DMs - Do you ask for your players character sheets?

[ThirdWizard]

I keep all character sheets between sessoins. This allows me to look over them and tailor the adventure so that everyone has a chance to shine. It also helps me decide how difficult I want situations to be, based on how well the PCs can handle those situations. I've also run a few mock encounters or two for the really hard stuff just to get a feel for what might happen. I can also have spots for PCs to shine if they're really good at something. Sunk a lot of points into forgery? Lets have forgery be important next game. Keeps things interesting.

 

[Oryan77]

I keep all the character sheets along with their notes in separate clear plastic binder sheets for each PC. At the beginning of the game I just hand them each their binder sheet filled with all their stuff. They can take their notes home if they want, but the sheets PC sheets stay with me.

If they level up they can take their sheets home, or if they just want to take it home between a session for any reason, I don't mind. But I want to keep the sheets most of the time so I can compare them to adventures to make them each shine in different scenarios. I also like to check out their equipment to see if I could/should hand out anything specific they might need, like healing potions or more scrolls.

 

[Agamon]

I don't just keep the sheets, I print them out on my computer. Everyone uses HeroForge to make sure the mistakes are minimised, and I store the files on my PC. I also keep the hard copy sheets to make sure they aren't forgotten.

 

[Glyfair]

Yes. Ideally, I'd want them before the campaign starts. That never works, though

My main reason for wanting them is for adventure design. They aren't a main element in adventure design, but for certain things I'd refer to them. First, to make sure if I put in an exceptionally tough situation, that they have a way out.

The thing I want to use them for most, though, is to make sure they don't waste character design. If a player puts skill points into some obscure skill, I want to make sure it comes up in play at some point. There is nothing I hate more as a player than making deliberate character design decision to flesh out the character and seeing it never come up for play (at least in a sufficiently long campaign).

In practice, though, I find myself correcting errors in the sheets. I'll input them into eTools and realize they are over or under skill points spent or similiar things.

 

[KB9JMQ]

No. I have a DM sheet that I made which I keep track of some things I want to know.
I keep track of AC, HP, Abilities, Action Points, Spot, Search, Listen, Wand Charges, etc.

I have never had anyone cheat on his sheet so I don't worry about that and I figure if they figure out an attack wrong once in a while it is probably ok since I do it also occasionaly.

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

No.

I keep the original character sheets.

If players want their character sheets, I will make them a photocopy to take home with them.

My players all live about 75 minutes away or else 7 hours or 14 hours away. My wife hosts the games. I DM. Inexperienced players will screw up their sheets, mis-add numbers, leave out bonuses. Occasionally, a more experienced, but less scrupulous, player will find these lost bonuses and put them on their own character's sheets. I just make sure that the number go where they're supposed to and that everybody's math is at least as good as mine, and that all of the PCs have clothes and none of them have rugs of flying that I don't know about.

For in-game use, I keep an excel sheet with each PC's hp, AC, saves, ability scores, and skill bonuses. On the rare occasion when I foolishly let a player take home their character's sheets, this lets me help them rebuild their sheets, and during the game, it lets me make secret roles on their behalf and estimate how well they'll handle threats.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

In practice, though, I find myself correcting errors in the sheets. I'll input them into eTools and realize they are over or under skill points spent or similiar things.

That's why I always stat out my characters on spreadsheets, so I don't lose skill points or anything like that.

My DMs haven't asked for copies of my character sheet in a while, except at the beginning of a game. I usually have the advancement path statted out on the spreadsheet, too.

Brad

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Depends on the group.

The last time I ran a campaign, I reviewed the PCs once at creation, copied relevant info, and checked them periodically...about 1 time every couple of months.

Some of my players were new to D20, so needed help and advice. And, as stated above, knowing what the PCs can do in detail can help you design adventures.

 

[Buttercup]

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

Same here. I have a cheat sheet that includes their AC, Initiative, Hit Points, Listen & Spot checks and saves, so even if I don't get their character sheets, I at least tend to know how likely they are to survive the session, but I'd really rather have everyone's sheet while I'm planning for the next session, since it helps me remember what they're good at and not good at.

 

[Ao the Overkitty]

Depends upon the system and the group. I've been in games where players cheat. If you don' start the game with the tradition of keeping a log of their sheets, you get strict opposition to the idea later on.

Mostly, if it is D&D or d20, I don't bother getting copies. I'll want to look them over briefly when they level, but that is it.

Now, in a system without levels, I do keep copies of the character sheets of everyone and keep them up to date as they spend XP. This helps me look at what they're capable of as a group and tailor games to their skills and abilities.