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Sample file A compilation of the B/X fanzine’s first ten issues.

Created and printed between June, 2017 and September, 2019, Back to BasiX is a quarterly fanzine celebrating the B/X version of the world's most popular tabletop role-playing game. Presented in a US Trade hardcover format for the first time ever, this compilation brings together all 10 issues into one volume, complete with every piece of original gaming content, product review, and industry leg- end interview from the original print run! Best of all, these 216 pages are housed within a brand new color cover, created by the fanzine’s original cover artist, Matthew Ray. Printed August, 2021—First Printing, 700 copies.

Issue Pages Interview Release Date 1 10 Merle Rasmussen June, 2017 2 14 September, 2017 3 14 David Cook December, 2017 4 18 Diesel March, 2018 5 18 Stephen Marsh June, 2018 6 22 Mike Carr September, 2018 7 22 Erol Otus December, 2018 8 22 Jennell Jaquays March, 2019 9 30 Darlene June, 2019 10 34 Douglas Niles September, 2019 Sample file

B2BX10C MSRP: $30.00 i 1 Free First Issue! #1 — June 2017

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A new quarterly Fanzine dedicated to a simpler time of RPGs— covering the Basic and Expert editions of Dungeons & Dragons. Simpler Times — A Letter from the Fanzine Creator Back to BasiX has been brewing in Additionally, we may journey into 1 my busy mind for some time, trying later extensions of the B/X system; desperately to escape. Other work we may touch upon rules or prod- has always taken precedence, espe- ucts in the “CMI” portion of the cially ideas that help build a finan- BECMI universe to break up the cial platform for fun and low-cost content once in a while. Heck, we products like a fanzine! With a may even write an adventure or two couple of successful Kickstarters in the Masters or Immortals systems! completed, I have enough extra Our primary focus however, will be cash to put out a free ‘zine. Well, to produce a small fanzine dedicated at least free for the first issue. to the early B/X work. We’ll al- This fanzine will be dedicated to all ways have at least one adventure, a things B/X; the Holmes, Moldvay product spotlight or review, a new and Mentzer work will all be consid- monster and a few unique magical ered when developing content, writ- items in every issue. In upcoming ing articles, and interviewing gamers. issues, we’ll interview more legends I personally love the Moldvay edition of the industry, add a Wanted/For the best, but this series will look at Sale section, and try to include all editorial versions as equally as more artwork for you to enjoy. possible. To most, there is little Thanks for picking up this premiere difference between the Basic books, issue of Back to BasiX. I hope at least in spirit and general game you enjoy it and find it useful! play. However, rule differences or mechanics may get spotlighted occa- — Thom Wilson sionally as a source for interesting material. — Issue #1 Details —

Fanzine Sections — V1 No 1

Content Page Issue #1 — June 2017 Letter from the Creator 1 Printed: 2017 (3rd print) Publishing News 2 Created by: Thom Wilson Product Spotlight 2 Articles by: Thom Wilson Cover Illustration: Matt Ray Interview—M. Rasmussen 3 Logo: Isa de Mendonca Silva Mythicology 4 Comic: Travis Hanson The Magic Shop 4

SampleDungeon Crawl 5 Upcoming Issues: file Spellbound 7 #2 — September, 2017 An Ongoing Adventure... 8 #3 — December, 2017 Back to BasiX Issue #2 submission deadline for Ads, Wanted and For 1 Sale posts is August 13th, 2017. Publishing News 1 As you know, there aren’t a lot of Labyrinth Lord by Goblinoid Games. new products getting produced for Published in 2007 and 2009, Laby- the B/X system. That being said, rinth Lord is a fairly consistent retro each quarter we’ll explore all the -clone of the Moldvay work, with channels where new products may expanded rules up to 20th level. materialize. This includes crowd Goblinoid Games has dozens of funding sites, indie publishers, and products to support the B/X system. even convention publishing. We’ll B/X Companion by Running Beagle try to cover every angle of the Games. The B/X Companion ex- industry, ferreting out new material pands on the Basic and Experts for your B/X campaigns! sets, providing rules for levels up to In this first issue, we’ll highlight 36th, with new spells, monsters, some of the known B/X products magical items, and guidelines for that are relatively new, at least re- mass warfare. Hard to find in leased after the original B/X prod- print but for sale as a PDF on ucts of the 80’s. RPGNow.

