How we play the game: Character sheets

[MerricB]

In the beginning, there was the Moldvay set of D&D, and I used bits of pen and paper to create my own character sheet. I never really used the official D&D sheets.

Then came the Computer. From that day forth, all my character sheets would be MS Word (or Wordperfect) documents, arranged to my liking. Each would be individualised to my PC; although, I must admit I don't have many PCs, being a DM far more often than a player.

I bought the 2nd Edition character sheets, scribbled in the stats of my main PC, and promptly went back to using my computer-generated sheets instead.

I ignored the 3rd Edition character sheets, and wondered when I would get to play again.

When the 3.5e Deluxe character sheets came out, I decided I'd buy them. Eventually I got to play D&D again, and guess what I did?

I used my computer.

However, this is in stark contrast to what my players do. They use the official sheets - either copies of the Deluxe sheets, or the specialised sheets you can get from the Wizards website. (Normally imploring me to print copies of them). There's one player who just uses pen and paper (as I did in the Moldvay days), but otherwise they all really like and prefer the official sheets.

Of course, they haven't had much exposure to the other sheets available, but they're happy.

This isn't just one group of 6 players, either. I have three groups, with some players in common. There's about 14-15 players in my games; and they like using the official sheets!

Now, it seems that Wizards are releasing the Eberron Deluxe Sheets. I guess, being Eberron, the main difference is that they'll have a box for Action Points. Oh look, they're bringing back the Adventure Log sheet. (That might be handy for my players, they'll be able to remember what happened in previous sessions. When some of my groups only play once a fortnight, this could be essential).

I guess I'll get them, just to have a look.

Guess how I'll keep track of my characters in the future, though?



Cheers!

 

[caudor]

I'm with you. I use eTools to generate character sheets simply because it reduces my workload. It also allows me to focus on building a character without having to crunch the numbers myself and hope I did everything correctly. This tool produces a nice, clean computer printout...ready for play.

Yeah, I'm a bit lazy, but it works out fine for me.

 

[MerricB]

Etools is way too fancy for me. I still use MS Word.

Cheers!

 

[Poster Bard]

Guess how I'll keep track of my characters in the future, though?

With this...?

 

[sfedi]

I usually use a blank paper.

Neve been comfortable with character sheets.

 

[Corsair]

I usually print out a dozen or so copies of the official sheets at work (yay misappropriation of resources!). As a player, it just means I have all my information consistently in the same place for each character. As a DM, I print them out for my players so I can glance at their sheet without having to figure out where they are hiding their spot check.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Generally, I just make my own the old fashioned way; notebook and pencil. The "official" sheets are "too busy" with all the boxes and blackened sections. I've never liked using a sheet from a publisher, and the 3.x sheets, in general, I steer away from.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

I use official character sheets. It looks more organized that way than just written down on a sheet of paper.

 

[Jamdin]

For character sheets, I use loose-leaf college-ruled notebook paper. I use red ink pen for the game headings (stats, weapons, etc.) and blue ink for miscellaneous headings (age, height, etc.). I use a mechanical pencil for what I put next to the game and miscellaneous headings. Those four-color ink pens work great even though I never used the black or green ink much.

For Adventure Logs, I use spiral notebooks.

 

[catsclaw227]

We use DM Genie at our game, since most of us have laptops, and the GM (me) has all the party in the computer, for the adventure, this way I can roll secret skill checks and keep track of initiative, etc.

Those that have a printout use one of the fillable PDFs you can find online: ema's, mad irishman, etc.