The Player’s Handbook – What’s Inside

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Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to the realms of fantasy, the Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook is your essential companion, unlocking the game’s mysteries and providing everything needed to embark on epic quests and weave captivating tales. Learn how to play Dungeons & Dragons with this first of three core rulebooks, alongside the Dungeon Master’s Guide and the Monster Manual.

Book Overview

The ultimate guide for Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts, the Player’s Handbook contains a collection of rules designed to guide players and GMs through every aspect of gameplay. From the basics of character creation to the intricacies of leveling up, this definitive player’s reference provides a deep delve into the vast expanse of the D&D universe. Explore the details behind backgrounds, skills, exploration, combat, equipment, spells, and more.

Covers of the 1st edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons from 1980, and 2014’s fifth edition Players Handbook.

While the first edition of the Players Handbook, written by Gary Gygax, was released for the 1st edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in 1980, 2014’s fifth edition – the version referenced most often today – contains the basic rules of the modern 5e system, including base classes, races, and character customization options.

A multiple-award winner of Best Role Playing Game, Game of the Year, Best Artwork and Presentation, Product of the Year, Best Rules, and Best Writing from the Origins Awards, Golden Geek, and Ennies, this title stands out as the cornerstone of foundational knowledge for anyone hoping to learn to play Dungeons & Dragons.

Playing on Roll20

Roll20’s Players Handbook has been fully converted to digital to aid in your in-person and online games, and is designed to make your D&D journey as accessible and customizable as possible! While there are Free Basic Rules available on Roll20 to allow for simple campaigns, purchasing the PHB unlocks all Backgrounds including Criminal, Entertainer, Noble, Pirate, Spy, and more, plus expansive Class and Sub-Class details, over 40 Feats including Dueld Wielder, Healer, Lucky, Shield Master, and Tavern Brawler! You’ll also find magical Items, additional Lore, a complete set of Proficiencies, every Spell, and everything needed to master character creation and advancement.

The digital Compendium allows you to drag and drop directly into your Games and onto your Character Sheets:

You can access all of the rules, items, and creatures from the Player’s Handbook in and out of the virtual tabletop:

Your purchase also includes an Art Pack containing nearly 120 Bordered Tokens and art handouts to be used in-game. You can also drag and drop these pieces onto a Character Sheet for extra customization!

Bordered Tokens containing art of a Drow wearing a green cloak, a Dwarf with long red braided hair and blue face paint, and a half-orc clad in armor. Under the tokens, a handout featuring a Sorcerer summoning magic.

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The other two core Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks that best supplement the Player’s Handbook are the Dungeon Master’s Guide and Monster Manual. You can purchase both, along with the Players Handbook and the Essentials Kit in Roll20’s D&D DM Starter Bundle to save 15%.

Covers of the Dungeon Master

If you aren’t interested in being a Dungeon Master, but want to learn everything you can about playing D&D, you might enjoy the D&D Player Bundle, which contains the Players Handbook, along with these two essential players resources (and also offers 15% off when purchased together!):

Covers of Xanathar

To support independent creators who publish through the Dungeon Masters’ Guild program, check out the following titles:

Conclusion

If you’ve ever been curious about Dungeons & Dragons, the Player’s Handbook serves as an essential resource for both beginners and experienced players, providing comprehensive guidance on character creation, game mechanics, spellcasting, and world-building elements, making it indispensable for anyone interested in playing or running games.

If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to sign up for a FREE Roll20 account and experience the ultimate platform for online tabletop gaming:

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