Customer Reviews

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have read the old 2nd edition books and have found this one to be in a much nicer format. Despite the fact that the spells aren't that organized, the rest of the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages. If you are a beginner you should definitly purchase this book.

Although the third edition books produced by TSR have pretty much replaced second edition on many book shelves, a few of us still prefer the game as it was. Having been a DM for a little over 18 years, I still find myself picking up my second edition players handbook, dungeon masters guide, and monster manuals (along with a littany of other second edition books) and wondering why it was ever changed.
A must to have if you are a second edition fan is the players handbook. Simply stated, you cannot play the game without it. Although some of the artwork is lacking and (my biggest gripe) they do not put the spell level on every page of the spell directory, over all it is a very well put together book which I would be proud to recommend it to anyone who is wanting to play AD&D.

I thoroughly enjoy a good change. Change IS good. At least with regards to this revision of the 2nd Edition Player Handbook. If you are an old pro, this book will expand on the information contained in previous versions, clarify some of the old rules, provide a correction or two, and occasionally make a rule modification (which it will clearly point out!). For the beginner, this book is full of information and advice, and is required material for any AD&D (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) player and/or DM (Dungeon Master/Game Master). This Players Handbook gives you all the rules, as well as some helpful hints, you will need to begin a life time of AD&D adventure with a group of players. It is not a 'How To' book. It is only a Guide, and a very good one at that. This book provides the necessary framework from which you can play endless AD&D adventures. It does not teach you 'how to' role-play, though it will provide some advice in this area, as any good guide should. (Remember, the AD&D game is a product of the mind, not books. Adventures begin and end in the imagination. Guide books only lend some structure through rules and suggestions.) To sum up the good points, this Player Handbook provides all you need as a player in the AD&D game.

There's only one bad point. Too much of the art work is amateur. Some of it is very good, but there are enough sad looking drawings to make you wonder why they were included.

That is the only reason this book gets a 4 star rating, instead of a five.

As other reviews have mentioned, a DM will also require a 'Monstrous Manual' and an 'AD&D Dungeon Master Guide'. I also strongly suggest another supplement, the Dungeon Master Screen/Index. And the Player Handbook isn't needed for the DM if any other player has it. And one final comment, if you need more 'how to' advice for role-playing or writing adventures, which rightfully is not in this book, that information is available on-line for free. Try searching at about.com

AD&D is the greatest game ever created! Get this book and Enjoy the Game for many years!

This book is the newest edition of the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide. As it is one of the three "core books", i.e. ones that contain the general rules, it is required reading for the DM. This release has its faults and its good sides.

Like all three core books ( Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monstrous Manual) that were reprinted in 1995, this volume is expanded from the previous editions. It has many more pages that before, many with color illustrations. The font is larger and easier to read.

As a manual for creating realism in the adventures you create, the Guide does succeed, although not everywhere. Nearly every rule is followed by good sketches, tables, and graphs for easy reference. New situations are detailed, and there is a generous sprinkling of optional rules for enhanced realism. Despite this, some of the shady areas have been left only partially explained ( large-scale travel, for example). The book is written with good-natured humor, and is by itself fine reading. Also, I would like to commend on the lists of magical and arcane items.

The book is the required start for any DM, and it reamins the necessary component of any game session. Buy it, but never show it to your players.

First off, reading these reviews is a little confusing because it appears as though Amazon doesn't distinguish between the Player's Handbook and the DM Handbook. They are two separate works.

This review is for the Player's Handbook. I've been playing D&D, and AD&D, since it first was developed by Gygax in the 70's. The player's handbook is a necessary and fascinating piece of reference literature for anyone interested in learning about the game, and for players of every level. Obviously, since it is primarily a reference work to be used while playing, you won't need every piece of information at once -- but it's handy for just about every imaginable situation.

I have a copy of the original work publishd by TSR and written by Gygax back in '79. This updated edition is based on that, but also has much more useful information (and more importantly, is updated to comply with the current rules).

About the DM guide -- for a player, the DM guide is probably not necessary ... everything you need is in the Player's Handbook. If you decide to start running adventures and campaigns for other players, however, by all means the DM guide is for you. But be WARNED! Dungeons and Dragons is such an enjoyable pastime that you might well find yourself addicted after a few short sessions! :)

This book is essential for and AD&D game, without this you have no rules. 2nd Edition D&D cleared up many problems of the original, while still keeping the game in the realm of fun. Unlike 3rd Edition, which is just hack and slash and a mockery(kind of like the movie) of the original. 2nd Edition challenges you to think and actually get into your characters.

I recommend 2nd ed. over third for various reasons, most important being the emphasis on roleplaying over strict rules...3rd ed. seems to encourage players to see it as a video game, making the *best* characters, and hacking away at baddies...I however, have always seen character development and backstories more important, and that is why I, as a DM and a player, prefer 2nd ed. Pick up the books while you still can.

This is a really good game system, despite recent publicity to the contrary. TSR has consistently produced gaming worlds and systems that work, are nicely detailed, and thoroughly open to change if need be. While it does seem to define things quite rigidly, it does so in the essence of great fantasy. An excellent place to begin, and continue, a role playing career.

This hardcover manual covers pretty much everything the player needs...note that I said player. To create adventures (which is required) you'll probably need the DM's Manual as well.

This book features a decent spell section, both for priests and wizards, and explains all the rules, however the artwork is TERRIBLE!

In summary, a good introduction to AD and D - as long as you are not going to be a DM. If you are starting up a gaming group with some friends, this book will not contain everything you need.

This isn't just an opinion, this is fact. If you play or planned to play 2nd Edition AD&D you must have this book. The Player's Handbook is a required book for every player, this book, as well as the DM's Guide contain all of the core rules to play D&D.