Micro-dungeon made on the fly using Lego Heroica pieces, explored successfully single fighter of 4th level using...

Micro-dungeon made on the fly using Lego Heroica pieces, explored successfully single fighter of 4th level using Holmes Basic rules.
 #holmesref
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/mini-dungeon-monster-mountain-1.html

Boing Boing article by Ethan Gilsdorf on the 40th anniversary of D&D.

Boing Boing article by Ethan Gilsdorf on the 40th anniversary of D&D. Features the Holmes Basic cover art. Gilsdorf is the author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, a 2009 book about RPGs.
http://boingboing.net/2014/01/31/at-40-years-old-dungeons-dr.html#.UuxBBSH1bQ4.blogger

Per Philotomy Jurament, another instance of the Monster Manual matching OD&D: weapon damages for centaurs match the...

Per Philotomy Jurament, another instance of the Monster Manual matching OD&D: weapon damages for centaurs match the variable damage given in the Greyhawk supplement.
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1461063#p1461063

Part 19, covering the introduction to the monsters.

Part 19, covering the introduction to the monsters.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/part-19.html

Please welcome Ernie Gygax who joined our community recently at my invitation.

Please welcome Ernie Gygax who joined our community recently at my invitation. Ernie and Benoist Poire have recently co-authored a brand-new Basic level dungeon that appears in Gygax Magazine #3, called The Marmoreal Tomb of Garn Pat’uul. It is a lead-in to the full publication of the Hobby Shop Dungeon later this year.
http://store.gygaxmagazine.com/

Old School FRP - My battered but still usable box from the Holmes...

http://oldschoolfrp.tumblr.com/post/74735762773/my-battered-but-still-usable-box-from-the-holmes

Review of B2 for the 40th anniversary.

For the 40th anniversary I played D&D with my 6yo for the first time today.

For the 40th anniversary I played D&D with my 6yo for the first time today. I converted Lego Heroica to Holmes D&D, using the microfigures and minis to build a town and dungeon.

GeekDad’s John Kovalic and Ethan Gilsdorf on WPR

"GeekDad’s own John Kovalic and Ethan Gilsdorf were both interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio in light of the anniversary of the RPG that started it all."  [The promo pic shows Holmes Basic & AD&D manuals]
http://geekdad.com/2014/01/geeks-npr-talking-dds-40th

A slight delay, but Don't Panic!

A slight delay, but Don't Panic!

Originally shared by Michael Thomas

A slight delay, but Don't Panic!
http://dreamscapedesign.net/2014/01/26/the-blueholme-timetable/

An inspirational excerpt about the Greyhawk campaign from Gygax's second RPG book, "Master of the Game".

An inspirational excerpt about the Greyhawk campaign from Gygax's second RPG book, "Master of the Game". Written in 1989, but surely talking about the campaign from the '70s-early '80s:
http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-gary-gygax-described-greyhawk-in.html

I am starting a new pbp using the Holmes rule set on the odd74 boards.

I am starting a new pbp using the Holmes rule set on the odd74 boards. Recruiting for adventurers currently if anyone has interest http://www.odd74.proboards.com/board/105/dead-city-cron
http://www.odd74.proboards.com/board/105/dead-city-cron

One K&NA regular, normally an 1E player, is running a Holmes game this Sunday for the 40th anniversary of D&D:

One K&NA regular, normally an 1E player, is running a Holmes game this Sunday for the 40th anniversary of D&D:
http://knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12063

Something amazing at Gary Con this year, courtesy The Collector's Trove (Paul Stormberg): "a recent discovery by The...

Something amazing at Gary Con this year, courtesy The Collector's Trove (Paul Stormberg): "a recent discovery by The Collector’s Trove has found TSR’s first published adventure by Gary Gygax, of which, only a score or so were printed and handed-out at GenCon VIII in 1975! Used to demonstrate TSR’s new game, Dungeons & Dragons, the adventure is the fully fleshed-out first-level of Greyhawk Castle! Special sessions of this Dungeons & Dragons adventure will be run at 330 Center St. in the same kitchen where Gary introduced Dungeons & Dragons and Greyhawk Castle to his son and daughter Ernie and Elise over 40 years ago. Could there be a more amazing way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons?"

