Close
Close
Advanced Search

PHBR15 Complete Ninja's Handbook (2e)Click to magnify
Quick Preview
/gs_flipbook/flip.php?xml=/demo_xml/16904.xml&w=500&h=340
Full‑size Preview
https://watermark.drivethrurpg.com/pdf_previews/16904-sample.pdf

PHBR15 Complete Ninja's Handbook (2e)

ADD TO WISHLIST >

Superhuman feats of skill and daring are the stock in trade of the fearless warriors known as ninja.

This 128-page accessory gives you all the information you need to role-play exotic ninja, lone wolf operatives, and other character types - new character kits, special rules, and description of the ninja's unique weapons and equipment.

The Complete Ninja's Handbook brings life to these shadowy figures of myth and legend.

*****

Product History

PHBR15: The Complete Ninja's Handbook (1995) by Aaron Allston follows 14 other generally well-received class-expansion supplements. At this point, all of the core races and all of the normal classes were covered in the series, and TSR must have asked itself, "What will people find interesting? What character archetype have we missed?"

"Ninja" is the obvious answer, as it is to most things.

Popular after Zeb Cook's 1e Oriental Adventures and never adequately explored in 2nd edition AD&D until now, ninja are a concept that both players and popular fiction return to again and again. I have remarkably clear memories of my best friend's 1st edition ninja completely thwarting my favorite cavalier PC (thanks, The Dragon!) as we battled over some particularly good loot. Stupid ninja.

Also, that sentence tells you way more about my early days power-gaming AD&D than you probably wanted to know.

As I was saying, ninja were a good choice - a little gimmicky by the 1995, but still a strong draw. There was also an interesting question to be asked. Can you take a class that is inherently a lone, stealth assassin and turn it into a viable PC template, especially when it isn't a 2nd edition core class to begin with? Starting with the exceptionally talented Aaron Allston was a good beginning, and this supplement delivers imaginative design, well-balanced mechanics, and a surprisingly good martial arts system for 2nd edition AD&D.

Ninja in AD&D. Ninja are a type of rogue, although far less limited in choice of weapons. They're worse all-around thieves, but do reasonably well if specializing in stealth. They backstab, use “clan signs” instead of “thieves' cant” (with about the same amount of usefulness in the average campaign, I suspect), and eventually gain followers. Ninja are prohibited from multi- or dual-classing in a reasonable attempt to constrain their combat power. It's interesting that ninja PCs are also required to determine their social class; I suspect this becomes more relevant in a purely ninja- or Asian-themed campaign.

Ninjas get intriguing when matched with the specialties of the 2e kit system. Since the base ninja was designed with kits in mind - not something that usually occurs - it gave the designer a chance to better gauge and balance combat power. As expected, the six kits herein are focused on amplifying certain aspects of the class's mystique.

  • The shadow warrior uses fighter weapon specialization rules to become a better fighter, but a weaker thief;
  • the intruder is optimized for espionage, and has a hindrance that might make for some clashes with the traditional adventuring lifestyle;
  • the consort is optimized for social interaction;
  • the pathfinder gains the ability to track more efficiently;
  • the lone wolf begins with no clan, effectively on the run;
  • and the spirit warrior gains a few magical abilities.

What I find remarkable about these kits, especially compared to some past books in the Complete line, is how well balanced the kits are compared to other base classes in AD&D. There's no power for free here. Benefits are balanced with both significant mechanical and flavorful role-playing hindrances.

The supplement also provides ninja-like kits that can fit other classes. These are organized into shinobi, spies, and killers. The method easily for achieves a certain campaign feel without losing access to non-ninja classes.

Refined Martial Arts. The system presented in The Complete Ninja's Handbook expands and improves upon Allston's system published in The Complete Fighter's Handbook, a location-based system designed now so that better hits produce more damage. While the basic system is quite simple, the expanded system (with a series of maneuvers such as locks, blocks, movement, throws, and mental maneuvers to learn) can be quite fun in practice. Different martial art styles are broken down into the appropriate maneuvers belonging to that style, and DMs are given great latitude in designing their own systems.

