Matt Finch discussing the concept of a 'Basic D&D'.

My Half-Elves for Holmes Basic:

My Half-Elves for Holmes Basic:

Half-Elf: At creation, a half-elf character must decide if he or she favors his human or elf parentage. If human, they will follow all rules for humans; if elf, all rules for elves.

A response to this DF thread:
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=66583

Back to the Crypt: this installment covers Shadows, Skeletons, Spectres, Stirges & Trolls.

Back to the Crypt: this installment covers Shadows, Skeletons, Spectres, Stirges & Trolls. In the original Skeleton entry you can see that Holmes intended for monsters to use a d6 for Hit Dice.
 
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/06/part-32-commonly-found-near-graveyards.html

Contest to port the 1978 DND1 BASIC program (Ultima pre-cursor)

Congratulations to Random Wizard for winning the contest to port the 1978 DND1 BASIC program (Ultima pre-cursor) to a modern browser.

Original Link:
http://randomwizard.blogspot.com/2014/06/code-contests-and-lord-british.html

Now at:
https://www.kirith.com/random-wizard/articles/code-contests-and-lord-british.html

Turko on DF posted a picture of the Holmes dice set recreated with Gamescience dice.

Turko on DF posted a picture of the Holmes dice set recreated with Gamescience dice. Unfortunately they are not in production currently. BTW, the thread there was started by Michael Thomas if anyone can help him out.
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1522429#p1522429

OD&D rule buried in the description of the monk in Blackmoor: "Note however that extremely silent creatures will...

OD&D rule buried in the description of the monk in Blackmoor: "Note however that extremely silent creatures will double surprise possibilities, i.e., halflings, thieves, bugbears and undead double possibilities".

TRP at K&KA mentions how he placed the Tower of Zenopus in the JG town of Verbosh, as part of a larger campaign also...

TRP at K&KA mentions how he placed the Tower of Zenopus in the JG town of Verbosh, as part of a larger campaign also using Caverns of Thracia. I'm not familiar with Verbosh - anyone here use it before?
http://knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?p=185917#p185917

This is neat - OGRE for the same price as in 1977.

This is neat - OGRE for the same price as in 1977. Reminds of the $1 Mini Car Wars I ordered from SJG in the '80s via an ad in Dragon. I still have that around here somewhere. I'm going to get this.

Robert Neaves is playing Holmes Basic. See his comments on the post below.

I'd like to think Holmes would enjoy these figures, as he was both a Cthulhu fan and a toy collector.

I'd like to think Holmes would enjoy these figures, as he was both a Cthulhu fan and a toy collector. The fourth one is a #dagonite.
http://2warpstoneptune.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/warpos-legends-of-cthulhu-action-figures-transcend-trite-retro-fad/

The Adventure of the Unreasonable Copyright Extension:

The Adventure of the Unreasonable Copyright Extension:
(the other Holmes)
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=66526

For Father's Day I received the latest Tolkien hardcover.

For Father's Day I received the latest Tolkien hardcover. It's a prose translation of Beowulf with a bonus previously unpublished short story, Sellic Spell, which attempts to recreate the original Beowulf fairy tale. Read more about it at Sacnoth's Scriptorium by John Rateliff, author of the History of the Hobbbit and former TSR/WOTC employee.

See my comments on Claytonian JP's post.

See my comments on Claytonian JP's post. If you have the original Holmes version you know that this panel is only half of the original artwork.

Originally shared by Claytonian JP

Most boring module pic evar? Probs
http://oldschoolfrp.tumblr.com/post/88770737492/a-traveler-waits-on-the-drawbridge-for-the-guards

A look at the 'Ranger-like' abilities of Hobbits in Basic D&D.

A look at the 'Ranger-like' abilities of Hobbits in Basic D&D.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/06/hobbits-as-rangers-of-basic.html

Veteran Old-School DM looking for like-minded Players for REGULAR(weekly) Basic D&D game (B/X Moldvay/Cook w/some...

Veteran Old-School DM looking for like-minded Players for REGULAR (weekly) Basic D&D game (B/X Moldvay/Cook w/some House Rules).

We have 3 current committed Players and a small pool of irregulars. We're looking to round out the party with some more regulars who can commit to gaming every Thurs. evening from 6-10 EST/EDT.
We are NOT looking for any more irregular attendees, sorry :)

We're looking for RPG/D&D/OSR newbies or veterans of every stripe and everyone in between!
I've been playing since 1978 and running games my whole life (I'm 43).
We have players ranging from their early 20's to late 40s.

My games are old school-inspired (OD&D, AD&D, Judges Guild, Arduin Grimoire) with some new-school/Indie-RPG house rules (Burning Wheel/Torchberer) and I'm fully immersed in the OSR/retro-clone universe - pulling inspiration from Labyrinth Lord, OSRIC, Swords & Wizardry, Castles & Crusades, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Carcosa, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, et al. as well as related periodicals (Fight on! Magazine, & Magazine, Gygax Magazine, Oubliette Magazine, Knockspell Magazine, etc.).

We are currently playing a campaign set in the World Of Greyhawk (foothills of the Abbor-Alz) and we only have 3 sessions under our belt (all PCs are still currently 1st level), so it's a great time to join up!

Who's in?

Interested? Contact me via info in photo :)
Again, please only reach out if you're available for REGULAR Thursday Evening (6-10pm EST/EDT) sessions via Google Hangout.
-=A

Maps of a keep by Dyson Logos in the style of the maps of The Keep

Maps of a keep by Dyson Logos in the style of the maps of The Keep from B2.

