Ever just redo a players character sheet?

I do pdf forms for all PCs at the start of the campaign, and update them each time the characters level up. This proves especially useful when one player decides to reduce his alcohol intake by spilling his drink everywhere.
 

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I've had to do it quite often over my career as a DM. I've got no problem doing it...it really doesn't take long.
 

As DM I required all players keep an index card up to date w/ their character info for my records - I write up the format I want it in and then hand them the card to fill out.

As a player, I can imagine doing what you describe, but I can also imagine a fellow player not giving a crap! :)
 

Perhaps I'm just an anal control-freak, but I'm always the one to fill-out, maintain and keep all of my players' character sheets between sessions. No one at my table seems to mind since they seem to like my clean and clear penmanship. They're free to fill out and keep their own copy if they want one for themselves, but so far nobody's bothered to. I started keeping the players' sheets in my DM binder years ago after I got tired of people forgetting to bring them to the game and being forced to scribble out a makeshift copy based on their vague recollections during the game. I also hated being unable to read some of their messy sheets and finding errors.

This way we're certain that no one is lacking for their sheet, it's always up to date with their current xp (which I add in between sessions) and stats. If the player can't make it, at least we still have his character sheet so that the PC can continue adventuring with another player or I running it. When they level-up, I make the appropriate changes and email the players to ask them about new spells, feats or skill that they need to choose. Hit points are rolled and added to the sheet when they show up. This has even spread to other groups I'm in, with my fellow players asking me to fill out their sheets when they level-up. I enjoy doing it so why not? :)
 
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Crothian said:
One of the players was absent from game this week, so he gave me the character sheet to run. It's a mess. I don't know how he finds anything on it. So, before next session when I give it back to him I am going to redo it. I'm keeping his like it is just in case he wants that, but I am also going to write a complewtely new one. One of the advantages is I'll catch some of the errors he's made. I already know he's one feat short and I think he messed up on his skills.

So, anyone else ever redo a players character sheet? :cool:

When my youngest was 6 I helped him with his character sheet. He's 8 now and no longer needs assistance.

To be honest, I sometimes need help with my character sheets. I'm usually 1-2 levels behind on skills, bab and saves. I do keep the hp up-to-date as well as spellcasting.

Thanks,
Rich
 

I keep my players character sheets because frankly - I cannot count on them to remember to bring them.

Not only that, I keep track of their characters via http://campaign-blog.com/ and post links to their sheets from the "Campaign Website", so that they may look at them at any time.

So - I 're-do' them in that sense, and I notice mistakes every once and awhile. Plus, rather than worrying about an error being cheating or a mistake - it just needs fixed.
 

I used to, but then I gave up and it wasn't necessary when we quit the 3e game anyway. I had a few players that wouldn't update ANYTHING other than HP. I kept the sheets in the game binder and they would do their leveling and stuff at the table when we played. Occasionally I'd look over the sheets and see they were way off on stuff, to their detriment too. Id go in and fix them on a new sheet but soon enough the new sheet was screwed up too. So I said screw it, if they are getting killed because they can't handle leveling up the character so be it. Soon after we switch to a simpler system though and the problem was fixed mostly...well I should say it was less screwed up as there were fewer things to screw up.
 

Never as a DM. But as a fellow player while looking at other people's character sheets I have noticed mistakes. This one player had been playing a character for 12 levels (about 1.5 years IRL) with 2 ability points and 1 feat short.
Same thing with another player whose character had been in play for 14 levels which had saving throws minus the ability bonus :eek:. How he managed without dying for 14 levels as a barbarian is beyond me.

It must be the fact that I'm an incredible powergamer that allows me to notice the discrepencies which have negative consequences.
 

This past summer I had someone that wanted to join the group. Having never met him I asked around about him. People outside of the gaming group warned me while the gamers said he was cool and wanted him to join.

I met and asked him what he knew. He knew a lot about the game and the game world so I okayed him to join.

First session, he was still making the character. 13th level.

Second session, he always had the spell he needed as a mage. Then as a sorcerer then as a warlock. First serious "HUH?!?" on my part.

Third session his mage now had rogue like skills. I called a time out and wanted to look at his sheet in depth. He hemmed and hawed and finally handed it over at the end of the session.

He
had
no
idea
what
he
was
doing

The next session he couldn't make it so we, as a group, looked over the sheet and corrected it best as he could.

He returned, got bent out of shape because now the rogue knew more skills than him, the fighter had more feats than him and he had to chioce what kind of magic user he was. He figured he could get the number and quanity of spells a mage gets and use them at will like a sorcerer and if need be- blast them like a warlock.

He never returned. That was in July.

The guys in the group have agreed with me now- I have final word and I will go outside of the group for references of a new player.
 

Ambrus said:
Perhaps I'm just an anal control-freak, but I'm always the one to fill-out, maintain and keep all of my players' character sheets between sessions. No one at my table seems to mind since they seem to like my clean and clear penmanship. They're free to fill out and keep their own copy if they want one for themselves, but so far nobody's bothered to. I started keeping the players' sheets in my DM binder years ago after I got tired of people forgetting to bring them to the game and being forced to scribble out a makeshift copy based on their vague recollections during the game. I also hated being unable to read some of their messy sheets and finding errors.

This way we're certain that no one is lacking for their sheet, it's always up to date with their current xp (which I add in between sessions) and stats. If the player can't make it, at least we still have his character sheet so that the PC can continue adventuring with another player or I running it. When they level-up, I make the appropriate changes and email the players to ask them about new spells, feats or skill that they need to choose. Hit points are rolled and added to the sheet when they show up. This has even spread to other groups I'm in, with my fellow players asking me to fill out their sheets when they level-up. I enjoy doing it so why not? :)

Heck, I've dispensed with players altogether. They are frequently rude, obnoxious, inattentive, or ignorant, and they don't always bathe. I got tired of listening to them talk about the latest episodes of this, that, or the other geeky show, so I banned them all and replaced them with sock puppets! Games run much smoother now that I control all the action. Red Thread Fred, who replaced Sam, is pretty funny when he just comes out of the dryer and static cling is making him all crinkly. Sam was pretty dull, so it's a big improvement.
 

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