"Basic/Expert" Dungeons & Dragons by Moldvay/Cook from 1981.
26
votes
5answers
4k views
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D?
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D? Also, which one came first?
2
votes
2answers
120 views
Moldvay D&D First Round in Encounter
I'm confused about how to DM the first round of an encounter using Moldvay's rules, specifically, when is the DM supposed to use the Monster Reaction table on page B24.
Say a party encounters a group ...
4
votes
2answers
253 views
Turns vs. Rounds playing time in Moldvay D&D 1981 Ed
In D&D (Moldvay 1981 Basic rules) turns are 10 minutes each, used for normal adventuring time. When an encounter occurs, time shifts to rounds (10 seconds each). This means 60 rounds equates to ...
2
votes
2answers
239 views
Melee Combat in Moldvay's D&D Basic
I'm working on a CRPG, written in Python, that will hopefully re-create some of the fun from the original D&D Basic Set (Moldvay's 1981 red-box edition), and so I'm getting into some pretty ...
13
votes
4answers
742 views
How can players learn the nature of magic items?
I'm running a sandbox campaign with Adventurer Conqueror King System (essentially Moldvay-Cook Basic/Expert D&D). My players are starting to find probably-magic items during their expeditions and ...
6
votes
2answers
311 views
In calculating Basic D&D monster experience, what's a special ability?
I really like my good ol' Moldvay Basic D&D. Every once in a while, it's missing a rule I want, and I make it up. Then I feel clever. Sometimes, though, I want to know what everybody else did ...
7
votes
3answers
228 views
Does exploration movement rate in Basic D&D (B/X) include trap/secret-door detection?
In the Basic Rulebook for D&D, on page B19, it states that characters can move 120' in a dungeon per turn (10 minutes). Later it states that this movement assumes players are mapping carefully, ...
4
votes
1answer
216 views
Moldvay Basic D&D - Mapping using Charater Movement Rates
I'm dusting off the Moldvay Red Basic Rulebook (1981) and taking a stab at figuring out some of the rules that I, frankly, didn't fully understand when I was a kid.
On B19, under the MOVEMENT ...
6
votes
1answer
180 views
How many things can a player do on his or her round?
I'm just starting out DMing in D&D, using the Moldvay basic rules from 1981.
A player encounters a monster that is 100' away. The player wins initiative and wants to do the following on round 1:
...
3
votes
2answers
171 views
Fighting Withdrawal v.s Retreat in Moldvay's Basic D&D
This pertains to Moldvay's edition of D&D Basic from 1981.
I've never understood the rules behind meleed movement options. The rulebook says that a player in melee combat with a monster has only ...
7
votes
1answer
379 views
Where can I find a database (sqlite, csv, etc) of Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set character and monster data?
I'm writing an engine for Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (Red and Blue Box) First Edition (1E) in Python and would like to be able to read from an existing database of what is in the players and ...
11
votes
2answers
385 views
How does Adventurer Conqueror King differ from B/X D&D, Labyrinth Lord, and Pathfinder?
Exactly how does Adventurer Conqueror King differ from B/X D&D, Labyrinth Lord, and Pathfinder? If I wanted to begin playing with a system-light D&D, preferred ascending AC, and wanted ...
12
votes
7answers
1k views
In early D&D, why would chainmail ever be preferred over plate armor?
In early D&D, both chainmail and plate armor were considered metal armor, and to slow the wearer to 60' per turn. Chainmail cost 40gp, and plate armor 60gp. Their encumbrance was 400 or 500 coins ...
