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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JeffB" data-source="post: 5661538" data-attributes="member: 518">None of them are easily pigeonholed, especially Holmes- as it is all over the place.OD&D +supplements = foundation for AD&D. Think AD&D Lite. It has most of the classes, monsters, spells, races, and the rules supplements brought about an increased focus on thinsg like ability score bonuses.  As for retroclones-S&W Complete is closest to this. S&W Core is confusing as it's mostly OD&D (original boxed set) with just some weird odds and ends from the GH supplement. S&W White box is mostly OD&D original set with some suggestions for house rules. It has much more emphasis on the D6 as a measure of HD, damage, etc. Whereas core & Complete utilize differing die types for HD, variable weapon damage, adds the thief class (Whitebox- has only Cleric, MU, and Fighter classes as well as the racial classes) etc. HOLMES has bits from OD&D, some bits from the upcoming AD&D, and has some bits all it's own (like Dex determines initiative). You can find some detailed breakdowns of the Holmes set on the intarwebz, as well asrules expansion for those who prefer to use it for a foundation system. The Moldvay/Cook/Marsh (MCM)  Basic/Expert (BX) sets are basically just a cleaning up of those OD&D rules- but keeping options limited- races as classes, only a few races/classes. It was meant to be  simple to learn, and have a wild & woolly open style game to contrast with AD&D's uniformity, structure, and complexity. IOW- it tended to capture how OD&D was played back in it's formative years  before AD&D while simultaneously becoming a a complete and easy introduction to the RPG hobby. B/X covered up to level 14, and there was a promised "Companion book" for levels up to 36th that never materialised (as originally intended- see below in the BECMI section) . This  is still my fave version of the game, and always will be, even though I started with OD&D + supps.  LL is the clear successor here in the retro-clone market.Frank's sets (BECMI), take the MCM sets at their core. Then clarify, and eratta some things, and expand into it's own distinct D&D line of product with the Companion set & beyond. It is different in scope than the MCM sets- there is *almost* a meta plot, as PCs are meant to eventually adventure up to the highest levels and become an immortal. In addition, The Known World-a sample sandbox game world developed for playtesting the MCM sets- transforms into a full fledged  detailed campaign setting called Mystara- and IMO, loses all of it's charm in the process.  In addition all sorts of add on rules not previously used in A or O D&D start to get tacked onto the system. This (the Companion set)  is where I parted ways with D&D back then as it was clear they were going off in a very different direction I did not care to follow. I do not own any retroclones that are meant to to simulate these sets, so I cannot help here.</blockquote>

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