Product Spotlight I’ve already “hinted” at my love for The cover illustration by Erol Otus the Moldvay Basic Rulebook, so it is one of the most inspirational seems fitting to review that product early images of role-playing. That in the first issue of Back to BasiX. single illustration tells a story of For me, it is the benchmark for all adventure; treasure, heroes and a rulebooks; it is concise, has a clean terrible dragon looming in the back- layout style, and is full of inspira- ground made all my friends and I tion. want to pick up dice and roll up a character. The Moldvay Basic Rulebook wasn’t the first guide; Holmes blue book, Moldvay’s editorial presence mani- and Gygax and Arneson’s earlier fests in the layout of the book. work were the foundations of begin- Each section follows a carefully con- ning rule systems. But in the initial structed path, allowing first time heyday of mass published RPG ma- players and dungeon masters the terial, the Moldvay edited Basic ease of navigation from character Rulebook was the first simplified creation through combat resolution. rulebook to reach the masses. This book has set the benchmark for other guidelines and materials, I can remember being given my providing a roadmap on how to copy of the red rulebook (along publish an instructional RPG. with the incomplete fragments of a tatteredSample Otus box) back in 1981. Basic Rulebook, Eighthfile (1981) The rules were laid out so simply through Eleventh (1982) printings, that even my young brain could with Erol Otus cover illustration fully comprehend how the game (ISBN 0-935696-48-2, #2014). was played. It was 64 pages of greatness. 2 Interview with a Legendary Gamer — Merle Rasmussen I’ll try to interview one author, illus- (module) in eight weeks. Now finish 1 trator, designer or editor who had a this one in seven." The Savage role and/or impact on the B/X Coast (X9) was published in 1985. systems each issue. In the first issue, I was able to get Merle Ras- [T] Which of the Basic and Expert mussen to answer a few of my adventures you wrote is your favor- questions... ite and why? [Thom] Everyone knows you were [M] I was given the title Ghost of brought into TSR for your Top Lion Castle (BSOLO). TSR had Secret RPG work, but why were promised a product with this title you asked to write Basic and Expert and it was listed in a book retailer's D&D adventures? catalog before I wrote it. I enjoyed drawing a castle shaped like the [Merle] I was not impressed by the King of Beasts surrounded by a fantasy genre, but I was inspired by wall. Glowing arrows shot out be- role playing. Allen Hammack hired tween its claws, molten lead me over the telephone. I was 25 in dropped from its nostrils, and huge June of 1982. The senior designers stones fell from the roof of its had staked out the more glamorous mouth. I enjoyed the challenge of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons® writing the programmed text’s deci- and TSR needed someone to write sion matrix. Basic Dungeons & Dragons® mod-

ules. AD&D® sold better than D&D®. D&D® sold better that [T] What are you working on TOP SECRET®. these days? [M] If you look up http:// topsecretnwo.com you will find a [T] You authored BSOLO (Ghost of digital clock counting down until the Lion Castle), XSOLO (Lathan's Gold) launch of the TOP SECRET: NEW and X6 Quagmire!), all released in WORLD ORDERTM to occur on 1984. Do you remember when June 19, 2017. Together with my you started each of them and how original editor Allen Hammack, and long it took to get them to print? a design team including James Car- [M] I started at TSR, Inc. in June pio, Jayson Elliot, Chad Parish, and 1982 and was downsized 22 A.J. Davenport, we have brought months later in April 1984. My the classic game into the 21st centu- resume lists modules in this order: ry, with a completely new rule sys- Quagmire! (X6), Lathan's Gold tem for fast action, easy playability, (XSOLO), and Ghost of Lion Castle and gritty realism. TOP SECRET: (BSOLO). Quagmire! (X6) took over NEW WORLD ORDERTM is a trade- Samplea year to produce and saw print mark of TSR, Inc. file after April 1984. I remember being told, "You finished writing that one

