Rating: 
Summary: An excellent new system for the serious gamer
Review: I am wholehearted behind 3E. The changes to the rules have done nothing but streamline the system, and make everything neatly intercompatible. Those who have given the negative reviews have invariably expressed dismay over the fact that 3E involved "changes." If I may say so, DUH. It's a new Edition; that's what new editions are for. People who are afraid of change and would rather wallow in archaisms are welcome to stick it out with 1st or second. I, on the other hand, will embrace the future. Welcome to 3E.
Rating: 
Summary: Questionable
Review: I have to admit that I was a little queasy when I heard of a third edition for D&D. After all, I have been playing second edition for 9 years now, and have been very happy with the way the game works. When I saw a copy of the Third Edition on the shelf at the bookstore, I decided to be openminded about any new changes. After perusing the book for several days, I came to several conclusions. 1: The artwork is excellent, very well drawn and interesting. However the artist needs to get out more, personally I don't want to see the female representative of any race in a corset or haltertop. Sorry just doesn't do it for me, I have a hard enough time in encouraging female gamers as it is. 2: Ability scores, ok, ok I kinda like some of the additions. Makes characters more unique. 3: Saving throws-whoa, where did the table go? Oh yeah, page 119-120 explains what you have to do, but you had better be good at math or have a calculator handy. 4: Thieving skills and proficiencies-again where did they go? Nothing too solid here, kinda like FASA's Shadowrun or something, except that the DM arbitrairily assigns you a number to beat (better hope that they are in a good mood huh?). Too random, and far too time consumeing-Can you say Warhammer 2nd Edition? 5: Novice gamers...Uh oh, now you've done it. Now D&D has entered the ranks of exclusivity that has been shared by people such as computer programmers and lawyers. Newbies huh? Unless you have a very patient instructor, you aren't likely to make it on your own unless you have a lot of experience in some other roleplaying games. Inexperienced? Better look elsewhere. 6: Campaign settings can't be integrated as easily as from First to Second edition. Dark Sun??? Ha ha very funny. Psionics? Monstrous Manuals? At least with first edition and the players handbook you could convert in a decent time. But don't worry fans; Dark Sun, Birthright, and Al Quadim are already out of print! Conclusion Third edition as its own game would be an excellent game for experienced gamers. As a revised Dungeons and Dragons game, this fell far short of my most basic expectations. I'd really hate to see WOTC having to put a disclaimer in the book that was similar to the old Shadowrun's (by FASA), that went something like "this book is intended for gamers who are already experienced in roleplaying games."
Rating:
Summary: Monks are Back!
Review: This is a very well put together rule book, kudos the WotC for a good job, I personally think TSR would have done a bad job (after all WotC has the money to put into it). Very well researched and cross refrenced and includes a table of contets but does not include an index.Major changes to the D&D system are the addition of 1 new race (half-orc), and classes (monk, sorcerer - she who has innate powers and wizards -- he who has to study for the powers). The removal of the Thac0 system, and a complete overhaul of the magic and combat systems. The highlight of the new system include the any race, any class motto. Really, it is a whole new game. The rules are very much simplified using the D20 system (you still will need those other dice, just not as much). No more calculating Thac0 in your head on simple dracolitches, or using geometry to find who your fireball gets. I'm sure the rules hounds will insist on using 1st edition till they die for the rest of us there's the future. My only complaont: Why not release the DMG and PH at the same time? I guess it's so I have to wait a month before I can find out what manner of evil I can visit upon my players (and convert my personal favorites into 3rd edition).
Rating: 
Summary: An Outstanding Effort
Review: I've been playing since 1983. The new edition changes quite a bit, but most of it is for the better. The game mechanics have been cleaned up, lots of new options have been added, and the underlying flavor of the game has been preserved. Only a few things keep the book from being a five-star: The yellow "fake parchment" background on the first page of each chapter is annoying. The spell list is not broken down by level. Half-orcs get cheated a bit. They left alignment in. Aside from the contents, one thing that amazed me was that the list price. I bought my 2nd edition handbook in 1989 for the same price. The book appears to be of the same high quality as my 2nd edition books, and lists for less than the latest version of the 2nd edition book. Kudos to Wizards for giving us such a fine product at a very reasonable price.
