Player’s Handbook 2: Other New Stuff

In addition to the Race and Classes I’ve previously written about, there are several other new bits worth mentioning.

Racial Paragon Paths
In addition to Class Paragon Paths, there are now Racial Paragon Paths. These can be chosen at 11th level instead of, rather than in addition to, Class Paragon Paths. There’s one for each race available in the PHB and PHB2. My favorite is the one for Dragonborn — your character can get wings!

Epic Destinies
At any time after reaching 21st level, you can select an Epic Destiny. These are basically like Paragon Paths, but the next step up. There are six Epic Destinies in this book to choose from, with varying prerequisites.

Backgrounds
There are five Background elements listed: Geography, Society, Birth, Occupation, and Racial Backgrounds. It’s suggested the player select and flesh out three (with DM approval), and for each you gain some benefit in the form of a skill, a language, or a skill bonus. This is a pretty cool idea, allowing the tactically-minded to shape a background that benefits them, and the roleplaying-minded to get some mechanical advantage from creating a back story for their character. I’d be lax if I didn’t point out that Savage Worlds already does this, granting a bonus to Common Knowledge rolls related to character backgrounds.

Feats
Oh, so many new Feats, many of which have the new Races and Classes as prerequisites, but many that are available to any character that meets the level or characteristic requirements.

Adventuring Gear, Magic Items and Weapons
14 and a half pages of swag. Again, a lot of it is intended for the new classes (i.e. magical instruments for Bards) or utilizes the Primal power source, but most are useful to all characters.

Rituals
23 new rituals are now available. All are for Arcane, Divine and Primal Power Sources, but anyone with the Ritual Caster feat can use them.

Errata
Okay, the section is actually labeled Appendix: Rules Updates. It includes updates for Powers and Skills from the Player’s Handbook. It advises the reader to visit the Wizards of the Coast website for more.

Index
For those into such things, the Index for this 224 page book is about a third of a page in really small type. Not the best Index in the world, one of the book’s (and 4th Edition’s) key weak spots.

Buy Player’s Handbook 2: A 4th Edition D&D Core Rulebook (Bk.2)