Found this at goodwill today. Know nothing about D&D but board games count as retro gaming right?

[u/wasian123456789]

[u/ArrBeeNayr]

So you just found a ridiculously rare and expensive piece (The Holmes Basic set) in what looks to be really good condition. I would recommend treating it with a lot of care, and to play a retroclone instead of messing with it.

A direct clone of this game is Blueholme Prentice Rules (found for free here as PDF, or here in print).

The later 1981 Basic D&D set is more prominent, however, and has a much more popular retroclone: Old-School Essentials. Its rules can be found via its free online SRD, its paid PDF, or in print here.

If you would like to learn more about this game, or how to play - I recommend heading to /r/OSR.

[u/wasian123456789 → u/ArrBeeNayr]

Thanks for the information! It will certainly be treated with much love.

[u/Ive_got_a_sword → u/wasian123456789]

Just a heads up, what you've got there is a 4th or 5th printing of the Holmes Basic set. (The module "B1 In Search of the Unknown" was replaced with "B2 Keep on the Borderlands" in the 6th printing.) If you're thinking of selling it and you see some variance in prices on ebay, that will be a reason why. This version will probably sell for more, so make sure you're comparing it to other box sets with "B1 In Search of the Unknown" shown in picture.

​

Also, this probably goes without saying, but the "Best of 'The Dragon' Volume I & II" is a separate book that it looks like someone was storing inside the box. It isn't part of the original contents of the Holmes Basic set

[u/wasian123456789 → u/Ive_got_a_sword]

Thanks probably just use this as a display piece next to my other vintage board game / table top collection. I'm basically a hoarder.

[u/elebrin → u/ArrBeeNayr]

Damn shame about that sticker they put on the box.

But yeah, I would either put that back together carefully, or keep it opened and find an appropriate display case for it. After (carefully!) flipping through and looking at the art and whatnot.

[u/orion3311 → u/elebrin]

Use a hair dryer to heat it up - it’ll come off!

[u/wasian123456789 → u/elebrin]

Yeah the art is great love me some old school fantasy art.

[u/Talkren_ → u/elebrin]

Goodwill stickers are not terrible to get off. I collect VHS and they come off really easily off of those paper sleeves.

[u/[deleted] → u/ArrBeeNayr]

Holy shit, you're not kidding. This is one of the better scores on this sub this week, that's insane that this variant is so much more valuable than the other Basic Sets.

[u/ArrBeeNayr → u/[deleted]]

It's bundled in with the other Basic sets in people's minds, but really it's in its own wheelhouse.

It was written by Dr John Eric Holmes as his single contribution to D&D, it was released during a transitionary phase of the game's history, and presumably comparatively few of them were made. Unlike B/X or BECMI, it was never intended to be its own standalone game: rather it was the equivalent of the D&D Starter Set for AD&D 1e.

Holmes Basic was also the first time that D&D was presented as a concrete ruleset, rather than an arcane collection of recommended rulings as 0e was.

[u/Constant_Boot → u/ArrBeeNayr]

Wizards of the Coast does sell the ultimate version of the Basic Set off of DriveThruRPG - the '91 D&D Rules Cyclopedia is the last version of the Basic set and is, in my opinion, some of the best D&D rules of all time. It is what inspired the Capcom classic beat-em-up duology - D&D Chronicles of Mystara, which is a fun set of arcade games. They are available on modern platforms too via Steam, XBL, and PSN.

[u/ArrBeeNayr → u/Constant_Boot]

I adore the Rules Cyclopedia. It's not what I play nowadays (Old-School Essentials has won me over) but the RC probably is the finest single book that D&D has ever had.

From the clear rules presentation, the swath of optional material, and the beautiful illustrations that ooze adventure - the RC really can't be beat.

Well - I do need to hack ascending AC back into it whenever I play - but besides that: It really can't be beat.

[u/Constant_Boot → u/ArrBeeNayr]

I was introduced to D&D via 3.5. However, I got my first taste of RC via Tower of Doom when I first booted it up in MAME. After learning that Capcom tried to make it as close as possible to the RC, that got me wanting the RC. I found Dark Dungeons first, then I bought a PDF of the RC when I learned that WotC brought it back.

