Part 3 in my series about Holmes Basic artist Dave Trampier's rare, published artworks.

Part 3 in my series about Holmes Basic artist Dave Trampier's rare, published artworks. This time, I take a look at an uncredited illustration hidden in the Keep on the Borderlands included in many Holmes Basic boxed sets! Also, a big shout out to Zach H and his indispensable archives.

Former TSR artist Dave Trampier passed away earlier this week.

Former TSR artist Dave Trampier passed away earlier this week. Best known for the Player's Handbook cover and the Wormy comic strip, he was also one of our 'Holmes Basic' artists, with three illustrations in the Basic rulebook and contributing to the original cover of the module B1.
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/03/david-a-trampier-obituary

Lots of great ideas here. Thanks to Courtney Campbell for sharing this.

Lots of great ideas here. Thanks to Courtney Campbell for sharing this.
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?594644-(B-X)-100-Random-Complications-for-THE-KEEP-ON-THE-BORDERLANDS

Let's review some choices for Holmes Basic in view of the manuscript.

Let's review some choices for Holmes Basic in view of the manuscript. Holmes presumably left out the Greyhawk strength modifiers because he was using LBB static dice damage (most monsters attack once for one d6 of damage). It would have been too 'off' to have some of the bigger monsters doing d6 damage while Fighters with exceptional strength getting +3 to hit/damage (or more). Gygax put the 'variable dice' damage back in but not the exceptional strength, so the end result is missing one key component of the Greyhawk additions.

This one covers Gnomes to Green Slime.

This one covers Gnomes to Green Slime. No major changes here, though Gygax added the bit about Gnomes favoring crossbows - and then left it out of the Monster Manual.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/03/part-26-always-attack-dwarves-on-sight.html

Holmes' legacy continues with a 'Starter Set' for 5E.

Holmes' legacy continues with a 'Starter Set' for 5E. As Gygax wrote on DF in 2002: "[S]ufficient information across the board to enable play for a group for a limited period of time--enough to determine if the game is "right" for the group. That's what the Basic Set of D&D was for, and that was a good idea that J. Eric Holmes came up with."

Originally shared by Ramanan S

Some more news about D&D Next.

The D&D starter set (no dates are given, but remember that Barnes & Noble had it up on their site for $20, due in July recently before taking it down) is a gorgeous boxed set.
http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?1535-D-D-Next-Notes-from-GAMA

Wayne Rossi with a great reason to use a crossbow despite a slower fire rate.

Fight On #15 will be dedicated to J.

Fight On #15 will be dedicated to J. Eric Holmes. If you have any material that you would like to submit, see this post on OD&D Discussion:
http://odd74.proboards.com/post/137416

Cool post alert: 1911 BSA merit badge knowledge areas as default adventurer skills. By Adam Muszkiewicz

This one covers "Giants" - humanoids and animals.

This one covers "Giants" - humanoids and animals. An important entry was deleted from Holmes manuscript, "Giant Animals and Insects".
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/03/part-25-horrors-are-naturals-for.html

** Still Looking for players ** I propose myself as Game master for a Basic Edition like game with Microlite74 rules.

** Still Looking for players ** I propose myself as Game master for a Basic Edition like game with Microlite74 rules. In the world of Mystara, we would venture forth in TSR modules (like B10) - Games would be bi-weekly on Fridays, 8pm to 11-12pm usually. In Brossard (near Terminus Panama). But if too complicated, we can go online with Roll20 or D20Pro ** Reply to this post or send me a msg ! - 2 players and myself as DM waiting eagerly !

ZENOPUS ARCHIVES: Enter the Gateway to Adventure

http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/03/enter-gateway-to-adventure.html

Part 2 of my ongoing series of rare artwork by Holmes Basic artist Dave Trampier.

This one covers Elves to Gelatinous Cubes.

This one covers Elves to Gelatinous Cubes.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/03/part-24-winged-beasts-of-hideous-aspect.html

Part 1 of my series about rare art by Holmes Basic artist Dave Trampier.

My biography of the enigmatic Dave A. Trampier, Holmes Basic artist.

Thoughts inspired by Zach H's recent series.