Another Holmes Testimonial, from the docshottslab blog (new to me):

Another Holmes Testimonial, from the docshottslab blog (new to me):
http://docschottslab.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/an-origin-story/

I talk about the B1-style dungeon I'm working on for Dungeon Crawl.

I talk about the B1-style dungeon I'm working on for Dungeon Crawl.
http://initiativeone.blogspot.com/2013/02/dungeon-format-b1-style.html

From the Quickly, Quietly, Carefully blog:

From the Quickly, Quietly, Carefully blog:
http://quicklyquietlycarefully.blogspot.com/2013/02/od-reprint-pre-orders-available.html

Arduin Appendix N

Interesting post from the In the Cities blog about the "Appendix N" of Arduin, and the maps of the Captain Future pulp series.

http://in-the-cities.com/2013/02/25/an-atlas-of-fantasy/

Some recent discussion that the original intent of the OD&D magic missile was to require a "to hit" roll as in...

Some recent discussion that the original intent of the OD&D magic missile was to require a "to hit" roll as in Holmes.
http://odd74.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=monterstreasure&thread=8488&page=1#113742

The latest from the Playing at the World blog:

The latest from the Playing at the World blog:
http://playingattheworld.blogspot.com/2013/02/arnesons-naval-illustrations.html

In the Holmes Basic rulebook there's a magical synergy between Gygax/Arneson's original OD&D text, much of which is...

In the Holmes Basic rulebook there's a magical synergy between Gygax/Arneson's original OD&D text, much of which is preserved, and Holmes editing/additional writing. It's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Paraphrased from my comment here:
http://odd74.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=8478&page=8#113528

Review of new reprint of Unearthed Arcana, from The Delver's Dungeon.

Review of new reprint of Unearthed Arcana, from The Delver's Dungeon. All errata from Dragon magazine has been incorporated.
http://www.thedelversdungeon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1220

One of the Holmes Basic t-shirts, in the field.

One of the Holmes Basic t-shirts, in the field.
http://oldschoolfrp.tumblr.com/post/43736681161/adventuresandshopping-bestthingevertoday-at

"I don’t think OD&D and the four Supplements are just algorithms.

"I don’t think OD&D and the four Supplements are just algorithms. To me they are literature as well. That can’t be cloned." - Falconer, OD&D Discussion forum thread about the forthcoming reprint.
http://odd74.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=8478&page=6#113200

Twenty new monsters, each with but a single hit point!

Twenty new monsters, each with but a single hit point!
Written up for Holmes Basic/OD&D, but usable with any OSR D&D really.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2013/02/one-hit-point-monsters_23.html

Twenty new monsters for Holmes Basic, each with but a single hit point!

Twenty new monsters for Holmes Basic, each with but a single hit point!
#holmesref  
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2013/02/one-hit-point-monsters_23.html

From the Dont Let It Kill You blog's continuing Holmentzer series, comparison of sections on traps from Holmes vs...

From the Dont Let It Kill You blog's continuing Holmentzer series, comparison of sections on traps from Holmes vs Mentzer.
http://dontletitkillyou.blogspot.com/2013/02/holmentzer-traps.html

Comprehensive list of OSR games, including two Holmes clones - Blueholme and Wizards, Warriors and Wyrms - from the...

Comprehensive list of OSR games, including two Holmes clones - Blueholme and Wizards, Warriors and Wyrms - from the Mage of the Striped Tower blog. The blog is new to me and IIRC the title references a Greyhawk campaign event.
http://mageofthestripedtower.blogspot.com/2013/02/osr-resources.html

L3 Deep Dwarven Delve was just added to dndclassics.com

L3 Deep Dwarven Delve was just added to dndclassics.com

This was the "lost" L-series module by Len Lakofka that was first published in 1999 in the TSR Silver Anniversary Set with other modules & Holmes Basic.
http://www.dndclassics.com/product/111269/L3-Deep-Dwarven-Delve-%281e%29?filters=0_0_44700

Well, it's here. :-)

Michael Thomas wrote:

Well, it's here. :-)

Thank you for adding me, I appreciate it!

Saw this on the OD&D Discussion Forums: Wizards are reprinting OD&D.

Saw this on the OD&D Discussion Forums: Wizards are reprinting OD&D.
$150 for the set, includes the three original books plus supplements I-IV. New covers but interior artwork unchanged.
http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/45390000

A neat find by Frank Mentzer.

A neat find by Frank Mentzer. A version of Yeenoghu for OD&D, and clearly in the mode of Eldritch Wizardry, was published in the Strategic Preview, a TSR in-house publication that followed the Strategic Review.
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=60108

Great post by Hedgehobbit on the 2,000 Coppers blog about treating EPT as an OD&D Supplement rather than a...

