I am going to try to not duplicate the information provided in most of the other 5 star reviews because I agree with the vast majority of them. I am an oldster, have played every edition of D&D there has been, most of them being released when I was of legal drinking age, and IMO this is the best edition ever. I have not been this excited about a version of D&D since 2nd edition was released. It appears to me to have taken all the best, from a game design point of view, and most popular aspects of earlier editions and put them in one book. Another way to think of it is that this edition is the most true to the game principles set forth in the earlier editions, especially AD&D 1st and 2nd editions, while at the same time carrying the more modern and popular principles from 3.5 and even the much maligned 4.0.
I have to admit that I completely steered clear of the earlier play test versions, and was more than a little skeptical of the approach taken in getting feedback from so many play testers. I was worried that we would end up with a "too many cooks spoil the stew" situation; a game that was a convoluted mish-mash of everyone's "favorite rules" creating an incoherent and largely unplayable mess. I am pleasantly surprised to say that I was 100% wrong about the effectiveness of the play test process and the finished product. Contrary to the opinions in some of the lower star reviews, what I am holding in my hands and have read cover to cover is a very "tight," comprehensive, elegant, and fun set of rules.
Who is likely to like these rules? I think both the veteran player who cut his or her teeth on any version before 3.0, and a brand new player will like them. The mechanics most definitely have a "return to the basics that made the game great in the 70's and 80's" feel, while at the same time keeping a more elegant version of the more modern mechanics, like feats, attacks of opportunity, etc., that people generally love from 3.0 and later editions. For the most part, all of these things have been streamlined and made more elegant in application, but they are there.
I will end with my favorite thing about this book. A little background first to provide some context for my opinion. And let me say that this is just my opinion and some will disagree with me. For me, D&D started to trend downward in my enjoyment of the game at 2nd edition, and then it really did so at 3.0 and 3.5. For me, although I did not have the strong dislike for 4.0 that many people did, it just was not D&D to me anymore, I think primary because I had cut my teeth so much on 1st edition and the Basic and Expert sets in particular. D&D 5th edition has produced a steep positive trend for me for I think one general reason. When playing even 2nd edition, but very much so for 3.0, 3.5, and even 4.0, I found myself interacting with my character in the game more as a playing piece than a character in a story. Concerns about where to put skill points, and if a particular collection and order of choice for Feats began to dominate my thoughts and game choices. It was almost as if my character, and my decisions about playing the character, began to be dominated more by my interface with the rules in the book, rather than with my ideas about my character and my interaction with the game world. As my character advanced in level, I found that my focus on the book and what was written therein became more pronounced, not less as it did with earlier editions. As I reflected while playing these later editions, I found that I was not really playing a character, but instead was playing a set of rules. So far, the gift that 5th edition has given to me is a change in focus. My character has again become a protagonist in an adventure story, rather than a playing piece. I worry now more about the choices and decisions I make while interacting with the game world, and those choices making the character fun to play, rather than fretting over whether or not I have chosen the right Feats or if my modifier for a particular skill is as high as I want it to be. The way that races, and even classes, are discussed, the used of a character's background and the ideals, personality characteristics, etc. that are randomly determined from the background choice, and the lack of mathematical modifiers except for the familiar ability modifier, and the soon to be ubiquitous global proficiency modifier, instead using the elegant advantage/disadvantage mechanic all have worked to focus my attention back on my character as protagonist. For that I want to thank the play testers and writers of 5th edition. For me this has been the most nostalgic aspect of the rules, not so much the mechanics per se.
Do I like all of the rules? Absolutely not. Frankly, I think that is impossible to attain and do not expect that from any set of rpg rules. To me that's not fair to expect that of the writers. And frankly, I am not even looking for that in a set of rules anymore. As I start down the path of the twilight of my gaming career given my age, I want a set of rules that provides enough structure that a DM can make consistent rulings on the fly that fit in with the general mechanics used in the game, and that foster my appreciation as a player of the development of my character in a game world where playing the game is smooth and produces memories of an interesting character who is the protagonist in an interesting story line. Most importantly, I want a set of rules that stays out of the way of that process, and helps me to focus on the game aspects that will produce those kinds of memories.
For me, D&D 5th edition, although not perfect, will accomplish this just fine.
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From the Publisher
Player's Handbook
Welcome to the World of Dungeons & Dragons
The Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game is about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery. Like games of make-believe, D&D is driven by imagination. It’s about picturing a crumbling castle in a darkening forest and imagining how a fantasy adventurer might react to the challenges that scene presents.
This book will be your guide to character creation and advancement, your reference for spells and equipment, and a constant companion at your table for looking up just how many beams of eldritch blast you can shoot this time.
Explore ancient ruins and deadly dungeons. Battle monsters while searching for legendary treasures. Gain experience and power as you trek across uncharted lands with your companions.
The world needs heroes. Will you answer the call?
