Currently if you have e.g. a Battlemaster Fighter, and look at the character sheet's default ACTIONS section, you have to scroll ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM to find Action Surge, even though it's a really key power.
I see the logic, because it's with "other actions" since it's not a full action, like the stuff in the first section (usually just your weapons and spells).
BUT "Superiority Dice" (if you have them) are in the section at the top, and I'm 100% in favor of that, even though using a superiority die isn't a full action. Since it's something I use all the time as a battlemaster I want easy access to it, and moving that to the bottom with "other actions" would be way worse.
So instead I think you should consider making more compromises like this one! When something doesn't fall into the rigid BONUS ACTIONS/REACTIONS framework, put it at the top instead of at the bottom if it's a limited-use tool. I need quick access to those checkboxes and having it at the bottom actually makes me use paper and pen to track it because it's easier that way.
Thanks for considering this request. Overall I love how DNDB works, finding those checkboxes is just one of the most annoying parts, so tuning the system to put them right in front of us will almost always result in happy players 🙏🏻
P.S. The "(Special)" tag on Action Surge is logical, and I think adding that to "Superiority Dice (Special") would make sense too when they are in that top section, since they are effectively "special" actions outside the entire action economy framework of action/bonus/reaction/free.
This image shows what I mean, it's REALLY annoying to scroll all the way down on my ipad.
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D&D player going back to the 90s with 2e and 3e. Didn't play for years and ended up skipping 3.5e and 4e entirely. Very excited about the openness and clarity of 5e.
Experiences DMing were mostly misadventures back in the day, but trying to be ready to be a decent DM now that my wisdom has gone up a bit.
Doing a quick review of some of my other characters, here's a couple more examples that could get the same treatment to great effect:
Cleric: Move "Channel Divinity (Special)" checkbox to the top, so it's above the Channel Divinity descriptions!
This one is an even more obvious optimization, since apparently the actual descriptions are important enough to be at the top, but not the checkbox for when use use it. Obviously they belong together, and having the checkbox at the top will be a great improvement.
Paladin: Perfect! Turns out the paladin sheet actually has this fix. Channel Divinity checkbox is at the top, before the CD options! Just make Cleric and blood hunter work like Paladin!
Blood Hunter: Move "Blood Maledict (No Action)" to the top
It's so lonely down there at the bottom! Make it easy to tick that box, remind players it exists and help them understand their sheet in the process (having the checkbox come before the maledict descriptions below (bonus/reaction sections).
Tabaxi: Move "Feline Agility (Special)" to the top
This one is less of a no-brainer, but having it down there probably makes so many people (like me) forget it's an option and never use it. Up at the top it would be near Claws and be really useful.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
D&D player going back to the 90s with 2e and 3e. Didn't play for years and ended up skipping 3.5e and 4e entirely. Very excited about the openness and clarity of 5e.
Experiences DMing were mostly misadventures back in the day, but trying to be ready to be a decent DM now that my wisdom has gone up a bit.
My take away from all of this is that superiority dice are in the wrong spot. These features are sorted by the type of action resource they use. Moving things to actions is incorrectly saying that it uses your action to use that feature.
+1 to this, and also to suggest a Monk's ki should be moved to the top as well, putting it more in line with the location of a Battlemaster Fighter's Superiority Dice.
Really, limited resources that don't use any actions but that actions can pull from should get their own section. Ki and superiority dice apply to this. Not sure where the best place to put them would be. I guess at the top is where most people would want them.
Really, limited resources that don't use any actions but that actions can plus from should get their own section. Ki and superiority dice apply to this. Not sure where the best place to put them would be. I guess at the top is where most people would want them.
Really, limited resources that don't use any actions but that actions can plus from should get their own section. Ki and superiority dice apply to this. Not sure where the best place to put them would be. I guess at the top is where most people would want them.
And Bardic Inspiration
Well, bardic inspiration actually is a bonus action though. It just has other non-bonus actions that can take its uses.
