Complete Classic

Over the last couple of weeks I have finally gotten my hands on Holmes Basic, Cook/Marsh Basic and Moldvay/Cook Expert. Since the 1980s I have owned the complete BECMI D&D (along with the RC in the 90s), but it has been nice to add the other versions of Classic D&D to my collection. Frank Mentzer's BECMI remains my favorite version of D&D, but it is interesting to see the little variations in the previous versions. In general I prefer looking at all of these as pretty much the same game. Modules, supplements and other elements are easily used between all of them so having the whole collection really makes me feel proud to say that I am a fan of classic D&D.



-Havard

Holmes' Obituary

Yesterday, I reported that Dr J. Eric Holmes has passed away. Thanks to Dragonsfoot poster Zenopus76, I found this obituary at ERBzine:

John Eric Holmes (1930 - 2010)Word has just been received that John Eric Holmes has died. Holmes was a former associate professor of neurology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, an author and promoter of fantasy role-playing games, a noted fan and enthusiast of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and an American writer of non-fiction, fantasy and science fiction. His writings have appeared under his full name and under variants such as Eric Holmes and J. Eric Holmes. He wrote two excellent ERB pastiches, “Red Ax of Pellucidar” and “Mahars of Pellucidar.” He was guest of honor at the 1993 ECOF in Willows, California, hosted by Ralph Brown.[...] He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

I think Jayson Vey's quotation on Dragonsfoot sums up our feelings quite well:

"What would you have me do, Gandalf? First Gary, then Dave. Then Tom Moldvay, and now you tell me John Holmes has left us. Our list of allies grows thin!"

 Havard

RIP John Eric Holmes (1930-2010)

I just found out from Allan Grohe, by the way of Dragonsfoot that D&D editor John Eric Holmes passed away on 20 March this year, due to a stroke. It is sad to see yet another of the great names from the early days of D&D leave us so soon.

A complete bibliography of mr Holmes can be found here.

A 5-page download of the sample dungeon also known as  Cellars of Zenopus from the Holmes rulebook can be found on WotC's website, in this article.

-Havard