Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (Holmes) vs White Box: FMAG

Compare Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (Holmes) and White Box: FMAG side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.

	Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (Holmes)	White Box: FMAG
Genre	Fantasy	Fantasy
Tags	Classic Fantasy, Dungeon Crawl, Exploration, Resource Management, Random Character Creation, Deadly, Vancian Casting, Descending AC, Tactical, Map-Drawing	Rules-Light, Classic Fantasy, Dungeon Crawl, Deadly, Hackable, Beginner-Friendly, Random Character Creation, Vancian Casting, Descending AC, Hexcrawl
Core Mechanic	Attacks and saving throws use a d20 roll that must meet or exceed the relevant table target. Attack targets depend on the defender's descending Armor Class and the attacker's level or hit dice. The referee resolves other actions through specific d6 or percentile procedures and rulings.	Roll d20 + modifiers against a target number derived from the defender's Armor Class (descending AC by default, ascending AC optional). Attribute modifiers are compressed to −1, 0, or +1. Each class has a single saving throw number that improves with level. Side-based initiative is rolled each round on d6.
Dice	d20	d20
Complexity	Medium	Very Low
Availability	Out of print	Free core rules
Runnability	3 of 5 book tools	2 of 5 book tools
License	Proprietary	OGL 1.0a
Third-Party Publishing	No verified route found	Not yet researched
Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing.
Publisher	TSR Hobbies, Inc.	Seattle Hill Games
Year	1977	2016
Languages	English	English
Best For	Groups who want low-level dungeon expeditions built around mapping, cautious resource use, and treasure recovery.	Groups wanting the simplest possible version of original D&D: four classes, compressed modifiers, and intentional rules gaps that invite house rules and Referee creativity.
Highlights	Ten-minute turns tie searching and rest to the risk of wandering monsters. Recovering treasure grants experience, rewarding expeditions that secure loot without fighting every monster. Reaction rolls let encountered creatures respond with negotiation or offers of help.	Attribute modifiers compressed to −1/0/+1 keeps math fast and reduces stat dependency. Complete game in 143 pages including monsters, treasure, spells, and wilderness/dungeon procedures. A free PDF and a low-cost print edition make it one of the most accessible OSR games. Intentional rules gaps and a blank House Rules page explicitly invite customization.
Considerations	The core covers only the first three character levels and refers higher-level play to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Magic-users must spend at least a day studying to regain an expended spell. Poison can kill on a failed saving throw even when the initial hit is survivable.	Four classes (three without the optional Thief) limits character variety. No formal skill system: the Referee adjudicates all non-combat actions. Level tables cap at 10, requiring house rules for extended campaigns.