Post originally by David Meacham at 2004-03-09 16:43:10
Converted from Phorums BB System

It's a variant player's handbook because the other books you mentioned are all setting sourcebooks. AU is not tied to a specific setting; if anything it suffers from the vagueness of the setting book that was released for it.

Player's Handbook: No real setting, but leans towards Greyhawk.
AU: No real setting, but leans towards Diamond Throne.
All the others: Tied to a setting.