3 Mythicology 1 In the first issue of Back to BasiX, we feature a new monster straight Armor Class: 6 from our Dungeon Crawl. Future Hit Dice: 1* Move: 120’ (40’) issues will also feature one or more Attacks: See below new monsters for your B/X adven- Damage: 1-4 tures! No. Appearing: 1-4 Winged Snakeman Save As: Fighter: 1 Morale: 8 The winged snakeman is an abomi- Treasure Type: Q (N or O) nation of merged species, often Alignment: Chaotic created from a failed wizard experi- ment or spell gone wrong. Part Each creature has the head, torso human, snake and bat, the poor and arms of a human and the low- creature rarely lives more than a er half of a snake. few months, and is incapable of A group of escaped winged snake- reproducing. Their leathery wings men are often led by one alpha give them limited flight, but are male who is capable of limited better suited to gliding on strong speech. The leader of the winged winds. They attack with short snakemen often has a few items spears or with a venomous bite stolen from their former wizard mas- (requires a save vs. Poison to avoid ter (treasure type N and/or O). death). The Magic Shop Each issue of this fanzine will have Belt of Flying at least one magical item for your This wide leather belt gives the B/X campaign. Occasionally, we’ll wearer the benefit of flight, match- have a few unique artifacts for your ing that of a large bird. Movement homebrewed adventures. In this rates are 120’ (40’) when flying. issue, we list three items that No limb movement is required to fly might be suitable for the issue’s or steer; only gravity increases ve- Dungeon Crawl, Cavern of the locity and speed. When the wearer Winged Snakemen. wishes to cease flying, they may do so at anytime (even while in mid Magic Sword, +1 vs. Snakes flight!). A normal sword against any other Value: 2,000 gp. creature, this blade gains a benefit against snakes or snake-like creatures Ring of Poison Resistance (including the new monster, Winged When worn, this thin emerald band Snakeman,Sample listed above). Additional- provides a +1 to any savingfile throws ly, the blade adds +1 to any Poi- vs. Poison. This ring cannot be son saving throws when attacked by used with another ring of the same a snake or snake-like creature. type. Value: 1,000 gp. Value: 1,500 gp. 4 Quarterly Dungeon Crawl Each issue of Back to BasiX will Cavern Entrance 1 include a new, low to mid level The dark entrance to the cavern adventure for your B/X campaign. system is littered with the bones of Expect most adventures in upcoming forest creatures and molted snake issues to focus on first through third skin. Zigzagging tracks in the sand level groups. Please enjoy the first indicate that large snakes have en- adventure, Cavern of the Winged tered and exited the caves frequent- Snakemen! ly. A1: Large Cave Cavern of the Winged Snakemen by Thom Wilson. An adventure for 3- A large, wet cave spans several 5 characters of 1st or 2nd level. dozen feet in width and length. Fallen boulders and old tree logs Background: Local townsfolk whis- are found throughout the area. per of a strange cave system near Behind a pile of rubble, 2 winged town where some have claimed to snakemen (AC 6, HD 1*, hp 5 see large, flying snakes. Of course, each, #AT 1, D 1-4 + poison, there are no villagers with actual Save F1, ML8) work to clear the proof, but the stories run rampant space. They will attack the charac- at the local tavern. Surely, this is ters on sight. a great adventure for brave and eager heroes? A2: Tunnels Detailed Background: A group of Several tunnels traverse the under- winged snakemen have migrated to ground cavern system, leading to the nearby cavern, escaping the several different caves and chambers. laboratory of a mad wizard. These There is a 25% chance that charac- creatures were to be destroyed; after ters may encounter one winged all, they were failed experiments! snakeman or an acolyte from A4. The winged snakemen had other A3: Main Chamber ideas however, and fled their impris- onment. After taking a few valua- An underground stream fills the ble items with them, they are cur- back corner of this large, open rently being hunted by the wizard’s chamber. The ceiling is over 40’ minions who seek to return the high, allowing the winged creatures stolen goods. a chance to glide downward in their attacks (adding +1 to their to-hit The creatures are half man and half bonus). snake, with usable wings for limited flight and gliding. See the Mythi- 3 winged snakemen are relaxing in cology section on page 4 for more the watery pool while 2 sit upon Sampledetails. upper ledges, guarding file the area (AC 6, HD 1*, hp 4 each, #AT 1, D 1-4 + poison, Save F1, ML8). The two guards will glide down to attack as the others exit the pool, grabbing spears. 5 1 Cavern of the Winged Snakemen A5

A2 A3

A4 A1

entrance

A4: New Temple A5: Chieftain Chambers A wayward priest, recently encoun- Leading the escape, the newly elect- tering the winged creatures, has ed winged snakeman leader uses convinced their leader to erect a this area as his personal quarters. temple to worship their kind. The A single female survived the experi- priest is nearly done with the shrine ments, and has partnered with the and has recruited 2 acolytes to help leader in hopes of successful repro- finish it. duction. The priest is 2nd level and wears The leader is quite tough (AC 5, black leather armor +1 and a Ring HD 2**, hp 9, #AT 2, D 1-6 or 1 of Fire Resistance. He has but one -4 + poison, Save F1, ML12), at- spell (Protection from Good) that he tacking with two spears or a single, will immediately cast when the char- venomous bite. His mate will use acters arrive. (AC 5, C2, hp 8, a shortbow, firing arrows at the #AT 1, D 1-6, Save F1, ML10). characters from afar (AC 6, HD 1*, He carries a Potion of Neutralize hp 6, #AT 1, D 1-4 + poison, Poison for emergencies. He uses a Save F1, ML10). normal mace in combat. A small wooden crate near the The 2 acolytes are fanatical, doing pair’s nest contains the goods stolen whatSample they are told to do by the from the mad wizard; file along with priest (AC 7, C1, hp 3, 4, #AT 1, 250 sp and 50 gp, 2 Scrolls of D 1-6, Save F1, ML10). They Magic Missile and 3 Potions of wear leather armor and carry black Healing are found inside the small maces. box. 6