Character sheets -- open or closed?

[Quasqueton]

How secretive are you with your PC’s character sheet information?

I’ve had Players who don’t want anyone to know what their ability scores are, at all. Sometimes this is because of some strange paranoia, but sometimes it’s because they just don’t like game-speak describing their character.

When describing their fighter, they say he’s “strong”. When the Player of the half-orc barbarian asks, “How strong?”, the answer is just “strong.” Then the barbarian Player mentions his barbarian has a 20 Strength, so the fighter Player responds, “I’m not that strong.” But he will never give a number.

I recently minorly upset a Player when I mentioned that his armor was adamantine plate. Although the PCs had been together for several weeks, he didn’t think the other Players would/should know. His PC would never have mentioned it. I apologized for letting out the secret, but I really didn’t understand why that would be a secret.

I’ve had a Player playing a female character pretending to be a male character. This was a special secret, for roleplaying purposes, and I never revealed the secret (although the Player had to reveal it himself at one point well into the campaign). This kind of thing I can understand, and even enjoy. But mundane, simple secrets? Why?

For myself, sure, there are some items on my character sheets that I might not be fully open about (but nothing sinister). I wouldn’t just read off a list of my skills or equipment, but I don’t mind the other Players and PCs knowing I have ranks in Bluff and a potion of cure light wounds.

I never have a problem with the other Players knowing my wizard has a 16 Intelligence, or a 10 Strength. In fact, I think knowing the numbers help me a great deal in picturing the character in my mind’s eye – I mean, “strong” and “very strong” are subjective, but “16 Strength” and “20 Strength” immediately make sense to me.

I’ve seen some Players conceal their character sheet when they leave the table (or even while seated at the table), but I’ve never really cared if everyone at the table could read my character sheet.

How about you? Are you secretive with your character sheet information?

Quasqueton

 

[Odhanan]

I don't mind people looking at my character sheet, nor do any other player at our game table. There may be some background components or specific items not known to each other, but we don't hesitate to hand our sheets to one another to have a look. We can make a difference between what we know outside and in the game.

 

[el-remmen]

We don't have anyone in my group like you described - though we do purposefully obfuscate some game language.

For example, at our table no one ever says "I have X hit points left" (and when someone does they get a glare from the rest of the table) - instead they say "I am lightly wounded", "I am moderately wounded", etc. . .

 

[diaglo]

depends on the character i'm playing.

if i'm playing a thief. then i make a note of what everyone has on them. and make a list of where they keep it too.

if i'm playing a tactician then i keep a list of possible abilities others have that may be useful in certain situations. macguyver style.

if l'm playing a big dumb half orc then i don't bother keeping any lists. just point me to the action.

 

[DaveMage]

It depends on with whom I am playing.

If I'm playing with novices, then the character sheets are open for all to see. If I'm playing with my experienced group, then we keep all of that info to ourselves (though we share it with the DM when needed, of course).

 

[Umbran]

I am secretive with information until such time as the information should be obvious to the other PCs. So, generally, I'm secretive when a character is newly introduced. I become more and more permissive with information the more other characters should have been able to learn.

This goes both ways - when someone else introduces a new character, I'd prefer they not go and blurt out all the number details right at start. I prefer to learn character information in a way more akin to how real people have to get to know each other.

 

[iwatt]

This goes both ways - when someone else introduces a new character, I'd prefer they not go and blurt out all the number details right at start. I prefer to learn character information in a way more akin to how real people have to get to know each other.

I'd love to be in a group were this could happen. But when I'm a player I'm unable to keep other PC's abilities unknown since the other player themselves always come and ask for help on feat, equipment and class ideas.

 

[lukelightning]

I don't look at other players character sheets; or rather, I only sneak peeks at them, and feel a bit of embarassment like I'm sneaking peeks in the locker room or something.

 

[wmasters]

I tend to avoid talking about numbers at the table, and wouldn't normally say the old 'I'm down 6 hit points Mr Cleric' - in fact if the player playing the cleric asks I tend to ask for a heal check. But then I'm not overly secretive either, I'm happy for it all to be public knowledge if we're clearly talking OOC, and my character sheet sits plain for any to see who want to see it.

I prefer to keep the language away from levels, hit points, stats etc, but I don't care if everyone knows.

 

[Vorput]

I've had characters like you've described before...

They sort of irritated me.

Vorp