Rating: 
Summary: A Tome Unequaled
Review: I don't judge a book by its cover, however, this book is a work of art. The cover is beautiful, and the inside is even better. D&D characters come alive in the talented hands of artists Grant-West, Fischer, Foster, Lockwood, Martin, Swekel, and the (in)famous Sam Wood. The page layout is very creative. But that's just how it looks.It lives up to its name--Player's Handbook. It really is a wonderful handbook. It's well organized and thought out. This book is filled with all the kinds of information you need for playing D&D. It was worth the wait!
Rating: 
Summary: Not your father's Dungeons and Dragons
Review: At almost three hundred full-color pages, this new Players Handbook is a sight to behold, but the changes are not mearly skin deep. Wizards of the Coast set out to revive this twenty five year old game and they succeeded. Clunky mechanics have been replaced with an integrated skill system. The old version's ponderous combat system has been fine tuned to work better both with miniatures and without. Top it off with over a hundred new spells and this is the best version by far. The only things holding this book back from a five star rating are the occasional, but annoying typo, and the lack of much of the lightheartedness of the early edition, giving it a textbook feel.
Rating:
Summary: The best D&D yet
Review: This is by far the best edition of Dungeons and Dragons (note that "Advanced" has been dropped from the title). The changes to this edition are so major that you're essentially looking at a brand new game system--but one that preserves the general feel and flavor of its predecessors. The core D20 system provides a unified mechanic to any type of task resolution--from learning a new spell to hitting an opponent in combat--that is simple and clean, and easy for everyone to remember. Combat is fully revamped, and the new class and race system is much more flexible, allowing players to design the character they've always wanted. While I have some minor gripes with the book layout (it deliberatley looks as if it was set down on draft or occasionally notebook paper), and some of the odd ways the PC races are presented, it's not nearly enough to prevent me from whole-heartedly endorsing this book.
Rating:
Summary: Leaner & Meaner - D&D is back....
Review: It's about time. WOTC has applied their lawyerly precision to the granddaddy of all role-playing games, and the result can only be described as cathartic. The first impression a veteran gamer will have is that the visuals, the feel of the game have been given a major upgrade. Quality art and image are a definite plus in the RPG world and this book's art and layout is a major leap from such dismal products as the previous version of the Player's Handbook. Diving into the rules, it becomes immediately apparent that making the game simpler and faster was a major priority. All classes now advance in levels at the same rate. Character attributes have been streamlined, the original six saving throws have been cut to three intelligently defined categories. Combat now has one (1!) initiative roll for an entire encounter. Annoying complexities like weapon speeds and size-based damage have been eliminated. Combat encounters will no longer bog down on die rolls and flipping through tables, although players will very likely be asking for more time to consider the many more tactical options they now have. The flexibility of the new rules is almost alarming. A DM under the old rules was forever looking for rules to say "no, you cannot do that" to a particularly innovative player. The combat tactics and feats in the Third Edition emphasize trade-offs. If a high level fighter wants to use all of the attacks he is allowed in a round, his movement is restricted. If a person chooses to switch weapons in combat they must now consider how they switch (sheath the old weapon, or drop it?) and what they switch to (missile weapon? Melee weapon?). Poor choices could allow an opponent an "attack of opportunity," a marvelous addition to combat rules which adds all sorts of new dimensions to the standard "charge and attack" mentality. Race/level restrictions are gone - be anything you want, but some combinations are better than others. Gain attribute points as you increase levels, multi-class as you go along... It makes a DM's head spin. The clarity of the rules, particularly in a topic as historically dreadful as spells is very impressive. While I am certain that my players will (as ever) come up with exotic ways of twisting a particular spell description, it is gratifying to see that spell descriptions have been made less ambiguous. The integrated layout (thankfully alphabetized across all levels and classes) eliminates previously standard questions like "anyone remember what level Wall of Force is?" as well as maddening entries like "This spell is exactly like the 4th level wizard spell of the same name..." (argh!). The new PH contains twenty-odd pages at the end that give a skeletal view of creatures, magic items, and other essentials to begin Third Edition play immediately without the new DMG. They are an unfortunate and necessary workaround the release schedule of TSR. It is aggravating to read the section disclaimer and think that these pages in your brand-new book might contain rules that will be superceded, or discarded as soon as next month. That aside, as a veteran of eighteen years of campaigning, I'm thrilled to have the new edition Player's Handbook on the shelf. It's a revision that will add new players to the fold, and serve as a shot in the arm for long-time gamers.
Rating:
Summary: It's AWESOME!
Review: I bought this book at my local store, and it was awesome! It's got everything I needed! it's a must have for gamers!
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the cost and best I've seen!
Review: This book, although a little confuseing, got the iformation to me and two freinds who also rushed out to get it. Alot of iformation was scattered at times, but the overall was good. This book had wonderful artwork, was put together well, and had all the info for new D&D players and players who have been playing since 1st edition. zdas04@sprynet.com
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: I used to play this game but stopped back in 1991, because it was too far out of whack, and there were many other games that were better. I heard there was a new edition so I thought I would give it a chance, and wow! They completely overhauled a lot of things to make it easier and more fun to play. I am impressed.
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: I stopped playing AD&D back in 1990, because the system was too out of whack. A friend of mine told me to pick up the new edition that just came out, and wow! They seem to have finally simplified a lot of the rules, and eased up on the restrictions. A mage is no longer stuck with pathetic little weapons and no armor, but they did put penalties in place to keep things in check and to maintain the flavor. Everything got an overhaul and it seems to a big improvement!
Rating:
Summary: This isn't your fathers D&D
Review: When I first heard that a new edition of Dungeons and Dragons was going to be put out, I was determined to hate it. In fact, the last edition of Dungeons and Dragons was enough to make me hate the game. However, I was encourged to give third edition a chance after talking to the author at Gencon this year. After playing this game, I immediatly went out and bought a copy. High fantasy role playing is back with a vengence. The new system is extreemly well thought out. It condenses the rules so that there are not a million exceptions to everything, the game mechanics are simplified so that you do not have to own a thousand books in order to play. Everything is based on a high roll of a d20. If you are a veteran of D&D you will love the new rule set because it puts the focus back on the game and not the mechanics. If you are just starting out, this is an easy to understand game that you will be playing for years to come.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book! Dissapointed with CD
Review: The new 3E PHB is great, that is, if you like change. It offers new combat rules, new weapons, skills, and introduces feats. This book is exactly what the classic AD&D needed to give it a new face! The art work is spectacular! However, I was dissapointed with the Character Generation CD-ROM that is included. It is only a demo and not usefull unless you are a complete beginner and have no knowledge of the game! I would have said five stars, but after the promise of a character generation program, and then the great let down, I gave it three.
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