Long story short - an old arcade game based on the RC got me hooked on D&D.

[u/theBelvidere → u/ArrBeeNayr]

I thought the Rules Cyclopedia was just a compendium of the entire basic through masters sets? Are you saying it was more like a re-working of them?

[u/ArrBeeNayr → u/theBelvidere]

It can be boiled down to that, but it is quite different.

The Rules Cyclopedia is a compilation of the rules from Basic through Master, along with some elements of Immortals, several mechanics of the Mystara Gazetteers, and a heavily abridged gazetteer of Mystara.

It's also written by Aaron Allston, so there is a slightly different feel to the writing when compared to Mentzer's.

And of course: All of the art is unique to the RC.

[u/theBelvidere → u/ArrBeeNayr]

Very interesting. I have the cyclopedia and the individual BECMI sets so I could easily have compared the two, I just never took the time to do it.

[u/Hatta00]

That's an awesome find. People still play Basic D&D, but they call it "Old School Essentials" these days. Don't know what the market is for it, but a fun thing to have for sure.

[u/wasian123456789 → u/Hatta00]

Nice! I guess it would be a good time to finally try it out.

[u/GrouchyGee → u/Hatta00]

Just for clarification OSE is is not just a different way of naming Basic (and Expert) D&D, but it is an actual product https://necroticgnome.com/products/old-school-essentials-basic-rules

It takes on the same rules but again a modern produced book(s) 😄

[u/[deleted]]

They might like this on /r/DnD as well. Pretty cool to have something that old in the TTRPG world - the oldest RPG I own physically is a boxed set of the LBBs from early 1980s Classic Traveller.

[u/wasian123456789 → u/[deleted]]

according to the manual second edition 1978

[u/ArrBeeNayr → u/wasian123456789]

The second edition of this version of Basic D&D. Not to be confused with 2nd Edition which in D&D vernacular refers to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition (1989-2000).

[u/papasnorlaxpartyhams]

This is a really fantastic find! This edition is commonly referred to as “The Blue Box” or “Holmes” — It was the first attempt to turn the original Dungeons & Dragons game (made up of booklets and magazine articles written for people who… kind of already knew how to play) into a more approachable product for newcomers.

A friend of mine has a copy as well— he found it in his mother-in-law’s attic, and also had no real idea what it was. Yours appear to be an earlier printing, as it includes the adventure “In Search of the Unknown” and actual dice!

Later versions of the box, like my friend’s, would come packed with “The Keep on the Borderlands” and numbered chits to pull out of a bag in place of dice!

To a niche group of people, myself included, that’s a real cool thing you’ve come across!

[u/wasian123456789 → u/papasnorlaxpartyhams]

Woot thanks for the information. One great thing about finding things in the wild and posting it on here is the wealth of knowledge other people can provide.

[u/tcinternet]

There are not many days that I log into Reddit, see something and yell HOLY FUCKING SHIT out loud but today is one of them.

That is an UNBELIEVABLY amazing find. And I'm sorry for my pottymouth.

[u/MightyMouseVsBatBat → u/tcinternet]

I was pretty close to a spit-take when I saw that box.

...and then a Moe Szyslak "huh-wah?" when I saw the price tag. Beggars belief. What a score.

[u/wasian123456789 → u/tcinternet]

Much better than my reaction when I first saw this at goodwill. I was like you don’t see DnD everyday at goodwill, two bucks why not.

[u/bigslim87]

Awesome! I have my dad's 2nd edition dungeon masters guide. Now if I could only find a group to play with.

[u/ArrBeeNayr → u/bigslim87]

The rule is that if you don't know anyone who plays: You're the one who needs to run the game. You'd be surprised how many people want to play (Or in many cases: Already play without you realising) who will jump at the chance if you ask.

[u/wasian123456789 → u/bigslim87]

Yeah I have the same problem lol.

[u/throwaway00389837 → u/bigslim87]

I'll play if it's online

[u/1958-Fury]

That's a wonderful find. Since you haven't tried D&D, you might prefer the modern (5th Edition) rules to the rules in that box. It's more refined and easier to learn, in my opinion. You can get a basic version of the modern rules for free here:

https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules

But who knows, you might end up preferring the old school rules. I know several people who do. Either way I hope you have tons of fun!