Some observations on the "new" Great Kingdom map that Jon showed us in his video. #quagkeep

Some observations on the "new" Great Kingdom map that Jon showed us in his video. #quagkeep
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-land-of-great-kingdom-and-environs.html

Awesome video by Jon Peterson showing off some pre-D&D treasures from his collection.

Awesome video by Jon Peterson showing off some pre-D&D treasures from his collection. Of note, he shows a familiar set of "low impact" dice made by a company called Creative Publications. TSR used these in the Holmes Basic Set as well as selling them separately.

The Combat Examples...

The Combat Examples...
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/part-18-bruno-dies-horrible-death.html

Shawn Sanford's resources for "Random Holmes":

Shawn Sanford's resources for "Random Holmes":

Originally shared by Shawn Sanford

I never would have thought that I would collect these, let alone use them in actual play. I have proven myself wrong on both counts.

Shawn Sanford describes his "Random Holmes" games, using the Monster & Treasure Assortments to stock the dungeons.

Shawn Sanford describes his "Random Holmes" games, using the Monster & Treasure Assortments to stock the dungeons.
http://odd74.proboards.com/post/133864

The Spartan Warlock

#completewarlock

Originally shared by Wayne's Books

THE SPARTAN #9 FEATURING WARLOCK
An early gaming magazine from 1975, this issue is notable for featuring the early rendition of the Warlock role playing game. "or How to Play DandD Without Playing DandD?"
Just listed it for auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=131095868031
More photos there.

Games Workshop's "POLYDICE".

Games Workshop's "POLYDICE". In the '70s, GW sold TSR's products in the UK, and this was their re-packaging of TSR's "low impact" polyhedral dice. In both the US and UK these dice were available separately or included in the Holmes Basic Set. (I found this picture last month but forgot to record the source so my apologies to the original poster).

In which I succumb to cloying nostalgia.

Originally shared by Chris Kutalik

In which I succumb to cloying nostalgia. 
http://hillcantons.blogspot.com/2014/01/holmes-homecoming.html

Dex-based initiative, the parry and melee resolution...

Dex-based initiative, the parry and melee resolution...
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/part-17-highest-dexterity-strikes-first.html

Report on the start of new Holmes Basic game...

Report on the start of new Holmes Basic game...
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1455770#p1455770

Attacks per round, including the infamous daggers...

Attacks per round, including the infamous daggers...
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/part-16-exchange-of-two-blows-with.html

Dungeon Hobby Shop Dungeon photo Summer of '80

TSR's Dungeon Hobby Shop Dungeon in the summer of 1980 - the era of Holmes Basic & AD&D.

Originally shared by Benoist Poiré

This photo, unearthed some time ago by Chris Wham, shows the Dungeon Hobby Shop of TSR at the corner of Main Street in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, c. July 1980.

In 1978, the "Dungeon Hobby Shop Dungeon" started with a few discarded "un-keyed" maps his friend, Terry Kuntz, brother of Rob Kuntz of Supplement I fame, gave him to use for his own ends, with quite a few modifications of Ernie's own "Gygaxian" device of course, and a few more levels added besides.

As the campaign grew over the next while, many of the customers of the Dungeon Hobby Shop would come to explore the dangerous corridors of Ernie's maze, including quite a few sailors who had come to the store from the Great Lakes, customers, TSR colleagues, friends, relatives, and many gamers besides, one E. Gary Gygax amongst them.

Despite the closure of TSR's Dungeon Hobby Shop, Ernie would keep running games with the same game setting for the next decades at home, in conventions, and at other venues besides, including Margaret Weis's and Don Perrin's later store, the Game Guild.

This is this dungeon and setting around it, this fantasy gaming world with a history of actual play going all the way back to the very roots of the role playing games hobby we love, that Ernest Gary Gygax Jr. and Benoist Poiré are preparing to share with gamers far and wide.

The legend continues. You too can be part of it.

The Hobby Shop Dungeon. Coming in 2014 on a table top near you.

A fine list of Holmesian creatures, thanks to Tony Rowe.

Michael Thomas wrote:

A fine list of Holmesian creatures, thanks to Tony Rowe.

