Nice little set of gaming fun for sale..

Nice little set of gaming fun for sale..
https://m.ebay.com/itm/1979-Dungeons-Dragons-Basic-Set-in-Box-D-D-Introductory-Module-RPG-TSR-Games/173124931072?_mwBanner=1&_trksid=p11001.c100357.m3752&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20150112100313&meid=c03387da059a4a10b484ace018d446c1&pid=100357&rk=5&rkt=8&sd=162874243634&itm=173124931072&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F0%2Fe11001.m3752.l3160%2F7%3Feuid%3Dbc53043806f2436fa586564f683bf481%26bu%3D44716075867%26loc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fulk%252Fitm%252F173124931072%253F_trksid%253Dp11001.c100357.m3752%2526_trkparms%253Daid%25253D222007%252526algo%25253DSIM.MBE%252526ao%25253D1%252526asc%25253D20150112100313%252526meid%25253Dc03387da059a4a10b484ace018d446c1%252526pid%25253D100357%252526rk%25253D5%252526rkt%25253D8%252526sd%25253D162874243634%252526itm%25253D173124931072%26sojTags%3Dbu%3Dbu%26srcrot%3De11001.m3752.l3160%26rvr_id%3D0&ul_noapp=true

Daniel Boggs analyzes the stocking of the recently recovered Tonisburg, the original 1970s dungeon created by Greg...

Daniel Boggs analyzes the stocking of the recently recovered Tonisburg, the original 1970s dungeon created by Greg Svenson, one of Dave Arneson's first players.

http://boggswood.blogspot.com/2018/01/tonisborg-dungeon-part-iii-stocking.html

Lemunda the Lovely is telling me a cool story, so while I'm distracted pick up F.E.I. Vol. 2 at a 20% discount...!

Lemunda the Lovely is telling me a cool story, so while I'm distracted pick up F.E.I. Vol. 2 at a 20% discount...!

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/226492/FANTASTIC-EXCITING-IMAGINATIVE--Volume-TWO--INNER-HAM
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/226492/FANTASTIC-EXCITING-IMAGINATIVE--Volume-TWO--INNER-HAM

Any interest in a pickup game of the Gen Con X tournament dungeon at Gary Con this year?

Any interest in a pickup game of the Gen Con X tournament dungeon at Gary Con this year? At least one or all three parts, using the original pregens with Holmes/OD&D rules...this was the adventure by Bob Blake used at the Playboy Resort back in 1977 (now of course the Grand Geneva resort, where we'll all be).

https://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=70763
https://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=70763

Was reading something about "favorite character classes" in a 1e FB group recently, and someone posted about the...

Was reading something about "favorite character classes" in a 1e FB group recently, and someone posted about the concept of a multi-class "Illusionist/Assassin" — sounded like a very interesting source of possibilities (ie. "spy" or just a very deadly killer?). Has anyone dabbled with this in any way/shape/form?

Finally was able to start reading Tales of Peril this morning.

Finally was able to start reading Tales of Peril this morning. The main problem with reading it on the subway is that it's essentially impossible to reach your stop and stop reading without leaving off at a cliffhanger.

Good man Games Into the Unknown is up for pre-order now.

Good man Games Into the Unknown is up for pre-order now. Includes the Holmes versions of B1 and B2 along with other corrupted versions. ; )

Edit: http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2018/01/into-unknown-for-pre-order.html

Sunday decompress: working on an undercity sewer dungeon.

Paul Haupt III wrote:

Sunday decompress: working on an undercity sewer dungeon.

Zenopus note --- Final version here: 
http://ofdiceandmagik.blogspot.com/2018/02/have-fun-mapping-castle.html

New map beneath the Kuo Toa Temple Lair in which our brave party ofadventurers got their butts spanked by some...

Paul Haupt III wrote:

New map beneath the Kuo Toa Temple Lair in which our brave party of adventurers got their butts spanked by some oceanic horrors...

Expanding the Monster XP Chart from Holmes

Herman Klang wrote:

EXPANDING THE MONSTER XP CHART FORM HOLMES

I am too dumb to figure out how to expand the "Experience Points for Monsters Overcome" Chart on page 11 of the Holmes.

