D&D General What character sheets do you use and what do you put on them?

[cbwjm]

When I was playing 5e, I tended to use dndbeyond for the functionality of easily being able to look up a spell description. For a lot of other versions of DnD though, I just use a google document with all the details, and paper to track my hit points.

 

[overgeeked]

A 3x5 card. Even a spellcaster should be able to fit on the front and back. If it can’t, it’s too complicated.

 

[Li Shenron]

I'm curious to know if you use the official character sheet, a third party sheet, D&D Beyond's online sheet (with PDF download?), or your own custom sheet?

Also, how much detail do you put on them? The full text of your abilities? The name of the ability and the source page number? Something else?

I modified the official character sheets and have been using my own version since then. I shared them here:

Resource icon

Quickstart 5e character sheet (beginner friendly)

Jul 3, 2017

This is my first attempt at a simplified 5e main character sheet (derived from the official WotC 5e

• Li Shenron
• D&D 5th Edition Character Sheets

I can't believe to notice now that they've been downloaded 9k times I wonder how many people really used them though...

 

[Li Shenron]

I use the base character sheet, but then end up typing up my own one-page character summary listing Actions, Bonus Actions, Reactions, and prepared spells/abilities by type (AOE, attack, debuff, heal, etc.).
The greatest failing of the WOTC character sheets is the lack of clear categorization for Action, Bonus Action, Reaction abilities.

Exactly.

It's a very common mistake to categorise by source instead of usage. It makes it only slightly easier in the design or level up phase, while categorising by usage makes it much easier during the game, which happens much more often than levelling up. It doesn't matter if one ability comes from class, race of feat once it's on your character sheet.