Well I have my copy of the Player’s Handbook 2 (4th edition version of course). I’ve not really paid much attention to the pre-release stuff other than the sorcerer (which should be renamed the random power class) and was mildly pleased with it.
Oh there’s power creep definitely with the Wizard getting shown up by the new controllers. But that’s a given really.
There’s a big new feat called Expertise though that has everyone up in arms. Is it a sly bug fix to the original math? Is it a grossly OP feat? Is it a truly a must have? I don’t know for sure but personally I do believe it’s over the top. +3 to hit? And not just on spending an Action Point like Action Surge, but all the time? That’s +1 cumultive per tier for the people going but it’s not.
Some people say this is to fix the math between player to hits and monster defenses. Of those that say this there’s mixed camps.
If it WAS a math fix then I think it’s a very bad one. A better solution would be to simply lower the defenses of the creatures by -1 per tier. Â That should be an easy for for anyone with the intelligence to actually DM a game of DnD and requires no player impact. They don’t have to spend a feat, or add whatever. It doesn’t break the Character Builder, it’s all in all the best fix to the solution with the least impact. Other than remember to lower the defenses of the monsters by 1. If you agree the math is broken.
The feat as it stands though if allowed as a ‘real’ feat and not a ‘patch’ on the combat formulas is broken. There isn’t any other feat in the game that grants as much overall power and usefulness to 4th edition than this feat.
Also, DM’s, be aware of the cheese/exploit you can do with this with weapons that fit multiple groups. A player, by RAW, could take the feat twice, once for each group and because it’s untyped bonuses apply it twice to attacks using that weapon.
A quick HR would be to just say NO, this feat’s bonus cannot stack with itself.
Anyway, the PHB2 is a nice addition to the game. Is it truly necessary? No, you can play just fine without it. Does it add interesting classes? Yes. Does it add power creep? Definitely.  Can you live with that? You’d best know there.