What is the pattern? 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, 50, 75, 125, 175, 225....
What is up with the differences between 3 and 3+1 in xp? That is the only time there is an increase of 15 xp.

Then the bonus for special abilities is weird too.

Anyone shopped at Noble Knight lately?

Anyone shopped at Noble Knight lately?
(Note the lower right corner...)

Jon Peterson​ on Gygax's pre-D&D galactic conquest campaign, War of the Empires.

Jon Peterson​ on Gygax's pre-D&D galactic conquest campaign, War of the Empires. Includes a Greatest Empire, analogous to the Great Kingdom of Greyhawk

Originally shared by Jon Peterson

Before the Great Kingdom there was the "Greatest Empire" of Gygax's "War of the Empires" (1969), a space conquest game that was a key precursor to 4X games.

I take a look at some D&D and near-D&D games for my upcoming journey to Middle Earth.

I take a look at some D&D and near-D&D games for my upcoming journey to Middle Earth. In particular, I look into The Hero's Journey by James Spahn
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2018/01/this-could-be-hobbit-forming-part-2.html

Has anyone taken the time to prepare some of the more common creatures for player character usage?

Has anyone taken the time to prepare some of the more common creatures for player character usage? Im about to start a spreadsheet to determine some racial modifiers for thief abilities and adjusted abilities to represent a level 1 character of that race. Blueholme does so for some of the common demi-humans but id like to flesh out the list a bit :)

But, of someone has already done so, no need to reinvent the wheel..

Hey, anyone from here planning to attend Gary Con X in March?

Hey, anyone from here planning to attend Gary Con X in March? Don't know if there are any Holmes Basic events on the schedule, but if not I'd be up for some pickup gaming (I ran Holmes games at a local sci fi con and at PAX Unplugged in November, could very easily dust those off).

http://garycon.com/
http://garycon.com/

Just saw Dungeonesque at the local game store.

Just saw Dungeonesque at the local game store. OD&D/Moldvay packaging with 5e rules. Anyone have any opinions/experience?
http://roguecomet.com/dungeonesque/

Interesting discussion about Skyrealms of Jorune.

Interesting discussion about Skyrealms of Jorune. Like many others, I remember the stunning art in the ads in Dragon, but have never seen the rulebooks.

Originally shared by James V West

Here's a game I know literally nothing about. Well... I mean, I know it exists and has truly fantastic cover art that lures me in. And it used to be advertised in Dragon Magazine.

But I don't know what Skyrealms of Jorune is about. What kind of system is under the hood? What is the setting like? Is this game as juicy as it's various covers tease?

Like Talislanta, I feel like this is one of those 80s games that sought to bill itself as being different from D&D but still pure fantasy, as in the famous "no elves" ads. Also like Talislanta, this is a game I plan to pick up in print at some point to add to my collection.

But is it a good game? What does the world have to say about Jorune?

Another fun map — this time from Cullen's Expedition to the Old ForestKeep Dungeon session last week. Good times.

Paul Haupt III wrote:

Another fun map — this time from Cullen's Expedition to the Old Forest Keep Dungeon session last week. Good times.

Planning a head for Gary Con game sign ups for the 27th, and I see that Zach H has two games, but conflict with one...

Planning a head for Gary Con game sign ups for the 27th, and I see that Zach H has two games, but conflict with one I am running, and another I planned to attend that's a sequel to one from last year.

We'll at least have to meet up since we didn't manage it last year!

Cool set of photos of making a map step-by-step

Cool set of photos of making a map step-by-step

Originally shared by Karl Stjernberg

Here's a quick how-to kind of thing for how I make my dungeons. (Floor 5 in the mini/mega-dungeon. Shit's getting chaotic!)

Does anyone know of a monthly subscription box service that's geared more towards old-school rpgs/rules like holmes...

Does anyone know of a monthly subscription box service that's geared more towards old-school rpgs/rules like holmes basic/1e ad&d?