Agree that Bardic Inspiration shouldn't go in the "special" section at the top because they fall into the Bonus/Reaction categories which have their own sections (and aren't all the way at the bottom).
One thing that's relevant to this discussion is to remember the LIMITED USE tab of that box exists, and to switch to it when you need to quickly find a checkbox. I need to integrate that into my play either way because of abilities like Rage/Bardic Inspiration. That said, I spend a lot of time in the default Actions box, so I think this change would be a big improvement.
Really, limited resources that don't use any actions but that actions can plus from should get their own section.
This is a good way to think about it, and honestly I think that's what's already happening with Superiority Dice. It's just that the section has no heading, but instead these "timeless" actions (usually just triggering some variable action/bonus/reaction) are labeled with "... (Special)".
To me this creates a kind of "Special Actions" section that is both useful and fairly obvious, without actually adding a new "category" of actions that would just confuse people. I don't think many people, if they have any understanding at all of their class abilities, will be confused into thinking that superiority dice or action surge somehow a use of their full action.
D&D player going back to the 90s with 2e and 3e. Didn't play for years and ended up skipping 3.5e and 4e entirely. Very excited about the openness and clarity of 5e.
Experiences DMing were mostly misadventures back in the day, but trying to be ready to be a decent DM now that my wisdom has gone up a bit.
Really, limited resources that don't use any actions but that actions can pull from should get their own section.
This is a good way to think about it, and honestly I think that's what's already happening with Superiority Dice. It's just that the section has no heading, but instead these "timeless" actions (usually just triggering some variable action/bonus/reaction) are labeled with "... (Special)".
To me this creates a kind of "Special Actions" section that is both useful and fairly obvious, without actually adding a new "category" of actions that would just confuse people. I don't think many people, if they have any understanding at all of their class abilities, will be confused into thinking that superiority dice or action surge somehow a use of their full action.
The "special" actions section is for things that do require activation and their timing is not tied to actions, bonus, etc. Things like action surge, stunning strike, and divine smite do belong here.
I think the limited resource section should only be for things that either have no or multiple actions that draw from it like Ki, superiority dice, or sorcery points. Things that I think should not be in this category are things that have a default associated action even if other actions can use the resource like wild shape (action), channel divinity (bonus action), or bardic inspiration (bonus action).
Of course in a perfected, complete, final digital character sheet, you probably don't need this section because all actions that share a resource will be able to access that resource from that action and automatically update remaining uses for other actions too. But we are not there yet.
Currently if you have e.g. a Battlemaster Fighter, and look at the character sheet's default ACTIONS section, you have to scroll ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM to find Action Surge, even though it's a really key power.
I see the logic, because it's with "other actions" since it's not a full action, like the stuff in the first section (usually just your weapons and spells).
BUT "Superiority Dice" (if you have them) are in the section at the top, and I'm 100% in favor of that, even though using a superiority die isn't a full action. Since it's something I use all the time as a battlemaster I want easy access to it, and moving that to the bottom with "other actions" would be way worse.
So instead I think you should consider making more compromises like this one! When something doesn't fall into the rigid BONUS ACTIONS/REACTIONS framework, put it at the top instead of at the bottom if it's a limited-use tool. I need quick access to those checkboxes and having it at the bottom actually makes me use paper and pen to track it because it's easier that way.
Thanks for considering this request. Overall I love how DNDB works, finding those checkboxes is just one of the most annoying parts, so tuning the system to put them right in front of us will almost always result in happy players 🙏🏻
P.S. The "(Special)" tag on Action Surge is logical, and I think adding that to "Superiority Dice (Special") would make sense too when they are in that top section, since they are effectively "special" actions outside the entire action economy framework of action/bonus/reaction/free.
This image shows what I mean, it's REALLY annoying to scroll all the way down on my ipad.
D&D player going back to the 90s with 2e and 3e. Didn't play for years and ended up skipping 3.5e and 4e entirely. Very excited about the openness and clarity of 5e.
