By: Wizards RPG Team Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Wizards of the Coast Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 320 Publication Date: June 06, 2008 Release Date: June 06, 2008
Product Description: The first of three core rulebooks for the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game.
TheDungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game has defined the medieval fantasy genre and the tabletop RPG industry for more than 30 years. In the D&D game, players create characters that band together to explore dungeons, slay monsters, and find treasure. The 4th Edition D&D rules offer the best possible play experience by presenting exciting character options, an elegant and robust rules system, and handy storytelling tools for the Dungeon Master.
The Player's Handbook presents the official Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game rules as well as everything a player needs to create D&D characters worthy of song and legend: new character races, base classes, paragon paths, epic destinies, powers, more magic items, weapons, armor, and much more.
a new game for a new generation i hear a lot of negative reviews about 4th edition and I have to tell you that those nay sayers couldn't be more wrong. 4th edition is a great game. Yes its different but remember most people today play mmos and wizards of the coast is a business and they have to make money. Anyway on to the book.
The players handbook offers players everything they need to make characters of any level. Yes even the magic items. This means no more turning through two or three books just to make a character. Yeah certain things are missing but they come up in various supplements. Overall a great start to a great new game.
Its Non DnD, DnD. yay? uh no. Ok well I'm sure anyone reading this has already read a lot about the "Edition wars". That's all silly stuff. The fact is this edition is simply an attempt to cash in on the "casual gamer" thing that's so hot right now. See Hasbro bought the game and it wants a profit. To get the profit the game needed a new edition. Presto a new edition magically appears. To get "new blood" in the game aka new buyers, it was redesigned to be a video game on paper. All CG and no plot. Argue and bicker all you want to, a duck is a duck and this game is a video game on paper, so there. Anyways basically this game is for the new shallow gamers and people who idolize wotc. It sucks. If you want to play a good rpg, try any other one anywhere. They're all better than this one.
Pathfinder is the new D&D I've played D&D since first edition in the 70s and this... this is a minis skirmish game that has the magic of D&D taken out of it. On the spectrum between pure, diceless improv role-playing and strict analytical tactics, & rules centric war gaming, this edition has moved D&D much further toward war gaming. It's light on the role-playing and heavy on the GAME.
Most of these reviews are aimed at people who know nothing about D&D or they are aimed to rebuttal the comments made in other reviews by people who are currently involved with D&D. Those reviews will pretty much give you an idea of what you are getting with D&D 4e -- it's flaws and it's successes. I don't care for the game, but you may want to get the consensus about the game before passing on it completely.
Here's my suggestion: if you have played earlier versions of D&D (1st through 3.5ed) and it's been awhile since you've played but don't know how to reconnect to the magic and fun you had with the game then do yourself a favor and check out Paizo's Pathfinder Role-playing Game which will be released August 2009. It's a great system based on the 3.5ed rules of D&D and it still captures the magic and the creativity of the previous editions of D&D. Even if you've never played, this is the best place to start to get the most for your money.
If you don't want to wait and want to start playing now, find a used copy of the the D&D Player's Handbook 3.5ed for sale on here along with used 3.5ed materials or use all of Paizo's current books to start a game. The D&D Player's Kit is a inexpensive way to get started and comes with a paperback version of the Player's Handbook plus miniatures and dice.
You may be thinking this review has been planted by someone working for Paizo, but I don't. I just happen to think WotC really dropped the ball with D&D 4e. Maybe 5e will be better when it comes out in 2012? I hope it will be. Until then, Pathfinder is faithfully carrying on the torch of what D&D is really about and I think you'll be happier with that product.
Fast Shipping Ordered this for our all girl DnD group- arrived way earlier then expected. Book in mint condition. Way less expensive then if I had bought anywhere else.
4th Edition This is an update of most of the 2nd edition classes. Introduced is the concept of cloth armor, so you don't have to worry about plate or even chain mail. A cleric is a divinely inspired warrior. A fighter is a master of martial combat. A paladin is a champion of a specific deity. A ranger is a ranged or two weapon specialist. A rogue uses stealth to thwart enemies. A warlock is a wielder of arcane power. A warlord ia front commander. A wizard has the most powerful magic. I really like this 4th edition making a paladin playable and not just a career squire in the AD & D 2nd edition. You get base hitpoints plus your constitution score for each level. You get special powers up to 29th level. Overall, a vast improvement over 2nd edition.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
