The Complete Wizard's Handbook

The Complete Wizard's Handbook is a 1990 supplementary rulebook for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition that expands the options for wizard characters. The book serves as a companion volume to similar handbooks for fighters, priests, and thieves. The handbook introduces wizard kits, which are specialized character packages combining role-playing elements with mechanical benefits and limitations. It provides detailed information about the eight schools of magic specialization, offering players the ability to focus their wizards' studies in exchange for specific advantages and restrictions. The content includes new spells, expanded spell rules, and guidance for developing wizard characters' careers and backgrounds. Through character options like the scholarly Academician and the primitive Anagokok, the book provides frameworks for diverse spellcaster archetypes. The system enhances role-playing depth while maintaining game balance through a careful trade-off of advantages and disadvantages, reflecting the complex nature of magical study in fantasy settings.

Readers describe this AD&D 2nd edition supplement as a useful expansion of wizard character options, though not revolutionary. Many appreciate the additional spell schools, wizard kits, and research rules that broaden gameplay possibilities. Likes: - Clear explanations of wizard specialization pros/cons - Expanded rules for creating magical items - Details on running wizard strongholds - New spells and magical research systems Dislikes: - Some kits feel underpowered or too niche - Certain rules contradict core rulebooks - Price tables for magical items need better organization On Goodreads, the book holds a 3.89/5 rating from 54 reviews. Reader James N. notes "The stronghold rules alone make this worth getting." Several reviewers mention using the magical research systems in their campaigns for years. A few readers criticize the black & white art as basic compared to other D&D supplements of the era. Amazon shows 4.7/5 from 15 reviews, with most praising its utility for both players and DMs.

Player's Handbook by Gary Gygax This foundational rulebook contains character creation rules, spellcasting mechanics, and equipment tables for creating fantasy role-playing game characters.

Unearthed Arcana by Gary Gygax The supplementary rulebook expands magic systems and introduces new character classes for fantasy role-playing games.

Tome of Magic by David Cook, Nigel Findley, Christopher Kubasik, Carl Sargent, Rick Swan This sourcebook presents alternative magic systems, unique spells, and magical artifacts for expanding wizard characters in role-playing campaigns.

The Book of Magic by Phil Masters This reference guide covers historical magic traditions, occult practices, and magical systems from world cultures for incorporation into fantasy gaming.

Wizard's Companion by Steve Perrin The resource manual details magical theory, spell components, and arcane traditions for developing wizard characters in fantasy role-playing settings.

🔮 The "wizard kits" concept introduced in this book influenced character customization in many subsequent RPG games and supplements 🎲 Rick Swan was a prolific RPG reviewer for Dragon Magazine, writing over 200 game reviews during his career 📚 The eight schools of magic detailed in the handbook (Abjuration, Alteration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Illusion, Invocation, and Necromancy) became a standard framework adopted by many fantasy games 🧙‍♂️ The Anagokok kit was inspired by Inuit shamanic traditions, showing the book's incorporation of real-world mythological elements 📖 Published in 1990, this was one of the first comprehensive character class supplements for AD&D 2nd Edition, setting a template that TSR would follow for other classes