Apostrophes were famously absent from the AD&D 1e line (1977-1988). It was published in February 1989.Ībout the Title. Player's Handbook (1989), by David 'Zeb' Cook with Steve Winter and Jon Pickens after Gary Gygax, is the first core rulebook for the AD&D 2e game. This fresh, new format for the Player's Handbook is your complete and illustrated guide to the world of heroic adventure! Everything the player needs is here: how to create a mighty hero or crafty wizard uinque aspects of the elves, dwarves, halflings, and other fantasy races all the weapons, armor, magical spells, and rules for thrilling battles against supernatural monsters. Here is the indispensable encyclopedia of fantasy role-playing.