D&D 5E Player's Handbook Table of Contents Excerpt

[DEFCON 1]

It should be noted that if the formatting stays the same that means that each background takes a page. That means there are 17 of them.

At the barest minimum, there will probably be 12. One 'Quick Build' Background for each class. So actually... here's an interesting thought-experiment: What would be the 'Quick Build' background for all 12 classes if we assume they are all different? We've already seen a bunch in previews and such, but what are the rest? My guesses:

Barbarian - Urchin
Bard - Minstrel
Cleric - Acolyte
Druid - ?
Fighter - Soldier
Monk - Folk Hero
Paladin - Noble
Ranger - Guide
Rogue - Criminal
Sorcerer - Hermit
Warlock - Charlatan
Wizard - Sage

 

[Iosue]

I was thinking it was monsters to hold people over until the MM.

No need for that with the Basic Rules being updated with monsters and DM rules on the day the PHB drops.

 

[Remathilis]

At the barest minimum, there will probably be 12. One 'Quick Build' Background for each class. So actually... here's an interesting thought-experiment: What would be the 'Quick Build' background for all 12 classes if we assume they are all different? We've already seen a bunch in previews and such, but what are the rest? My guesses:

Barbarian - Urchin
Bard - Minstrel
Cleric - Acolyte
Druid - ?
Fighter - Soldier
Monk - Folk Hero
Paladin - Noble
Ranger - Guide
Rogue - Criminal
Sorcerer - Hermit
Warlock - Charlatan
Wizard - Sage

The quick-builds in Alpha were
Barbarian/Ranger: Outlander
Bard: Entertainer
Druid/Monk/Sorcerer: Hermit
Warlock/Rogue: Charlatan (rogue has changed to Criminal in Basic)
Paladin: Noble
Wizard/Fighter/Cleric (as the Basic PDF)

Add on Folk Hero (Basic) and Urchin (mentioned in the Tika/Artemis section of the Basic PDF) and you have 11 right there.

 

[gyor]

I hope the creature section also has the stats for summonable creatures like Drydads, Devas, Solars and the Paladin's mount.

I still think its awesome we can summon a Solar, in no edition have we ever had a spell to summon Solars (Gate and Planar Ally doesn't count).

The Gods section is about 7 pages, half of which is likely to be the FR Pantheon ;p

I'm curious as to how they're arranged the new verison of the Great Wheel or what I call the Great Wheel plus.

I also noticed that the Tiefling seems to have more pages then I expected, I only expected 2, it appears to have.

 

[gyor]

Some backgrounds might have variants like Criminal has Spy for more fluff options.

 

[TwoSix]

Feats and skills...seemingly deemphasized, though maybe not in reality.

We know the list of feats is in the 40s, so 6 pages seems about right.

 

[Iosue]

The Gods section is about 7 pages, half of which is likely to be the FR Pantheon ;p

Mearls has already mentioned in an interview that the PHB will have write-ups the FR pantheon, the Dragonlance pantheon, and generic examples drawing from the Celtic and Norse pantheons.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Part 2 of my analysis since I got distracted and had to leave before finishing:
Chapter 5: Equipment
Alpha: 16 pages
Final: 20 pages
Basic: 13 pages

This is likely bigger due to art. Races and Equipment seem to be the chapters that need the most art.

Chapter 6: Customization Options
Alpha: 10 pages
Final: 10 pages

The Multiclass section went from 3 pages to 2 pages. Which means the feat section is one page larger. There may be a couple more feats. Especially with the font being smaller.

Chapter 7: Using Ability Scores
Alpha: 8 pages
Final: 8 pages
Basic: 6 pages

No changes from the Alpha, but obviously some difference between Basic and Final. Haven't gone through to check exactly what.

Chapter 8: Adventuring
Alpha: 9 pages
Final: 9 pages
Basic: 6 pages

No changes from the Alpha, but obviously some difference between Basic and Final. Haven't gone through to check exactly what.

Chapter 9: Combat
Alpha: 11 pages
Final: 10 pages
Basic: 9 pages

This is likely all down to a difference in formatting and possibly a picture or two.

Chapter 10: Spellcasting
Alpha: 112 pages (106 pages of spells and lists)
Final: 90 pages (83 pages of spells and lists)

There's quite a few less pages in the final than the Alpha. I assume that's almost entirely due to smaller font. Though it does mean that we shouldn't expect a large amount more spells than the Alpha. Some spells might even have been cut to save space.


On an unrelated note, there appears to be a section for Creature Statistics. Which mean there is a mini monster manual in the book to help you start playing immediately.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

No need for that with the Basic Rules being updated with monsters and DM rules on the day the PHB drops.

Although there's no NEED for it, there's also technically no need to print half the book as it is all located in Basic Rules as well.

I suspect it is a list of the most basic early level monsters. It may even be a similar list to the Starter Set. I suspect the list will be longer in the Basic Rules though.

 

[M.L. Martin]

Mearls has already mentioned in an interview that the PHB will have write-ups the FR pantheon, the Dragonlance pantheon, and generic examples drawing from the Celtic and Norse pantheons.

Basic says that the PHB draws on 8 pantheons--Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Eberron, Greyhawk, Celtic, Norse, Greek and Egyptian. It'll probably be lists with names, alignments, portfolios and domains.