DMs: how much PC info do you keep at hand?

[Quasqueton]

As a DM, how much info do you have on the PCs?

I've seen some DMs who keep the whole character sheet on his table during play. I've also seen some DMs who have absolutely no info about the PCs on hand.

How much info do you have in front of you during a game session?

Quasqueton

 

[Hand of Evil]

Mostly background info, stats (saves), and special equipment.

 

[Ao the Overkitty]

Depends upon which campaign I'm running. For my regular one, I've got very little on hand. Just what I remember about the character names, races, classes, patrons, alignments, and skills/abilities.

For City of the Spider Queen, I've got a detailed listing of their names, races, stats, saves, search listen & spot, and other pertinent data for things I might have to roll for them.

 

[Desdichado]

I prefer the PCs to do most of the rolling and figuring of things themselves. That said, some really basic stuff I need as a DM (because I don't necessarily want the PCs to know that a roll has even been made) include Spot, Listen and Search modifiers. Saving throw modifiers are also nice, although I typically tell the players to "make a xxx save."

 

[Shallown]

I have most of the information.
I keep stats, saves, Bab etc the very basics
I keep skills and Magic items
I also keep track of spell books and such as well.

I do this for several reason's so far the most often used is someone losing or forgetting their sheet. I have enough for them to play off of in my records.

I also use it to help design encounters. I try not to meta game to much but it helps me in making encounters that are tough and enjoyable not to accidently kill off a party because they lacked an essential skill or ability. I don't design around what the party has often but sometimes there is only one Acceptable solution to a problem.

I also keep track of party treasure/equipment so I know how far above or below the standard wealth level they are. I don't tie my hands with this since I ran my group for 3-4 levels being at about 1/2 but this was something I knew about and in part caused by decisions on both sides of the table.

It also helps me see how things are developin. I can look back and see what they has changed due to the environment/challenges and what the player had planned to do with the character. I want characters that are a mixture of both.

Later

 

[MerakSpielman]

I have a copy of their character sheets on file, but I don't take them with me to the games.

On my Combat Tracking Sheet I have room for initiatives 1-30, 12 rounds of combat, and brief stat blocks for up to 8 characters. Mainly I need to know their AC so I don't have to ask them each time a critter takes a swing at 'em.

 

[diaglo]

i have character sheets for PCs dating back to 1979.

 

[MerakSpielman]

[baits diaglo]
Oh, come now, we all know D&D didn't come along until the late '90s...
[/baits diaglo]

 

[maddman75]

He must mean sheets for characters from those old gold box video games. You know, the ones Lorraine Williams based D&D off of.

</troll>

 

[diaglo]

well the character sheets are 1edADnD mostly, so in part i agree with you.

it is not real D&D.

cuz we all know.

OD&D(1974) is the only true game. All the other editions are just poor imitations of the real thing.