Originally shared by Dyson Logos

Hey folks, miss me?

Internet is back, and I've got maps of a keep on the blog!

On Friday I posted the map of Greater Briar Keep – designed to fill a role similar to the very familiar to most “Keep on the Borderlands”. Today’s map is a closeup of the structure of the main keep, expanded over four levels. There could technically be a map of the fifth level, but it would just be the battlements on top of the two towers of the keep.

And here are both maps in question:

Chris, let me know if you have any questions about J.

Chris, let me know if you have any questions about J. Erics' writings or anything else for your interview. I've exchanged some emails with Chris over the last few years (Allan G got us in touch),  but I'm interested in seeing what your focused interview turns up.

Basic poster & friends. One of almost 500 photos on the #ntrpgcon FB page.

Basic poster & friends. One of almost 500 photos on the #ntrpgcon FB page.
https://www.facebook.com/257759370993971/photos/a.425893144180592.1073741828.257759370993971/466987876737785/?type=3&theater

I found a dedication to Holmes Basic artist David Trampier in a random punk rock fanzine.

#ntrpgcon report by From the Sorcerer's Skull, mentions hearing stories of Eric Holmes from his son.

#ntrpgcon report by From the Sorcerer's Skull, mentions hearing stories of Eric Holmes from his son.
http://sorcerersskull.blogspot.com/2014/06/ntrpgcon-after-report.html

Veteran Old-School D&D DM looking for like-minded local (Staten Island,NY) players for regular weekly D&D game.

Veteran Old-School D&D DM looking for like-minded local (Staten Island, NY) players for regular weekly D&D game. OD&D, B/X (Moldvay/Cook), Basic (Holmes) AD&D (1st Ed.) or retro-clones (Labyrinth Lord, OSRIC, Swords & Wizardry, Castles & Crusades, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Carcosa, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, et al.). Who's in?

Looking for newbies or veterans or everyone in between!
I've been playing since 1978 and running games my whole life (I'm 43).
I run several games in Manhattan/Brooklyn and on Google Hangouts but really want to get a regular local game going here on Staten Island :)
Willing to play at FLGS (Friendly Local Gaming Store), my house (10314) or yours!
Let's party like it's 1981!
Interested? PM me on G+ or contact me via info in photo :)
-=A

I'm curious if anyone house-rules the Holmes' restriction on spell books being brought into dungeons and the need...

I'm curious if anyone house-rules the Holmes' restriction on spell books being brought into dungeons and the need for MUs to return to their study to re-memorize spells.

Do you play as-is and just let MUs take advantage the scroll creation rules? Do you have low-level groups venture close to home base so MUs can return daily to refresh spells?

#ntrpgcon pic from The Savage Afterworld...

#ntrpgcon pic from The Savage Afterworld http://savageafterworld.blogspot.com/2014/06/ntrpg-con-day-1-title-goes-here-thurs.html

I've added a new Gadget to my blog's sidebar that will generate Holmesian Random Names.

I've added a new Gadget to my blog's sidebar that will generate Holmesian Random Names. Thanks to Paul Gorman for providing the source code.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/06/holmesian-random-names-in-sidebar.html

Michael Badolato's (Badmike) annual B1 game is being shown live on camera 3 right now:

Michael Badolato's (Badmike) annual B1 game is being shown live on camera 3 right now:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ntrpgcon3

Table of Contents from the Starter Set rulebook.

Table of Contents from the Starter Set rulebook. Shows more of the cover art; I like it better. The largest part of the rulebook is Spells, followed by Combat.
http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ex/20140605#93062

Who here is headed to #ntrpgcon

Who here is headed to #ntrpgcon ? Not I, sadly. However, I hear that Chris Holmes will be attending. If you run into him, or play in a game with him, I'm sure he'd love to hear about your appreciation for his father's work. He previously attended in 2012, see this post:
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/06/chris-holmes-plays-ept-at-ntrpgcon.html

A short retrospective on the late Dave Trampier's work for Basic D&D.

A short retrospective on the late Dave Trampier's work for Basic D&D.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/06/dave-trampier-basic-d-artist.html

A new edition of Rob Kuntz's Bottle City module is coming to print by Black Blade Publishing (Allan Grohe's company).

A new edition of Rob Kuntz's Bottle City module is coming to print by Black Blade Publishing (Allan Grohe's company). BC was part of the 1974 Castle Greyhawk when Rob joined Gary as co-DM.

Please welcome several members who have joined recently: Richard Pilliard - longtime DF member; David Brawley of...

Please welcome several members who have joined recently: Richard Pilliard - longtime DF member; David Brawley of Tower of the Archmage blog (http://towerofthearchmage.blogspot.com/) and Doug M of Smoldering Wizard blog (http://smolderingwizard.com/)

Holmesians! I'd like your thoughts on these notes about integrating some more Greyhawk material into Holmes D&D.

Holmesians! I'd like your thoughts on these notes about integrating some more Greyhawk material into Holmes D&D.
http://odd74.proboards.com/thread/10028/greyhawk-holmes

A 1983 letter from Dr. Holmes to Space Gamer magazine, describing when he was interviewed by an anti-D&D group.

A 1983 letter from Dr. Holmes to Space Gamer magazine, describing when he was interviewed by an anti-D&D group.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/06/holmes-on-anti-d-hysteria.html