| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Oct 2005 : 04:46:19
|
What do you want in a character sheet?
I ask because I have a custom character sheet I use. It varies according to the character, but (stats only) it can get to be eight pages long (including spellcasting information and a familiar, animal companion, or special mount). I also have a roleplaying-only character sheet I'm working on that will probably be five pages even before being filled out.
So, I ask: What do you think the official stat sheets lack? What do you use? Where on a print out do blank spaces need to be placed? When generating a character's background, what questions need to be asked that will stimulate the imagination of a n00b with no roleplaying/writing experience at all?
When I finish it, the character sheets will be submitted to the site as RTFs; these would then be filled out on a computer and either kept as digital copies or printed out for a table-top game.
The players in my table-top game use the stat sheets, with a summary on the first page of the most commonly used bits of information so they don't have to keep flipping the pages as much. The RP sheet isn't finished yet, though they have the sheets I'm using as a base, which we got in a creative writing workshop being run here at the college by Regina Doman, a mildly famous young-adult fiction author. Highly illuminating, really. (She's also using a d20 character sheet system for the characters in a YA series she's editing; it keeps all the authors participating on the same page.)
|
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
|
|
Kianna
Learned Scribe
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2005 : 14:08:14
|
I want it electronically so that I can eventually move all my GM tools to my laptop for easy travel. But I also want to be smarter than it. The E-Tools stuff was too smart for me and I hate when my computer is smarter than I.
I have an Excel Spreadsheet NPC sheet now that is in test mode.
I don't write down a lot about NPC's as they change from game to game with me so why put all the time into writing something that will eventually change.
For PC's I still use paper but I want to convert to the spearsheet as well and since its Excel and there's a LOT of room I can then add all the details I want as the character progresses, even going so far as to sumamrize adventure sessions for my personal memory. |
Huzzah! |
 |
|
|
Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2005 : 14:42:36
|
An electronic based sheet would be pretty cool. I mean, it would be easy to change things, add to inventories, etc. Plus, with the unlimited space on the computer, you could tally all your adventures and NPCs that you have met along the way. That way the computer becomes your memory of your character, which is a fairly neat concept.
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
|
|
|
Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 09:46:03
|
Electronic ones are good for ease of editing, but like Kianna says I hate ones that are too intelligent.
Simply because there is always a certain area they fall down in :). I like to have some basic formulas workd out (e.g. put in ranks ad it works out synergy bonuses and adds stat modifiers) but when absolutley everything is worked out by formula it makes it a nightmare to add in your own customised weapons, special circumstances, or ay other things that aren't in the sheet database
|
|
|
|
Kianna
Learned Scribe
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 13:49:06
|
I just played with my new sheet last night and had Crennen put some basic formulas in to ease on the calculations I would have to do myself. Its nice so far, IMHO. :)
And then once its up and running I can feel good that I am saving a tree. |
Huzzah! |
|
|
|
Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 07:37:40
|
Mine doesn't use any calculations. They're more trouble than they're worth. You can't customize them, and when I tried them they would get things wrong anyway. The sheet I use is a straight RTF, usable on any computer -- not everyone uses Microhard Word, after all. (Personally, I avoid it like a teen not cleaning up his room.)
Here's a breakdown of my sheet as it stands.
For those who print it out, there is a quick overview of the character here, based on the new stat blocks from WotC. They name the information most likely to be used right away, with no breakdown as to where each bonus comes from. This is to avoid paging through the entire document there at the table.
Those playing in PbeMs have the time to look through it, and so don't need this. Even those in a tabletop but who use a laptop (like I do) could skip it. It's the dead-tree version that slows you down.
After the summary, the actual sheet starts. It begins with twelve entries:
- Name
- Race
- Size and type
- Gender
- Age
- Alignment
- Class and level
- Character level and challenge rating
- Experience point total
- Height and weight
- Favored hand
- Patron deity and religion
Ability scores.
Saving throws.
- This is broken down into: "Modifier = Base + Ability + [other]." Normally the "other" column is deleted for neatness. More columns can be added if needed -- for instance, class ability, feats, items, etc. I usually add notes below it, such as for an elf's bonus and immunities.
Initiative.
Hit dice and hit points.
- This is not usually broken down into where the points come from, but I use a standardized generation of hit points. Figuring out where they come from is not hard. Those who roll for hit points, especially at high levels, might wish to use a small chart.
Loads (standard thresholds).
Lifting.
Speed.
- Normal speed, current speed.
Current load.
Load check penalty (if any).
Armor class.