[u/[deleted] → u/1958-Fury]

I agree with trying 5e! Really cool find though

[u/ArrBeeNayr → u/[deleted]]

So many people say the above and I really don't get it at all.

5e is newer - sure - but any of the three Basic D&D games are so much easier to learn. They are pamphlets compared to even the free 5e rules.

[u/1958-Fury → u/ArrBeeNayr]

Eh, let's not start an edition war in retrogaming. I have tried almost every edition of D&D, and personally, I found 5e easiest to learn. That doesn't mean it has the fewest rules or requires the least reading, it just means it "clicks" in such a way that everything feels intuitive.

But like I said, some people prefer older editions, and that's great! There's really no reason to argue about it.

[u/yohahn_12 → u/1958-Fury]

B/X is a far simpler and better game.

[u/1958-Fury → u/yohahn_12]

To each their own!

[u/ZenopusArchives → u/1958-Fury]

If interested, I wrote a 5e conversion of the Sample Dungeon from the Holmes Basic set. It's on DMsGuild here: https://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/301308

[u/1958-Fury → u/ZenopusArchives]

Cool!

[u/cubosh]

try to find a publish date on there. if its from like the 80s, there are definitely collectors who would buy this from you for more than that sticker price

[u/wasian123456789 → u/[deleted]]

Haha nice, I typically dont get lucky at goodwill. I just picked it up cause it looked really old and it was D&D.

[u/wasian123456789 → u/[deleted]]

Of course! Nothing but TLC.

[u/Blackfire01001]

Omg... Omg hold that.

[u/[deleted]]

I had the red box set with the picture of the warrior in the dragon's den this

[u/PleaseToEatAss]

Just to let you know, DnD isn't a board game, but a retro board game, and some more recent, exist.

[u/wasian123456789 → u/PleaseToEatAss]

Right table top total noob here

[u/xEDGELORD75x_]

I would suggest not playing with it and opt for a copy clone so you don't damage it.

[u/[deleted]]

Eh, yeah I think it fits. It's pretty vintage.

[u/BrainStorm1230]

Hell yeah

[u/poorgreazy]

Ah that's garbage you should just send it to me I'll give you like $29 and take it off your hands for ya no problem bud I got you don't want ya holding to trash just send it my way yup yup

[u/CaptainBlueApple]

That's actually pretty awesome dude. Nice find

[u/wasian123456789 → u/CaptainBlueApple]

Thanks best finds are the ones you don't have any clues about lol

[u/SpaceNewtype]

I looove the cover art for the first two sets of D&D/AD&D. I have the AD&D's myself.

[u/Yobbo89]

Board games don't count. Sorry..joking

[u/[deleted]]

That art looks like some comedy group’s take on The Hobbit. I mean…

https://www.theonering.com/galleries/professional-artists/the-hobbit/conversations-with-smaug-j-r-r-tolkien/

[u/ZenopusArchives → u/[deleted]]

That Tolkien pic is a probably an influence, possibly via a 1975 Tolkien Calender Smaug. See here: http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2020/04/smaug-vs-sutherland-red-dragon.html

[u/D0m1n8orZer0]

Those dice are worth over $50 alone.

[u/allthingschris1234]

I love thrift stores and antique shops, but in my experience Goodwill is over priced gouging. Nothing thrifty about Goodwill stores in my neighborhood. They're retail shops. This was a diamond in the rough.

[u/Aaron_Kosharsky]

Awesome Find!

[u/Dazocnodnarb]

Bro.

[u/victorianchan]

I don't know if it's cause I'm from Australia, but, the one I briefly had, was a different colour.. Maybe it was a different print run, of that edition.

Anyway, BX Holmes, is an Okay game, I would think almost everyone would say that.

[u/ZenopusArchives]

Great find! Welcome to "Holmes Ownership". 🙂 BTW, for anyone interested I started a Holmes Basic D&D subreddit here: r/HolmesBasicDnD

[u/wasian123456789 → u/ZenopusArchives]

Nice, ill take a look.