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The Player's Handbook, released in 1995, is one of the core rulebooks for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition. It is the primary rulebook which describes how to play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and is considered necessary for play.

Player's Handbook is commonly abbreviated to PH or PHB. The officially supported abbreviation PH is more technically correct, as "handbook" is one word, but usage of PHB is common in the D&D community.

Official synopsis[]

Here is the indispensable encyclopedia of fantasy role-playing. Everything the player needs is here: how to create a mighty hero or crafty wizard; uinque aspects of the elves, dwarves, halflings, and other fantasy races; all the weapons, armor, magical spells, and rules for thrilling battles against supernatural monsters. This fresh, new format for the Player's Handbook is your complete and illustrated guide to the world of heroic adventure!

Content[]

Development and release[]

Development[]

The book was written by Dave Cook.

Release[]

The Player's Handbook was released by TSR in February 1989 for $[missing data] US or $[missing data] Canadian.

On August 18, 2015, it was re-released in digital format. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $9.99.

Reception and influence[]

Sales[]

Between 1995 and 1998, the revised AD&D 2nd edition Player's Handbook sold a total of 204,619 copies.[1]

Year Sales
1995 94,445
1996 55,628
1997 36,477
1998 18,069

Sales figures compared unfavorably to the original Player's Handbook (2e) (1989), which sold over 292,000 copies in 1989 alone.

Critical reception[]

As of 2023, the Player's Handbook reached the rank of Adamantine seller on DriveThruRPG.

Influence on other works[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. Tweet. Ben Riggs, July 26, 2022.


Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbooks
Players Handbook (1e)Player's Handbook (2e)Player's Handbook (2e revised)
Player's Handbook (3e)Player's Handbook (3.5)Player's Handbook II (3.5)
Player's Handbook (4e)Player's Handbook 2 (4e)Player's Handbook 3 (4e)
Player's Handbook (5e)Player's Handbook (5e revised)
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition
Core rules
Player's HandbookDungeon Master Guide
Monstrous Compendium Volume OneMonstrous Compendium Volume TwoMonstrous Manual
First QuestIntroduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons GameThe Complete Starter SetDungeons & Dragons Adventure Game
Optional core rules
Player's Option: Combat & TacticsPlayer's Option: Skills & PowersPlayer's Option: Spells & Magic
Dungeon Master Option: High-Level CampaignsCampaign Option: Council of Wyrms
Supplement lines
Player's Handbook Rules SupplementDungeon Master's Guide Rules Supplement
Monstrous Compendium AppendixMonstrous Compendium Annual
Encyclopedia MagicaHistorical ReferenceThe Magic EncyclopediaMonstrous ArcanaPriest's Spell CompendiumWizard's Spell Compendium
Other supplements
Bastion of FaithBook of ArtifactsCastle SitesChronomancerCity SitesCollege of WizardryCountry SitesDen of ThievesDungeon Builder's GuidebookGuide to HellLegends & LoreRogues' GalleryShamanTome of MagicThe Vortex of Madness and Other Planar PerilsWarriors of HeavenWorld Builder's Guidebook
Adventures
The Apocalypse StoneAxe of the Dwarvish LordsCleric's Challenge (II) • The Dancing Hut of Baba YagaDestiny of KingsDie Vecna Die!Dragon MountainDungeons of DespairFighter's Challenge (II) • The Gates of Firestorm PeakA Hero's TaleLabyrinth of MadnessThe Lost Shrine of BundushaturMoonlight MadnessThe Murky DeepNight Below: An Underdark CampaignA Paladin in HellReturn to the Tomb of HorrorsReverse DungeonRoad to DangerThe Rod of Seven PartsThe Shattered CircleThe Silver KeySwamplightTale of the CometTales of EnchantmentTemple, Tower, & TombThief's Challenge (II) • TSR Jam 1999Wizard's Challenge (II)