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

[swrushing]

i try to have printouts of the PCs available.

However, "handy" i keep my pc stat sheet. it includes a number of things i will need like their spot and listen bonuses, their hide and silent bonuses, their hit points total and common saves and Acs and the like. Several other skills are listed like their social skills and other things i think i should use for interactions... sense motives...

These i figure are pretty common but the more uncommon is the top three skills (a note indicating what the character's three best skills are and the scores so i can highlight them.)

Finally the chart has what i call the "spot off" which idnicates the value i would need to adjust their spot checks to get to another result, like say a will save. if the spot off is -2 then i know if i want them to make a secret will save i can ask them to make a spot check and then take 2 off to get the will save result. This way i get my secret rolls cake and no clue is given.

 

[Gothmog]

All of it. And I mean every last number: stats, hit points, AC, saves, skills, magic items, etc. I started doing this 10 years ago- I keep all numerical data and the players just have equipment lists (but don't know exact plusses of items), their character history, and non-numerical data. I did it in response to two guys who couldn't help but powergame and munchkin, and it worked. They don't even care about munching anymore, and much prefer me taking care of all the numbers so they can focus on playing their characters. I give the players a quick run-down at the end of every combat round how hurt they are (usually % gone), and they have a rough idea how proficient they are with their skills (novice 1-5 ranks, experienced 6-10, adept 11-15, master 16-20, grandmaster 21+), but other than that I keep the numbers away from them. Since I also tend to bring new people into gaming, it makes playing MUCH easier on them, and they can pick up and understand the rules at their own pace. At first it was more work for me, but I've made up a spreadsheet in Excel with all relevant data on it, and it doesn't slow me down at all anymore.

 

[Arnwyn]

Not a heck of a lot. The only PC info I keep are: name, alignment, race, sex, class, ability scores, level, and XP. For elves, I also keep their Search score.

Like barsoomcore, I know I *should* keep Listen and Spot scores, but so far I don't. The next time I update my "PC Info Sheet", I think I'll add those.

 

[dcollins]

I keep this -- www.superdan.net/download/quikstat.xls

 

[Nifft]

I tend to keep copies of stuff, but never use it in-game -- I both trust my players and don't have time to look stuff up. I'd much rather ask them for their save bonus (and roll secretly), or just to make spot / listen checks.

Note that I *do* ask for about three times as many spot / listen checks as I really need -- this is to try to prevent them from meta-gaming too much genuine information, and to make them paranoid. I also ask for spot / listen checks to get some mundane but non-obvious flavor information about a location where they are.

The thing I really should keep on me, but I never remember to, is a list of what languages each one speaks. Asking them, "does anyone speak Abyssal?" kinda ruins the mystery of what that harsh, gutteral grunt really was.

-- N

 

[Altalazar]

I keep AC, hit points, important skills (spot, listen, etc.) class/level, and miscellaneous notes - each on a single line at the top of a sheet of notebook paper. Sometimes I make a little printout with basically the same information.

I like to keep track of the party status, especially hit points. That way I can gauge round to round just how touch a fight is - useful information for balancing future encounters.

It also allows making secret rolls for such things without players being aware of it. While it might be handy to have a copy of each full character sheet, I find I have too much else to keep track of to spend time consulting so much information. I also like to try and not pay attention to the details of each character and what they have, etc. That way I can more accurately portrary opponents who also would not have that information. Leaves more room for them to surprise me, which is a good thing.

 

[Buttercup]

I downloaded a sheet from somewhere or other. You can fit the essentials for the whole party on one page. It's not perfect, but better than having to shuffle through a pile of papers. I've attached it, in case anyone is interested.

Of course the best solution is to make a small excel file or something, and bring your laptop to the table.

 

[diaglo]

3 ring binder...

which is essentially a DM's Log book

no worries about harddrive crashes that way.

 

[d12]

I keep a very simple table handy with the rows being the PCs and the columns laid out with the followin ginformation

AC
Touch AC
Flat footed AC
Saves (one in each column)
Spot
Listen
Search
Notes


under notes I put things like "Spell Immunity: Magic Missile, Lightning Bolt and Slow" or "Nondetection." - continuing effects that I need to rememebr are on the PC.

The AC column is so I don;t have to keep asking "Does a 21 hit you? I can't remember."

 

[Rel]

I use 3x5 index cards to track initiative. On them I have the players write down stuff like AC (including Touch and Flat Footed), BAB, Initiative, Saving Throws and Spot, Listen, Search and Move Silently. If I need to make secret rolls, I can do so using the info on the card.

I think I'm also going to have them write down known languages next session.