One that would be nice to have as a DM is the ability to make NPC sheets with an abbreviated version character sheet for those NPC's. Also having the ability to make monster NPC's or Monster cards would be a great aid.
I was thinking the same thing. A short form character sheet for NPCs with the option to expand it if needed would be awesome, especially if you could import NPC templates (e.g. cultist, thug, etc.) into it.
Along these lines, a random generator for traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws would be really cool. This way I could just click a button and there's an NPC that has a little flavor to throw into the campaign as needed. Something like this, but with more polish and features. Combine this with the abbreviated NPC sheet and templates and DMs would have an incredible tool at their disposal.
This could potentially feed into the campaign manager/encounter builder with the ability to pull these NPCs into the tools. A cherry on top would be the ability to link to an NPC in the campaign manager in some type of session notes/wiki area.
This really falls under campaign management rather than character sheets, but I'd quite like to see a scriptable environment that people can use to make little generators for their campaigns. Like, I could create a map of the area and fill it with certain details, and then if for example the group walks into a tavern and asks to see the menu, I can run a little generator I've coded (or someone else has), and it'll pull info from where the party is on the map, and other things, to generate a convincing menu. Stuff like towns nearer to the coast having more chance of seafood on the menu, places with religious restrictions on certain foods never offering those, etc.
I've used a menu as an example, but you could have generators for anything - NPCs, monsters, groups of NPCs/monsters, shop contents, buildings in a village, tavern names (possibility of being named after past or current rulers that you've specified for your campaign), loot, books in a library, mazes for a shifting dungeon layout, and many things more! Basically taking the idea of rolling on tables, and taking it to the next level. Instead of rolling on several different tables, or multiple times on the same one, a generator does all the rolls in one go, with a possibility of later details being influenced by earlier 'rolls', by specific details of your campaign.
Providing specific generators would be nice, but providing a way of writing your own generators (or using someone else's) would be so much cooler and more versatile!
(Edit: I've just looked properly at the link in your comment, and realised that it's been done using a generator creation tool, EN World's Online Generic Randomizer Engine (OGRE). Something like that, except with the ability to reference information from elsewhere in your campaign info (and maybe with different syntax to allow for nicer formatting and more complicated stuff) would be perfect.)
Awesome! Just posting to support the premise of selecting info (spells, items, beasts) as favorites and then be able to narrow info with filters. Either have a sticky on page one of the character sheet or in the applicable tab... combat / action (ranged, melee, spells)... features.... notes. Oh, also create a DM Screen sheet along with a character sheet where the DM can select content. Also include a field where a DM or character can input an image URL for maps etc.
An amazing option will also allow you to manage multiclassing better. For example, when I am two separate classes and it's time to level up, I can compare what will happen if I choose one class over another. Wizard Level 1 and Artificer Level 1 so when I gain over all level 3, what will happen to my stats if I choose one class over another.
This please... it would be nice to have an interface that would ease the struggle that is multiclassing.
I've used a menu as an example, but you could have generators for anything - NPCs, monsters, groups of NPCs/monsters, shop contents, buildings in a village, tavern names (possibility of being named after past or current rulers that you've specified for your campaign), loot, books in a library, mazes for a shifting dungeon layout, and many things more! Basically taking the idea of rolling on tables, and taking it to the next level. Instead of rolling on several different tables, or multiple times on the same one, a generator does all the rolls in one go, with a possibility of later details being influenced by earlier 'rolls', by specific details of your campaign.
Providing specific generators would be nice, but providing a way of writing your own generators (or using someone else's) would be so much cooler and more versatile!
(Edit: I've just looked properly at the link in your comment, and realised that it's been done using a generator creation tool, EN World's Online Generic Randomizer Engine (OGRE). Something like that, except with the ability to reference information from elsewhere in your campaign info (and maybe with different syntax to allow for nicer formatting and more complicated stuff) would be perfect.)
What you're describing is exactly what I would love to see, there's a thread over in the homebrew forum about random generators. That would be an incredible tool.
What I really want is a section for character features and traits. It's always extremely difficult to have to go back and forth between pages to check if you're right about a quest reward you got and what the trait does, along with racial traits like a dragonborn's breath weapon. And I'm personally excited for the spell list, because then we won't have to mark how many spell slots we've expended, or what to roll when we do hit. It would also be nice if the info on the spells automatically updated when you get to 5th level, for instance.
That same mechanic could be useful for non-character attached beasties (familiars, war-horses, trained attack poodles, etc).
What's the better user experience?
Class-defined bestiaries built into a character sheet
or
User curated lists of things that can be added to a character sheet?
Why not both? Have an optional tag that gives one or the other, or even both as needed. As a Druid, I had Druid forms as well as animal friends that I looked after (horses, Myles and such...) it was a pain to track HP for all the various critters, and my own animal form. It'd be nice to see the option to do both suggested critter listings.
