Podcast #32: Character Sheets as User Interface

What makes a good character sheet? It’s the first impression any new player will have to a system. This week, Morrus and Peter look to find what features a character sheet needs and how to spot one that will do more harm than good. In the news, we’ve got a new class from one of Dungeons & Dragons 5e’s designers, a streamlined Borg Cube for Star Trek Adventures, more Allies and Adversaries for Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars, and more! Plus a new sketch and Our Favorite Game in All the World!

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What’s Caught Our Eye
Eigengrau’s Scenario Generator http://eigengrausgenerator.com/
EN World Random Generator Collection http://www.enworld.org/forum/dnd_portal.php
Planescape Original Art from Tony DiTerlizzi http://www.enworld.org/forum/conten...DiTerlizzi-Reflects-On-25-Years-of-Planescape
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News
Robert Schwalb’s Warlord for 5e http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?5978-Robert-Schwalb-releases-his-version-of-Warlord
Acquisitions Incorporated Dungeon Manual http://www.enworld.org/forum/conten...2019-Acquisitions-Incorporated-Dungeon-Manual!
Star Trek Borg Cube https://www.modiphius.net/collectio...ucts/star-trek-adventures-borg-cube-boxed-set
The original Borg Cube (includes miniatures) https://amzn.to/2Mwkpe8
Star Wars Allies and Adversaries https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2019/1/10/allies-and-adversaries/
Crazed Gamers Gen Con 40 Year Celebration http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?5947-Crazed-Gamers-Celebrate-40-Years-at-Gen-Con
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Kickstarters
Secretum Mundi: The Book of the Secret World https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2120854352/secretum-mundi-the-book-of-the-secret-world
100 Maps of Fantasy Islands https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/loreobserver/100-maps-of-fantasy-islands
Iron Monolith and the Tomb of the Sun A’Galla https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/895183626/iron-monolith-and-the-tomb-of-sun-agalla-d20-rpg
Off the Beaten Path https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/throwigames/off-the-beaten-path-mountain-excursions
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Character Sheets
EN World Character Sheet Collection http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpgdownloads.php?categoryid=34
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[Aaron L]

I remember back in 2003 or so I designed a character sheet for 3E (just before 3.5 was released, I think) based on the official sheet in the PHB but with 4 columns of boxes beside the skills and 4 boxes for hit dice, so that there'd be room for up to 4 multiclass options. I also put several boxes for notes in various places around the sheet. I slapped it up on rpgsheets, and within a month there were like 5 other sheets that duplicated my layout. A friend of mine discovered it and was actually pretty angry about it, but I just laughed and felt flattered.

 

[jmucchiello]

I have not used an "official" character sheet since I was about 15. I've always worked a new one in a word processor. It's only now that I game online that I find it annoying being locked into a character sheet that does not work for me.

 

[biktin]

One thing I have noticed is that most character sheets are unsuitable for older players (50+). Even with correct spectacles on, good light etc. many players seem to struggle with the tiny writing that tries to fit as much as possible on a single page (or on as few pages as possible). In an age of accessibility I'm surprised this isn't more commonly addressed.