JoeGKushner
Adventurer
When I was reviewing the Algernon Files, I mentioned some things that as a GM, would make any Mutants & Masterminds character more useful to me. I’m a long time fan of the Hero system and they use character sheets that are easy to read and break down in terms of point totals. When I received the M&M Character Record Folio, I wondered if it would have those things I was looking for.
It didn’t.
What am I looking for? As a longtime player of Hero, I want point totals everywhere. I want a place to add up point totals for ability scores, saving throws, defense, attacks, powers, feats and anything else that has a cost. Is that so wrong? Should I feel bad for wanting to see how characters are put together? Unlike a standard d20 game where your level is basically the only thing you as a GM have to worry about, in a M&M game, there are point totals.
Looking at this sheet, you’d still have to do the entire math on another sheet. Or if you’re like me, do a lot of erasing as you overstep the point totals. There’s no place to total your points. So what good is it? It’s a basic character sheet with little bonuses that I probably won’t use.
Like what? Well, how about half a page for feats and a little corner for super feats? How about a page and a half for powers, and another page for devices, including device schematics? Does anyone need half a page for weaknesses? How about description or personality? Character sketch perhaps? Power source or origin story? Background and history? Wait, isn’t that the same thing as origin story? Well, not quite but do we really need all of these separate boxes? Nope.
I don’t need forms to fill in team information or team maters. Don’t need it for my minions or headquarters information.
It’s just not a character sheet I felt was useful. If it has a quick checklist for character creation, correct costs for powers, talents, stats and other game information (because some people actually don’t have the internet and may not have the errata!) and a place to balance or total your character points against your starting balance, it’d be good. Champions has been doing that for years. Points-Power-Cost. It’s pretty simple. Done up in a column style that allows you to total that at the end. Place for statistic cost and place for power & skill cost. Place to show base points and place to note disadvantages. Compare your total costs versus your total points and make it balance.
For those that want an official character sheet, at $4.95, this 16 page book isn’t the worst buy but I’d rather spend that money on blank paper and a few pencils to do the math.
It didn’t.
What am I looking for? As a longtime player of Hero, I want point totals everywhere. I want a place to add up point totals for ability scores, saving throws, defense, attacks, powers, feats and anything else that has a cost. Is that so wrong? Should I feel bad for wanting to see how characters are put together? Unlike a standard d20 game where your level is basically the only thing you as a GM have to worry about, in a M&M game, there are point totals.
Looking at this sheet, you’d still have to do the entire math on another sheet. Or if you’re like me, do a lot of erasing as you overstep the point totals. There’s no place to total your points. So what good is it? It’s a basic character sheet with little bonuses that I probably won’t use.
Like what? Well, how about half a page for feats and a little corner for super feats? How about a page and a half for powers, and another page for devices, including device schematics? Does anyone need half a page for weaknesses? How about description or personality? Character sketch perhaps? Power source or origin story? Background and history? Wait, isn’t that the same thing as origin story? Well, not quite but do we really need all of these separate boxes? Nope.
I don’t need forms to fill in team information or team maters. Don’t need it for my minions or headquarters information.
It’s just not a character sheet I felt was useful. If it has a quick checklist for character creation, correct costs for powers, talents, stats and other game information (because some people actually don’t have the internet and may not have the errata!) and a place to balance or total your character points against your starting balance, it’d be good. Champions has been doing that for years. Points-Power-Cost. It’s pretty simple. Done up in a column style that allows you to total that at the end. Place for statistic cost and place for power & skill cost. Place to show base points and place to note disadvantages. Compare your total costs versus your total points and make it balance.
For those that want an official character sheet, at $4.95, this 16 page book isn’t the worst buy but I’d rather spend that money on blank paper and a few pencils to do the math.