Looks like most of these services cater towards d20 adventuring, etc. I'm not opposed to these things (and I've tried one before, it was decent), but I'd rather not have to "convert" everything I get in order to make it "playable" ... since I don't subscribe to modern-day rule systems like 5e, etc.

From the Acaeum, a 2nd edition (Nov 1978) Holmes rulebook with a printing error - two pages are duplicated and...

From the Acaeum, a 2nd edition (Nov 1978) Holmes rulebook with a printing error - two pages are duplicated and printed completely upside down.

https://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16787&c=1
https://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16787&c=1

The Tales of Peril Book Club returns!

The Tales of Peril Book Club returns! Scene four of the Maze of Peril, where the party finds that entrance to the Underworld! http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2018/01/maze-of-peril-ch-1-scene-4-tromping.html?m=1
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2018/01/maze-of-peril-ch-1-scene-4-tromping.html?m=1

Old school D&D appreciation blog post

http://ofdiceandmagik.blogspot.com/2018/01/2018-year-of-gaming.html

Old school D&D appreciation blog post by a new member of this group, Paul Haupt III, including a mention of our community here.

Into the Borderlands

I read this update on the Goodman Games reprint/5E conversion of B1 and B2 yesterday. Here's Brendan S with some thoughts on it.

Originally shared by Brendan S

I remember the news about the license acquisition for this, but haven't paid much attention since. Glad to hear there is progress.

At some level, a 380 page version of B1-2 is sort of absurd, but I don't even care, I'm just happy there's a hardcover love letter to these old modules.

(However, while I wouldn't kick a a careful 5E conversion out of bed, my guess is that the DCC and collect-all-the-things faithful who will undoubtedly be the primary customers of this book will maybe benefit less from this part of the book than more casual 5E players.)

A thought experiment: what would the B series look like retold in the manner of Into the Abyss (or one of the other recent single-hardcover adventure paths)? Would that be possible? At some level I know WotC has been taking a lot of inspiration from trad modules, but somehow the relationship between I6 and Curse of Strahd seems unlike what I am trying to get at here.

http://goodman-games.com/blog/2018/01/10/the-latest-news-on-into-the-borderlands/
http://goodman-games.com/blog/2018/01/10/the-latest-news-on-into-the-borderlands/

Here is a story, and some photos, of a very special D&D Woodgrain set(credit: Marcelo Gonçalves)

Originally shared by Wayne's Books

Here is a story, and some photos, of a very special D&D Woodgrain set (credit: Marcelo Gonçalves)
"Hi Wayne, this is Marcelo, your customer from Brazil. I hope the you and your family are doing great. Happy new year for you guys. I went to a expo here in São Paulo, Brazil and found some relic D&D stuff. To took some pictures to send to you since I know you are fan of really vintage games. Dave Arneson came to Brazil during the 90’s to join the launch of D&D by Devir (local publisher). He became friend of the owner of the publisher and gave him some books of his personal collection as a gift. They are the ones in the pictures below. I don’t think they will sell, since I suspect the owner of the company passed away. So, I was amazed by seen some of those books here. Enjoy the pictures and have a great year. I’m a big fan of Wayne’s Book. Best regards."

My Gary Con game, Return to the Tower of Zenopus, has been scheduled for Fri 9 AM - 1 PM, and Sat at the same time.

My Gary Con game, Return to the Tower of Zenopus, has been scheduled for Fri 9 AM - 1 PM, and Sat at the same time. For more info:

http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2018/01/gary-con-x-games-scheduled.html

#brazenheadofzenopus (FYI I had to cancel my attendance)
http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2018/01/gary-con-x-games-scheduled.html

Interesting read.

Interesting read.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrHnY9Tq_4me6RolX_BGppNrGCSBugZRRth-_e_YZOMTrKNX6oW7m7s5NBFjY0z0QpDDx4KKb9p3LGXB1jaVvWBikHMWRGPG4jF31uMvRJkGPLHDqgU403oxIIo-KRveVbEOEK4ML9FA/s1600/basicdnd.JPG

WOW!

WOW! Basic D&D, Boris, Gamma World Adventures, Monsters, contributions from the whos who of RPGs of 1981. All in Issue #52 of This Old Dragon!
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2018/01/this-old-dragon-issue-52.html

Has anyone here seen the Blueholme RPG that is doing the rounds right now? Any ideas on how it stacks up?