Originally shared by Tony Rowe

Hiya Michael. I just happen to have the sort of list you need - every single creature/monster mentioned by Holmes in any of his writings. Don't forget that Holmes used a lot of dinosaurs in his stories!

Here are the ones that you missed with citations for where they are mentioned (see bottom of message):

Ye Compleat List of Creatures, additional -

Allosaurus – (ALC1)
Angel – (COADM)
Byakhee - (LOVECRAFT)
Cat-Man - (FRPG)
Dagon avatar (animated statue?) –(MOP)
Deep One (listed as "phibians" on your list) – "Frog-Heads" (MOP) called “the Deep Ones” by Ebeneezer on page 105 (LOVECRAFT)
Dolphin, talking - (ALC2)
Dragon Turtle – (ALC2)
Flower Stalks - sprays anesthetic pollen (FRPG)
Gorgon - (BAG)
Great Race, The - (LOVECRAFT)
Kraken, Giant - (AGC)
Kraken, Tiny - (ALC2)
Lamia - (AGC2)
Lammasu - (FRPG)
Lilliputian - (BAG)
Lion (Cat, Great?) - (FRPG)
Lizard, Giant Chameleon - (AGC)
Lizard, Giant Gila Monster - (FRPG)
Lizard Folk King - (FRPG)
Mammoth - (FRPG)
Mermaid - (ALC2)
Mi-Go – Fungi from Yuggoth (COADM) (LOVECRAFT)
Mummy, Atlantean - (ALC2)
Old Ones, The – a.k.a. Primordial Ones in DDG (LOVECRAFT)
Pellucidar denizens – stats for Mahars, Sagoths and Thipdars in A&E #18
Piercer - (FRPG)
Sand-shark – sand tiger shark? (MOP)
Satyr - (MOP)
Shaggoth (a.k.a. Shoggoth) - (LOVECRAFT) (REBUTTAL)
Spawn of Cthulhu – (ALC2)
Tentacle - (FRPG)
Tree Root Monster things – (BAG)
Triceratops – (ALC1)
Troll, Sea –(ALC2)
Turtle, Giant - (ALC2)
Tyrannosaurus - (FRPG)
Water-nymph - (FRPG)

CITATIONS

FRPG – Fantasy Role-Playing Games
WFH – Warrior-For-Hire (Alarums & Excursions #11)
MOP – Maze of Peril
WS – Were-shark (Alarums & Excursions #13) Chapter 2 of MOP
AGC – The Adventure of the Giant Chameleon (Alarums & Excursions #14)
ALC1 – Adventure of the Lost City: Part One (Alarums & Excursions #17)
ALC2 – Adventure of the Lost City: Part Two (Alarums & Excursions #19)
TH – Trollshead (Dragon #31)
TSJ – The Sorcerer’s Jewel (Dragon #46)
BAG – In the Bag (Dragon #58)
COADM – “Confessions of a Dungeon Master” (Psychology Today v. 14, no. 6 (Nov. 1980))
LOVECRAFT - "The Lovecraftian Mythos in D&D" (Dragon #12)
REBUTTAL – “A Rebuttal to ‘The Cthulhu Mythos Revisited’ by Gerald Guinn” (Dragon #16)

We now have 200 members here!

Missile Fire!

Missile Fire!
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/part-15-hits-with-arrows.html

TonyDiTerlizzi on the Hong Kong Prehistorics

If you missed it over the holidays, there was an excellent post by Tony DiTerlizzi (former TSR artist) about the Hong Kong 'prehistoric animals' that inspired several D&D monsters, including a newly found Owl Bear.

In my games Owl Bears will now always be bright yellow...

Owlbears, Rust Monsters and Bulettes, Oh My! - Tony DiTerlizzi

Chances are it won't just be children who will find wrapped toys under their Christmas tree this week. If you're a big kid like me, then you accept the fact that you not only still play with toys, but realize that they can be an important part of your well-being.

I started with a badly Xeroxed copy of Holmes and a borrowed Monster Manual.

I started with a badly Xeroxed copy of Holmes and a borrowed Monster Manual. How about you?  What was your first D&D experience like?

I'm back! Part 14 is up, covering Poison, Oil & Holy Water.

I'm back! Part 14 is up, covering Poison, Oil & Holy Water.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/part-14-curare-tipped-blowgun-dart.html