- This has three lines, for normal, touch, and flat footed. There is enough room for a lot of columns, such as armor, shield, dexterity, deflection, natural armor, dodge, luck, and the like.
Below that is a space for notes. Normally this just holds the notes on fighing defensively and total defense; however, feats such as Combat Expertise would be mentioned here.
Armor check penalty. Arcane spell failure chance.
Armor/shield proficiencies.
Attack.
- Basic modifiers for melee, ranged, and grapple. This normally includes just BAB, relevant ability, size, and a leftover column. Lines for other attacks can be added -- for instance, a dex-based melee check for characters with Weapon Finesse.
Specific weapon attacks.
- Total modifier for the weapon (with enough room for iterative attacks to be named)
- Damage
- Critical range
- Range increment and cumulative penalty (if applicable)
- Type of damage (B, P, S, or combinations thereof).
Notes for attacks.
Skills chart
- This is broken into the following columns:
Total normal modifier = number of ranks + ability score modifier + modifier due to race (includes Hide modifiers for size, for example) + feat bonus + synergy bonus + item bonus + miscellaneous modifier.
At the end of each line is a place to put the number of skill points actually entered. This lets you keep track of how many points go into a cross-class skill, and lets you quickly add up the points to make certain you're not over- or underspending.
Fifty-one skills are listed: every single skill I've come across. The only exceptions are craft and perform skills (except that Perform (weapon drill) is listed).
Notes are added after this, of course. Here is where the source of synergy bonuses are listed (if desired), as well as listing bonuses that only come up in certain uses or at certain times (like a familiar's Alertness feat, or the +2 synergy to Disguse from Bluff.)
Racial traits.
Class features.
Feats.
Languages.
Item list.
- The three columns are name, weight, and cost. Cost only matters if actually purchased; items gained as treasure have no "cost" here. I list names mainly in alphabetical order, but have items in a container listed right after that container. (So "Waterskin" goes after "Backpack.")
Gold
- Starting gold, gold spend, gold left over. Mainly for character creation, but can be used as an actual ledger.
Spellcaster information:
- This section is deleted if the player isn't a spellcaster.
Spells per day
- A chart showing the ten spell levels, with DCs for each, number of base spells, number of bonus spells, and finally the total spells per day.
Spell modifiers and feats.
Spells
- All spells if an arcane spellcaster. Divine spellcasters normally just have what they're likely to use listed.
Animal companion/mount/familiar
- Deleted if the character doesn't have one of these. It is basically a miniature version of the character's sheet, with a skill set that the creature would actually be able to use.
So that's it for the rules side. The roleplaying aids aren't done yet.
Anything to add or change? |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
|
|
|
Kianna
Learned Scribe
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 14:04:10
|
As for the calculations, its just basic ones like auto adding skill points and hit points (since I don't make my characters roll for hit points....I always give max). I think we've also got it so that when you type in your stat bonuses it tranfers it automatically to the skill that uses that stat. Pretty cool.
I have been working on an Xcel database of spells so its nice because after you get your character done you just cut and paste the spells and their brief descriptions into the character sheet. Crennen has been doing the same with the Feats.
It is a work in progress. I have made several sheets electronically before and this is by far the best one I have made.
How many pages is yours? |
Huzzah! |
|
|
|
Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2005 : 18:37:21
|
It depends on what sections are used. A character without the spellcaster section and no companion has a five page sheet. It's a lot of space, but it's laid out in such a way that the player can see what he can do. The players who never played D&D before found it a lot easier than either the standard PC sheets; the new NPC/monster stat layouts do come close, though they lack certain details.
Of course, that is without the roleplaying sheet. Just the questions will probably cover about five pages. How much longer it will get depends on how much information the player puts down.
Go take a look at the Crystal Keep spell lists. They're pretty compact; we use them on our character sheets. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
|
|
|
Thureen Buroch
Learned Scribe
169 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2005 : 23:47:07
|
| I'd recommend an addition: temporary attack bonuses, damages, etc, for those who play such characters as Dwarven Defenders and Barbarians that benefit from temporary ability increases. |
Goblins? *Slash* *Scream* *Thunk* What goblins? |
|
|
|
KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2005 : 00:57:23
|
As far as character sheets go, I have found this site an excellent resource (first mentioned in Dragon Magazine, at least as far as my noticing it):
http://www.unc.edu/~murphy/mad_irishman/ |
|
|
|
Khaa
Seeker
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2005 : 14:18:58
|
| Electroic character sheets would be nice, but as you say, it is the problems from item databases and varius caculators. |
Ever want another forum? Well try out www.icewinddale.com |
|
|
|
Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Character Sheets