Has anyone here seen the Blueholme RPG that is doing the rounds right now? Any ideas on how it stacks up?

I know it's called the Journeyman edition because it goes up to level 20. I've also heard its take on the higher level spells and monsters is consistent with Holmes' version.

Preping for This Old Dragon tomorrow.

Preping for This Old Dragon tomorrow. Found a great article on Circe following an even better article on Basic D&D. More on these tomorrow.
Circe was always one of the inspirations for my witch class. Now here she is for that class!
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2018/01/circe-for-basic-era-games.html

Although this is not addressed in the core rules per se, just curious on thoughts of allowing for GNOMES as a racial...

Although this is not addressed in the core rules per se, just curious on thoughts of allowing for GNOMES as a racial possibility (outside of the DWARF, ELF + HALFLING options) for PCs?

Interior of the first Games Workshop store, Dalling Road, Hammersmith,1978.

Interior of the first Games Workshop store, Dalling Road, Hammersmith, 1978.
It's hard to see, but there is a Holmes Basic set (US cover, not UK) next to the PHBs on the top shelf of the center bookcase. From an article in the Londonist about the early years of GW with lots of other great photos -
https://londonist.com/london/features/the-gaming-dynasty-that-began-in-a-west-london-flat

Here is a PDF version of Roger Moore's Greyhawk Index from 1996.

Here is a PDF version of Roger Moore's Greyhawk Index from 1996.
I tried to do a little cleaning up of this document, and reformatted it for PDF. I think I might have to manually rebuild the tables as cells, since the original uses ASCII Space/Tab method to create columns, which gets screwy whenever you change the font or spacing or anything. But for now it has bookmarks and a ToC, which should at least direct you to the right section of the document.
I am in no way responsible for this document, but it's 22 years old and could use some style-sheets.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TELsCgX2jjcX2a2r_R9uvvt-UNDq2Rdy

Did Holmes use a campaign calendar?

Herman Klang wrote:

Did Holmes have a calendar that he used for his campaigns?

The cover of the Australian monochrome version of G1 Steading of theHill Giant Chief.

The cover of the Australian monochrome version of G1 Steading of the Hill Giant Chief. The front cover is missing the triangle in the upper left corner (of the US version), and the back cover art is different. The bugbear art by #trampier also appears on page 10 of D1 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth. From an ebay auction: https://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?cache=1&p=282688&c=1#p282688

I forgot to share this, during Holiday Madness, so I'm a day late and a dollar short, but here it is...

I forgot to share this, during Holiday Madness, so I'm a day late and a dollar short, but here it is...

http://rlyehreviews.blogspot.com/2017/12/fanzine-focus-ix-fantastic-exciting.html

Here is a player made map from my Portown campaign.

Herman Klang wrote:

Here is a player made map from my Portown campaign. I think it could make a good play aid for running the basic dungeon.

https://dungeonsofklang.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-last-2-sessions-of-portown.html

Originally shared by Paul Haupt III

Just wanted to share a map I created from a morning session with the Fish Cult Today Flailsnails campaign in good Ole' Portown. I always believe a good dungeon session deserves a good map! Herman Klang

A cool old thread on DF related to the U.K print vs USA print.

A cool old thread on DF related to the U.K print vs USA print. For those who own a copy of the U.K edition do you feel it worthwhile to also possess it? Thanks
https://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=367035

Jon Peterson continues his series on forgotten early FRPGs; this time with Sir Pellinore's Game (1978), which took...

Jon Peterson continues his series on forgotten early FRPGs; this time with Sir Pellinore's Game (1978), which took inspiration from Tunnels & Trolls.

Originally shared by Jon Peterson

Read about a forgotten variant: Sir Pellinore's Game, a 1978 role-playing game that went through three editions without ever finding a publisher.

http://playingattheworld.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-forgotten-variant-sir-pellinores-game.html

The Discs of Severen - forgotten magic items created by Jim Ward,published on the back cover of the Dungeoneer...

