Dungeons and Dragons: The Dungeon Master's Guide

The book had creased spine, water damage throughout with some mold.

The updated and enhanced version of the first edition of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. They also sanitise it a little to keep those whacky religious nuts in the USA happy from memory, as well, as they do in other books. A little bit of the charm of the original is missing, but they do try and make things more consistent.

I recommend 2nd ed. over third for various reasons, most important being the emphasis on roleplaying over strict rules...3rd ed. seems to encourage players to see it as a video game, making the *best* characters, and hacking away at baddies...I however, have always seen character development and backstories more important, and that is why I, as a DM and a player, prefer 2nd ed. Pick up the books while you still can.

This book is essential for and AD & D game, without this you have no rules. 2nd Edition D & D cleared up many problems of the original, while still keeping the game in the realm of fun. Unlike 3rd Edition, which is just hack and slash and a mockery(kind of like the movie) of the original. 2nd Edition challenges you to think and actually get into your characters.

This stunning edition was the best of TSR's work unsurpassed by the latter revision and though I have not had the chance to actually have the third I'm sure it is unequal to the 2nd edition. If wizards of coast now owners of TSR were intelligent they would bring the 2nd edition back to printwith the original artwork but stronger more durable covers. Overall besides the shoddy bindings and how easily the books wear out I found the 2nd edition to be supreme in it's easy to generate characters and easy explanitions. The history the book also imparts was most intresting as well.

My friend showed me D & D and with the info in the DMG and the Players handbook i was able to creat ED & D with my friends and it willl be publish in a few months!