D&D 5E The 5th edition PHB: Sorry but when it comes to functionality, it deserves a 'one star' rating.

[Sailor Moon]

The functionality of the PHB can be summed up in two words: 'absolute nightmare'.

In my opinion, it's like using the old RIFTS main book when trying to create a character. I want to list a few things.

1: Races are not in alphabetical order. ( not too much of a big deal but still a bit sloppy).

2: Weapons are not divided out by two handed and one handed. ( again, just sloppy).

3: Skills are a constant WTF! It's like the skills section exploded and bits of it ended up all over the other sections. I am constantly having to flip back and forth to the point where my eyes get sore. I feel like cutting my PHB apart and pasting one myself in a better format.

4: Spells, god I don't want to go there again.

I'm not sure why it's been getting a high star rating because the most important function of the book is awful. I hope they do a reprint and put it in better order.

 

[Zardnaar]

The functionality of the PHB can be summed up in two words: 'absolute nightmare'.

In my opinion, it's like using the old RIFTS main book when trying to create a character. I want to list a few things.

1: Races are not in alphabetical order. ( not too much of a big deal but still a bit sloppy).

2: Weapons are not divided out by two handed and one handed. ( again, just sloppy).

3: Skills are a constant WTF! It's like the skills section exploded and bits of it ended up all over the other sections. I am constantly having to flip back and forth to the point where my eyes get sore. I feel like cutting my PHB apart and pasting one myself in a better format.

4: Spells, god I don't want to go there again.

I'm not sure why it's been getting a high star rating because the most important function of the book is awful. I hope they do a reprint and put it in better order.

Probably gets a high rating because it looks very pretty. Looks over substance. I would not rate it as one star in utility but no higher than a 3 and 4.5/5 for looks as the halfling bring it down a bit.

 

[Remathilis]

1: Races are not in alphabetical order. ( not too much of a big deal but still a bit sloppy)..

Races are divided into Common (nearly all settings) and Uncommon (ask your DM). They are alphabetical in each section.

2: Weapons are not divided out by two handed and one handed. ( again, just sloppy)..

They are alphabetical by type (melee or ranged, simple or martial).

3: Skills are a constant WTF! It's like the skills section exploded and bits of it ended up all over the other sections. I am constantly having to flip back and forth to the point where my eyes get sore. I feel like cutting my PHB apart and pasting one myself in a better format..

Lost on this one. Skills are discussed in the Using Ability Scores section. They are referenced elsewhere, but are primarily discussed there. Unless you are referring to proficiency in tools, which is in equipment. I'm at a loss to see what else you are referring to?

4: Spells, god I don't want to go there again..

Alphabetical order, with lists alpha by class and level. Again, how would you do it?

I'm not sure why it's been getting a high star rating because the most important function of the book is awful. I hope they do a reprint and put it in better order.

I find it perfectly functional. Just because its not in the order YOU want didn't doesn't mean its unusable.

 

[variant]

1. Races are organized based on being common and uncommon.
2. So?
3. No idea what you are talking about. All the skill information is in chapter 7.
4. Only thing I would have liked with the spells is labeling their spell school on the spell lists.

It's getting a high star rating because people don't see the problems you are seeing. Meaning the issue is primarily with you, not the book.

 

[pkt77242]

The functionality of the PHB can be summed up in two words: 'absolute nightmare'.

In my opinion, it's like using the old RIFTS main book when trying to create a character. I want to list a few things.

1: Races are not in alphabetical order. ( not too much of a big deal but still a bit sloppy).

2: Weapons are not divided out by two handed and one handed. ( again, just sloppy).

3: Skills are a constant WTF! It's like the skills section exploded and bits of it ended up all over the other sections. I am constantly having to flip back and forth to the point where my eyes get sore. I feel like cutting my PHB apart and pasting one myself in a better format.

4: Spells, god I don't want to go there again.

I'm not sure why it's been getting a high star rating because the most important function of the book is awful. I hope they do a reprint and put it in better order.

