> I do wonder what Japanese equivalent may have predated or emerged in parallel? The combination of D&D and western RPGs with Japanese games/comics/animation h

> I do wonder what Japanese equivalent may have predated or emerged in parallel? The combination of D&D and western RPGs with Japanese games/comics/animation has been amazingly fruitful. I believe most of the familiar tropes (character sheets, experience points and leveling up, hit points, classic party composition, etc.) were originally imported from D&D, possibly with a parallel path through early PC RPGs and adventure games. Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy both had levels and HP (and I believe those games were influenced by Wizardry and Ultima, in turn also influenced by D&D.) One thing I don't know is how popular D&D and other TTRPGs have been in Japan. MUDs were definitely influenced by D&D (as well as early CRPGs and adventure games) and evolved into MMOs.