TSR Rewrote Basic D&D… But Did They Ruin It?

TSR rewrote Basic Dungeons & Dragons in 1983 with the now-iconic Red Box—but did the new version, known as BECMI, improve the game… or ruin everything that made Moldvay Basic great?

In this video, I dive deep into the differences between the 1981 Moldvay/Cook edition of Basic D&D and the 1983 BECMI edition by Frank Mentzer. We’ll look at the rules, tone, presentation, and design philosophy that made these versions so distinct—and controversial.

🔥 Whether you're an OSR fan, a 5E refugee, or just curious how TSR continued trying to change D&D, this breakdown provides a lot of historical details.

💬 Which version do YOU prefer—Moldvay or BECMI? Let me know in the comments!

🧠 Topics covered:

➡️Why TSR replaced Moldvay’s Basic D&D
➡️The Red Box vs the Purple Box
➡️Differences between BECMI and Moldvay/Cook/Marsh
➡️How Mentzer’s edition changed the tone and structure of the game

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0:00 Introduction
8:47 Background
20:59 Moldvay B/X
22:30 D&D Sales
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37:32 Original Art
40:54 Basic Set
59:03 Expert Set
1:07:15 Companion Set
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1:32:46 Immortals Sets
1:42:56 Wrap-Up
1:51:07 Bonus Content

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