DMs - Do you ask for your players character sheets?

[reveal]

I used to ask for a copy of my players character sheets when they leveled up. I stopped because I figured it wasn't really that worth it and they were adults and could make sure their sheets were correct.

Last session, one of the players had a really bad character sheet. He had himself down as 12th level (he was 13th), his attacks were messed up (he had 3 listed per round and, because of TWF and ITWF, he got 5), and his skills were wrong (he didn't have all his available points spent).

So, as a DM, do you ask for your players sheets to verify they are correct or do you hope your players get it right?

 

[Psion]

No, but I probably should. Not because they goof things up so much as they have a tendency to do things like leave their character sheet at home, four hours away!

 

[S'mon]

I ask... I don't always get...

 

[Nellisir]

I like to have them to a) reference during adventure creation, and b) make sure they get to the game. I'll note errors if I see them, but I don't study them.

Cheers
Nell.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Yes.

It's always a good idea to look at their skills and stuff - it helps to set up situations to make them shine. Plus, you know what their numbers are (eg saving throws, attack bonuses, etc).

 

[Andre]

Always. In fact, I usually help work up the character sheets, just to verify accuracy (and no surprises ).

Even when I'm not the GM, I usually keep everyone's character sheets. Some players just can't be trusted to remember to bring their sheets to the game. It's also useful to keep older character sheets, in case a particular character loses a level or two (raise dead, level drain).

 

[Ambrus]

I actually fill-out, update and keep all of my players' character sheets between sessions. Perhaps I'm just a control freak but this ensures that the character sheets have all the proper information on them, are fully updated and we're never without them at game time. So far, everyone seems content to let me do the number crunching and work. It's been working for our group for years. In other groups, I'm sometimes asked to fill out other's character sheets because people like my attention to details and clear handwriting (or maybe they're just happy to not have to do it themselves).

 

[shilsen]

I don't ask for their character sheets. Instead, I get them to send me a stat block for their characters when they level up and then let them know if there are any errors. If I catch an error in game, I mention it and ask them to note it.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I'm usually with my players when they level up so if they have any questions I help them out. If I notice something odd during the course of the game about their character sheet I'll either wait till the game is over or till we have a break before I say anything (unless it's really major such as a 4th level sorcerer casting a spell I know to be level 3)

 

[Timeboxer]

No, though I do ask for them when they die or leave the party. It's always interesting when you run into previous PCs doing their own thing in the world, or as petitioners on the planes.

...actually -- when playing online, I always ask for character sheets. But I also ask for people to roll stats using a secure method which I witness, so.