Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert
Moldvay/Cook Basic and ExpertBest For
Groups who want dangerous fantasy expeditions built around exploration and managing supplies. Campaigns can grow from dungeon treasure hunts into wilderness travel and ruling a territory.
Core Mechanic
Roll 1d20 with the relevant modifiers and meet or exceed the target shown on the attack or saving-throw table. Attack targets account for the opponent's descending Armor Class.
Attacks and saves begin with straightforward d20 rolls. Dungeon and wilderness procedures interlock timekeeping with supplies and encounter risk. Campaign play adds separate systems such as magical research and stronghold upkeep that the referee must learn and prepare.
- Free to tryNothing freeNo free rules or starter
- Get it nowSold newIn print or as a legal PDF
- ✓IndexFind any rule by page number
- ✓GM guidanceA chapter on how to run the game
- ✓Examples of playRules shown in action at the table
- ✓Quick referenceCheat sheet or summary tables
- ✓Cross-referencesRules point to each other by page
5 of 5 book tools found in the core book
Highlights
- Ten-minute dungeon turns make searching and resting consume supplies under wandering-monster pressure.
- Reaction and morale rolls give encounters outcomes beyond fighting to the death.
- Stronghold construction and settler taxes turn adventuring wealth into territorial responsibilities.
Considerations
- Playing through level 14 requires both the Basic and Expert rulebooks.
- Class-based advancement offers little customization beyond equipment and spell selection.
- Characters die at zero hit points, and some failed saves kill them immediately.
No verified third-party publishing route found · Reviewed 2026-10-09 · Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing. Rules license All Rights Reserved No publishing route was verified for these Basic and Expert books.
Similar systems
- Swords & Wizardry — Dungeon delving, deadly wilds, and strongholds carved from the frontierCompare Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert vs Swords & Wizardry
- White Box: FMAG — The original fantasy RPG distilled to its simplest form: four classes, compressed modifiers, and room to make it your ownCompare Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert vs White Box: FMAG
- The Lost March — Settlers of a colonial reconquest raid a Chaos-held frontier for gold, faction rank and landCompare Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert vs The Lost March
- Old-School Essentials — Perilous dungeon expeditions and wilderness exploration in search of treasureCompare Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert vs Old-School Essentials
- Basic Fantasy RPG — Delve into monster-filled dungeons and build strongholds in the wildernessCompare Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert vs Basic Fantasy RPG
- Worlds Without Number — Gritty sandbox fantasy with deep campaign-building toolsCompare Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert vs Worlds Without Number