Player's Handbook II (and other May releases)

[Darrin Drader]

Wohoo!

I am hoping for some more new classes and them not including classes they have already printed.

Actually I was hoping the opposite - that they would compile and revise the ones they already have into one source.

 

[Ranger REG]

I got one question: Is the PHB2 standard or optional? I mean I don't want my group to show up with PHB2 thinking there are new standard rules mandatory for our D&D sessions, simply because the title have "Player's Handbook" on it.

 

[Darrin Drader]

I got one question: Is the PHB2 standard or optional? I mean I don't want my group to show up with PHB2 thinking there are new standard rules mandatory for our D&D sessions, simply because the title have "Player's Handbook" on it.

It's your group, you make the call. Personally, I suspect it will be standard in the RPGA, at least some of the campaigns, but you can use or not use whatever you want in your home game.

 

[Ranger REG]

It's your group, you make the call. Personally, I suspect it will be standard in the RPGA, at least some of the campaigns, but you can use or not use whatever you want in your home game.

Hallelujah! Thank Gawd I'm not in the RPGA! Yay!

 

[I'm A Banana]

Perhaps people should look at this book in the light of how DMG II was developed, i.e. crafted to the new and aspiring DM...

Maybe, but then you have the MMII which really was just more monsters...

I, for one, would really love a big compendium of the Complete series (gutted of the PrC's, and expanded as much as possible with the page count that frees up), with the new races from the Races series (raptorians, goliaths, illumians) but that's just me. I'm a collector.

New stuff is always good, too, though.

I dunno, I'm not a huge fan of how the DMGII was done. It sold well, but it's just kind of "here's what we had left over from UA, and some advice that should have been in the DMG itself." Which is part of why it sold so well.

 

[Staffan]

So, btw, do you think this means that 4e is at least one and a half years off now that we have PH II to look forward to in anticipation/abject horror?

I would think that 4e is at least two years away now. Charles Ryan is still Boss of D&D over at WOTC, and he has promised that we will get at least one year's warning before they release 4e. Seeing as WOTC are about 98% likely to release it at a GenCon, and the current GenCon is just about over without any announcement about 4e, it won't be released until the GenCon after next.

 

[philreed]

Actually I was hoping the opposite - that they would compile and revise the ones they already have into one source.

As long as there's also a lot of new stuff I'd be just fine with this.

 

[MerricB]

It's your group, you make the call. Personally, I suspect it will be standard in the RPGA, at least some of the campaigns, but you can use or not use whatever you want in your home game.

Actually, I think you're mistaken there.

It will be an allowed resource in the RPGA, but not a required resource.

The RPGA doesn't require anyone to have more than the core books (PHB, DMG, MM), and occasionally a campaign setting book (FRCS, ECS); however, it does allow players and DMs to use other books.

A good example of this is with the expanded skill uses in Complete Adventurer. They're allowed in the RPGA's Living Greyhawk campaign. The campaign merely requires that a player or DM at the table have the book with them if they're used.

Cheers!

 

[The_Universe]

I'll give the PHB II a look when it comes out - I'm eager for more information, but right know I don't believe there's much to this beyond a title. I'm not going to pass judgment until I hear something that's not "My hat of P33Ple who make $$$ Know No Limit!"

Did anyone hear anything interesting about this at Gen Con? I didn't get to the "What's new at Wizards" Seminar, but I suspect they might have given us some clues, there. Anybody get a juicy tidbit?

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I don't make predictions, I make wishes. I WISH the PHB2 would have rules for a skills and powers-type method for character creation. But that's just me; I know it's not a big fave among folks.

I HOPE there are no reprints of anything WotC has put out in the last year or so. I HOPE there are no new races. New base classes I wouldn't mind.