Skip Williams

I love D20, but it shouldn't really be called Dungeons and Dragons. The differences between 2e and 3e are huge, it's a completely different game. I'd much prefer they just call it D20 instead of mooching off the D&D name.

That said, it offers far more flexibility than earlier editions; no Fred the Fighter here! Not as good as some of the 3rd party refinements, but a good game for about 8 levels or so before the system starts to break down a little.

All gamers have a love-hate relationship with DnD in general, and the Borg-like qualities of OL D20 in particular. I love it more than hate it, and 3.5 brings a number of excellent changes to the system. That said, I've never played d20 without a bevy of house rules, and I think that's the case more or less all over. Still, a good system for the most venerable of games.

The Player's Handbook contains the true core of the Dungeons & Dragons adventuring game (the character classes, combat and magic rules, and experience tables), and thus represents something of a benchmark in the gaming community. The layout (chapter divisions, appendices and index) is better than in any previous edition, and great strides have been made in unifying the d20 terminology and sub-systems for streamlined play. This is the only book a D&D player absolutely needs: later supplements show more add or expand rules in a modular fashion. show less

Oh, d20, where would the gaming world be without you, I wonder? As I said in my Player's Handbook review, a flawed yet charming system with a range of influence that, no matter what your preferences, no gamer ever truly escapes.