Rating: 
Summary: GREAT!!!
Review: This is the first edition from TSR in 11 years and I have to say, I am quite excited about it. It is focused on giving younger kids along with older people the chance to play, and improving on the already great game. One problem is that the Monstrous Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide do not come out for 1 to 2 months. What will we do in the mean time? Wait I guess. But, the game is great, and I can't wait to play 3rd edition.
Rating:
Summary: New face, old friend
Review: Being a Dungeons & Dragons player for over twenty years I was both excited and worried about the new edition. Once I had the book in my posession for an hour all my worries dissapeared. I have to admit this is the best rendition yet. What I like best about the 3rd edition is the change in the combat system. It is far easier to understand and very logical. The change to stat bonuses and saving throws will make character creation and game play faster and far more enjoyable. The little things, such as the addition of Half-Orcs as player characters, and the return of the Barbarian class are heartwarming as well. Add all of this to the incredible artwork and slick new look of the books themselves, and you have a new edition any D&Der will be proud to own. Thank you TSR and Wizards of the Coast.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing and Beautiful
Review: I was a bit nervous when I heard about the rules overhaul. I do have to say that the book is gorgeous. The information is very easy to find and the full-color pages are used well. The new rules are very different. Old-school players will be shocked at just how much has actually changed. Personally I like the new system quite a bit better. Of course I have already created a couple of my own 'house rules' in just two days of having the new rules, but that is very typical in the RPG world. Overall I highly recommend getting your hands on the new rules and checking out the new system, it is more concise and easy to play.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect update
Review: If you're new to the game or a veteran it is well worth picking up this book. There are many updates and revisions to the rules. The character creation seemed more straightforward and easier to me and there are a lot more options to customize them. The artwork contained within is also a huge improvement. Very well done and beautifully drawn. All the information you need is given in a straightforward fashion that is easy to navigate with plenty of page references within so you don't have to search through the whole book to find one little fact.
Rating:
Summary: The Game that Started it All!!!
Review: I grew up on Dungeons, and Dragons, and am unashamed to say that yes I am a gamer. Wizards of the Coast along with a slew of playtesters from around the world have reinvented the game that started it all. The book is very informative, and is richly illustrated. Lockwood's drawings alone are worth the price of this amazingly inexpensive, and informative book. The Handbook will enable players to get started playing, and veteran players up to speed on the new edition. I am not sure of how quickly they will be jumping in though, as the book completely starts from scratch all the sytems that we knew in our sleep. The re-intorduction of the Monk character is nice, and very nostalgic of of WoC, and I commend them. I do see a negative side though as that while very helpful, and informative. The book leaves too many doors closed with only a simple "Wait til we release the next book" mentality. For example experience points which are critical to the advancement of the player's character are glossed over as an afterthought. The reader is given the explaination that it will be focused on more in the Dungeon Master Guide, and to please stay tuned. Not a smart move in my opinion in which new players are being courted. Overall the book is an excellent value, and should make game play quick, simple, but without sacrificing "Role Playing".
Rating:
Summary: D & D 3rd Edition Is Here!!!
Review: Finally the long awaited D&D 3rd edition player's handbook has been released. A must for every D&D fan. This is the best Role Playing Game in the world. Buy it, You WILL NOT be disappointed!!
Rating:
Summary: Third times the charm.
Review: I have been gaming for 10 years now and the 3rd edition rules are the best yet. The book is well thought out and put together, although you have to flip back and forth from time to time. Character generation is a sinch compared to the Players Option: Skills and Powers or to the AD&D rules. The skills, feats, races and classes are well described and have lots of pictures to get the point across. This book is great for the old school gamer all the way to first timers. The only problem you may encounter is changing your old characters to the new rules, but no ones perfect.
Rating:
Summary: NO SMALL CHANGES HERE!
Review: I was told by those who had seen the pre-release of the Players Handbook that there were only a few slight changes to the rules. They couldn't have been more wrong if they tried! This book is packed with a ton of new game mechanics, philosophy, and rules. For example, they've done away entirely with THAC0 system opting for a more logical AC system where the better your armor class is the HIGHER the AC rating, not lower. No more checking class specific tables to find your THAC0 number when you advance a level. Gone too are the seperate experience points tables for different classes and in comes a standardized experience table for ALL character classes. One table and it's easy to memorize. The game has undergone a MAJOR overhaul and from what I've seen it is all well needed. Only in a few instances will the new rules slow the game down a little, however, the game is also more realistic and lends itself to better role playing. If you've been thinking that the 3rd edition is just the same old rules with a different pretty cover you're dead wrong. This edition is worth it!
Rating:
Summary: 3e a success.
Review: This is easily the most visually appealing version of the game rules to date. The quality of the rules is also greatly enhanced from the previous editions. They have become streamlined and extremely organized. This new edition is easily the best yet.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This book is a ruleset for the AD&D 3rd edition game. It contains all the rules to start role-playing with your friends. If you do not know, role-playing is where you assume the character of your choice, and use your imagination to play, guided along by a dungeon master. It is akin to playing instead of reading a book. This book is one of the best I have ever read. It is well organized, well written, and covers almost any topic you can think of. The illustrations look like something DaVinci made. The contents are also fabulous. The rules are very much simplified using the D20 system. No more calculating THAC0 in your head on simple goblins, or using cubic geometry to find where your fireball goes. Some of the highlights of the new system include the any race, any class motto. Want a half-orc paladin/rouge? Sure! Feats, are also a good addition, allowing you to customize your character beyond normal ablities. Major changes to the AD&D system are the addition of 1 new race, and 3 classes. The removal of the thac0 system, and a complete overhaul of the magic. Really, it is a whole new game. All in all, this book is perfect for anyone who wants to start playing AD&D, or players of earlier versions wanting something new in their gaming.
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