Over the last few years, there have been periodic discussion on boards and blogs about using Holmes Basic as a...

Over the last few years, there have been periodic discussion on boards and blogs about using Holmes Basic as a complete RPG on its own - not with expansions to raise the level cap, but complete in itself as a gritty swords & sorcery system with a 3 level advancement cap.

Systemwise, you have a Traveller-esque approach where level advancement doesn't define the campaign. High HD monsters will always be epically dangerous (that 4 HD ogre won't get any easier to kill once you hit 3rd lvl), and low level (3rd level) PCs can found domains. The ongoing campaign will revolve around story goals (in the wider campaign world), exploration, acquisition of magic items, and the defeat of foes.

That said, a while back I ran across an interesting thread on Dragonsfoot (http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=33759) in which a poster described a campaign world where there were no deities in the classic sense. There were "gods", but all of them were powerful creatures that demanded worship and tribute from fearful low level types. In this sense, the "gods" were like the old Roman concept of genii locii ("local gods") worshipped by villages and tribes - gods of rocks and streams, hills and lakes. So.. a dragon might rule a city of goblins as their god, etc. The trope features in several classic D&D modules, most notable the naga cult in N1 and worship of the monstrous Zargon in B4.

From a published resource standpoint, those not wanting to go with worship of powerful monsters per se could go with some of the minor powers from the old JG "Unknown Gods" supplement: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ODDguild/conversations/messages/4147

For those not familiar with how such minor "gods" and their cults might play out, Lord Dunsany's short story "Chu-Bu and Sheemish" offers a good - and humorous - look at the idea: http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/d_chu-bu.htm

Anyone done this or played with the idea?

If you also hang out on Facebook from time to time, please head over to the Holmes Basic Dungeons & Dragons page and...

If you also hang out on Facebook from time to time, please head over to the Holmes Basic Dungeons & Dragons page and give it a like. :-)
https://www.facebook.com/holmesbasic

Thought upon reading the first post in this thread, in which the poster mentioned B/X (correctly, IMO) being better...

Thought upon reading the first post in this thread, in which the poster mentioned B/X (correctly, IMO) being better organized than Holmes.. Has anyone taken the text of Holmes and reordered the content to match Moldvay Basic's organization? Would be interesting to compare the results. http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?685059-Tell-me-about-Holmes-Basic-D-amp-D

Thoughts on classes, inspired by Zach H.

Thoughts on classes, inspired by Zach H. Happy Holidays! http://nilisnotnull.blogspot.com/2014/12/mixing-and-matching-classes.html

I've updated the Holmes for the Holidays post with the results.

Originally shared by Zach H

I've updated the Holmes for the Holidays post with the results. The winner this year is Kean Stuart. Thanks to all who participated.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/12/holmes-for-holidays-iv.html

Hi and thanks!

Review of the Metamorphosis Alpha Deluxe Reprint by GeekDad, with lots of pictures.

Review of the Metamorphosis Alpha Deluxe Reprint by GeekDad, with lots of pictures. (I've got my copy but it's boxed up under the tree until Xmas).
http://geekdad.com/2014/12/metamorphosis-alpha-is-back

It's that time of the year when I give away a book.

It's that time of the year when I give away a book. If you don't have a copy of The Maze of Peril and are interested in entering, leave a comment on the blog post linked below. One commenter will be randomly selected to receive a copy. (Comments are disabled here).
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/12/holmes-for-holidays-iv.html

Rankin-Bass is My Dungeon Master

Excellent post alert. And seasonal!
http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com/2014/12/rankin-bass-is-my-dungeon-master.html

Weird Helmet Warrior

Weird Helmet Warrior

California Gaming Part II - LSD&D with Erol Otus #RPGaDAY Not much reference to Holmes here, but Otus was an...

California Gaming Part II - LSD&D with Erol Otus #RPGaDAY Not much reference to Holmes here, but Otus was an illustrator on some printings of B2: Keep on the Borderlands, included with many Holmes Basic boxed sets.

I think I know what this means, but can some of you tell me yourinterpretation?

Earl Tea Grey wrote:

I think I know what this means, but can some of you tell me your interpretation?
I believe it's referring to the three columns of the wandering monster chart below it. (Page 10)

Billy Galaxy is now auctioning one of the original copies of the Holmes Manuscript.

Billy Galaxy is now auctioning one of the original copies of the Holmes Manuscript. This is what I've been reviewing; Billy was kind enough to send me scans of it last year. (I have no stake in this auction).

Originally shared by Scott Mob

Holmes Basic manuscript for sale on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351254092959

Idle thought on adding subclasses to whitebox OD&D or Holmes, but without adding any new rules.

Idle thought on adding subclasses to whitebox OD&D or Holmes, but without adding any new rules.
Paladin = Fighter/Cleric
Ranger = Fighter/Thief
Monk = Cleric/Thief
Druid = Cleric/MU
Bard = Thief/MU
Subclasses are for humans only (Fighter/MU is still just elves).
Use whatever multi-class rules you use for elves.

