Alright, its been over thirty years since I tried out B/X editions of D&D, so can someone refresh me on the differences between it and the Red Box?

Quote from: Silverlion;630440Alright, its been over thirty years since I tried out B/X editions of D&D, so can someone refresh me on the differences between it and the Red Box?

Old Red Box is basically just a box with Moldvay Basic in it. It's the Basic set.  For the X part you want the blue box, or just the blue Expert booklet.

Or if you want it all in once place, you could get the RC, but I found the writing dull as hell and trying to learn B/X from RC is a recipe for madness and boredom.

Quote from: J Arcane;630447Old Red Box is basically just a box with Moldvay Basic in it. It's the Basic set.  For the X part you want the blue box, or just the blue Expert booklet.

Or if you want it all in once place, you could get the RC, but I found the writing dull as hell and trying to learn B/X from RC is a recipe for madness and boredom.

I've got the RC, but this doesn't explain the difference between the earlier Basic Set and the Moldvay one.

Quote from: Silverlion;630448I've got the RC, but this doesn't explain the difference between the earlier Basic Set and the Moldvay one.

Ahh, yeah, the differences between the old Holmes Basic and the Red Box/Moldvay (and later Mentzer) is something I'll have to leave to the groggier folk to elucidate.

Here's a start: http://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/2089/what-are-the-differences-between-holmes-moldvay-and-mentzer-dd

Quote from: Silverlion;630440Alright, its been over thirty years since I tried out B/X editions of D&D, so can someone refresh me on the differences between it and the Red Box?

You're asking about the difference between Mentzer (red box) and Moldvay (magenta box), right? I'm not terribly familiar with Menzter, I've only read it but never played it. From what I've heard the main difference is that the thief skill progression has been stretched out to make it last through 36 levels (BECMI) as opposed to 14 levels (B/X). In other words, not a lot of change, and even less at Basic levels 1-3. I prefer B/X because it's somehow more "tight" and I actually like the 14th level top-out (though I bought Blackrazor's B/X companion in case I ever get the urge to go higher).

Holmes Basic (blue box), now, was an entirely different kettle of fish. Written as an intro to OD&D, it was based mainly on the original 3 booklets plus Supplement 1: Greyhawk, with some unique house rules thrown in by Holmes (like initiative being determined simply by comparing Dex scores). To confuse matters even more, while it was being written the switch was being made from OD&D to AD&D, so a lot of references to the latter were liberally sprinkled throughout the Holmes rulebook - even though the rules were still OD&D Basic and not re-written for AD&D.

If you want to get an idea of what Holmes was like, look for my (free) simulacrum "Blueholme" on RPGNow.

Quote from: Vile;630456You're asking about the difference between Mentzer (red box) and Moldvay (magenta box), right? I'm not terribly familiar with Menzter, I've only read it but never played it. From what I've heard the main difference is that the thief skill progression has been stretched out to make it last through 36 levels (BECMI) as opposed to 14 levels (B/X). In other words, not a lot of change, and even less at Basic levels 1-3. I prefer B/X because it's somehow more "tight" and I actually like the 14th level top-out (though I bought Blackrazor's B/X companion in case I ever get the urge to go higher).

Holmes Basic (blue box), now, was an entirely different kettle of fish. Written as an intro to OD&D, it was based mainly on the original 3 booklets plus Supplement 1: Greyhawk, with some unique house rules thrown in by Holmes (like initiative being determined simply by comparing Dex scores). To confuse matters even more, while it was being written the switch was being made from OD&D to AD&D, so a lot of references to the latter were liberally sprinkled throughout the Holmes rulebook - even though the rules were still OD&D Basic and not re-written for AD&D.

If you want to get an idea of what Holmes was like, look for my (free) simulacrum "Blueholme" on RPGNow.

And blue book only ran levels 1-3...... although it was possibly the only book that told you how often to roll for wandering monsters

Here you go, from the "Moldvay, Mentzer, Holmes: What's the Real Difference?" thread.

http://www.therpgsite.com/showpost.php?p=359515&postcount=16

Quote from: TAFMSV;630469Here you go, from the "Moldvay, Mentzer, Holmes: What's the Real Difference?" thread.

http://www.therpgsite.com/showpost.php?p=359515&postcount=16

You know, I don't even care... but that was still interesting.

Is there something wrong with me?

Quote from: Daddy Warpig;630470You know, I don't even care... but that was still interesting.

Is there something wrong with me?

Nope.

Awesome, thanks for this guys.

Turns out I really am going to stick with the BECMI.

Quote from: Silverlion;630474Awesome, thanks for this guys.

Turns out I really am going to stick with the BECMI.

If you like clerics then play B/X.

Quote from: Silverlion;630474Awesome, thanks for this guys.

Turns out I really am going to stick with the BECMI.

I prefer B/X myself, but that's probably because I prefer the shorter books so it's easier to find what I'm looking for, and I prefer the artwork.  To each his own.

Mentzer talked down to you, like you were six.  Moldvay/Cook gave you the rules in a no-nonsense kind of way.

I started with Moldvay when I was in first or second grade (hand-me-downs from my brothers, who'd moved on to AD&D) and I was able to understand it then...and I'm (as many on this board have likely inferred) not a genius by any stretch of the imagination.  Reading a friend's copy of the Mentzer set felt like Care Bears or something.

Quote from: Daddy Warpig;630470You know, I don't even care... but that was still interesting. Is there something wrong with me?

You sound fine to me.

Quote from: Silverlion;630474Awesome, thanks for this guys. Turns out I really am going to stick with the BECMI.

Just out of interest, what do you prefer out of BECMI?

Quote from: KenHR;630500Mentzer talked down to you, like you were six.  Moldvay/Cook gave you the rules in a no-nonsense kind of way.

That's strange.

From this link (emphasis mine):

QuoteDifferences between Moldvay and Mentzer

• Moldvay aims his writing at a younger audience. Mentzer writes for an adult audience.
  
• (...)
• Moldvay's game is pretty simple and straightforward. Mentzer adds complexity, like skills and weapon mastery.