Dungeons and Dragons "Complete Handbook" series
In the "Complete Handbook" series TSR / Wizards of the Coast offers detailed information on the various AD&D second edition character classes and races. This series introduced the character kit concept. These books are indespensible references for the Advnaced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition player and DM.
If you can't find what you're looking for, I suggest you check Amazon.com where you can search a variety of used book dealers simultaneously
and eBay! where you can bid on used and new out-of-print items. If all
you want is a copy of a book to read, but don't need the real
thing, then check out the wide selection of books available for
download in .pdf format at Wizards of the Coast.
The Complete Fighter's Handbook
Ostensibly for Fighters, this AD&D 2nd edition accessory is actually for everyone, because of the great additions to the combat system - although they will slow you down at first, they add so much detail and excitement that you'll wonder how you ever got along without them. Chapters include: lore on fighters, the Armorer, Bowyer, and Weaponsmith, Fighter kits (including classics like the Amazon, Barbarian, Myrmidon, and Samurai), role-playing (a must read!), and the combat system (proficiencies ambidexterity, specialization, fighting styles, called shots, parries, martial arts, hit locations, jousting, etc., etc.), and great equipment, weapons, and armor. If you love the "swords" part of swords & sorcery, Get This!
The Complete Paladin's Handbook (tsr 2147)
In the fight against evil, the paladin stands as Good's supreme, undaunted champion. This 128-page accessory helps you play the noblest warriors of the AD&D second edition game. Create or enhance your paladin with new proficiencies and equipment, new rules for bonded mounts and paladin kits like the divinate, envoy, ghosthunter, skyrider and the indomitable wyrmslayer. The Complete Paladin's Handbook attends the world's finest heroes as they achieve their lofty ideals.
The Complete Ranger's Handbook (tsr 2136)
This great AD&D 2nd edition accessory includes everything you need to know to design and play a Ranger - chapters include requirements, level advancement, spell use, weapons and armor, tracking, animal empathy, natural lore, strongholds followes, kits (such as the Explorer, Falconer, and Giant Killer), proficiencies, new spells and magic items, equipment, role-playing, religion, forgatherings, and more! An indispensible tome.
The Complete Wizard's Handbook
This wonderful book will make your wizardly characters come alive
- here you'll find endless details on the schools of magic, specialists,
spellcasting, wizard kits (subclasses), roleplaying personae,
spells in combat, spells above 9th level (!), exhaustive rules
on illusions (at last!), spell research, familiars, chaos magic,
wizards' towers, and more; this tome is full of amazing ideas
that will improve your campaign immensely! One of the best books
in the PHBR series.
The Complete Book of Necromancers
This AD&D handbook was published as a DM's supplement, but can easily be used for player characters (with the DM's permission). It's absolutely a great accessory for those who wish to explore these foul trafficers in death. Included are several new kits for wizards and priests, new spells and much more.
The Complete Thief's Handbook
This book is great! It is just full of information about thieves.
I've read through it 4 or 5 times now. It covers things that the
players should know about thieves, like kits, backround, and tools
of the trade. It also covers things that DMs should know about
thieves. It goes into depth about how to create and run an effective
thieves guild and explains in great detail each thieves kit. Over
all, this is a must-have book for all of you players AND DMs who
use thief's in AD&D.
The Complete Bard's Handbook (tsr 2127)
This was a super class handbook. The kits (and modification of the original PHB bard class) make all the difference in this class. Using this book, the bard almost becomes a top-level class with a range of sub-classes (almost) that makes for some of the most interesting role-playing possibilities around. I'm almost sorry I didn't get this book earlier, before I created my most recent character, because some of the kits look to be so much fun. Definately a book to buy if you like to role-play and personalities are as important to you as (or more important to you than) hack 'n slash adventuring.
The Complete Ninja's Handbook (tsr 2135)
Superhuman feats of skill and daring are the stock in trade of the fearless warriors known as ninja. This 128-page accessory for AD&D second edition gives you all the information you need to roleplay exotic ninja, lone wolf operatives and other charater types — new character kits, special rules and descriptions of the ninja's unique weapons and equipment. The Complete Ninja's Handbook brings life to these shadowy figures of myth and legend.
The Complete Priest's Handbook
The Complete Priest's Handbook is a pretty useful source. The main problem is in the half the book that's taken up by flotsam and fluff ... The main purpose of this book is to give some ideas on what gods may exist and what their priesthoods are like. If you do buy this and use it in your campaign, however, DON'T USE ANY OF THE SPECIALTY PRIESTHOODS AS IS... It would be an insult to priests everywhere!
