Not Gygax or Arneson: A quick discussion of Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer
“Unfortunately now viewed by the general public more as footnotes than famous names, and even more tragic, often lost in the larger narrative of the hobby’s history, Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer had a substantial and lasting impact on the game, nevertheless. Holmes provided clarity and tone, Moldvay furnished elegant structure and warmth, and Mentzer expanded access and gave it heart and soul. Together, they, along with Gygax and Arneson gave context and connectivity to an amateur experiment and transformed it into a living tradition, a cultural artifact that could endure long after its founders had passed.”

