Dungeons & Dragons manuals
Encyclopedia
Three books
are required for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
. The current Dungeons & Dragons requires the Player's Handbook
, the Dungeon Master's Guide
, and the Monster Manual
. Variations of these three books have formed core manuals since the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, however many and varied different optional manuals have existed for all versions of Dungeons & Dragons. Core may also refer to the material presented in the books not being part of a specific fictional world setting, like Forgotten Realms
or Dragonlance
; but of a generic fictional world.
Because of the d20 System
and Open Gaming License
, with 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons there are many other optional manuals which are not officially "Dungeons & Dragons" but are fully compatible with Dungeons & Dragons. These can vary the game a lot or a little. Some of these options rather than being optional extra manuals can be used to replace some or all of the standard manuals. One most popular of these alternate manuals is Arcana Unearthed
which is an alternative Player's Handbook. Castles & Crusades
has alternatives for all the core manuals, producing a simpler D&D type game.
(1977), the Players Handbook(1978), and the Dungeon Master's Guide
(1979), encouraged TSR to publish more and more books. Before the second edition of the game was released, there were over a dozen hardbound sourcebooks. Many were sourcebooks and optional rules, however Unearthed Arcana
(1985) represented a significant supplement for both the Players Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide.
The first edition manuals, though no longer official play items, are highly prized by collectors, particularly early printings. Examples in good condition (which is rare since these books got a lot of use from players) can fetch prices many times their cover value.
The second edition expanded the number of books, most notably with the "Complete Handbook" or "Complete Book of" series, which featured handbooks for almost every race and class; gnomes and halflings shared one handbook, and the only specialist wizard to receive his own handbook was the necromancer. Several other archetypes, such as the barbarian, and campaign-specific concepts, such as the gladiator of Dark Sun
, were also given their own handbooks. The handbooks introduced the concept of "kits", which were essentially specialized versions of character classes. Many of these, such as the Bladesinger (an elven fighter
/wizard
who could fight and cast spells at the same time), were considered to be grossly unbalanced, both in comparison to other kits and in particular to characters who did not use kits.
Several sourcebooks, such as the Book of Artifacts
and Monstrous Compendium Appendices, provided new versions of rules, items, spells, or creatures that had been present in previous editions of the game but had been removed, for whatever reason, from the second edition of the game. While some of these conversions were direct adaptations of existing statistics into the slightly modified second edition rules, others, like the optional psionics system, were completely reinvented from the ground up and had little in common with their previous incarnations.
The Player's Option series of rulebooks were released in the mid-1990s and introduced many optional rules into the game: combat and warfare rules in Player's Option: Combat & Tactics
; a character customization system in Player's Option: Skills & Powers
; new spells and spellcasting rules in Player's Option: Spells and Magic; and rules for advancement to what would later become known as epic character levels in Dungeon Master's Option: High Level Campaigns
.
, Dungeon Master's Guide
and Monster Manual
as the three core rulebooks. The designers made a deliberate attempt to make the rules more internally consistent. For example, these editions provided constant and consistent rules for, effects such as invisibility and fatigue that were applied to all players and monsters. Prior to third edition, different game mechanics to describe the same idea were used in different sources. A second example is that in 3rd edition, rolling high on a d20 test is always the desired outcome, while in prior editions it was desirable to roll high on some d20 tests such as attack rolls, but it was desirable to roll low on others such as saving throws. More significant was the release of most of these rules as open source
, in the form of a System Reference Document
that could be used by third party game companies to create their own products compatible with Dungeons & Dragons.
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
are required for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. The current Dungeons & Dragons requires the Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...
, the Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
, and the Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
. Variations of these three books have formed core manuals since the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, however many and varied different optional manuals have existed for all versions of Dungeons & Dragons. Core may also refer to the material presented in the books not being part of a specific fictional world setting, like Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
or Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
; but of a generic fictional world.
Because of the d20 System
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
and Open Gaming License
Open Gaming License
The Open Game License may be used by game developers to grant permission to modify, copy, and redistribute some of the content designed for their games, notably game mechanics.-Language of the licence:The OGL describes two forms of content:...
