History TabletopGame / DragonRaid

* VaporWare: The "second edition" (actually a non-obsoleting supplemental rule book) was announced [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130223083659/http://freegroups.net/groups/dragonraid/0::3004read.html in 1999]], but never got further than some as-yet-unofficial rules posted on the website.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Technically averted, but upheld in practice. Enemy creatures are evil members of otherwise good races, sequestered on [=EdenAgain=] to contain their corruption. Their good brethren remain on other planets, far from the action. See also PlanetOfHats.

%%* ElvesVsDwarves: Mentioned in the second edition.

* TheMissionary: Every player character is expected to "witness" to the [=OnceBorn=].

%%* TheMoralSubstitute

* VaporWare: The "second edition" (actually a non-obsoleting supplemental rule book) was announced [[http://freegroups.net/groups/dragonraid/0::3004read.html more than ten years ago]], and is still supposed to be imminent, but hasn't gotten past some as-yet-unofficial rules posted on the website.

For the curious, "archival" [=PDFs=] of the core books are available [[http://bartelsmr.bravepages.com/htm/draid.htm here]], and some proposed second-edition rules can be found [[http://www.dragonraid.net/web/dr2nded/ at the official site]].

"''Might as well say it now. Dragonraid was an RPG put together by a Christian publisher in the early 80s', intended to provide an holy alternative to horrible Satanic games like [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Toon]], [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Traveller]], and, worst of all, the abominable creation known as TabletopGame/BunniesAndBurrows.''"

* ElvesVsDwarves: Mentioned in the second edition. See also FantasticRacism.

* TheMoralSubstitute

* WretchedHive: The Dragon Lands.

** In the first scenario, however, characters are penalized if they do not abandon a human NPC on the grounds that [[BrokenAesop his disbelief makes him unsuitable to associate with True Christians]]. The fact that the NPC expresses interest in conversion makes this all the more questionable[[spoiler: , but then, he does run off and bring back enemies if you keep him around]].

[=DragonRaid=] came out in 1984, in the thick of both mainstream and conservative-Christian opposition to DungeonsAndDragons; it was TheMoralSubstitute at a time when the need for a substitute was deeply felt. And, indeed, almost every aspect of [=DragonRaid=] seems to be a direct response to some misconception about D&D.

* Against the idea that D&D encourages wanton killing, [=DragonRaid=] turns its monsters into [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman allegorical representations of sin]] and punishes the killing of humans with massive stat-drains.
* Against the idea that role-playing is "simulation training" that inevitably influences real-life behavior, [=DragonRaid=] encourages role-playing virtuous behavior in situations that have clear parallels to real life.
* Against the idea that players regularly become despondent when their characters die, [=DragonRaid=] explicitly frames character death as noble martyrdom.
* Against the idea that the peer-DM controls every aspect of the player's life, [=DragonRaid=] expects games to be run by people with legitimate out-of-game authority (parents, youth pastors, Sunday school teachers).
* Against the idea that D&D players inevitably become ruthless and power-hungry, [=DragonRaid=] makes character advancement gradual, piecemeal, and contingent on the character's good behavior.
* Against the idea that players must recite spells for their characters to use magic, [=DragonRaid=] obliges players to recite Scripture for their characters to obtain miracles.

What is most curious about all this is that, despite being built almost entirely of opposition and reaction, [=DragonRaid=] still stands on its own as a perfectly solid, workable game. The setting, {{Anvilicious}} allegory though it be, is painted with loving detail, and the mechanics are simple and sound.

"''Might as well say it now. Dragonraid was an RPG put together by a Christian publisher in the early 80s', intended to provide an holy alternative to horrible Satanic games like [[DungeonsAndDragons Toon]], [[DungeonsAndDragons Traveller]], and, worst of all, the abominable creation known as BunniesAndBurrows.''"

DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything?

* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: They gave a creation mythology to the [=StarLot=]. That is, the clear 10-sided dice you use in the game and get with it.