This is a pretty strange book for which to write a review, honestly. I’ve played D&D for a few years now, and have consulted this book countless times—though with expanded free time I finally sat down and read it cover to cover. It was a fun time. If you are new to D&D, I especially recommend the official [b:Player's Handbook|22219682|Player's Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition)|James Wyatt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403170461l/22219682._SX50_.jpg|41559233].

I think most players look to the 5th edition when consulting on game play, character build/background, some story build, and many other components to crafting the best possible game. While the most popular and reliable resource out there, the only reason I do not rate this higher is that more often than not I also find myself utilizing other online resources like Roll20, Jsigvard, or the late OrcPub2 (may their convenient character sheets rest in peace).

Overall, do not confuse my rating for this book as a rating for the game of Dungeons & Dragons on the whole. Afterall, whether or not a game is actually good predominantly relies on the effort and creativity that you yourself put into it. This is a great book, the only item I can recommend more is investing in a good set of dice, especially if you can get a lucky streak going. Do keep in mind though, that this is all coming from a chaotic neutral frame of mind, so take of it what you will.

Rating: 3.5 stars