The Complete Ninja's Handbook
 Cover of the first edition | |
| Genre | Role-playing game |
|---|---|
| Publisher | TSR |
Publication date | 1995 |
| Media type | |
The Complete Ninja's Handbook is a supplement to the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Contents
This 128-page handbook details the ninja class itself clearly, with optional kits to modify the base class slightly, favoring certain abilities. The book also presents martial arts abilities, and extensive rules culled from the Oriental Adventures book are included, enabling the modelling of real martial arts such as Kung Fu and jujutsu, or the creation of new styles; both basic and advanced rules are provided.[1]
Reception
Cliff Ramshaw reviewed The Complete Ninja's Handbook for Arcane magazine, rating it a 8 out of 10 overall.[1] Ramshaw comments: "Ninjas are always fascinating. Partly it's a cultural thing, but in part the appeal is egotistical - a player who passes notes back and forth with the referee and who has goals he keeps secret from the rest of the party is bound to feel he's a bit special."[1] He notes that "referees will be glad to know that ninjas aren't as overpowering as some of TSR's previous classes" but that the martial arts system "can be complex".[1] Ramshaw concludes his review by stating: "The handbook gives plenty of good advice on how a ninja can keep his identity hidden from the party. Such secrecy and intrigue might be a pain to referee, but it provides chances for great roleplaying."[1]