The original D2 now available in print-on-demand from WOTC!

The original D2 now available in print-on-demand from WOTC!
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2016/11/monochrome-d2-print-on-demand.html

New acquisition for my OD&D collection!

New acquisition for my OD&D collection!
TSR's Monster & Treasure Assortment, Set One: Levels One-Three (1977). These are all loose pages. Love the DCSIII artwork!

New 'Modular' column on Black Gate.

New 'Modular' column on Black Gate. This one is about T1. Nothing new, but a nice overview of the history of the module and its sequels.
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/11/29/modular-a-brand-new-column-and-about-t1-the-village-of-hommlet/

4-Armed Horror by Troy L. Hughes from 1977's Manual of Aurania

Andy Action wrote:

4-Armed Horror by Troy L. Hughes from 1977's Manual of Aurania

Interesting Q&A with Allen Hammack, former TSR editor and author, conducted by James Mishler & posted on his blog.

Interesting Q&A with Allen Hammack, former TSR editor and author, conducted by James Mishler & posted on his blog. Of note here, it mentions he worked on edited the Holmes Basic Set (likely the later printings/editions).
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2016/11/allen-hammack-q-with-james-mishler.html

Draft of a new version of the character sheet for Holmes Ref. Let meknow what you think.

Draft of a new version of the character sheet for Holmes Ref. Let me know what you think.

Had a wonderful time taking my 3 youngest kids and their cousin through the sample dungeon tonight.

Had a wonderful time taking my 3 youngest kids and their cousin through the sample dungeon tonight. Jeweled dagger in the catacombs killed off a character and it was awesome how well they reacted.

Inspired by Wayne Rossi, another 1970s California-native gaming set.Starting with the left column:

Inspired by Wayne Rossi, another 1970s California-native gaming set. Starting with the left column:
- The original Warlock rules printed in The Spartan #9 (#10 behind it has Thief ability charts)
- Warlock's Tower
- Instant Bad Guys
- The Warlock Menagerie (from 1980, but I'll slip it in here)
- The Complete Warlock
- Holmes Basic (naturally)
- The Manual of Aurania
- The Spellcaster's Bible (for a crazy variety of spells)
- Chaosium's All the World's Monsters volumes 1-3 (vol. 2 contains the Perrin Conventions)
- Booty and the Beasts (for high weirdness in monsters and treasures. I only have a facsimile copy, I'm afraid)

Missing from my collection: anything Arduin :(

#completewarlock

#completewarlock

Originally shared by Wayne Rossi

Am I the only one who is sometimes tempted to try running 1978 California D&D?

Nice round-up of OD&D links by EdOWar:

Nice round-up of OD&D links by EdOWar:
https://edowarsblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/23/odd-links/
https://edowarsblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/23/odd-links

New Holmes/OD&D campaign report by Demos Sachlas​ on DF.

New Holmes/OD&D campaign report by Demos Sachlas​ on DF. Starting G1. Also has links to prior reports if you missed them.
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=75703

Nothing too exciting in the print-on-demand new releases this week.

Nothing too exciting in the print-on-demand new releases this week. The oldest product is one of the 1992 Thunder Rift D&D Basic modules, Assault on Raven's Ruin. I like this product line (the last line of modules for D&D Basic), and they are good choice for print-on-demand since each module comes with fold-up-miniatures and a poster map for play. The miniatures are often missing in resale and drive the prices up. The pdf preview shows a nice scan but the stand-up minis and poster are not shown, so it's hard to judge how they will print. Also if the whole document is received bound you'll have to cut out page(s) to assemble to maps/minis.
https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?745901-D-amp-D-Classics-Thread-of-DOOM!&p=20612151#post20612151

I had a request for the Holmes Basic Character Creation Worksheet without line shading, so it could used better with...

I had a request for the Holmes Basic Character Creation Worksheet without line shading, so it could used better with a highlighter. It's now available:
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2016/11/character-creation-worksheet-without.html

FANTASTIC! EXCITING! IMAGINATIVE! needs your entries!

FANTASTIC! EXCITING! IMAGINATIVE! needs your entries!

The fan-sourced free fanzine needs your entries based on the art found in the "Holmes" basic edition. Earlier posts in this community can give you the details (or you can ask questions here).

Here are several sparks to jog your creativity...


Cover

• What's that wand?

