Editing DragonQuest (section)

==Reception==
In the September 1980 edition of ''[[The Space Gamer]]'' (Issue No. 31), Forrest Johnson liked the system despite some flaws. "Despite its faults, it still presents a pleasing contrast to the sloppiness of [''[[The Fantasy Trip]]''], the illogic of [''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''], the incoherence of [''[[Chivalry & Sorcery]]'']. It borrows good ideas liberally from the older systems, and offers noteworthy innovations of its own... At [the price], ''DragonQuest'' is a terrific buy."<ref name="SG">{{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Forrest |date=September 1980 |title=Featured Review: DragonQuest|journal=[[The Space Gamer]]|publisher=[[Steve Jackson Games]]|issue=31|pages=20}}</ref>

In the November 1980 edition of ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' (Issue 43), Douglas Bachmann had issues with lack of balance in the skills system, but found the character generation system "a delight". Bachmann also liked  the combat system. He concluded, "[''DragonQuest''] does have some problems, but I have found it to be an exciting game which has succeeded in setting limits and structuring activity while also encouraging creativity."<ref name=dragon>{{cite journal|last=Bachmann|first=Douglas|date=November 1980 |title=DragonQuest: SPI gets serious|journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]|publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]]|issue=39|pages=49–50}}</ref>

[[Michael A. Stackpole]] was more critical in his review for ''[[Different Worlds]]'' magazine, writing "''DQ'' functions as a FRP game the same way a sledge hammer functions as a mousetrap. Both get the job done, but the effort involved in getting it to work is not worth the end result."<ref name="dw11">{{cite journal | last = Stackpole |first = Michael A. | authorlink = Michael A. Stackpole | title = Reviews | journal = [[Different Worlds]] | issue = 11 | pages =28–29 |date=February–March 1981}}</ref>

In Issue 31 of ''[[Phoenix (wargaming magazine)|Phoenix]]'', Terry Devereux called the combat system and character generation slightly better than the systems used in ''D&D''/''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons|AD&D]]''.<ref name=phoenix31>{{cite magazine|last=Devereux|first=Terry| date=July–August 1981 |title= DragonQuest |magazine=[[Phoenix (wargaming magazine)|Phoenix]]| issue=31|pages=11–15}}</ref>

In the Summer 1984 issue of the French games magazine ''[[Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]]'', Jean-Pierre Demange reviewed the TSR edition, and admired the many improvements that had been made to the original SPI product, commenting that it "aimed to correct the undeniable defects of the first edition, in order to arrive at a game whose flexibility of use should be the asset without degrading the realism dear to many." Demange found the character generation system very customizable, and the combat system a "rich experience from the multitude of possible actions." Demange concluded with a strong recommendation, saying, "''DQ'' has many qualities and the flexibility of its rules framework allows everyone to correct the flaws and shortcomings inherent in all human creation."<ref>{{cite magazine | last =Demange| first =Jean-Pierre| title = Têtes d'Affiches | magazine = [[Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]] | issue =20| pages =40–41 | date =1984 | language =fr }}</ref>  

In his 1990 book ''[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]]'', game critic [[Rick Swan]] was impressed by the production values of the SPI edition game, but pointed out that "closer inspection revealed a lot of annoying rules [including] a tediously complicated combat system ... a dull selection of monsters ... and some just plain silly rules (if a male player wants to use a female character, he has to roll the dice for permission.)" Swan thought that the TSR edition addressed the game's deficiencies, making it "a polished and sophisticated fantasy RPG with one of gaming's best-ever magic systems." Swan concluded by giving the game a rating of 3 out of 4, saying, "The game ... desperately needs a more colorful setting. But for now,  the future looks bright for ''DragonQuest.''"<ref name=swan>{{cite book | last =Swan  | first =Rick | author-link=Rick Swan |title =[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]] | publisher =St. Martin’s Press | date =1990 | location =New York | pages =70–71}}</ref> 

In 1996, Heidi Kaye did a retrospective review of ''DragonQuest'' for ''Arcane'' magazine, stating that ''DragonQuest''{{'s}} system remains eminently playable.<ref name="Arcane8">{{cite journal|last=Kaye|first=Heidi|date=July 1996|title=Despatches|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=8|pages=17}}</ref>

In a retrospective review of ''DragonQuest'' in ''[[Black Gate (magazine)|Black Gate]]'', Ty Johnston said "''DQ'' isn't for everyone. Patience is the key, and I realize that's easier said than done in today's busy world. Still, if you're looking for an old-school RPG that has deadly combat and is less limiting than player class systems, ''DragonQuest'' might be for you."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackgate.com/2021/03/19/early-competition-for-dd-dragonquest/|title=Early Competition for D&D: DragonQuest – Black Gate|date=March 19, 2021 }}</ref>