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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Keravath" data-source="post: 7261905" data-attributes="member: 6916036">Hi!The "PHB+1" is an AL league character creation rule. Characters created for AL can only use the PHB and one other source. The reason for this is that WOTC designs D&D expansions using the same design principle. New content is designed so that it is more or less balanced in the context of any of the other single book content combined with the PHB. The new content is intended to give greater variety with a power level comparable to that already existing in the players handbook. The reason for that design principle is because it becomes unmanageable if not impossible to find all the combinations of content from each expansion in order to find unbalanced combinations. In home games, the DM can take a look at a combination built from multiple sources and then say whether that is fine or not. In most cases, there is likely no issue since the basic content of each expansion should be roughly equal to options available in the PHB. However, if a player finds a particularly powerful combination then the DM can either work around it or simply disallow it. This is because, in home games, the DM is free to build the content in whatever manner suits the group. In AL play, the DM is much more constrained. Most of the module is specified, the DM can make some modification to the script but nothing really significant since the basic concept involves all players on a more or less level playing field enjoying the same content no matter who is running it. The DM may not even be aware of what rules are in which expansion, the DM may not have access to those sources. By limiting the AL player creation to PHB+1, it simplifies the job of AL DM so that they don't have to try to vet the characters provided by each player to the extent required if multiple sources were allowed. The reasoning is similar to that allowing only point buy or fixed number for stats rather than rolling dice in AL. It creates a more level playing field for the players by reducing the min/max options and simplifing the character creation and adjudication by preventing the player from finding obscure unbalanced combinations from combining multiple source materials.</blockquote>

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