Arm Yourself for Adventure
Learn How to Play
Dungeons & Dragons immerses you in a world of stories. The rules give structure to those stories, determining the consequences of an adventurers’ actions. Will your fireball finish off that vicious troll? Will you see the trap door before falling to your doom? Roll the dice and see.
The Player's Handbook is the essential D&D rulebook for both players and Dungeon Masters. Whether you're pulling off a thrilling heist or trying to charm a surly troll, this book will teach you everything you need to know for a lifetime of playing and running D&D games.
Bring Your Character to Life
Create a Character
The Player's Handbook will guide you through the process of creating a character. Choose from the most iconic D&D races and classes. Give your adventurer a personality and background. Equip them with armor, weapons, and all the adventuring gear they'll need to succeed. And dive into a game of magic and monsters, brave warriors and spectacular adventures.
As your character's experience and power grows, this book will also be your guide for leveling up, with handy reference charts and a variety of customization options.
Enter a World of Magic
Fill in Your Spellbook
Learn to resurrect your allies with the touch of your hand or punish enemies with blazing orbs of fire. The Player's Handbook will teach you the rules for spellcasting, the nature of magic in the D&D multiverse, and serve as your personal spellbook—who needs to go to wizard school?
Choose your spells from a huge A–Z directory, with full descriptions of over 350 of D&D's most beloved spells.
Playing Dungeons & Dragons
Become an Adventurer
Adventurers come in all shapes and sizes. Find one that’s fun for you.
An elvish cleric, driven from society for trespassing on tradition. A dwarven paladin, atoning for an ignominious past. The Player’s Handbook provides the skeleton for your characters. Flesh them out however you choose.
Join the Party
D&D brings people together and forges new friendships. Silly moments spawn inside jokes; moving battles leave treasured memories—whether in the heat of battle, embroiled in social intrigue, or solving clever puzzles, your party has your back.
Choose Your Own Path
The woods are growing dark. Behind a mass of ivy, you see the stones of a crumbling castle. What do you do?
In D&D, your options are limitless. Because the Dungeon Master, as narrator of your tale, can improvise in reaction to any choice you make, what happens next is entirely flexible. Do you dare go on?
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2014
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Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2018
Looking through other reviews of not just the Player’s Handbook, but also the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual, apparently this is a common issue with 5e books. Pages are warped, binding is off center, and in the case of the DM guide, a lot of people are getting copies that have the cover attached upside down.
I’d love to give this a higher rating, because I love 5e, but until they can fix whatever is causing all of these books to be garbage quality, I just can’t.
Verified Purchase
Great game, horrible printing
By R. McKinney on March 12, 2018
While D&D 5e is a very good game, there are some serious issues with the printing/storage/construction of the books. Two friends and I all got this book, and all three of us had pages that were warped. It almost looked water damaged, but I don’t think that is the case.By R. McKinney on March 12, 2018
Looking through other reviews of not just the Player’s Handbook, but also the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual, apparently this is a common issue with 5e books. Pages are warped, binding is off center, and in the case of the DM guide, a lot of people are getting copies that have the cover attached upside down.
I’d love to give this a higher rating, because I love 5e, but until they can fix whatever is causing all of these books to be garbage quality, I just can’t.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
Wonderful game, awful book quality. **UPDATE: Replacement product received from Wizards of the Coast!**
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2015Verified Purchase
Wonderful game, awful book quality. **UPDATE: Replacement product received from Wizards of the Coast!**
By Bruce Stephens on September 6, 2015
I bought this book last September 2014. A bunch of the pages have come free from the binding. I have 2nd edition D&D books that I bought new in the 1990s that have held up to the test of time. I take care of my books so this is frankly unacceptable. Will be contacting Wizards of the Coast to express my extreme displeasure with the quality of this product. It is a real shame since the book has 5 star content, but is made at 1 star quality.By Bruce Stephens on September 6, 2015
UPDATE 9/30/15:
I thought that I would share my experience with obtaining a replacement book from the manufacturer after my initial review. I contacted Wizards via phone and email to report a defective product. The info to do so may be found here: [...]
After explaining my situation to the customer service rep, they promptly scheduled a pick up via FedEx of my defective book and when it was received, I was sent email notification that a replacement was in route. Fast forward to today, 9/30 and my replacement book has arrived and is in perfect condition. Time will only tell if this one holds up, but for now, I am optimistic. So for those out there that have had issues with the pages coming free of the binding, there is hope! Contact Wizards and explain the situation to them, they have been more than fair in my case. Just a word of advice, be persistent and patient and your replacement book will come.
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Top reviews from other countries
Texnik
The D&D fifth edition player's manual
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2018Verified Purchase
Blastface
... never played DnD jumping in on 5e has been excellent, I really like this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2017Verified Purchase
Allanna
A joy for old and new players!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2017Verified Purchase
Grim_Tidings
5th edition essential
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2017Verified Purchase
Neil Lennon
D&D Player's Handbook Mark V
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2016Verified Purchase
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