With 8 new classes and 4 new races, there is a lot to like about the Player's Handbook 2 (PHB2). Tons of new feats and arms and equipment are included as well. Lastly, they have included some updates for the PHB1 concerning Stealth and a few other areas. Let me say this: I would have felt like I was robbed if I had paid MSRP for this book. However, I picked it up here on eBay for around $23 shipping included. Most people will only make use of part of this material. And the PHB2 is definitely NOT necessary to have a fully functional campaign. My advice for players is this: hit up the official site for the PHB2. Read about its contents and discern how much of the book you would use as a player. For most players, my guess is you won't use the majority of the material in the book. Having said that, if you are a completist like me, you will want to have the book just for your collection. This book, like almost all others, is a MUST for Dungeon Masters. The new classes and races will help you broaden the variety of NPC's that players can encounter. That, alone, would make it a valuable purchase. The new feats and arms and equipment are also enough by themselves to warrant a purchase. The artwork style (love it or hate it) is carried into this book from the prior 4th Edn. entries. The somewhat "cartoony" appearance doesn't exactly suit my tastes, but at the very least they are keeping things similar unlike prior editions. To sum things up, the PHB2 is a MUST for DM's and completists and a "maybe" for players looking to broaden their choices for characters, feats and gear. I have been playing D&D since 1979 and I say "Kudos" to the folks at WotC for having the stones to make such enormous changes to the gameplay mechanics of this wondrous old game. They have given it a much-needed breath of fresh air and all the classes seem viable at all levels of play. A final word to the MMO enthusiasts out there: Give "Real" role-playing a chance. I love MMO's, too, but there is nothing like getting together with a handful of your friends and using pencils, paper, dice and miniatures. Your character will have personality ... one as unique as you can imagine and play out.Read full review
In my opinion, the Player's Handbook 2 (PH2) is a nice way to flesh out any campaign setting. That being said... Although the expansion on races are an interesting way of expanding experienced player's horizons but by no means necessary to enjoy Dungeons and Dragons 4.0 (D&D 4.0). I have been playing D&D since 1980...I remember the first red boxed set all too well. I have played and owned complete set of D&D rules over the years but am by no means an authority. I simply chose to share my opinion with others considering purchasing this product. Namely, the PH2. As (currently) a Dungeon Master (DM), I felt a "need" to complete my D&D 4.0 rule books and have found, after reading, that they are by no means "core". In other words, for those players and/or DMs whom might be thinking they are missing something; they are not. A campaign setting and/or world can seem "too busy" with so many races and classes available at "level 1". Experienced DMs will soon realize as they browse the pages that there's nothing there a template wouldn't have covered. Multi-Classes have been "dumbed down" into independent character classes that some could easily have been subclasses or class specializations. I ask myself if dumbing down was really necessary for a consumer market that I have always found to be a highly intelligent and especially imaginative people of those I have met over my 30+ years of gameplay. I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that. When comparing the PH2 and PH3 (Player's Handbook 3); I would recommend the PH3 over the PH2 for quite frankly, more interesting race developments as well as some nice "tipping of the hat(s)" to older forms of D&D; including classes from AD&D (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons). Is the PH2 nice? Yes. Is it "full price" nice? No. Thank goodness there's ebay to make the $ damage less painful. It is SOLELY because of the savings I found on ebay that "I would recommend this product to a friend" as the checked box below indicates - WIZARDS OF THE COAST - TAKE NOTE!!! Now that a "new and improved" D&D is on the way, consider your market demographic more carefully. The purpose of this particular RPG is to bring friends together on a regular basis and enjoy creative storytelling as a group. In my opinion, it is questionable how much value is added to any campaign utilizing the PH2 in order to expand on core concepts presented in the PH. Where is the game going...what's next? I dread the day I read of a player retraining "Smith" - their "Half Draco-lich/half Umber Hulk, Avenger/Spell-blade with a Barbarian/Paladin crossover incorporating Dark Sun rules in an Eberon setting"!!! 'nuf said! Again, I don't profuse to be an authority on D&D...simply an experienced player and DM who thought to share an opinion. May you always make your saving throw.Read full review
In this book we have new races and classes which enriches the D&D gaming experience. Almost everything about characters that was missing in the Player's Handbook 1 now is within grasp in this second book. The only bad thing is that it doesn't bring the Monk Class available in the 3rd edition. Overall, very good book. It will certainly provide surprises to the D&D gamers. Regards, Silveira, Vinicius C. Brazilian, Systems Analyst, D&D 3rd and 4th Edition Player and Master.
This handbook puts in some cool races and classes, some of which are awesome compared to the just vanilla stuff in PH. While you can easily find .pdf of the book, I prefer to have things on hand and to flip through the book itself. Same solid product as always, with cool art and abilities. Also does a handy job summarizing some rules found in other books.
This version answers lot of unknowns and leaps forward the players understanding of the basics
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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