Great post by Hedgehobbit on the 2,000 Coppers blog about treating EPT as an OD&D Supplement rather than a stand-alone game.
http://www.2000coppers.com/2013/02/using-empire-of-petal-throne-as-d.html

ZENOPUS ARCHIVES: Holmes Basic - Cook Expert Reference Sheet

http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2013/02/holmes-basic-cook-expert-reference-sheet.html

I think Holmes did a few very smart things with the "timers" of the D&D game.

I think Holmes did a few very smart things with the "timers" of the D&D game. The base healing rate of 1-3 hp/day gets injured PCs back into the fray much quicker than the extreme stinginess of AD&D's 1/day, and it helps checking wandering monsters only once per three turns rather than OD&D's once per turn. What little rules changes have others found in Holmes basic that improve the game relative to other contemporary versions?

Steve Winter on finding the Holmes Basic original art

More details from Steve Winter on the find.
http://www.howlingtower.com/2013/02/an-amazing-find.html

Hopefully dndclassics.com will have a new pdf of Holmes rulebook available again soon.

Hopefully dndclassics.com will have a new pdf of Holmes rulebook available again soon. In the meantime, you can still get a free pdf of the Zenopus Sample Dungeon from the Wizards website. The link is about half-way down the column, a 2008 retrospective of D&D Basic Sets by Bart Carroll called "Start Here". Also includes a pdf of the Mentzer rulebook Sample Dungeon.
http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4alum/20081017a

Just noticed that most of the Wizard's old school D&D T-shirts are now $20 each instead of $25.

Just noticed that most of the Wizard's old school D&D T-shirts are now $20 each instead of $25.
http://www.dndmerch.com/dungeon-master-guide-tee.html#.UR_lmehXJ-E

I just signed up on Twitter so I could comment on Steve Winter's tweet about finding the Holmes Basic original art.

I just signed up on Twitter so I could comment on Steve Winter's tweet about finding the Holmes Basic original art. But now that I'm there (as "Zenopus Archives") ... Any gaming (OSR) Twitter accounts worth following?

Please share your fascination with the Holmes Basic Set today, on the anniversary of J.

Please share your fascination with the Holmes Basic Set today, on the anniversary of J. Eric Holmes birth. I've bumped the blog post from last year. Please feel free to comment there or here.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/02/holmes-basic-testimonials.html

Rules expansions from B1?

Chris Kutalik:

Question to the community: have any of the various Holmes clones and expansions throw in the de facto rules expansions of B1. You know things that were drawn from the Greyhawk supplement like demi-humans thieves, hireling rules, STR mechanical stuff? Just curious.

Submissions are open for my Dungeon Crawl zine.

Submissions are open for my Dungeon Crawl zine. For members of this community, I'd be particularly happy to have a short adventure in the Holmes style in the next issue, or new Blueholme content.
http://initiativeone.blogspot.com/2013/02/submissions-for-dungeon-crawl-2.html

In further awesome news, I'm happy to report that BLUEHOLME™ Compleat Rules will feature the race of Holmes's "most...

In further awesome news, I'm happy to report that BLUEHOLME™ Compleat Rules will feature the race of Holmes's "most successful character" - with permission of John McEwan, creator of Starguard and proprietor of fine miniatures at Reviresco:
http://www.tin-soldier.com/starguard/dreenoi.html

From the Product History for the Expert Set at dndclassics.com

From the Product History for the Expert Set at dndclassics.com,
by RPG Historian Shannon Appelcline:
"The story of Basic D&D begins with J. Eric Holmes simplifying the original D&D rules (1974) as the first Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977). After that, TSR didn't put any more work into the Basic D&D game, instead focusing on AD&D (1977-1979). Enter the "James Dallas Egbert III affair" (1979), where a college student disappeared and D&D somehow took the blame in the media. Ironically, this controversy caused sales of Holmes' Basic Set to soar and resulted in a new directive for the newly created Design Department at TSR: supplement Basic D&D (which only covered levels 1-3) with Expert Rules that would allow players to play "through at least 12th level of experience.""
http://www.dndclassics.com/product/110792/D%26D-Expert-Set-Rulebook-%28Basic%29

A little update on BLUEHOLME™ Compleat Rules:

A little update on BLUEHOLME™ Compleat Rules:
http://dreamscapedesign.net/2013/02/12/blueholme-compleat-in-progress/

From the Adventures & Shopping blog: a review of the Classic Dungeon Tiles PDF.