As expected, accompanying this system are extensive sections of new items, weapons, and expanded proficiencies. I suspect that there's something of a culture clash when trying to introduce these items into an ongoing Western-style campaign, but they work well for the classes and characters created for this book.

For Clan and Country. The last four chapters of the book detail clans; roleplaying a ninja; building campaigns for ninja; and secrecy-heavy games. The book concludes with a chapter full of examples for characters, clans, and ninja-type organizations.

I find these last few chapters particularly useful. They help put the class in perspective and give superb plot hooks for including ninja in a D&D world.

Overall? While it focuses on a class that's far from core, PHBR15 is arguably the best-designed of the Complete books. If you have any interest in shadowy assassins or ninja in D&D, it's well worth the read.

About the Creator. Aaron Allston is a prolific author whose recent works include Star Wars novels and the new non-fiction book Plotting: A Novelist's Workout Guide. He has worked on games such as Car Wars, Champions, Dying Earth, GURPS, Ghostbusters International, Dungeons & Dragons, and many more.

About the Product Historian

History and commentary of this product was written by Kevin Kulp, game designer and admin of the independent D&D fansite ENWorld. Please feel free to mail corrections, comments, and additions to kevin.kulp@gmail.com.

We (Wizards) recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website does not reflect the values of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise today. Some older content may reflect ethnic, racial, and gender prejudice that were commonplace in American society at that time. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. This content is presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. Dungeons & Dragons teaches that diversity is a strength, and we strive to make our D&D products as welcoming and inclusive as possible. This part of our work will never end.

pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
 
 Customers Who Bought this Title also Purchased
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
Reviews (1)
Discussions (5)
Customer avatar
Dani J November 12, 2022 10:22 am UTC
PURCHASER
This is really crisp scan. Love it.
Reply
Customer avatar
Simon W November 13, 2022 2:26 am UTC
PURCHASER
Ok, I will love it, if you insist. I wouldn't want ninjas to assassinate me for not liking their handbook enough. :D
Reply
Customer avatar
Dani J November 15, 2022 9:08 am UTC
PURCHASER
But I hate Barbarians handbook. Scan really sucks
Reply
Customer avatar
Simon W November 15, 2022 9:34 am UTC
PURCHASER
It's a good thing that barbarians can't read. If they read you calling their handbook messy, they might go into a berserk rage! :D
Customer avatar
Giuseppe D June 28, 2021 3:18 am UTC
Please POD for all the 2E Complete series of books.
Customer avatar
Simon W April 05, 2021 4:21 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Please make a Print On Demand option for this book. :)
Customer avatar
Nicholas P January 28, 2021 7:53 pm UTC
POD please
Customer avatar
Dani J April 04, 2019 3:11 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Why does it leap past PHBR14 Barbarian's handbook?
Narrow Results
$ to $
 Follow Your Favorites!
NotificationsSign in to get custom notifications of new products!















Product Information
Gold seller
Author(s)
Pages
128
Edition
1.0
ISBN
0786901594
Publisher Stock #
TSR 2155
File Size:
44.87 MB
Format
Scanned image Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

For PDF download editions, each page has been run through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to attempt to decipher the printed text. The result of this OCR process is placed invisibly behind the picture of each scanned page, to allow for text searching. However, any text in a given book set on a graphical background or in handwritten fonts would most likely not be picked up by the OCR software, and is therefore not searchable. Also, a few larger books may be resampled to fit into the system, and may not have this searchable text background.

For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
pixel_trans.gif
Original electronic format
These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.
File Information
Watermarked PDF Click for more information
Watermarked PDF

These PDF files are digitally watermarked to signify that you are the owner. A small message is added to the bottom of each page of the PDF containing your name and the order number of your purchase.

Warning: If any files bearing your information are found being distributed illegally, then your account will be suspended and legal action may be taken against you.

Here is a sample of a page from a watermarked title:

File Last Updated:
November 03, 2013
This title was added to our catalog on June 25, 2013.