The Collector's Trove is running another series of auctions, some items from former TSR employees (Darlene, Ernie...

The Collector's Trove is running another series of auctions, some items from former TSR employees (Darlene, Ernie Gygax, the Roslofs and many others). Lots of TSR ephemera of the era. A Holmes Basic promo poster is up to $300! (This item seems to be from from the Trove's private collection rather than one of the TSR employees)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TSR-Dungeons-Dragons-Basic-Set-Poster-1978-/311207425241?pt=Games_US&hash=item48756874d9

The next installment.

The next installment.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2014/12/part-43-zap-youre-dead.html

Part I of my multi-part blog post series about the development of "California Gaming" in the mid-70s (since Dr.

Part I of my multi-part blog post series about the development of "California Gaming" in the mid-70s (since Dr. Holmes is the Patron Saint of California Gamers, I'll get to him soon). This post explores the SCA, RuneQuest, DunDraCon and The Arduin Grimoire, all created in the San Francisco Bay area.

Recent short interview with Lawrence Schick about his module White Plume Mountain and working at TSR.

Recent short interview with Lawrence Schick about his module White Plume Mountain and working at TSR.
http://nerdragenews.com/reminiscing-about-white-plume-mountain/

Not specific to Holmes Basic but perhaps of interest to those here:

Not specific to Holmes Basic but perhaps of interest to those here:
http://crierofkemen.blogspot.com/2014/12/and-now-for-something-completely.html

I will not be hijacking this forum, so in the future any who are interested in what I am up to should probably stop by the blog. I will continue to post Holmes Basic related items here.

Dungeon portrait, Mr. Manticore. #DungeonPortrait

Dungeon portrait, Mr. Manticore. #DungeonPortrait

First of all, my apologies for the bad camera work and the dirty thumb.

First of all, my apologies for the bad camera work and the dirty thumb. I was just testing using my phone to make this video sample of my crosshatching work in progress during a g+ conversation with +Ryan Good about my mapping techniques.

This is a short video sample of me doing some crosshatching with a Sakura Micron 01 pen on 5-square-per-inch graph paper, filmed using my off-hand holding my iPhone as I worked. Maybe I'll get a device for holding my phone steady one of these days and make a time-lapse video of an entire map from start to finish.

(Let's also see if/how GooglePlus handles this video...)

Maze of Peril on Most Popular List at Noble Knight

Thanks to everyone here and at the Holmes Forum on OD&D Discussion who bought a copy of The Maze of Peril - you helped it onto the "Most Popular" list on Noble Knight. Earlier today it was at position #2. (FYI, I have no financial interest in this book or NK). At least 20 copies have been sold since I first posted about the sale. Not bad for a book published in 1986!

Noble Knight has the new Metamorphosis Alpha Deluxe hardcover from Goodman Games in stock for $58.46.

Noble Knight has the new Metamorphosis Alpha Deluxe hardcover from Goodman Games in stock for $58.46. Only 1 left though! Down from 6 earlier today; I bought one of those, convinced after seeing Wayne Rossi's photos the other day.
http://www.nobleknight.com/ProductDetail.asp_Q_ProductID_E_2147565121_A_InventoryID_E_2148171938_A_ProductLineID_E_2137430311_A_ManufacturerID_E_2145082521_A_CategoryID_E_16_A_GenreID_E_

Back Cover of Holmes' FRPG book

Dr. Holmes contemplates as a tiny creatures battle on his desk. From the back cover of Hippocrene's USA printing of Holmes' Role Playing Games. I'll see if I can remove the library sticker without destroying the dust jacket.

That was fast: The Maze of Peril was sold out at NK, but a few days later it is back in stock, showing 40 copies...

That was fast: The Maze of Peril was sold out at NK, but a few days later it is back in stock, showing 40 copies currently. Still at the Fall Sale price of $8.96 plus shipping.
http://www.nobleknight.com/productdetailsearch.asp_Q_ProductID_E_2147463148_A_InventoryID_E_2148171395

Nice overview of OGRE, another class-of-'77 game, by John ONeill on Black Gate.

Nice overview of OGRE, another class-of-'77 game, by John ONeill on Black Gate.
http://www.blackgate.com/2014/12/02/the-classic-games-of-metagaming-ogre

Robotic Knight-Wizard

Robotic Knight-Wizard with extra-dimensional familiar along for the ride.

Crowd source question: Does your copy of Holmes' 1981 book, FantasyRole-Playing Games, have this photo on the back...

Crowd source question: Does your copy of Holmes' 1981 book, Fantasy Role-Playing Games, have this photo on the back of the dust jacket? If so, is it the US printing by Hippocrene Books? This may be a previously unrecognized difference in the  the UK and US versions. I have the UK printing by Arms & Armour Press, which shows the Basic Set cover art on  the back of the dust jacket. (It has a smaller version of this photo inside the back of the dust jacket, but the minis in the foreground are cropped out - so I never knew they were there.). This photo is from a recently ended Ebay auction for the Hippocrene printing, hence my guess at the difference being based on the publisher.