Rating:
Summary: What a joy it is to see
Review: From the moment I saw the 3E rules, I knew something great was about to happen... 3E has tremendous potential. The rules are fluid and dynamic, easy to learn, intuitive for those not too buried in the AD&D rules. The interior artwork is absolutely first-rate. Although I did appreciate the full page paintings in 2nd edition, the artwork in 3E actually assists the reader in understanding the material. And it looks fantastic. A note to the people at Wizards - publish more adventures!
Rating:
Summary: Great new re-design!
Review: First off, let me start off by saying that the few negative reviews here, if you actually read them, the people who wrote them are just resistant to change and angry that the new rules changed. I say let them play their 1st and 2nd edition and leave 3rd edition alone, we don't need them... stay in the old, broken, archaic system... Well, first off, for the $20 I spent, the book is absolutely a bargain. It has a color border on every page, and the illistrations actually match what the subject of the page is, not just randomly thrown in drawings! Everything is organized much better for reference. Sure, some people don't like the alphebatized spell list, but look at it this way: You know what spell you are casting, but you may not know the level, or where say level 3 spells start in the spell description section. No problem, it is alphebetical! Just look it up! Same with other things, such as classes, etc. Character's seem beefier, but so do the monsters. Just check out that mature Dragon with a 32? or 34? armor class! Now that is a Dragon; 24d12+150 hit points! (something like that, I don't have the book in front of me) The new generation of gaming is here, and that is Dungeons and Dragons!
Rating:
Summary: thanks but no thanks
Review: I browsed through this book the other day at a local store. While I have to admit I only gave the new D and D system a once over, I feel this book is not for experienced players. It's oversimplified and bends (or breaks - see the new rule about which races can be paladins) the structure of the game. I liked the structure of the 1st and second editions (which ultimately were not that unrelated); game systems are meant to be a fairly strong, but flexible, guide to the game you're playing, not "well, since you don't like rule A, buy this new book and you'll never have to worry about rule A again! ". That is a total lack of imagination on the player's part. I don't want to be too harsh though; if this is your first foray into D and D and roleplaying, give it a shot. Hopefully, though, you'll graduate to the better, earlier D and D systems eventually.
Rating:
Summary: I'm on the bandwagon
Review: I bought the 3rd edition because I thought I might get some good ideas for tweaking my 2nd edition world. Instead, it's bye bye 2nd, hello 3rd. Since I agree with virtually every positive comment made, I'll just emphasize what I think is best of all. The combination of new classes, multi-classing, skills and feats allows you to develop your characters much more realistically and with much greater flexibility. Developing and playing my characters is simply going to be more fun. My only gripe is that the book is missing a good introduction for people that may be new to role playing. There are too many forward references. These aren't a big deal to people who already have a notion about the topic, but for someone who is new to it all, it can be a real pain.
Rating:
Summary: Revamped
Review: This, the newest edition of AD&D, now just D&D is far better than I belived it would be. My biggest gripe with the 1st and 2nd editions was the combat system. Now I have no more worries, gone is the hated Thac0 system. It has been replaced with a very streamlined system of just having to roll your opponets AC or better (higher) to hit! I can now get rid of my home made slide-rule. There are many more improvements in the handbook for me to like, too many to repeat every one elses remarks. I belive that WoTC is doing some good with the game art and I think it will be very apparent in the MM, due out soon. The art that can be found in the game of "MAGIC the gathering" WoTC has standardized templates for all the creatures and charactors in that game, so the artists have a guide to go by, that way the art doesn't alter after a few years. That fact is evident in this new D&D PH and it will also give a good visual image of the common peoples, races and monsters of the D&D universe.
Rating:
Summary: What Might Have Been...
Review: Well, I'll say this, WOTC really cleaned up the D&D rules in 3e. There is no question that this is a much better game than previous incarnations of D&D. Having said that, WOTC really blew the opportunity to make this product more approachable for novice gamers. In particular, the rules on character creation are a mess! There is no clear, step-by-step procedure for completing this process - just a jumble of disjointed chapters containing related material. It feels as if no one took the time to synthesize all this information into a logical whole. 3e is a step up for experienced D&D players but I fear that it will only frustrate and discourage new players looking to take up this exciting hobby. All and all, a very average effort by WOTC.
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