|
224 pages, 2009, $34.95
|
Content
|
4
|
Organization
|
4
|
Consistency
|
4
|
Intelligibility
|
3.5
|
Overall
4
Great
|
Review Scoring
|
The Player's Handbook 2 is the first major addition of player content for Dungeons & Dragons,
4th Edition. The book adds five new races and twelve new Racial Paragon Paths. Of the new races, the gnome and half-orc will feel
familiar to players of the previous edition, while the deva, goliath, and shifter will be new to most players. Players who had a
soft spot for the previous incarnation of the gnome or half-orc are likely to be a bit annoyed that the two races were relegated to
the second Player's Handbook. These five races, like the eight core races, fit into some interesting niches, such as the shifter
with his ability to make minor changes to his body without being a lycanthrope. The twelve racial paragon paths cater to the new
races and old races alike, allowing players to take advantage of certain types of racial builds that lean toward certain racial
stereotypes.
Eight new classes are added in the book, four of which draw on the new Primal power source. Four classical classes, the barbarian,
the bard, the druid and the sorceror also return via the Player's Handbook 2. Again, the omission of these classes from the
core list for 4th Edition has frustrated many players, but the changes and time taken to flesh out the Primal power source make
the classes feel fresh and unique. The other four classes, the Avenger, Invoker, Shaman and Warden also bring new and varied options
for players.
Rounding out the book are a slew of new character options, including backgrounds, feats, gear, magic items, and rituals. Since the
Player's Handbook 2 introduces the Primal power source, a large number of these new options cater to the classes that make use
of that power source, with a good number of options for the other four classes and the classes introduced previous. Also, six pages of rule
updates are provided, so that players and Game Masters alike can have a concise source for rules changes that happened after the
printing of the first Player's Handbook.
While it does not contain as many races and classes as the first Player's Handbook, volume two does include several that are likely
to draw players to it's pages. It might be slightly overpriced, but for players of the previous edition, especially those with a affinity
for Barbarians, Bards, Druids or Sorcerors, the price will not be an issue.
|