The Discs of Severen - forgotten magic items created by Jim Ward, published on the back cover of the Dungeoneer issue #4, March 1977. This material was left out of the later Dungeoneer Compendium (Issues 1-6). The Dungeoneer was edited by Jennell Jaquays at this point (later it was sold to #judgesguild). I found this on a thread on the Acaeum Judges Guild subweb: https://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?cache=1&f=13&t=16693&c=1

This is the only Holmes rulebook I've seen that was signed by Holmeshimself.

This is the only Holmes rulebook I've seen that was signed by Holmes himself. It's a first print (Lizard Logo, F116-R code). The image was posted by Zach Glazar (who is a member here but I don't know if he monitors the group) in a thread on the Acaeum in May 2016. It was part of a collection of an unidentified TSR employee who also had a number of LJN D&D toy prototypes. Most of the photos in the thread have disappeared (thanks, photobucket!) but luckily I saved a copy of this. https://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?cache=1&f=1&t=15531&c=1

A Holmes Basic set in shrink wrap sold on eBay a few days ago for $1125.

A Holmes Basic set in shrink wrap sold on eBay a few days ago for $1125...! Not even an early print. I think that's a record. The listing said it was owned by a former TSR employee but didn't give any more details. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-D-amp-D-Dungeons-amp-Dragons-Basic-Set-1001-Factory-Shrink-Wrapped-/391951764548?nma=true&si=gGcQmgfUAFGOTw0zGgYj%252FC8ImO4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-D-amp-D-Dungeons-amp-Dragons-Basic-Set-1001-Factory-Shrink-Wrapped-/391951764548?nma=true&si=gGcQmgfUAFGOTw0zGgYj%252FC8ImO4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Some bizarre "Fluffy Adorable Stickers" (puffy stickers) featuring TSRmonster artwork normally seen only as...

Some bizarre "Fluffy Adorable Stickers" (puffy stickers) featuring TSR monster artwork normally seen only as Rub-Down Transfers. From a recent Ebay auction.

‪The Circle is now complete... #blueholme #dungeonsanddragons ‬

Ben Monroe wrote:

‪The Circle is now complete... #blueholme #dungeonsanddragons ‬

New comment on a 2012 blog post by someone who played back in the '70s using Warlock:

New comment on a 2012 blog post by someone who played back in the '70s using Warlock:

"Since I'm coming across this not long after the latest necromantic post, I'll just say that Warlock was the first system I played with, beginning in 76. I preferred the combat tables, since it allowed things like daggers being effective against anybody in light armor, but rapidly growing useless as the armor got heavier, while a blunt weapon like a mace was more effective for heavier armor. Relative attack/defense levels also made a smaller difference in your chance to hit compared to D&D, so you could handle the greater number of levels.They did have computer-printed spell lists for spells up to (I think) 17th level. Was it better than D&D? No, just quite different by the time I moved out of the area in 87."

- new comment by "Unknown" on https://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/02/warlock-or-how-to-play-d-without.html #completewarlock
https://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/02/warlock-or-how-to-play-d-without.html

Just got this amazing thing in the mail.

Just got this amazing thing in the mail. It's a Gary Con X dice bag featuring the Demogorgon artwork from last year (based on Sutherland's original MM art). Luke Gygax offered these in a limited run recently on the Gary Con forums. This is the first real dice bag I've ever owned. #dcsIII

Here's a reference to Holmes Basic in The Dragon that I never came across before, and it equates it with Original...

Here's a reference to Holmes Basic in The Dragon that I never came across before, and it equates it with Original D&D:
"We do realize, however, the plight of the many gamers attempting to find a happy medium between old rules (as in Original D&D and Basic D&D) and the newer rules of ADVANCED D&D (as in the PLAYERS HANDBOOK) without the benefit of the full AD&D system being in print. We therefore present this “sneak preview” of the DUNGEON MASTERS GUIDE."
This is from the Dungeon Masters Guide preview published in February 1979, which appeared because the DMG was being delayed until Gen Con. The preview included all of the To Hit and Saving Throw tables - basically the info needed to run a game along with the PHB: