My Deluxe Character Sheet - please rate and critique!

[Thunderfoot]

I gave it a 7...

Very nicely laid-out and thought out. I don't play FR so the languages are usless for the most part for me, but the idea is super. The name at the bottom of the 1st page is a little cloogey in my mind, but that's a rather small detail. I have to agree about the comments made on ammunition, needs to be smaller and with multiple types. Of course Armour(armor) is spelled using English (Britian) vs English (American) but meh, I can deal.

Very imaginative layout and oddly enough, similar to the new one made by WotC, so I think they may have come up with many of the conclusions you did about the "old" character sheets, good, but can be done better. As an asides, I would change your font from Arial to something else. Arial is the most annoying font ever created and why Microsoft insists on using it as the default is beyond me, especially since most of the business world uses Times New Roman. Good Work overall.

 

[sjmiller]

Nyaricus, here's how to embed a font into a Word document using Microsoft Word 2000:

1. Open the document.
2. Go to the Tools menu and select Options (at the bottom of the menu).
3. Select the Save tab in the Options window.
4. Check the box for Embed TrueType fonts.
5. As an option, check the Embed characters in use only box.
6. Click OK
7. Save the file.

Presto! The file is saved with the fonts.

Also, if you do this, and if people really want it, I can then make the sheet into a pdf for you.

 

[GuardianLurker]

see, why is this honestly such a big ol' deal for people. I linked microsoft word veiwer in the first post to top it off. :\ That is really getting discouraging if people keep voting it based on the file format its saved as :\

Because my primary platform is not Wintel. I use OS X, and don't have MS Office. The same would be true if I ran Linux though. Also, for character sheets, I prefer PDF because you *can't* muck with the layout, and just about everyone has Adobe Reader. BTW, that wasn't as big a drop as you think.

well, multiple appriase slots already have a place in D&D (though I am genuinely embracing this), and speed is easily edited (remove one box, rename the note over it "base speed" and let'r rip).

And why should I be editing a character sheet? The entire purpose of using someone else's is that I don't have to much about with creating my own.

Well, this is a character sheet I created with noobs in mind, thus I found it important to have the coimplete break-down for AC. Heck, I'm almost at the point where AC is going to be re-named 'Defense' in my games, to avoid confusion

Yes, but having the full-breakdown, instead of just a separate entry (a la the standard) is in my mind, more confusing. If you want that a better solution would probably be:
Touch AC ___ = (Normal AC) - (Armor) - (Shield) - (Natural Armor)

again, this is for noobs and those who want to know what options are open to them. These are all easily-referenceable lists which I think are indispensable - for any player for that matter.

Yes/No. Yes, they're useful, I just don't think they're appropriate for character sheet; they consume too much precious space.

any particular exmples of this?

Arcane Spell Failure on the spells page leaps right to mind. There are others scattered
about as well. Basically, you have a number of "record number here" spaces that consume an inordinate amount of page width, since the number doesn't change frequently, and there's no formula.

pardon?

Notable "Combat" Mods. Notable "Spell" (DC?) Mods.

 

[Hjorimir]

I scored it low, but I'm a minimalist when it comes to character sheets. I want everything on a single sheet, maybe two if you're playing a spellcaster. Past that I just can't be bothered. More is just more.

Sorry. :\

 

[ChristianW]

I really like it. What I think is a neat feature is that if you aren't a cleric or wizard, the third page doesn't need to be printed. I like the fact that equipment and money is on it's own inventory page. This is great because how many times has a DM asked to see your equipment list? Lots! With this char sheet, you can just hand over the inventory page for a quick scan.

 

[Nyaricus]

Hey Nyaricus, I really liked the character sheet. I gave it a 9. Of course, I may be a bit biased because I'm a FR junkie, but I do like the layout, the complete breakdowns, and the humorous subtitles Good job!

The only drawback (and the reason I gave it a 9) is that now I have to buy some B size paper so that I can print them out.

Thansk for the 9 Thansk for enjoying the FR-goodness, the breakdowns and the subtitles

Sorry, not sure what you mean by b-side paper though. Here in Canada that size is the standard :\

DOC format is the reason I like it, and isn't DOC transferable between platforms?

No idea on my behalf - I just made this sheet with what I had at the time, to explain the DOC format.

On an etiquette note, why is the OP being savaged for offering us a game tool we can take or leave? Constructive criticism doesn't mean tearing someone down for creating less-than-perfect freeware.

It really isn't so much that contructive criticism does mean that, CC isn't that. Some people, I felt, got a little heavy-handed with their responses, yeah, but you know, I am just as happy to overlook that (for the most part) and be happy for all the great feedback and the new ideas generated here. You folks are, in actuality, doing me a big favour with all the feedback here. I have a newer version which has been tweaked a bit at home, and I'll be posting it up tomorrow and see what the community has to say about it. Again, thanks everyone for everything in this thread thus far - I'm pretty satisfyed with the content and feedback in tis thread thus far.

I gave it a 7...

Thanks

Very nicely laid-out and thought out. I don't play FR so the languages are usless for the most part for me, but the idea is super.

Again, just edit it and write in you homebrew/alternatiev campaign languages if need be. This is my groups Character sheet, so there are some (minimal) house rules on there that snuck in, plus Faeruns languages. Anywho, thanks for the compliment

The name at the bottom of the 1st page is a little cloogey in my mind, but that's a rather small detail.

It was a bit of a space filler, yes. I am considering putting in "HP Rolled" back in on the first page, so maybe you'll see that with the next incarnation of it.

I have to agree about the comments made on ammunition, needs to be smaller and with multiple types.

It's smaller in my revised version, with 6 columns and double the rows.

Of course Armour(armor) is spelled using English (Britian) vs English (American) but meh, I can deal.

Actually (and I gotta say this ) That's Canadian English, but I'll let it slide this time

Very imaginative layout and oddly enough, similar to the new one made by WotC, so I think they may have come up with many of the conclusions you did about the "old" character sheets, good, but can be done better. As an asides, I would change your font from Arial to something else. Arial is the most annoying font ever created and why Microsoft insists on using it as the default is beyond me, especially since most of the business world uses Times New Roman. Good Work overall.

Actually, I used Veranda for this character sheet. If it came up as somehting else, it ain't my doing

Thansk for the feedback

I'll get back to sjmiller, GuardianLurker, Hjorimir and ChristianW tomorrow. Sorry, no more time in my spare left :\

Thasnk for everyones feedback

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

I gave it a six. Here are a bits I noticed.

1. Feats and abilities could be cut in half.

2. Skill Points (max/min) could be reduced to a single small line, either above or below the skills. As it is now, it seems WAY to big.

3. Notable skill mods could be moved beneath skills if a few of the extra lines and perform options and such were deleted.

4. Flat Footed and Touch AC break downs are unnessesary.

5. You mispelled "Armor".

6. I like hit points on page 1. Maybe there'd be room if the feat and special abilites sectionw as reduced.

That's about it. Other than that, it looks great.

 

[Hairfoot]

5. You mispelled "Armor".

Or maybe Americans mispell "armour"...

 

[Nyaricus]

Nyaricus, here's how to embed a font into a Word document using Microsoft Word 2000:

1. Open the document.
2. Go to the Tools menu and select Options (at the bottom of the menu).
3. Select the Save tab in the Options window.
4. Check the box for Embed TrueType fonts.
5. As an option, check the Embed characters in use only box.
6. Click OK
7. Save the file.

Presto! The file is saved with the fonts.

Also, if you do this, and if people really want it, I can then make the sheet into a pdf for you.

Thanks for that sjmiller I appreciate the time you took for that. Actually, once I get a version I am finally satisfyed with, I'd appreciate it if you'd make it as a pdf - if only to have an alternative version. Gimme a while longer with this thread, and we'll see what I have changed

Because my primary platform is not Wintel. I use OS X, and don't have MS Office. The same would be true if I ran Linux though.

look, if this is honestly such a hard time for you to give me an honest critique, then keep it to yourself. You *obviously* managed (somehow) to take the time to DL it, and veiw it and rate it - but if you are just going to shoot down my character sheet based on the program/system used to create it, then your feedback is not welcome - nore is it really relevant.

Also, for character sheets, I prefer PDF because you *can't* muck with the layout, and just about everyone has Adobe Reader. /quote]
subjective, and not relevant. I don't have adobe software which allows me to make this sheet firstly in that sort of program. My apollogies if this actually offends you.

BTW, that wasn't as big a drop as you think.

But you did rate it on format - which really was not the point.

And why should I be editing a character sheet? The entire purpose of using someone else's is that I don't have to much about with creating my own.

I dunno, maybe you use WP/VP instead of Hit Points, or use Dex to hit, or have five and a half saving throws. This my sheet, which I present to the general public to do with as they wish. But it is mine, and has a few minimal and noted house rules on it.

Yes, but having the full-breakdown, instead of just a separate entry (a la the standard) is in my mind, more confusing. If you want that a better solution would probably be:
Touch AC ___ = (Normal AC) - (Armor) - (Shield) - (Natural Armor)

Having the "Quick Breakdown" is an option - but I'd rather have the full breakdown, espeially for new players. Also, the AC is only as normal as the situation your character find themselves in. If your fighter was finishing a bowel movement the first round, you can be he's flat-footed.

Yes/No. Yes, they're useful, I just don't think they're appropriate for character sheet; they consume too much precious space.

It's termed "Deluxe" (just realised today that I'd been spelling that wrong, so I'd better Ret-Con that ) for a reason. This is a 4 page character sheet with a bunch of crunch for PCs to have. This is not a minialists sheet in any way, shape or form. Even the original version, by Axiem, was 3 pages.

Arcane Spell Failure on the spells page leaps right to mind. There are others scattered
about as well. Basically, you have a number of "record number here" spaces that consume an inordinate amount of page width, since the number doesn't change frequently, and there's no formula.

ASF is a *very* important part of that, and if you note it: the "Spells" Sheet has everything a spellcaster needs, and easily referencable. So what if it doesn't change a lot. And for some things, there isn;t a formula needed - although even with ASF, if you are using a shield and armour, you need to add that. I though having that, however, you definitly be a waste.

Notable "Combat" Mods. Notable "Spell" (DC?) Mods.

Well, those are their for stuff like racial mods for skills, a favoured tactic in combat (charge was a favoured one from my old groups paladin), and spelss for stuff like feats and the like (I am DMNPCing a cleric with a bunch of uber-healing feats, some which affect domains-spells only, some which affect all healing spells, etc. Also stuff like domain owers and whatnot.

I scored it low, but I'm a minimalist when it comes to character sheets. I want everything on a single sheet, maybe two if you're playing a spellcaster. Past that I just can't be bothered. More is just more.

Sorry.

Hey, not problem man. "One mans trash...." and all that

I really like it. What I think is a neat feature is that if you aren't a cleric or wizard, the third page doesn't need to be printed. I like the fact that equipment and money is on it's own inventory page. This is great because how many times has a DM asked to see your equipment list? Lots! With this char sheet, you can just hand over the inventory page for a quick scan.

Emphasis mine.

Thansk for the lovin', BTW. As a player who loves melee characters over others (Dwarf Fighters all teh way ) I found this to be an important part of the sheet. Magic is, admittantly, an integral part of D&D, but some do without, and with this sheet, it works out great. One of the main design goals for the 3rd version was to get all those spells onto one sheet, and combat onto another. Skills and spells were before smoooshed together, and it wasn't pretty. Also, inventory and money side-by-side just makes so much sense

I gave it a six.

cool Thanks

Here are a bits I noticed.

okay, shoot!

1. Feats and abilities could be cut in half.

it could be reduced, yes. My thoguht now is that I am going to add in a "HP rolled by level" area here, to reduce size (making it seem much less intimidating) and to bring back somehting which I thought was just one of my bad ideas for this sheet. Thanks to feedback, I guess it wasn't

2. Skill Points (max/min) could be reduced to a single small line, either above or below the skills. As it is now, it seems WAY to big.

The skill points box is also where you *should* be putting your ranks you have by level. I'll make that mroe explicid.

3. Notable skill mods could be moved beneath skills if a few of the extra lines and perform options and such were deleted.

Really? Up to this point, the skills were getting tons of love. Personally, I wanted enough room for as many options as possible. Alas.

4. Flat Footed and Touch AC break downs are unnessesary.

Again, another (slightly) surprizing theme I've found in this thread. Personally, I've for for new players, this is, while not necessary or essentual, a good idea.

5. You mispelled "Armor".

muttermutter*smartassamerican*muttermutter.

6. I like hit points on page 1. Maybe there'd be room if the feat and special abilites sectionw as reduced.

Again, something I am leery of. Thats more of a 'combat' thing, so I'd leae it there myself.

That's about it. Other than that, it looks great.

Cools, thanks for the feedback

Anyways, Hairfoot, that is the version I am going with

 

[Darrell]

Quite frankly, these are some of the best character sheets I've ever seen.

The only things I had any real quibbles with were a few minor 'house rule-y' bits (multiple 'Appraise' slots, FR language list, etc.); and because it was in .doc format instead of .pdf, it took me all of about five minutes to "fix" it. I couldn't have done that with a .pdf, since I don't have a program that lets me edit one. So, here's another voice in support of the .doc format.

I personally like the way the multiple-page breakdown is divided, because by shifting page 2 to page 4 when photocopying onto an 11"x17" sheet, I can have the 'abilities/skills/feats' page and the 'combat' page (the most commonly referenced info, IME) on the 'front and back' sides, and 'equipment/cash' and 'spellcasting' on the inside.

Great work, Nyaricus; I can't wait to see what you do with the 'updated' version you mentioned.

Regards,
Darrell King