D&D 5E What Do You Think Is Essential in a Bare-Bones Character Sheet?

[Weiley31]

When it comes to a character sheet, I really really REALLY dig the ones that have all the associated skills next to their appropriate ability modifiers that they are keyed to. That way you're not searching all over the skill list and gloss over them. *Of course, having the Skills alphabetized is the second-best method I prefer, but still prefer organizing it by ability modifier. *

Everything is pretty much standard window dressing.

 

[HammerMan]

an index card with race/class/name on top the stats (maybe just first letter but I am partial to 3 letters) with mod next to it trained skills under that
under or next to that saves that are more then stat (so only ones with bonuses)
AC HD/HP next to that with spots for spending/losing
common attacks as weapon/cantrip name bonus to hit/save damage
then a list of features (spells, class features feats)
it should work for all martial characters and warlocks... at low level other casters work but will need more space soon.

I can make a Fighter 6/Rogue 3 eladrin with just the front of the index card
I can make a fighter (eldritch knight) 3 Wizard (bladesinger) 6 with front and back even including spell book...

I know becuse I did for a pregen game at a store that unfortunately closed duringcovid.

edit: I think the fighter 6 was a battle master and the rogue 3 was a mastermind but not 100% sure I am remembering that right... I just remember sneak attack, action surge second wind and cunning action work REALLY well togather on a short sword fighter.

 

[DND_Reborn]

an index card with race/class/name on top the stats (maybe just first letter but I am partial to 3 letters) with mod next to it trained skills under that
under or next to that saves that are more then stat (so only ones with bonuses)
AC HD/HP next to that with spots for spending/losing
common attacks as weapon/cantrip name bonus to hit/save damage
then a list of features (spells, class features feats)
it should work for all martial characters and warlocks... at low level other casters work but will need more space soon.

I can make a Fighter 6/Rogue 3 eladrin with just the front of the index card
I can make a fighter (eldritch knight) 3 Wizard (bladesinger) 6 with front and back even including spell book...

I know becuse I did for a pregen game at a store that unfortunately closed duringcovid.

edit: I think the fighter 6 was a battle master and the rogue 3 was a mastermind but not 100% sure I am remembering that right... I just remember sneak attack, action surge second wind and cunning action work REALLY well togather on a short sword fighter.

In a nutshell something along those lines is what I am working on for one of my players. He has a hard time finding stuff on a character sheet and is prepping a bunch of cards for features and spells, and I thought a more bare-bones index card-style sheet would make it easier for him to find and organize his characters. We are meeting Saturday so I plan to take some time to discuss it with him then and wanted to use this thread to get a leg up on it.

If you have those PCs handy, I'd appreciate an upload so I can see what you did/ how you had it laid out--even if hand written. Thanks.

 

[overgeeked]

I mean - and I voted for several more criteria than this, but - honestly, for any dice-based conflict resolution game, all you need is HP and AC. Or, that is, what number does the opponent need to "hit" you and how many times can you be hit.

Everything else is window dressing. You can be HP/Health/Hits: 10. AC/Defense/Overpower: 15. Boom there's a game. You can SAY you're an elf with a bow or a human knight or a wizard throwing fire or an orcish brute or whatever.

Get hit 10 times? You dead. Hit the other guy 10 times? They dead.

Winner takes the treasure/rescues the innocent/saves the day.

Dress it up with dungeons and castles or space stations and ray guns or pirate ships and muskets...it's all the same.

Collapse that to all conflict resolution is an opposed roll. Now you only need one thing, hits.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Your poll does not differenciate between listing all skills and just noting what you have. Same for saving throws.

For my minimal sheet I use when playing with new players, I usuall just write down skills and so on and explain that you roll an ability check with added prof bonus. And if it is not on the list you can still do it, but it is a straight ability check.
Not unlike the monster stat block in current from.

 

[Malmuria]

For simple, I like this character sheet. For more involved/higher level, I like the more purple more better sheets.

One area that I feel the standard sheet is lacking is in tracking per rest abilities.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Your poll does not differenciate between listing all skills and just noting what you have. Same for saving throws.

I'll probably list all, if possible (which it most likely will be).

 

[HammerMan]

In a nutshell something along those lines is what I am working on for one of my players. He has a hard time finding stuff on a character sheet and is prepping a bunch of cards for features and spells, and I thought a more bare-bones index card-style sheet would make it easier for him to find and organize his characters. We are meeting Saturday so I plan to take some time to discuss it with him then and wanted to use this thread to get a leg up on it.

If you have those PCs handy, I'd appreciate an upload so I can see what you did/ how you had it laid out--even if hand written. Thanks.

it was over a year ago but I think I could recreate it... but it will be tomorrow

 

[Yaarel]

My character sheet strives for elegance (efficiency). It is working well. While not minimalist, it might offer some ideas.

Note, Perception and Athletics are full-on abilities. So, the Athletics skill splits into "Mobility" skill (jumping, climbing, balancing, falling, etc.) and "Brute" strength skill (break doors, bend bars, heave weight, etc.).

 

[DND_Reborn]

My character sheet strives for elegance (efficiency). It is working well. While not minimalist, it might offer some ideas.

Note, Perception and Athletics are full-on abilities. So, the Athletics skill splits into "Mobility" skill (jumping, climbing, balancing, falling, etc.) and "Brute" strength skill (break doors, bend bars, heave weight, etc.).

View attachment 149873

Thanks for sharing!