Experiences DMing were mostly misadventures back in the day, but trying to be ready to be a decent DM now that my wisdom has gone up a bit.
Doing a quick review of some of my other characters, here's a couple more examples that could get the same treatment to great effect:
Cleric: Move "Channel Divinity (Special)" checkbox to the top, so it's above the Channel Divinity descriptions!
This one is an even more obvious optimization, since apparently the actual descriptions are important enough to be at the top, but not the checkbox for when use use it. Obviously they belong together, and having the checkbox at the top will be a great improvement.
Paladin: Perfect! Turns out the paladin sheet actually has this fix. Channel Divinity checkbox is at the top, before the CD options! Just make Cleric and blood hunter work like Paladin!
Blood Hunter: Move "Blood Maledict (No Action)" to the top
It's so lonely down there at the bottom! Make it easy to tick that box, remind players it exists and help them understand their sheet in the process (having the checkbox come before the maledict descriptions below (bonus/reaction sections).
Tabaxi: Move "Feline Agility (Special)" to the top
This one is less of a no-brainer, but having it down there probably makes so many people (like me) forget it's an option and never use it. Up at the top it would be near Claws and be really useful.
D&D player going back to the 90s with 2e and 3e. Didn't play for years and ended up skipping 3.5e and 4e entirely. Very excited about the openness and clarity of 5e.
Experiences DMing were mostly misadventures back in the day, but trying to be ready to be a decent DM now that my wisdom has gone up a bit.
Action Surge does not take an Action to do. I am actually confused as to why the superiority die are there and not under other actions as well.
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My take away from all of this is that superiority dice are in the wrong spot. These features are sorted by the type of action resource they use. Moving things to actions is incorrectly saying that it uses your action to use that feature.
+1 to this, and also to suggest a Monk's ki should be moved to the top as well, putting it more in line with the location of a Battlemaster Fighter's Superiority Dice.
Really, limited resources that don't use any actions but that actions can pull from should get their own section. Ki and superiority dice apply to this. Not sure where the best place to put them would be. I guess at the top is where most people would want them.
And Bardic Inspiration
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Well, bardic inspiration actually is a bonus action though. It just has other non-bonus actions that can take its uses.
Agree that Bardic Inspiration shouldn't go in the "special" section at the top because they fall into the Bonus/Reaction categories which have their own sections (and aren't all the way at the bottom).
One thing that's relevant to this discussion is to remember the LIMITED USE tab of that box exists, and to switch to it when you need to quickly find a checkbox. I need to integrate that into my play either way because of abilities like Rage/Bardic Inspiration. That said, I spend a lot of time in the default Actions box, so I think this change would be a big improvement.
This is a good way to think about it, and honestly I think that's what's already happening with Superiority Dice. It's just that the section has no heading, but instead these "timeless" actions (usually just triggering some variable action/bonus/reaction) are labeled with "... (Special)".
To me this creates a kind of "Special Actions" section that is both useful and fairly obvious, without actually adding a new "category" of actions that would just confuse people. I don't think many people, if they have any understanding at all of their class abilities, will be confused into thinking that superiority dice or action surge somehow a use of their full action.
D&D player going back to the 90s with 2e and 3e. Didn't play for years and ended up skipping 3.5e and 4e entirely. Very excited about the openness and clarity of 5e.
Experiences DMing were mostly misadventures back in the day, but trying to be ready to be a decent DM now that my wisdom has gone up a bit.
The "special" actions section is for things that do require activation and their timing is not tied to actions, bonus, etc. Things like action surge, stunning strike, and divine smite do belong here.
I think the limited resource section should only be for things that either have no or multiple actions that draw from it like Ki, superiority dice, or sorcery points. Things that I think should not be in this category are things that have a default associated action even if other actions can use the resource like wild shape (action), channel divinity (bonus action), or bardic inspiration (bonus action).
Of course in a perfected, complete, final digital character sheet, you probably don't need this section because all actions that share a resource will be able to access that resource from that action and automatically update remaining uses for other actions too. But we are not there yet.