Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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39 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Have for 4.0 players, March 21, 2009
The Players handbook II is the best source book I have ever bought. Period. It offers a huge amount of content in a concise package, none of that filler prestige class padding.
There is an astonishing 8 base classes, updating such classic classes as barbarian, bard, druid, and sorcerer. All new classes introduced include: Avenger; a divine striker, Invoker; a divine controller, Shaman; a primal leader, and Warden; a primal Defender. Also a new power source, which is featured prominently, Primal is added. Essentially you draw your power from nature and the wild, like a druid.
There are 5 new races, bringing back some old favorites, but also adding some great original IP. Half-orcs are revived, they get +2 str and +2dex. Devas are a new race described as "Similar to humans, but with an unearthly beauty and uncanny stillness about them." They get +2 intelligence, +2 wisdom. Gnomes are revised with +2 intelligence, +2 charisma. Goliath are a new race which are essentially very tall, Grey, dwarves. They get +2 str, +2 con. Shifters have two possible builds of either +2 str, +2 wis, or +2 dex and +2 wis. Also new paragon classes called Racial Paragon Paths are added which give you new powers that build and expand upon your basic racial powers.
The feats chapter is great, again, bringing back some old ones and adding great original feats.
New magic items expand on the poor selection in the player's handbook
There are new Epic destinies, but I haven't had a chance to look at them.
The players handbook 2 features most of the omissions of the original phb. I was reluctant to convert to 4.0 mostly because of the omissions, especially barbarian, but when I heard that the PHB 2 would include it I converted without hesitation. It is slightly annoying that Wizards is making me pay for base classes which should have been in the original PHB, but this book is so good that I pay gladly. It fills out the fairly skimpy class and feet choices with exceptional new material, all of which can be useful to player.
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19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Savage Review of a Savage Book, April 16, 2009
At the heart of the matter, if you liked the first PHB, there is a very good chance you'll like this one. Similarly, if you disliked the first book, you'll dislike this one.
That being said, it should be noted that any player who likes Martial Classes first and foremost will not be impressed with the content of this book. This book's biggest flaw is that it is really a Primal Power supplement, not a general player's handbook. The Martial power source is entirely ignored; at best there are a few things that such a character might find interesting, but nothing was included for them. The Arcane and Divine power sources both get 2 more classes (the Arcane source still not filling all party roles drawing from core alone).
Additionally, the book might also be considered to be largely a way to finish converting 3rd edition players; base classes and races from 3rd edition are here available (Gnome and Half-Orc for races, Bard, Barbarian, Druid, and Sorcerer for classes). Indeed, the majority of the book is little more than updating materials established in previous editions.
Finally, the book has a central theme that won't fit in with all campaigns or play-preferences. That theme is, for lack of a better word, "savagery." Of the 5 races (well, 6 if you count both types of Shifters), not a single one has its own complex civilization. The closest one comes is in the Half-Orc, which might be a hanger-on to other civilizations. Gnomes are largely nomadic escaped slaves, Shifters might have a pack, Devas may never see another of their kind in this lifetime, and Goliaths are tribal individuals. Nearly every race is an outsider as well; the primal classes aren't going to be stalwarts of civilization, but both new divine classes are cast as outsiders to the regular religious orders (potentially even heretics). Sorcerers are outside standard magical orders as a matter of course. Bards are the only ones that might fit in well with an established society, and even then they are nomadic by nature. The book adds a lot to the dark places of the world, but it pays very little attention to the Points of Light.
The greatest innovation the book has is Racial Paragon Paths. Instead of taking a paragon path from a class, you can become an exemplary specimen of a species. It is an interesting concept, to be sure.
Above considerations aside, I personally would have liked a great many more Epic Destinies. That is a fun concept that still feels undeveloped in 4e.
Would I say it is worth the $30+ to buy? Unless you are really interested in the Primal Power source or want to finish converting from 3e, probably not. But if it is on sale...
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty darn good book, and worth the discounted price!, April 17, 2009
I finally got my hands on a PHB2 and I have to say, I am not in the least bit disappointed! It a great expansion of the original PHB and really makes me want to try a lot of the newer things.
This being said, one of the first things I want to point out, as it was asked in the PHB2 forum, is this is NOT a PHB in and of itself. This is an extention of the first. What this is lacking is all of the information on how to make a character (how to get stats, saves, how many of which power at what level, etc.). I see how this could be confusing, being that WoTC calls this a 'core book', but, in the end, I'm glad they left it out, as it would have just been wasted space for most of us that have PHBs already. Better that they used that space for new material. Just thought I'd throw it out that, if your wondering, you cannot really make a character without the first PHB (or the free character builder from DDI, but I digress).
Beyond this, I believe this is a very solid expansion to the 4 edition system. Since the first 3, I really believe that this book has added more to the game than any of the other books (though they all have their uses, I own quite a few of them). I won't hammer too much about the new classes and races, because they've been reviewed to death, but I will say that I am really excited to try out my new shifter druid.
I will say that most of the stuff is great. This includes many changes to the way things were. I really like most of it...however a few things are very goofy and should have never ever have come to light. These are such things as:
-The new way the gnomes look (sort of like tiny elves that have been attacked by some crazy hair gel golem. Yikes!)
-The suggestion that half-orcs could have been created by crossbreeding by hobgoblins (I'm sorry, say again?)
-Half orcs now have +2 Dex (The Oscar De La Hoya of Half Orcs!)
However, none of it, to me, is so over the top that it can't either be tolerated or slightly shifted. In my game I run, if a character chooses a gnome, they can either look like the new crazy hair gnomes or the old gnomes. Half-Orcs, however, were not bred by hobgoblins...and they'll have +2 con...not dex.
As I said, minor gripes about an overall pretty great book. Like another reviewer said. I liked it a lot, but there was enough about it to say that this just didn't have what it takes to get a five star review (hobgoblins?!)
I hope this helps anyone that is seriously looking at possibly purchasing this product!
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