Blueholme

Blueholme recreates the distinctive atmosphere of the 1977 Holmes Basic D&D edition—a transitional moment in roleplaying history when the original OD&D boxes were distilled into a single accessible rulebook. The game embraces what designer Michael Thomas calls "the path not taken": what if Holmes Basic had received a complete Expert companion instead of the game splitting into the Basic/Expert and Advanced D&D lines?

Theme and Setting

The implied setting is classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy with a liberal dusting of Lovecraftian horror. The monster sections include Great Old Ones, Deep Ones, Mi-Go, and Yithians alongside traditional fantasy creatures.

How Play Feels

The artwork by Jean-Francois Beaulieu and others deliberately evokes the early TSR aesthetic—black and white line art with a colorful cover depicting adventurers confronting a dragon lurking in shadowy caverns. Blueholme simplifies Holmes Basic while preserving its essential character.

What Makes It Distinct

All weapons deal 1d6 damage (2-handed weapons get +1), eliminating the complexity of variable damage dice. Combat uses five phases per round—surprise, spells, missiles, melee, and movement—with Dexterity determining initiative within each phase.

Where It May Not Fit

You want the system to stay almost invisible at the table You want a much breezier tone than this game is built to support.