The Holmes Blue Book Companion is a fan-crafted expansion of the 1977 D&D Basic Set. The blue Holmes Basic Set was originally positioned as a stepping-stone to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and thus only provided rules for 1st to 3rd level characters. The Blue Book Companion starts with an agenda, and provides rules for characters all the way up to 14th level. Hit dice continue to grow up to the maximum level (instead of being a fixed bonus, like in other versions of the game), and fighting-men are the only class to get better at hitting creatures. Spells up to 4th level for clerics, and 5th level for magic-users are provided. Optional rules included variable weapon damage based on the size of the weapon and the class/race of the character, additional classes (paladin, ranger, and barbarian influenced by the Players Handbook and Unearthed Arcana).