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solveigchristina's review against another edition
5.0
Did I play a couple of rounds of the game without reading this book? Yes. Was it fun? Yes. Do I have amazing teachers and the most patient Dungeon Master ever? Yes. Would I start again without reading this book? No.
schymek's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewing the 2024 Version that came out last week (it’s not on goodreads lol): nice update and handling of important pages, very beginner-friendly. Some odd choices in terms of rule changes but otherwise very neat and streamlined.
rory18's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
polyhedrajester's review against another edition
5.0
Adding this to my "top shelf" list.
God, I'm a nerd.
God, I'm a nerd.
andrewnguyen's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been playing DnD 5e since 2015. I’ve never actually read the Player’s Handbook (PHB) front-to-back until now. The PHB is pretty much the only source material I would suggest for new players. In a game with as much depth and history as DnD, that is saying a lot.
As a player, DnD is composed of two pieces: role-playing a character and mechanics that support role-playing that character. For example, you might create a half-elf monk who has honed her body to use her fists as weapons. The monk class then describes mechanics by which you can make that character a reality via in-game actions. The combinations are endless, but must conform to the rules and mechanics in the PHB.
The biggest question I get about DnD, without fail, is “what’s the point?” There’s no notion of victory points or defeating the other players at the table. Is it really a game if I can’t win it? I would liken DnD to reading novels, building LEGOS or playing pretend. Why do people do it? Simply because it’s fun.
Okay that was pretty tongue-in-cheek. What actually makes the game fun though? I’ll talk about my two favorite aspects of DnD: the character creation and the roleplaying.
Making the character is an endless playground. My favorite thing to do is start with a really simple idea for a character. Maybe I want to try roleplaying a fisherman. Or maybe I’m really interested in the lore of Dwarves. I start with how I want to experience the world. Then I can find a race, class and background to fit in with my character.
Your character doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There are other players’s at the table. There are small and large quests to be had. This is roleplaying. As a player, you really have to step into the shoes of your character. It doesn’t matter how Andrew would react when his friends are on the precipice of an unwise battle. Gar Bagfins, the plucky Halfling Ranger, is always ready to go. Roleplaying is an exercise in empathy for someone that only exists at the table.
Even as an adult, we need to learn to play nice. When you’re playing DnD, you definitely need to be sensitive to your fellow player’s wants, needs and feelings. I have mistakenly wanted my character to be the hero of the quest. But it’s not fun for everyone else if you’re the only player making decisions and doing cool stuff. My DM, fellow players and I are constantly communicating about our character’s needs, feedback and what we want to happen. DnD is a game where you have to flex your emotional intelligence, something that is not so common in a lot of games.
If you’re interested in playing DnD, this is the place to start.
As a player, DnD is composed of two pieces: role-playing a character and mechanics that support role-playing that character. For example, you might create a half-elf monk who has honed her body to use her fists as weapons. The monk class then describes mechanics by which you can make that character a reality via in-game actions. The combinations are endless, but must conform to the rules and mechanics in the PHB.
The biggest question I get about DnD, without fail, is “what’s the point?” There’s no notion of victory points or defeating the other players at the table. Is it really a game if I can’t win it? I would liken DnD to reading novels, building LEGOS or playing pretend. Why do people do it? Simply because it’s fun.
Okay that was pretty tongue-in-cheek. What actually makes the game fun though? I’ll talk about my two favorite aspects of DnD: the character creation and the roleplaying.
Making the character is an endless playground. My favorite thing to do is start with a really simple idea for a character. Maybe I want to try roleplaying a fisherman. Or maybe I’m really interested in the lore of Dwarves. I start with how I want to experience the world. Then I can find a race, class and background to fit in with my character.
Your character doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There are other players’s at the table. There are small and large quests to be had. This is roleplaying. As a player, you really have to step into the shoes of your character. It doesn’t matter how Andrew would react when his friends are on the precipice of an unwise battle. Gar Bagfins, the plucky Halfling Ranger, is always ready to go. Roleplaying is an exercise in empathy for someone that only exists at the table.
Even as an adult, we need to learn to play nice. When you’re playing DnD, you definitely need to be sensitive to your fellow player’s wants, needs and feelings. I have mistakenly wanted my character to be the hero of the quest. But it’s not fun for everyone else if you’re the only player making decisions and doing cool stuff. My DM, fellow players and I are constantly communicating about our character’s needs, feedback and what we want to happen. DnD is a game where you have to flex your emotional intelligence, something that is not so common in a lot of games.
If you’re interested in playing DnD, this is the place to start.
willrhino's review against another edition
I literally am doing anything in my power to pretend I haven't completely tanked my Goodreads reading challenge. Plus I've basically read this cover to cover. YOLO.
klagge's review against another edition
5.0
When I was growing up, one of my favorite books was the Monster Manual from 2nd Edition D&D. The weird thing is that I never once played D&D, nor really had any particular desire to. I must have just found the book in a bookstore and my parents noticed me looking at it so much that they just bought it for me. I guess my experience of reading it was similar to the enjoyment of reading a book of mythology, or maybe looking through an atlas--a spur to the imagination.
Later on, when we got a computer, it came with a multi-CD set of the game Baldur's Gate, which is based on the 2nd Edition D&D rules. I really loved playing that game, although I didn't really connect it to D&D at all. I didn't play it any more once I went to college, but a few years back, when the "Enhanced Edition" was released, I bought that too and have played it a fair amount more (as well as the sequel, which I never played as a kid).
Then last year, I actually played "pen & paper" D&D for the first time, playing through the 5th Edition intro adventure, "Lost Mines of Phandelver," with three friends (I was Valerian, a wood elf monk). It was a lot of fun, and made me a little sad that I didn't play until age 30! But it's something I'll continue to enjoy. I think the 5th Edition ruleset is very nice; conducive to an open and permissive style of play that really takes advantage of the freedom of an in-person game vs. a computer game. Although I don't buy books much anymore, I've made an exception for several of the 5E rulebooks. This year, I started DMing a campaign (Curse of Strahd) for the first time, and am also loving that! Elise makes fun of me for spending so much time "studying" with my books spread out all over the table.
Later on, when we got a computer, it came with a multi-CD set of the game Baldur's Gate, which is based on the 2nd Edition D&D rules. I really loved playing that game, although I didn't really connect it to D&D at all. I didn't play it any more once I went to college, but a few years back, when the "Enhanced Edition" was released, I bought that too and have played it a fair amount more (as well as the sequel, which I never played as a kid).
Then last year, I actually played "pen & paper" D&D for the first time, playing through the 5th Edition intro adventure, "Lost Mines of Phandelver," with three friends (I was Valerian, a wood elf monk). It was a lot of fun, and made me a little sad that I didn't play until age 30! But it's something I'll continue to enjoy. I think the 5th Edition ruleset is very nice; conducive to an open and permissive style of play that really takes advantage of the freedom of an in-person game vs. a computer game. Although I don't buy books much anymore, I've made an exception for several of the 5E rulebooks. This year, I started DMing a campaign (Curse of Strahd) for the first time, and am also loving that! Elise makes fun of me for spending so much time "studying" with my books spread out all over the table.
katrinemarie15's review against another edition
5.0
Love the changes made since AD&D 2nd edition. Looking forward to our campaign with coworker friends!
leamsi's review against another edition
I'll better read the 2024 version. At least for now.