Publication:Player's Handbook (2e)

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Player's Handbook (2e)
ImageNeeded.png
System: Dungeons and Dragons 2e 
Abbreviation: PHB 
Author: David Cook 
Publisher: TSR 
Item Code: 2101 
Publication Date: 1989 
Format: Hardcover 
Page Count: 256 
ISBN-10: 0-88038-716-5
 
Product Blurb
This is the indispensable encyclopedia of fantasy role-playing and also the perfect companion to the referee's 2nd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide. Everything players need is here: how to determine a character's Strength, Wisdom, Charisma, and other abilities; the differences among the various fantasy races, from elves and halflings to dwarves, gnomes, and others; complete rules for character improvement; the most advantageous mapping and combat procedures; and much more, all in this easy-to-use, revised version of the classic role-playing rulebook. With this 2nd Edition, the best-selling role-playing game in history gets even better!
This text is quoted from promotion material. Text and images are copyrighted by the original publisher.
Player's Handbook (2e)
ImageNeeded.png
System: Dungeons and Dragons 2e 
Abbreviation: PHB 
Author: David Cook 
Publisher: TSR 
Item Code: 2159 
Publication Date: 1995 
Format: Hardcover 
Page Count: 320 
ISBN-10: 0786903295
 
Product Blurb
Here is the indispensable encyclopedia of fantasy role-playing. Everything the player needs is here: how to create a mighty hero or crafty wizard; unique aspects of the elves, dwarves, halflings, and other fantasy races; all the weapons, armor, magical spells, and rules for thrilling battles against supernatural monsters. This fresh, new format for the Player's Handbook is your complete and illustrated guide to the world of heroic adventure!
This text is quoted from promotion material. Text and images are copyrighted by the original publisher.

The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition Player's Handbook was a 256-page hardcover book written by David "Zeb" Cook and released in 1989.[1][2][3] The original cover art is by Jeff Easley, and the book featured eight full-page color illustrations,[1] as well as other interior illustrations by Douglas Chaffee, Larry Elmore, Craig Farley, John and Laura Lakey, Erik Olson, Jack Pennington, Jeff Butler, Jeff Easley, Jean E. Martin, and Dave Sutherland.

The Player's Handbook for 2nd edition was compatible with 1st edition rules, but was streamlined and clarified.[1] The book included information on how to play the standard character classes: warriors (including fighters, paladins, and rangers), wizards (including mages and specialist wizards such as illusionists), priests (clerics and guidelines for variance by mythos, including the druid as an example), and rogues (including thieves and bards); while most character classes remained about the same as in the 1st edition rules, the bard was regularized, and the assassin and monk were dropped.[1] TSR, Inc. also removed some races from the game, such as half-orcs,[4] although some of these were added back into the game in supplements, such as The Complete Book of Humanoids.[5] Optional rules for skills, known as proficiencies, were added, and sections describing role-playing, combat, magic, time and movement, equipment, and spell descriptions were all expanded.[1] The book included major changes regarding character classes, races, and magic, and incorporated many new rules that had been published in supplements such as Unearthed Arcana and Dragonlance Adventures.

The 2nd edition Player's Handbook was an Origins and Gamer's Choice award winner.[1] Lawrence Schick, in his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, called the book "a vast improvement" over the 1st edition book; he noted that the monk character class had been "banished to Oriental Adventures where it belongs", but commented that the spell descriptions "have positively bloated to over 100 pages".[1]

In 1995, a new version of the 2nd edition Player's Handbook was released as part of TSR's 25th anniversary;[3] the book was revised, becoming sixty-four pages larger,[6] mainly due to layout changes and new artwork.[7] A new foreword in this edition specifically stated that the book was not Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition.[6]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6  (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. (Prometheus Books), p. 84–85.
  2. AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Ed. (1989) at the Pen & Paper RPG Database. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "The History of TSR". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2008-10-04. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wizards.com%2Fdnd%2FDnDArchives_History.asp&date=2008-10-04. Retrieved 2005-08-20. 
  4. To Be Orc Not To Be from RPGnet. Retrieved on November 22, 2008.
  5. Bill Slavicsek (1993). The Complete Book of Humanoids. (2e) TSR. ISBN 1-56076-611-5.
  6. 6.0 6.1 DataBase: AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Ed. Revised (1995) at lyberty.com. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  7. AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Ed. Revised (1995) at the Pen & Paper RPG Database. Retrieved November 23, 2008.

External links[edit]

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Back to Main PagePublication List2e Publications

AbbreviationPHB +
AuthorDavid Cook +
Help Wanted ReasonImage Needed +
ISBN0-88038-716-5 + and 0786903295 +
Identifier2e +
Item Code2101 + and 2159 +
Media TypeHardcover +
Page Count256 + and 320 +
Publication Date1989 + and 1995 +
PublisherTSR +
SystemDungeons and Dragons 2e +
TitlePlayer's Handbook +