View source for Publication:Player's Handbook (2e)

{{Publication Infobox
|system=Dungeons and Dragons 2e
|url=
|image=PHB 2e.jpg
|abbreviation=PHB
|publisher=TSR
|itemcode=2101
|author=David Cook
|date=1989
|format=Hardcover
|pgcount=256
|isbn10=0-88038-716-5
|price=
|productblurb=This is the indispensable encyclopedia of fantasy role-playing and also the perfect companion to the referee's [[Publication:Dungeon Master's Guide (2e)|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 [[Elf|elves]] and [[halfling]]s to [[Dwarf|dwarves]], [[gnome]]s, 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!
}}

{{Publication Infobox
|system=Dungeons and Dragons 2e
|url=
|image=
|abbreviation=PHB
|publisher=TSR
|itemcode=2159
|author=David Cook
|date=1995
|format=Hardcover
|pgcount=320
|isbn10=0786903295
|price=
|productblurb=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! 
}}<br clear="right" />

The '''''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition Player's Handbook''''' was a 256-page hardcover book written by [[David Cook|David "Zeb" Cook]] and released in 1989.<ref name="HW">{{cite book|last=Schick |first=Lawrence|title=Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games|publisher=Prometheus Books |year=1991|isbn=0-87975-653-5 |pages=84–85}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=144 AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Ed. (1989)] at the Pen & Paper RPG Database. Retrieved November 22, 2008.</ref><ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp| title=The History of TSR| publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]| accessdate=2005-08-20| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wizards.com%2Fdnd%2FDnDArchives_History.asp&date=2008-10-04| archivedate=2008-10-04}}</ref> The original cover art is by [[Jeff Easley]], and the book featured eight full-page color illustrations,<ref name="HW"/> 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 [[David C. Sutherland III|Dave Sutherland]].

The ''Player's Handbook'' for 2nd edition was compatible with 1st edition rules, but was streamlined and clarified.<ref name="HW"/> 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 [[bard]]s); 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.<ref name="HW"/> [[TSR, Inc.]] also removed some races from the game, such as half-orcs,<ref>[http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/columns/archetypology21dec01.html To Be Orc Not To Be] from RPGnet. Retrieved on November 22, 2008.</ref> although some of these were added back into the game in supplements, such as ''[[The Complete Book of Humanoids]]''.<ref>{{Cite_Pub|The Complete Book of Humanoids}}</ref> 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.<ref name="HW"/> 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.<ref name="HW"/> [[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".<ref name="HW"/>

In 1995, a new version of the 2nd edition ''Player's Handbook'' was released as part of TSR's 25th anniversary;<ref name="history"/> the book was revised, becoming sixty-four pages larger,<ref name="Lyberty">[http://www.lyberty.com/encyc/articles/dnd/dnd_phb2eR.html DataBase: AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Ed. Revised (1995)] at lyberty.com. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> mainly due to layout changes and new artwork.<ref>[http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=142 AD&D Player's Handbook, 2nd Ed. Revised (1995)] at the Pen & Paper RPG Database. Retrieved November 23, 2008.</ref> A new foreword in this edition specifically stated that the book was not ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd edition.<ref name="Lyberty" />

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*The 2nd Edition ''[http://www.tsrinfo.net/archive/dd1/phb2.htm Player's Handbook]'' at the [http://www.tsrinfo.net/archive/ TSR Archive]
*The revised 2nd Edition ''[http://www.tsrinfo.net/archive/dd1/phb3.htm Player's Handbook]'' at the [http://www.tsrinfo.net/archive/ TSR Archive]

{{Wikipedia|Player's Handbook}}


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[[Category:2e Publications]]