Character sheets -- open or closed?
- Thread starter Quasqueton
- Start date
lukelightning
First Post
If you don't want your fellow players to know something about your character (like maybe you've got cooties or are secretly chaotic neutral, which everyone hates...) then put it on the back of the sheet or something, or write down "CG" but let the dm know you're really neutral.
I personally don't care if people talk numbers. "Ouch, I'm down to three hit points! Wow, you're guy is strong, he's got a 16 strength..." etc.
I figure the actual character would be saying something different but I'm not going to be hard on a player because he doesn't have "Ye Olde Thesaurus" next to him and can't think of some round-about way to say he's out of 3rd level spells.
I personally don't care if people talk numbers. "Ouch, I'm down to three hit points! Wow, you're guy is strong, he's got a 16 strength..." etc.
I figure the actual character would be saying something different but I'm not going to be hard on a player because he doesn't have "Ye Olde Thesaurus" next to him and can't think of some round-about way to say he's out of 3rd level spells.
Byrons_Ghost
First Post
When I run D&D (or most other games) stats are pretty much considered open- especially in D&D where some of our more "number challenged" players needed oversight as to what their bonuses and scores should be. Since I don't like PvP in my games I don't see the need to keep stats secret. If someone wanted to keep an IC secret, like posing as a different person for example, then that would be fine.
In the Vamp Dark Ages game I'm currently playing in, stats and such are supposed to be secret, but between doing things in game and general table talk that's pretty much gone out the window. We do still have a lot of secret actions, solo time with the GM, that sort of thing. Some of the players take it to silly lengths, like they'll make sure to turn on a stereo if they're stepping into the next room. I think they've been watching too much "Sopranos".
Of course, with the evil plans I've been cooking up for my character recently, I'm sort of glad we have the precedent established...
In the Vamp Dark Ages game I'm currently playing in, stats and such are supposed to be secret, but between doing things in game and general table talk that's pretty much gone out the window. We do still have a lot of secret actions, solo time with the GM, that sort of thing. Some of the players take it to silly lengths, like they'll make sure to turn on a stereo if they're stepping into the next room. I think they've been watching too much "Sopranos".
Of course, with the evil plans I've been cooking up for my character recently, I'm sort of glad we have the precedent established...
Nightchilde-2
First Post
My players are odd. They don't want anyone to see what's on their sheet, but they'll be all like "I have +14 in Listen."
I wish they wouldn't discuss specific stats, personally. It kinda breaks down that wall, y'know..
I wish they wouldn't discuss specific stats, personally. It kinda breaks down that wall, y'know..
ThirdWizard
First Post
We're all open. We can keep metagame knowlege separate. Plus, when a Player doesn't show up (well when we used to have 4 Players...) their character sheet gets handed to someone else to run them.
sniffles
First Post
I don't have any problem letting the other players know my PC's stats. I try very hard to remember that what I know isn't what my characters know. But I have a friend who's very secretive about his PCs. He doesn't want anyone else to know anything, not even what class his characters are. He doesn't believe anyone else can play without metagaming.
In my dream game no one would ever refer to anything by stats, but stats make a nice shorthand way of describing things when we're all tired or pressed for time.
In my dream game no one would ever refer to anything by stats, but stats make a nice shorthand way of describing things when we're all tired or pressed for time.
buzz
Adventurer
It varies in my groups. There a hefty number of casual gamers in one of them, who both need help and often skip sessions, so everyone sees their sheets. OTOH, one of the players in the same group has been so secretive of his current character, that none of us are even sure what race and class he is. 
Personally, I think that everyone should have access to your sheet. D&D, in particular, depends so much on teamwork (both in-game and OOC), that I don't see what there is to gain by keeping the numbers secret. If anything, I think that having a context in which to view a fellow player's character can make the game that much more enjoyable. E.g., knowing for a fact that the barb has a lousy Diplomacy bonus makes seeing him hit a lucky roll and get the NPC to help the party all the more fun.
Personally, I think that everyone should have access to your sheet. D&D, in particular, depends so much on teamwork (both in-game and OOC), that I don't see what there is to gain by keeping the numbers secret. If anything, I think that having a context in which to view a fellow player's character can make the game that much more enjoyable. E.g., knowing for a fact that the barb has a lousy Diplomacy bonus makes seeing him hit a lucky roll and get the NPC to help the party all the more fun.
prosfilaes
Adventurer
How are you going to hide the fact that you have adamantine plate? If you want to hide your exact strength, then you need to be descriptive than just "I'm strong". Perhaps, "I carry a hundered pounds with ease, but a couple hundred pounds starts to really slow me down."
Nyaricus
First Post
My group is open, we don't really care basically. My players can get a bit metagamey, but that's my personaly experience. Oh well, they're still great guys
However, on the flipside, I wouldn't mind doing a campign with "Character Screens" and everyone keepign everything really secret. That might be cool.
A fellow player-sometime-DM once did an experiemental OA campign with samurai PCs, and kept all the sheets to himself. It was mostly a roleplaying experience, really hardcore. But, it really took alot out of him, and the campign imploded after a hlf dozen meets.
However, on the flipside, I wouldn't mind doing a campign with "Character Screens" and everyone keepign everything really secret. That might be cool.
A fellow player-sometime-DM once did an experiemental OA campign with samurai PCs, and kept all the sheets to himself. It was mostly a roleplaying experience, really hardcore. But, it really took alot out of him, and the campign imploded after a hlf dozen meets.