• That shield has a dragon on it that looks kind of like the dragon in the scene. Connection?

• Is there any treasure there that is more than it might first appear to be?


Page 1 (title page)

• What spell is the magic-user casting? It doesn't seem to line up with any spell a "Holmes" wizard would be able to cast from the text.

• What's special about that band of orcs?


Page 3

• Stats for the humanoid or the mount.

• What is that region? Any unique features or history?


Page 16

• What's that staff?


Page 18

• Any special stats for that minotaur, or for that fighting man (as an NPC perhaps?)


Page 25

• Special Dwarven items, perhaps? Alternate Dwarf stats?


Page 27

• Truckin' Wizard stats as an NPC (something different than a PC magic-user?)? Gnoll tribe details?


Page 28

• Why are the harpies attacking? One or two are attacking with a bone; is that a magic item? or something else??


Page 29

• What would make a hydra encounter more than expected or what is it guarding so fiercely?


Page 30

• Manticore lore... Why is their favorite prey man? Have they always had a human face?


Page 32

• Why are those weapons left behind?


Page 36

• New magic sword idea? Does each do-dad have a different single-use power?


Page 38

• Crystal ball, or is it?

• What's in the bottle?

• Is that really poison?

• What's that wand?

• Is the skull alive, or is something living within it?

• Is that an ordinary candle?


Page 45

• Got a twist to invigorate a skeletons-in-sarcophagi encounter?

Half of a day (12 hours) to back the new hardcover edition of the Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea...

Half of a day (12 hours) to back the new hardcover edition of the Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea RPG by Jeff Talanian (member here). I'm a backer for a hard copy & wrote a blog post about the kickstarter.
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2016/11/astonishing-swordsmen-sorcerers-of.html

Watching a George Miller double feature tonight Babe (he cowrote and produced) followed by Fury Road.

Watching a George Miller double feature tonight Babe (he cowrote and produced) followed by Fury Road. Each movie features a character wearing a muzzle.

Cover-in-progress for the Holmes Art-Inspired Supplement Project...

Jon Wilson wrote:

Cover-in-progress for the Holmes Art-Inspired Supplement Project...

Haven't received any submissions yet. Do you need more time? Did you just forget? Something else?

Let's talk.

Also: another sample entry below...

I found this an entertaining read today: Johnn Four on Why Do You Love Dungeons?

I found this an entertaining read today: Johnn Four on Why Do You Love Dungeons?
https://roleplayingtips.com/campaigns/why-love-dungeons

Print on demand TSR modules! Still no Holmes Basic pdf yet, but hopefully the OD&D reprints will be POD soon.

Print on demand TSR modules! Still no Holmes Basic pdf yet, but hopefully the OD&D reprints will be POD soon.

Originally shared by Zenopus Archives

If you missed it yesterday, WOTC is starting to add a print-on-demand option to various pdf products available through DMsGuild.com
Limited selection right now, but more will be added each week.
Direct link for currently available: http://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?filters=45471_0_0_0_0_0_45547_0
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2016/11/tsr-print-on-demand.html

If you missed it yesterday, WOTC is starting to add a print-on-demand option to various pdf products available...

If you missed it yesterday, WOTC is starting to add a print-on-demand option to various pdf products available through DMsGuild.com
Limited selection right now, but more will be added each week.
Direct link for currently available: http://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?filters=45471_0_0_0_0_0_45547_0
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2016/11/tsr-print-on-demand.html

Today, a big thank you to the veterans among us!

Today, a big thank you to the veterans among us!
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/11/veterans-day-2012.html

D&D kinda WASN'T derived from war-games...

D&D kinda WASN'T derived from war-games...

NOTE: This is a link to a blog post and NOT a stand-alone graphic, so click and read the context!
http://pitsperilous.blogspot.com/

Do you use the Greyhawk Exceptional/Extraordinary Strength bonuses in your Holmes/OD&D games?

Do you use the Greyhawk Exceptional/Extraordinary Strength bonuses in your Holmes/OD&D games? See this thread on DF for discussion of this:
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=75579
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=75579

Thought this would be about Arduin, but actually it's an interesting fact about the etymology of wizard

Thought this would be about Arduin, but actually it's an interesting fact about the etymology of wizard
http://jrients.blogspot.com/2016/11/ard-times-for-mus.html?m=1