Editing Dragon Quest (series) (section)

==Common Elements==
===Gameplay===
The game player's party walks into a town and buys weapons, armor, and items in order to defeat {{MFamilies}}s easily. When the player's party is out of the town, the party is vulnerable to random {{MFamilies}} attacks. When players encounter {{MFamilies}}s, they have several options from which to choose through menus. The player can attack and defeat the enemy with weapons, magic, or items. The player can also attempt to run away from the fight. The Flee option is available during boss battles but is never successful. After a player wins a battle by defeating all the {{MFamilies}}s, the player's party members gain experience points (EXP) in order to gain new levels. When a certain character gains a new level, the [[Stats in Dragon Quest|Stats]] of the character are upgraded.[26]

To save one's progress, the player generally must visit a [[church]] or House of Healing and talk to a priest or nun. In the first three games of the main series, saving was accomplished by talking to a King or Queen[26], with the exception of {{Dragon Quest}} and {{Dragon Quest II}} in Japan, which used a password system.[27] If the player's []party]] dies in battle, the group will lose half of their [[gold]] and the leader of the [[party]] warps back to the nearest [[church]]. The leader then needs to pay a priest to revive his/her [[party]] members. This is only effective in the first six ''Dragon Quest'' games. More recent games in the series have banks in many towns that allow the player to store [[gold]], which prevents it from being lost when the [[party]] dies.

{{Dragon Quest III}}, {{Dragon Quest VI}}, and {{Dragon Quest VII}} feature several classes to choose for the party members.[8] Each of these installments possesses its own particular set of classes.  Typical classes include the Cleric / Priest / Pilgrim, Fighter, Hero, Jester / Goof-Off, Thief, Warrior / Soldier and Wizard / Mage[28][29]. {{Dragon Quest VI}} includes two monster classes[30], and {{Dragon Quest VII}} includes dozens.[31]

==={{Monster}}s===
The series features several recurring {{MFamilies}}s, such as [[Slime]]s, [[Dracky|Drackies]], [[Shadow]]s, [[Mummy|Mummies]], [[Goodybag|Trick Bags]], and {{Dragon}}s.[32][33][34] Many of the {{MFamilies}}s have been designed by [[Akira Toriyama]]. Many of the ''Dragon Quest'' {{MFamilies}}s have been featured in the {{DQMSeries}} of games, which allows the player to catch {{MFamilies}}s and use them in battle. This idea was also used in {{Dragon Quest V}}, although [[human]]s fight in battle as well.

The official mascot of the ''Dragon Quest'' series is the [[Slime]]. A [[Slime]] is a small blob with a face, shaped like water droplet. It has appeared in every ''Dragon Quest'' game and it is usually one of the first {{MFamilies}}s the player encounters.[35] The [[Slime]]'s popularity has netted it two spin-offs: {{SMMDQ}} and {{DQHRS}}. They also make a significant showing in the Japanese manga and two-episode anime ''Dragon Half''.

===Erdrick/Loto===
''see also: [[Erdrick]]''

'''Erdrick''', also known as '''Roto''' in Japan or '''Loto''' in the North American localization of the {{Game Boy Color}} remakes of the first three games, is a legendary hero from the ''Dragon Quest'' series. The first three ''Dragon Quest'' games make up the "[[Erdrick trilogy]]", all being connected to the legend of [[Erdrick]]. He is known in the game as the hero who freed [[Alefgard]] from darkness.[36] The name [[Erdrick]] was first mentioned in the English localization, {{Dragon Warrior}} in which the player is referred to as Erdrick's descendent.[37] Erdrick’s legend was completed with the 1991 release of {{Dragon Warrior III}}.

