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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Olgar Shiverstone" data-source="post: 5776457" data-attributes="member: 5868">What should go in the Player's Handbook?  This is a critical question, because in many ways, the PHB is the game of D&D.  It's the bread and butter, the book every player has or uses, and sets the scope and tone for the rest of the game.  I still think the PHB/DMG/MM is iconic to D&D and should be retained, vice going to an all-in-one sort of Basic/Advanced/Masters rulebook.Here are my thoughts:First: There's only one PHB.  We shouldn't have to buy three books labelled "PHB" to get the core of the game.  One PHB by name, and then we can get expansions/modules/flavor/fluff/splatbooks.Second: The PHB should have the quality of a textbook, but is should not read like a textbook.  It needs good art, good prose, and inspiring fluff, in addition to good organization.  The 1E PHB got the prose right, but lacked organization; the 4E PHB was too sterile and clinical.  We should have a book that's enjoyable to read & re-read as well as being accessible for use at the game table.Third: Digital capability.  Besides OGL/SRD (more later), I'd like a digital format  to load on a laptop or tablet to be *free* with purchase of PHB.These things should be in the PHB:(1) What is D&D?  Explain it and how it's played.  Include an example of play for newcomers.(2) How to make a character.  Attributes, etc.(3) How to play.  Basic rules (d20+mods, etc).  Combat rules.  Exploration.(4) Core races.  I vote: human, dwarf, elf (happy with elf/eladrin split, but YMMV), halfling, half-elf, half-orc. Gnomes ... I hate them with a passion but perhaps they can stay.(5) Core classes.  I vote: fighter, ranger, paladin, barbarian, cleric, druid, wizard, bard, rogue, some alt-arcane class (sorcerer/warlock), plus rules for multi-classing or otherwise mixing class attributes.(6) Core character mechanics.  Whether this is skills & feats, or powers, or some other variation.  Plus alignment.  Item & spell creation rules should be in here, too.(7) Magic/spells/rituals.  Doesn't need to be everything, but enough to support the core classes for the "core experience" of 1-10 or 1-20 levels.(8) Equipment.  Basic adventuring equipment, plus some basic magic items (less than the 4E PHB, though)(9) All of the above in an OGL SRD, placed online, and not in a firewalled pay-to-play location.These things should NOT go in the PHB.(1) Every race/class/feat/spell ever invented in D&D.  Lots of room later for modular expansions.(2) Alternate systems.  The core should be the building blocks, but put the specialty bricks in "Unearthed Arcana" expansions.(3) Flavor-specific races/classes/roles -- dragonboobs, thieflings, psions, monks, oriental adventures, swordmages and swashbucklers, etc.(4) Epic play.  This deserves its own expansion module.(5) All categories and powers of magic items.  Leave a range of mystery and wonder for the DM to provide.(6) Setting-specific information.  A few examples of gods might be OK, depending on whether we have domains for clerics or the like.  Leave this for the DM.(7) Psionics.This probably sounds a lot like the 3E PHB content and organization, which is intentional -- though there are specific elements of that era PHB that I'd change, I think it struck the best balance of the PHBs published to date.Discuss.  What do you want to see?</blockquote>

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