Drowning in (Character Sheet) Details

[Campbell]

The new Legend of the 5 Rings has a two sided sheet.

The front is intended to be mostly referenced outside conflicts (which includes skirmishes, duels, battles, and social conflicts). It has general character details, your skills, and character personality details (many have a mechanical impact). These include distinctions, adversities, passions, anxieties, and a space for general personality quirks. There is also a space for listing other characters and your standing with them.

The back is focused on conflicts. It has reference details on stances and conflict turns. It's also where the derived attributes mostly used in conflicts are listed. There is also a place for character techniques, weapons and armor.

This works pretty well in play. While exploring and engaging the fiction the front keeps you focused on your character. The conflict specific mechanics stay out of your way. In a conflict the back keeps you mostly focused on the action and tension of the moment. Sometimes you need to flip the sheet, but not often.

Flipping the sheet almost becomes ritual.

 

[Yaarel]

I have the player write up a ‘monster stat block’ to represent what their character will normally do most of the time. That goes on the front page. The personality section (alignment with ideals, quirks, bonds including a religious devotion or community if any, and flaws) also goes on the front page. If the player is unsure about what to do, the rest of the information is on the back of the page.

 

[GMMichael]

This works pretty well in play. While exploring and engaging the fiction the front keeps you focused on your character. The conflict specific mechanics stay out of your way. In a conflict the back keeps you mostly focused on the action and tension of the moment. Sometimes you need to flip the sheet, but not often.

Flipping the sheet almost becomes ritual.

This sounds proper. Are there parts of the sheet that players don't really use, or parts that are easily overlooked, due to the sheet's design?

I have the player write up a ‘monster stat block’ to represent what their character will normally do most of the time. That goes on the front page. The personality section (alignment with ideals, quirks, bonds including a religious devotion or community if any, and flaws) also goes on the front page. If the player is unsure about what to do, the rest of the information is on the back of the page.

Your PCs are normally monsters? Do you find that this layout increases or decreases page-flipping?