RPG Retro Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Holmes Basic

A very special RPG Retro Review as I take a look back at the very first revision of the Dungeons & Dragons rules, the Blue Box Set of Basic D&D, or simply Holmes Basic. Stoke the campfire, sit back and relax as I tell the tale of how this edition came to be. Also, Check out these links:
Part 1: RPG Retro Review, D&D Rules Cyclopedia: • Retro RPG review 10: P...
Blueholme at Drive Thru RPG: www.drivethrurpg.com/product/1...
Blueholme at Lulu: www.lulu.com/spotlight/bromgrev
Zenopus Archives: sites.google.com/site/zenopus...

[@BlackburnBigdragon]

This was the version of D&D that I started playing with. The paper dice. I could have ordered the polyhedral dice through the mail, but my parents refused to pay for it. "Why do you need special dice? Use the dice from one of your other games!" "But mom! This game needs special dice!" "Why should we order special dice when those paper chips work just fine for you? That game was expensive enough!" "But Mooooooooom!!!" That was pretty much the conversation.

[@mikegould6590]

Oh. My. God. The blue boxed set.

[@tertia0011]

The Blue Book cover art is iconic & for me captures the essential mood of D&D RP, putting the dragon and the dungeon into Dungeons & Dragons. The dragon stares menacingly out of the page & you get a sense that fiery breath is going to roar out of the picture. My response to that: 'This is a game I want to find out about and play'. Straight into the action. Although my obsession with D&D started with the original Gygax & Arneson rules set this edition is where the magic began. With this & Basic 2e Expert you have all the rules & content you need to play classic D&D. Don't bother with AD&D you won't be missing much & you will save a lot of money & space on your bookshelf.

[@drunkendelver1966]

I'm finding myself absolutely fascinated with the early history of D&D. The fact that the OSR has so many different retroclones of the same core rulesets might seem redundant to a lot of people, but I find it sort of charming, in a way. I especially love any books that try to replicate the look and feel of vintage books.

[@rodento3220]

This is the box I learned to play with! OH man I was hooked. Except for stepping pn that damn yellow D4 and a trip to the emergency room. I often wish I still had it.

[@CollectionTHX1138]

Excellent! It inspired me to dig up my original Holmes boxed set and Keep on the Borderlands. I uploaded a vid “Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition Holmes Box Set TSR 1979 Grenadier Minis Keep on Borderlands Primer” I show the small white dice you had to rub with a crayon. I didn’t want to repeat what you said so I gave an overview and leaf thru the Holmes rulebook page-by-page. I give a primer to non-D&D players while I leaf thru Keep on the Borderlands. D&D had a stigma attached to it until the 300lb football coach started a D&D club then it was cool lol

[@majore2276]

This was a great synopsis of the beginnings of D&D! Cleared up some confusion I had in my mind in regards to how the ODD and Blue Book and AD&D are all related. Thanks! Keep churning these vids out!

[@aetopus1228]

I love this. Interestingly, my friends and I (aged 12 or 13 at the time) never found anything in this set confusing or frustrating. The fact that it was in print seemed to give it enough clout at our age, and the fledgling rule system sparked many discussions, imaginative improvisations, and research breaks when a PC's life was at stake. I benefited greatly from the comradery, problem-solving practice, and vocabulary jump-start that this game offered, and it's fun to see your take on this and others. Looking forward to your take on Gamma World and Top Secret. Thanks!

[@Rick.Grayson]

I too started here. Unbelievably I saw this on a shelf on a local Kmart and lusted after it for weeks, saving my chore monies. I excitedly picked it up and proceeded to be dumbfounded by the rules for about two years until we found a friend who’s brother knew how to play. My set was during the dice shortage so had the cut out chits. I found my first set of dice in the front counter of a local hobby/train shop.

[@AnthonyEmmel]

Starting a sandbox Holmes game this afternoon and starting out with the Zenopus dungeon. :)

[@tobhomott]

My first D&D set! By the time any other kids I knew heard of D&E they were all getting rhe red box set and AD&D. I used my own books anyway, not knowing any different. When your DM is 10 years old the rules are stacked against you no matter what anyhow!

[@pspboy7]

"Why are you casting Magic Missile? There's nothing to attack here!"

[@goodlookingcorpse]

Gary Gygax loved the passive voice.

[@tabletopgamingwithwolfphototec]

I'm binging on B/X / B.E.C.M.I. goodness and i want more .

[@trollson66]

This is where I started as well.

[@starshiplazyboy475]

That’s a good lookin doggo in the intro! Great review as well.

[@aaronsmith5055]

I love your reviews. They're always on topics I enjoy, and your overview is a great way to get a feel for each adventure... BUT the intro music is so upbeat and I love to fall asleep listening to your playlist... That music at the beginning of every video is a sure thing to wake me back up!

[@TheConfessor]

I missed out on Holmes and by the time I got back to look at in adulthood, I was already in love with Moldvay B/X.

[@Wedneswere]

Thank you for these videos on the history.

[@Korroth]

This video made me realize why race as class seems so odd to me. I started with a Holmes blue box in 1980 and then went straight to AD&D. Thus I never encountered B/X or BECMI, or at least I never noticed that those use race as class, and Holmes and AD&D do not. Thank you for helping me solve this personal mystery!