The Complete Druid's Handbook
This book is a MUST for your D&D collection. This book allows you to play druids that are specialized for swamps, jungles, deserts, polar, and forest climes; no single catch-all druid abilities. The kits are also wonderful and will be excellent sources for new 3e prestige classes. Want ideas for your druids in your campaign? This book gives it to you in spades. DEFINITELY go find this book.
The Complete Psionics Handbook (tsr 2117)
Are you ready for the mind-blowing potential of the psyche? This handbook describes over 150 paranormal powers — telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, biofeedback, out-of-body travel — plus many amazing talents never before revealed. The psionicist is a completely new character class for AD&D second edition games, both for player characters and NPCs. Explore inner space! Now you can really put mind over matter with The Complete Psionics Handbook.
The Complete Barbarian's Handbook
Although not quite what you'd expect if you are familiar with the UA barbarian, the 2nd edition barbarian still fills in a void that the fighter's "barbarian kit" just never could fill. Its quite an investment for what many would argue is just a specialized fighter kit, though, so if you're not terribly interested in barbarians (or unfamiliar with the UA barbarian), you might prefer to pass on this book.
The Complete Book of Dwarves
I've been a long time Elf lover. But once I picked up this book I changed my tune. What I once considered drab angry little creatures are actually quite interesting and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to any player but more so for a DM since it will help flesh out any dwarf holdings in your land.
The Complete Book of Elves
I have Most of the "complete" books, and out of all of the race books I fell that this is the best put together. It includes time lines and specific references of how the elves differ frow world to world. I also goes into detial on how elven daily life is, including marrage, myths, customs, holydays family life. It also has many unique skills, spells, kits and other equipment. This book truly opens the gateway to elven life!!!
The Complet Book of Gnomes & Halflings (tsr 2134)
This book was very well written and interesting, however it was not without its flaws. On the whole, this is a very useful supplement for DM's and players. Its real use lies in role-playing and gaining understanding of the attitudes and ideas of the various subraces of gnomes and halflings. This book does contain an exceptional collection of subraces and kits, but very few other 'rules.' Sadly, the extra equipment, proficiencies, and spells of the other Complete Handbooks have been left out to save space. The book is divided completely in half, each section for a different race.
The Complete Book of Humanoids (tsr 2135)
The basis of this guide is to open up and define the possibilities for playing different, often VERY different races as player characters. In that sense, it has achieved its goal, for The Complete Book of Humanoids by far excels the details in Skills And Powers. In fact, there are a number of contradictory themes within these books, and for realism and playability, the CHH comes out on top. Covering not only races, but also kit specifications, superstitions as well as height, weight and age stats, this book is essential for this purpose. So, if you want to play a Wemic Tribal protector, Alaghi Druid or a Wood Giant Ranger, this is the ONLY book that will give you everything you need.
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Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D) 2nd Edition Site
Dungeons and Dragons "Complete Handbook" series
In the "Complete Handbook" series TSR / Wizards of the Coast offers detailed information on the various AD&D second edition character classes and races. This series introduced the character kit concept. These books are indespensible references for the Advnaced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition player and DM.
If you can't find what you're looking for, I suggest you check Amazon.com where you can search a variety of used book dealers simultaneously and eBay! where you can bid on used and new out-of-print items. If all you want is a copy of a book to read, but don't need the real thing, then check out the wide selection of books available for download in .pdf format at Wizards of the Coast.
Ostensibly for Fighters, this AD&D 2nd edition accessory is actually for everyone, because of the great additions to the combat system - although they will slow you down at first, they add so much detail and excitement that you'll wonder how you ever got along without them. Chapters include: lore on fighters, the Armorer, Bowyer, and Weaponsmith, Fighter kits (including classics like the Amazon, Barbarian, Myrmidon, and Samurai), role-playing (a must read!), and the combat system (proficiencies ambidexterity, specialization, fighting styles, called shots, parries, martial arts, hit locations, jousting, etc., etc.), and great equipment, weapons, and armor. If you love the "swords" part of swords & sorcery, Get This!
In the fight against evil, the paladin stands as Good's supreme, undaunted champion. This 128-page accessory helps you play the noblest warriors of the AD&D second edition game. Create or enhance your paladin with new proficiencies and equipment, new rules for bonded mounts and paladin kits like the divinate, envoy, ghosthunter, skyrider and the indomitable wyrmslayer. The Complete Paladin's Handbook attends the world's finest heroes as they achieve their lofty ideals.
This great AD&D 2nd edition accessory includes everything you need to know to design and play a Ranger - chapters include requirements, level advancement, spell use, weapons and armor, tracking, animal empathy, natural lore, strongholds followes, kits (such as the Explorer, Falconer, and Giant Killer), proficiencies, new spells and magic items, equipment, role-playing, religion, forgatherings, and more! An indispensible tome.