From the Adventures & Shopping blog: a review of the Classic Dungeon Tiles PDF. Is this the Art Braune that is a member of this community?
http://adventuresandshopping.blogspot.com/2013/02/classic-dungeon-tiles-pdfs-arthur.html

ZENOPUS ARCHIVES: Expert Set rulebook pdf notes

http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2013/02/expert-set-rulebook-pdf-notes.html

From Ken Harrison's (member here) blog:

From Ken Harrison's (member here) blog:
http://therustybattleaxe.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-dungeon-2-comparing-gurps-and-d-on.html

ZENOPUS ARCHIVES: Expert Set brown dice

http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2013/02/expert-set-brown-dice.html

Part of a post on the Ginger Gone Gaming blog:

Part of a post on the Ginger Gone Gaming blog:

"I’m working on a campaign called Magic Faraway Land and am throwing in everything goofy idea that pops into my mind. It’ll be run using Holmes D&D, be 1-3 level, Flailsnails compatible, and utterly insane. Basically it’s Pride and Prejudice meets D&D."
http://gingersnapsunflowers.blogspot.com/

Would any of the folks on this group be interested in a campaign starting in the next week or two using G+ hangouts?

Would any of the folks on this group be interested in a campaign starting in the next week or two using G+ hangouts? It would be based on (surprise) Holmes basic, using some material from the 1981 Expert book to flesh out higher levels, plus other material drawn from all kinds of sources. It'd probably be in the evenings EST.

DF Discussion of the "Tamarack Stand" in B2, started by Geoffrey.

DF Discussion of the "Tamarack Stand" in B2, started by Geoffrey.
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=59991&p=1330737#p1330737

I picked up a second copy of the Holmes Rulebook at HPB today, this one a Silver Anniversary reprint for under $4.

I picked up a second copy of the Holmes Rulebook at HPB today, this one a Silver Anniversary reprint for under $4.  I'll probably give it to my daughter at some point, but for now, it will provide a clean copy for interior shots.  Just thought I'd celebrate one of life's little victories.

Great ideas for expanding/modifying B1

Great ideas for expanding/modifying B1
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=59929&sid=5b465da0ce2e9f8405a97c038836f2b2

Gateway to Adventure Catalog PDF

Not only is the new D&D Expert Set pdf a scan of the 1st printing, it also has an unlisted bonus: At the end are scans of the other contents of the Expert Set (other than X1), including one version of the famous Gateway to Adventure TSR. And it's the earlier version that shows the Holmes Basic rulebook side by side with an entry for the Expert Booklet. Although I now see that elsewhere in the catalog they show the new Moldvay Set cover.

From the Blue Boxer Rebellion Blog:

From the Blue Boxer Rebellion Blog:
http://blueboxerrebellion.blogspot.com/2013/02/welcome-to-plunderdome.html

Discussion of the Thaumaturgist's tower in Portown in the Sample Dungeon.

Discussion of the Thaumaturgist's tower in Portown in the Sample Dungeon.
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=59953

D&D Expert Set rulebook by Cook/Marsh was released on pdf today.

D&D Expert Set rulebook by Cook/Marsh was released on pdf today. It was designed to accompany Moldvay Basic, together forming what is commonly called B/X now, but it contains a section in the beginning on using it with the previous (Holmes) Basic Set. So in one sense it's the official Expert Set for Holmes Basic.
http://www.dndclassics.com/product/110792/D%26D-Expert-Set-Rulebook-%28Basic%29

Brand new Google+ community for Delving Deeper, the recently released clone of OD&D.

Brand new Google+ community for Delving Deeper, the recently released clone of OD&D.

I helped with proofreading DD, and am currently working on a supplement to play DD in a Holmes-like fashion.

Hello Holmes enthusiasts.

Hello Holmes enthusiasts. I'm a gamer who started with Holmes D&D, Traveller, Starfleet Battles and AH board games in the late 70s.
I've always been fond of Dr. Holmes concise friendly version of D&D. He was also a big Edgar Rice Burroughs fan. I sometimes wonder what a Barsoom RPG written by JEH would have been like.

Another art find from the Save Vs Dragon blog.

Another art find from the Save Vs Dragon blog.
Louis Rhead vs Erol Otus' Valerius:
http://savevsdragon.blogspot.com/2013/02/i-found-another-one.html?showComment=1359901202289#c6554557138624492284

A recently active discussion on Dragonsfoot directed generally to "Holmes Basic".

A recently active discussion on Dragonsfoot directed generally to "Holmes Basic".
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=59231&p=1328832#p1328832

ZENOPUS ARCHIVES: Basic Blueholme

http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2013/02/basic-blueholme.html

Awesome "art influence" find from the Save Vs Dragon blog:

Awesome "art influence" find from the Save Vs Dragon blog:
http://savevsdragon.blogspot.com/2013/01/sit-ubues-sit.html?showComment=1359645359523