In {{Dragon Warrior}}, Erdrick was the ancestor of the {{Hero 1}}. The {{Hero 1}} follows in the footsteps of Erdrick to ultimately reach the [[Dragonlord's Castle|Charlock Castle]] and confront the [[Dragonlord]]. In {{Dragon Warrior II}}, the [[Luminaries|heroes]] are descendants of [[Erdrick]], and also of the {{Hero 1}} from {{Dragon Warrior}}.[38][39] They explore the expanded world of []Torland]], including [[Alefgard]] as seen in the first game. At the end of {{Dragon Warrior III}}, the King of [[Alefgard]] bestows upon the {{Hero 3}} "the Order of Erdrick", the country’s highest honor reserved only for true heroes. While this implies [[Erdrick]] is merely a title, it is possible to name the Hero Erdrick at the beginning of ''Dragon Warrior III'' if a space is added at the end when naming the hero. In {{Dragon Warrior III}}, the origins of the hero [[Erdrick]] are revealed; therefore, the chronological order of the first three games is {{Dragon Warrior III}}, ''Dragon Warrior'', and then {{Dragon Warrior II}}.[40] This chronology is further evidenced in the naming of the hero's weapon, armor and [[shield]]. After the events of {{Dragon Warrior III}}, the {{Hero 3}}'s armaments are renamed as the Erdrick (or Loto) {{Sword}} and Armor in {{Dragon Warrior}} and {{Dragon Warrior II}}.

The {{Hero 3}}, originally known as Erdrick to many English-speaking players, is also known by two other names. In the original Japanese language games, [[Erdrick]] is known exclusively by the name '''Roto''', which is also used by some import gamers. Another romanization of the name is '''Loto''', which was used in place of Erdrick when [[Enix America, Inc.]] re-released ''[[Dragon Quest I & II|Dragon Warrior, Dragon Warrior II]]'', and ''[[Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation|Dragon Warrior III]]'' on the {{Game Boy Color}}. This was most likely used because the Japanese character (ロ) is not strictly an R or an L sound, but lies somewhere in between. Therefore it is properly transliterated either way.

In the original ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', Square parodies ''Dragon Warrior'' by displaying a grave for Erdrick in the town of Elfland.[41] In retaliation, Enix hid a Cid grave in {{Dragon Quest III}}. A parody of Erdrick's sword is wielded by Gilgamesh in ''[[Final Fantasy]] XII'': it is referred to as the "Wyrmhero Blade" (In the Japanese version, it is called "Tolo Sword").

===Zenithia===
''see also: [[Zenithia]]''

'''[[Zenithia]]''', also called '''Zenith Castle''' or simply '''Zenith''', is the name of a fictional sky castle from the series. The first appearance is in {{Dragon Warrior IV}}, and the castle is one of several elements from {{Dragon Quest IV}}, {{V}}, and {{VI}} which suggest the three games are linked as a [[Zenithia trilogy|trilogy]]; this group is often called the Tenkū (Japanese for Heaven), or the Tenkū no Shiro (Castle in the Sky) trilogy.[42][43] [[Yuji Horii]] explained that the trilogy was never intended: "Each ''Dragon Quest'' title represents a fresh start and a new story, so I don't see too much of a connection between the games in the series. I guess it could be said that the imagination of players has brought the titles together in a certain fashion."[44]

In {{Dragon Warrior IV}}, Zenithia can be accessed by climbing the [[Stairway to Zenithia|Zenithian Tower]] near [[The Azimuth|Gottside]], which goes as far up to the sky. It is directly above the entrance to the [[Nadiria|world of darkness]]. In {{Dragon Quest V}}, Zenithia has fallen into a lake south of Elheaven. This happened when the [[Gold Orb|Golden Orb]], half of a set of magical orbs that supported the castle in the sky, fell from its place. Once recovered and returned to [[Zenith Dragon|Master Dragon]], Zenithia will rise again. This time, the castle can move freely around the sky. In {{Dragon Quest VI}}, Zenith Castle is sealed away by Demon Lord [[Dhuran|Durran]], and a giant hole is left behind in its place in the Dream World. After the Dream World returns to its natural state, Zenith Castle is the only part of it that can still be seen floating above the real world. A castle in the {{Dragon Warrior III}} remakes for {{Super Famicom}}/{{Game Boy Color}} is also called [[Cloudsgate Citadel (bonus dungeon)|Zenith]], though the layout differs from the castle from the Tenku series.[45]

[[Square Enix]] has released the Celestial Sword (the Zenithian Sword) and Sword of Ramias as part of their ''Dragon Quest Legend Items'' series - miniature collectible toy replicas of artifacts from the ''Dragon Quest'' universe.