I disagree on 1 and 2 (why should the weapons be broken up by one vs two handed when it is more about simple vs martial and some one handed weapons are versatile). The skills section is a little weird but still works just took me a little time to get comfortable with it. I definitely agree with spells. Alphabetical order is very rough with no other way of looking at them (Heck even just a list of each school with their spells underneath it just like they have for the different classes.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'm not sure why it's been getting a high star rating because the most important function of the book is awful. I hope they do a reprint and put it in better order.

Actually, I think the PH is getting very high ratings because the most import function of the book is presenting a cohesive Dungeons & Dragons ruleset from which you can play a Dungeons & Dragons game.

Sure... there might be some organizational bits that make it harder to use than perhaps you might otherwise go with... but no one's buying the 5E game in order to have a weapons table divided between one-handed and two-handed weapons. They're buying it to use the rules to play D&D.

 

[Paraxis]

The functionality of the PHB can be summed up in two words: 'absolute nightmare'.

In my opinion, it's like using the old RIFTS main book when trying to create a character. I want to list a few things.

1: Races are not in alphabetical order. ( not too much of a big deal but still a bit sloppy).

2: Weapons are not divided out by two handed and one handed. ( again, just sloppy).

3: Skills are a constant WTF! It's like the skills section exploded and bits of it ended up all over the other sections. I am constantly having to flip back and forth to the point where my eyes get sore. I feel like cutting my PHB apart and pasting one myself in a better format.

4: Spells, god I don't want to go there again.

I'm not sure why it's been getting a high star rating because the most important function of the book is awful. I hope they do a reprint and put it in better order.

1. As you say not a big deal, seems a bit off but I understand why they did it the way it is.

2. I think the weapon chart should be broken up in groups of one handed, two handed, finesse and non-finesse, but much like the race section not a big deal.

3. I hate tool proficiencies, the fact there is not a list of all the skills, languages, and tool proficiencies in one place is pretty bad.

4. This is where the ball was dropped, there should be a list of spells by school, and have a brief description of them. Also since all spells in 5e (unlike 3rd) are the same level no matter the class, I would have prefered to have the spells listed in sections, these are cantrips, these are level one spells, and so on.

I would add, in general there should have been more summary lists in the book. A list of feats, a list of backgrounds, heck the race section doesn't even have a list or summary chart of the races.

 

[Stalker0]

I can say I greatly miss having the classes that can cast a spell noted in the spell description. Also would love to have a little "C" by the spell names in the summary area to denote which ones are concentration spells.

 

[Lancelot]

I disagree with the Original Poster on most points. I think the PH is a very good and useful book. I have both 20-year grognards and 1-year newbies in my group, the latter group having never owned a PH before. The general feeling is that the book is exceptional, and well worth the investment.

The race thing is personal preference, and I personally like the way they've done it. The weapon listing is far from sloppy - I can't think of a better way of doing it. Every weapon on a single table on a single page, broken down by simple vs martial, melee vs ranged. All detailed descriptions in alphabetical order. Handedness is immediately visible on the weapon table. The skill thing doesn't even make sense. I can't understand the issue.

However, I agree on one point: the spells. Not the spells themselves. Alphabetical is the "right" way to present the spells, and I'd hate to see it go back to "spells by level", as in previous editions. The big problem is the summary lists at the start of the spells section. These really needed to included the domain of the spell, and whether or not it is a ritual. There are too many classes that need to know this information without reading through every spell individually, or referring to an online tool. As an enchanter, I want to know what 2nd level spells are enchantments, without flicking through 20 entries. As a warlock, I want to know which rituals are available for my invocation. As an eldritch knight, I want to know what spells are abjurations and evocations.

So, that's a bit annoying. But, overall, I'd give the new PH a 9-out-of-10. I'd take it over any previous D&D PH.

 

[ren1999]

I always complain about everything. But in this case, I only agree with you on spell organization.

Spells should have organization lists by type/school, level, and alphabetically.

I'm more upset about the modules not having enough information on spells. Not even page numbers.

For character creation, I think it would be nice if the PHB had a collected summary table on creating each race and class. One table on one page at a glance.