This wonderful book will make your wizardly characters come alive - here you'll find endless details on the schools of magic, specialists, spellcasting, wizard kits (subclasses), roleplaying personae, spells in combat, spells above 9th level (!), exhaustive rules on illusions (at last!), spell research, familiars, chaos magic, wizards' towers, and more; this tome is full of amazing ideas that will improve your campaign immensely! One of the best books in the PHBR series.
This AD&D handbook was published as a DM's supplement, but can easily be used for player characters (with the DM's permission). It's absolutely a great accessory for those who wish to explore these foul trafficers in death. Included are several new kits for wizards and priests, new spells and much more.
This book is great! It is just full of information about thieves. I've read through it 4 or 5 times now. It covers things that the players should know about thieves, like kits, backround, and tools of the trade. It also covers things that DMs should know about thieves. It goes into depth about how to create and run an effective thieves guild and explains in great detail each thieves kit. Over all, this is a must-have book for all of you players AND DMs who use thief's in AD&D.
This was a super class handbook. The kits (and modification of the original PHB bard class) make all the difference in this class. Using this book, the bard almost becomes a top-level class with a range of sub-classes (almost) that makes for some of the most interesting role-playing possibilities around. I'm almost sorry I didn't get this book earlier, before I created my most recent character, because some of the kits look to be so much fun. Definately a book to buy if you like to role-play and personalities are as important to you as (or more important to you than) hack 'n slash adventuring.
Superhuman feats of skill and daring are the stock in trade of the fearless warriors known as ninja. This 128-page accessory for AD&D second edition gives you all the information you need to roleplay exotic ninja, lone wolf operatives and other charater types — new character kits, special rules and descriptions of the ninja's unique weapons and equipment. The Complete Ninja's Handbook brings life to these shadowy figures of myth and legend.
The Complete Priest's Handbook is a pretty useful source. The main problem is in the half the book that's taken up by flotsam and fluff ... The main purpose of this book is to give some ideas on what gods may exist and what their priesthoods are like. If you do buy this and use it in your campaign, however, DON'T USE ANY OF THE SPECIALTY PRIESTHOODS AS IS... It would be an insult to priests everywhere!
This book is a MUST for your D&D collection. This book allows you to play druids that are specialized for swamps, jungles, deserts, polar, and forest climes; no single catch-all druid abilities. The kits are also wonderful and will be excellent sources for new 3e prestige classes. Want ideas for your druids in your campaign? This book gives it to you in spades. DEFINITELY go find this book.
Are you ready for the mind-blowing potential of the psyche? This handbook describes over 150 paranormal powers — telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, biofeedback, out-of-body travel — plus many amazing talents never before revealed. The psionicist is a completely new character class for AD&D second edition games, both for player characters and NPCs. Explore inner space! Now you can really put mind over matter with The Complete Psionics Handbook.
Although not quite what you'd expect if you are familiar with the UA barbarian, the 2nd edition barbarian still fills in a void that the fighter's "barbarian kit" just never could fill. Its quite an investment for what many would argue is just a specialized fighter kit, though, so if you're not terribly interested in barbarians (or unfamiliar with the UA barbarian), you might prefer to pass on this book.
I've been a long time Elf lover. But once I picked up this book I changed my tune. What I once considered drab angry little creatures are actually quite interesting and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to any player but more so for a DM since it will help flesh out any dwarf holdings in your land.
I have Most of the "complete" books, and out of all of the race books I fell that this is the best put together. It includes time lines and specific references of how the elves differ frow world to world. I also goes into detial on how elven daily life is, including marrage, myths, customs, holydays family life. It also has many unique skills, spells, kits and other equipment. This book truly opens the gateway to elven life!!!
This book was very well written and interesting, however it was not without its flaws. On the whole, this is a very useful supplement for DM's and players. Its real use lies in role-playing and gaining understanding of the attitudes and ideas of the various subraces of gnomes and halflings. This book does contain an exceptional collection of subraces and kits, but very few other 'rules.' Sadly, the extra equipment, proficiencies, and spells of the other Complete Handbooks have been left out to save space. The book is divided completely in half, each section for a different race.
The basis of this guide is to open up and define the possibilities for playing different, often VERY different races as player characters. In that sense, it has achieved its goal, for The Complete Book of Humanoids by far excels the details in Skills And Powers. In fact, there are a number of contradictory themes within these books, and for realism and playability, the CHH comes out on top. Covering not only races, but also kit specifications, superstitions as well as height, weight and age stats, this book is essential for this purpose. So, if you want to play a Wemic Tribal protector, Alaghi Druid or a Wood Giant Ranger, this is the ONLY book that will give you everything you need.
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Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D) 2nd Edition Site |