, with 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons there are many other optional manuals which are not officially "Dungeons & Dragons" but are fully compatible with Dungeons & Dragons. These can vary the game a lot or a little. Some of these options rather than being optional extra manuals can be used to replace some or all of the standard manuals. One most popular of these alternate manuals is Arcana Unearthed
Arcana Unearthed
Arcana Unearthed is a role-playing game created by Monte Cook and first published in 2003. Described as a "variant player's handbook", the 256 page hardcover core rulebook bears many similarities to the Players Handbook of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons, on which Cook worked a few years prior...
which is an alternative Player's Handbook. Castles & Crusades
Castles & Crusades
Castles & Crusades is a role-playing game published by Troll Lord Games in 2004. It was conceived as a reimagining of classic Dungeons & Dragons using streamlined mechanics from third edition Dungeons & Dragons. The game uses many of the d20 System mechanics, but eliminates skills and feats and...
has alternatives for all the core manuals, producing a simpler D&D type game.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st edition)
The popularity of the first three core rulebooks the Monster ManualMonster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(1977), the Players Handbook(1978), and the Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(1979), encouraged TSR to publish more and more books. Before the second edition of the game was released, there were over a dozen hardbound sourcebooks. Many were sourcebooks and optional rules, however Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985) represented a significant supplement for both the Players Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide.
The first edition manuals, though no longer official play items, are highly prized by collectors, particularly early printings. Examples in good condition (which is rare since these books got a lot of use from players) can fetch prices many times their cover value.
2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
The 1989 2nd edition saw a complete revision of the Players Handbook and the Dungeon Master Guide. The Monster Manual was replaced by the Monstrous Compedium loose leaf binder which was in turn replaced by the Monstrous Manual (1993)The second edition expanded the number of books, most notably with the "Complete Handbook" or "Complete Book of" series, which featured handbooks for almost every race and class; gnomes and halflings shared one handbook, and the only specialist wizard to receive his own handbook was the necromancer. Several other archetypes, such as the barbarian, and campaign-specific concepts, such as the gladiator of Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
, were also given their own handbooks. The handbooks introduced the concept of "kits", which were essentially specialized versions of character classes. Many of these, such as the Bladesinger (an elven fighter
Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)
The fighter is one of the standard playable character classes in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A fighter is a versatile, weapons-oriented warrior who fights using skill, strategy and tactics....
/wizard
Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
who could fight and cast spells at the same time), were considered to be grossly unbalanced, both in comparison to other kits and in particular to characters who did not use kits.
Several sourcebooks, such as the Book of Artifacts
Book of Artifacts
The Book of Artifacts is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This book, published by TSR, Inc. in 1993, details 50 different artifacts, special magic items found within the game at the Dungeon Master's...
and Monstrous Compendium Appendices, provided new versions of rules, items, spells, or creatures that had been present in previous editions of the game but had been removed, for whatever reason, from the second edition of the game. While some of these conversions were direct adaptations of existing statistics into the slightly modified second edition rules, others, like the optional psionics system, were completely reinvented from the ground up and had little in common with their previous incarnations.
The Player's Option series of rulebooks were released in the mid-1990s and introduced many optional rules into the game: combat and warfare rules in Player's Option: Combat & Tactics
Player's Option: Combat & Tactics
Player's Option: Combat & Tactics is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This 192-page book was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The book was designed by L. Richard Baker III and Skip Williams...
; a character customization system in Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This 192-page book was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The book was designed by Douglas Niles and Dale Donovan...
; new spells and spellcasting rules in Player's Option: Spells and Magic; and rules for advancement to what would later become known as epic character levels in Dungeon Master's Option: High Level Campaigns
DM Option: High-Level Campaigns
DM Option: High-Level Campaigns is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This 192-page book was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The book was designed by Skip Williams...
.
3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons
Third Edition Dungeons & Dragons clarified and streamlined the rules, and for the first time clearly labeled the Player's HandbookPlayer's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...
, Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
and Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
as the three core rulebooks. The designers made a deliberate attempt to make the rules more internally consistent. For example, these editions provided constant and consistent rules for, effects such as invisibility and fatigue that were applied to all players and monsters. Prior to third edition, different game mechanics to describe the same idea were used in different sources. A second example is that in 3rd edition, rolling high on a d20 test is always the desired outcome, while in prior editions it was desirable to roll high on some d20 tests such as attack rolls, but it was desirable to roll low on others such as saving throws. More significant was the release of most of these rules as open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
, in the form of a System Reference Document
System Reference Document
The System Reference Document, or SRD, is a set of reference role playing game mechanics licensed under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast and based upon their Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. The SRD forms the basis of WotC's various d20 System role-playing games, including the...
that could be used by third party game companies to create their own products compatible with Dungeons & Dragons.