns them to the rift.

* WhamEpisode: The Post-Game. [[spoiler:The dragon is dead, and your heart has been returned to you. Unfortunately, the world is now in even ''worse'' shape than it was before the dragon was slain: stronger monsters now roam the lands, the sky has been blacked out by ominous clouds, and half of Gran Soren has been swallowed up by a massive sinkhole leading into the Everfall. To make matters worse, the Duke, [[RapidAging whose age caught up to him after getting his own heart back following the dragon's demise]], accuses you of trying to usurp him and tries to have you killed, with you being deemed PersonaNonGrata in half of what remains of the city.]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Some characters will depart Gransys with the promise of returning to help you at a later date [[spoiler:including Quina and Mercedes]]. They won't appear in the game again [[spoiler:unless you managed to get their Affinity high enough, in which case the Dragon kidnaps them]], or in Quina and Madeleine's case, [[spoiler: after you defeat the Dragon]].

** Part of the reason why [[spoiler:the cycle of Arisen, Dragon, and Seneschal continues: Seneschals will eventually become ''extremely bored'' and will be driven to die at the hands of an Arisen.]]

* WreathedInFlames: One ability of the Arcane Archer, Immolate, allows you to light yourself on fire. Sure, this costs you some hit points, but it pays for itself in spades when any creature you engage in melee not only takes a great deal of fire damage, but is also ''very'' likely to catch on fire itself.

[[folder:A-E]]

** The 'Land of Opportunity' quest mentioned several times on this page might sound like this if you know that saving the family from eviction leads to [[spoiler:only the son surviving the collapse of the city]], but it's more of a subversion. If you go along with the aristocrats plan to evict the family, your character is not heartless about it. Not only do you make sure the family is able to discuss their options first, but you help pay for their ability to move into a new place (and on top of that, they realize that taking this option secures their peace of mind from the aristocrat bothering them in the future). In the end, you even get more money as a reward than you spent on the new housing, making the choice to evict beneficial for every party involved (even if you didn't know about the [[spoiler:DiabolusExMachina]] that eventually comes as a result of the other choice).

* SecretTest: [[spoiler:The dragon wants you to kill him]] to prove yourself worthy of [[spoiler:facing the seneschal. The seneschal wants you to beat him]] to prove yourself worthy of [[spoiler:taking his place.]]

** It's possible to get past the BrokenBridge and up to Gran Soren before said bridge is 'repaired'. However, the guards will turn you away at the gates, and the entrance via the aqueduct is closed tight.
** Near the beginning is a minor break in the Watergod's Temple, where you can dash/hover/doublejump over a pit to get behind a plot-locked door and strip the place of loot well before you get the quest that sends you down there.

* SmashingSurvival: When the player is captured or pinned down by a monster, the player is prompted to frantically flick the left analog stick back and forth. There's a passive skill that doubles the speed at which the bar that fills up when you waggle the stick, although it's mistakenly labled as making it easier to escape battles.

* SoftWater: Averted with shallow water, but if you fall from a great height then land into deep water, [[FogOfDoom The]] [[NonMaliciousMonster Brine]] takes you which lands you back into solid ground, instead of the fall killing you.

* SoundCodedForYourConvenience: A unique strum plays whenever you pick up important or quest-related items.

* StarterMon: Rook will always be your first Pawn in every playthrough, and that's before you'll properly recruit (or re-recruit in NewGamePlus) your main Pawn. He provides [[HealerSignsOnEarly healing]] and fire infusion, but like all other recruited Pawns, he doesn't level-up.

* SuicidalOverconfidence: The game levels you up fairly quickly, and there's a ''triple figure'' level cap. The various enemies out to pick a fight with you don't seem to realize this.

** Played with in ''Dark Arisen''. [[spoiler:The final boss was an Arisen who tried this when he was presented by the Dragon's SadisticChoice - face the dragon who turned out to be his former mentor, who he was trying to avenge by killing the dragon, or give up his beloved who also happens to be his mentors former pawn that he fell in love with. He refused to give an answer, instead vowing to destroy the gods for forcing this on him. The Dragon, however, chose to go the LiteralGenie route and gave him the second option. It took the life of his beloved and transformed the man into a form which could kill a god, the Daimon, and then it banished him to the Bitterblack Isle.]]

** The Prologue features Savan, a 20-level, well-equipped Arisen and a company of experienced Pawns who kill a chimera on their way to face the dragon. Once you make your own Arisen, [[TotalPartyKill do not expect your first encounter with a chimera to go so well]].

* TimedMission: In a quest, you are given just a few days to collect evidence or testimonies to help save Fournival in his trial. The game will constantly update you on how much you have left with each passing day, and if you don't deliver in time, he will be declared guilty.

* TooAwesomeToUse: Some consumable items are so beneficial that they are hard to come by. For example, a Panacea heals you of all debilitations, so it's usually saved as a last resort if you don't have any other options left for [[AntiDebuff cleansing debuffs]].

* TotalPartyKill: It'll happen a lot.

* TwentyBearAsses: Most of the notice board quests are either this or {{Escort Mission}}s for random [=NPCs=]. Even the ''final dungeon'' of the main game, [[spoiler: the Everfall]], has as its main objective collecting 20 wakestones to open a portal to the TrueFinalBoss.