Wow! There are already so many great ideas posted. While a lot of them fall more under campaign management than just the character sheet, it's almost impossible to separate out some of the functionality, especially since most of us will be using these character sheets in our own, non-DDB campaigns as part of Phase 2 of the beta test. Here's my wishlist. (Sorry if there are repeats of things that have already been said. 10 pages of info is a lot to read through and remember):
The standard Character sheet (as found at the end of the PHB or SRD) should be the default sheet. Anything else should be considered a customization on that sheet and, therefore, be something the user opts into.
On character creation/leveling, having a tutorial would be great for those who want/need it. For those who don't, I would still like to see unusable options greyed out (e.g., skills my character doesn't have access to).
An option to have a "Character creation" page that's separate from the character sheet would be nice. This would go along with the tutorial/walkthrough option but would also be handy just in general. This page could show all of the calculations and dynamically show all of the available options based on previous choices, etc.
For example, you enter how much XP your character has, and the creation page determines whether or not you meet the requirements to go up a level, and, if so, displays a list of classes you can choose from based on meeting requirements for those (mostly beneficial for multi-classing). Then, based on the class you picked, you would have options/prompts for whatever class features you would get for that level.
Information from the creation page would then be used to populate the character sheet.
A "character summary" page would be nice for at-a-glance info that a player or dm might need during a session. Player name, character name, ability scores/modifiers, skills, attacks, prepared spells, feats, abilities, etc. This page should be editable in the sense that you can choose what info is shown and what is not (e.g., don't show that my bard has Jack of All Trades, but do include Bardic Inspiration along with what die to roll and how many uses are left).
A modular character sheet where you could move sections around to be in the order that makes the most sense to you would be nice.
Has a print feature and export as PDF feature been confirmed? It is essential that these options be included.
Digital is great, but not always viable and not always the preferred choice for players. The 4th edition character builder was quite good, but it lacked and a PDF export and everyone had to use PDFcreator's print to PDF option.
Has a print feature and export as PDF feature been confirmed? It is essential that these options be included.
Digital is great, but not always viable and not always the preferred choice for players. The 4th edition character builder was quite good, but it lacked and a PDF export and everyone had to use PDFcreator's print to PDF option.
I knew I was forgetting something. There absolutely needs to be a print/export function. Preferably in multiple different formats (.pdf, VTT, erc.).
Took me a bit to dig through all of this and tons of great ideas. I think we need a thread that is for campaign management options if one hasn't been made already.
This definitely has to work for those that want paper at the table to those who are geeks with their digital apps.
This application truly needs to be modular and even the character sheet needs various application modules. Option to do standard sheet all the way to a fully customizable option built on each part being a module in the sheet itself. This way the player can get the sheet setup the way they want whether they want printable, digital or a combo of both for use during the game.
Automation of the module parts of the sheet so that the ones you need based on race and class show up without the ones you don't. It should automatically update with other modules being available as level, spells, skills, feat, etc are updated. But there should be an option where the player can also pick and chose whatever they want on the sheet if they don't want it to be automated based on the options in the sheet.
For the digital users - spells, items, etc should definitely link to appropriate information for the full details with one click. From there if the information the comes up has other links they can chose to drill further like the work that is being done to make everything fully searchable and linked already.
Printed versions should be available of simple framework of info to everything based on what the players really need at the table. The idea of cards of info to go with the player sheet to be printed is a necessity. I'm not a fan of the barcode idea because if I have a digital device with internet access at the table, I'd probably have the char sheet pulled up anyway. But that's just me the crazy lady who has done everything from all paper to all digital due to playing for sooooooo long. ;)
Anyway, the more modular it is the better for piecing it all together and some automation of hiding things we don't need would speed up things and even help keep newer players from being distracted by modules they don't need on their sheets at the time.
As for who can look at the sheet and control of that in a group - that should be part of the campaign management module. For making the character, the player should be concentrating on that and IF the DM using DDB also has a campaign manager then there will be an option to chose the character sheet to add to the campaign. How interactive we want campaign stuff needs to go in its own thread. ::goes looking for the thread on campaign management desires, if there is one::
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PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
A modular character sheet where you could move sections around to be in the order that makes the most sense to you would be nice.
This is a GREAT idea!
In theory. Having had more experience than I'd like in creating customizable, printable forms for web applications, just thinking about it gives me a bit of a headache. If they can pull it off, color my truly impressed. I think the more likely feature is a set of similar, but slightly rearranged character sheets -- which would be fine by me, especially if there were both landscape and portrait options.
From a DM standpoint, it would be amazing if the site facilitated grouping shared character sheets by game. I would love to see all sheets served up in a way that I can quickly reference them if a player is missing for the night, or review them before/after a session.
I also think it have AL Log sheets available and tracked through the character builder, a log that is included in the character link to share with AL DM's and what not.
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DM for the Roll With Advantage Podcast. Check us out on all the major Podcast Outlets.
I sometimes do a blog too. Go check out my blog at www.dmstable.com
Here's a few more ideas that I wanted to get out there:
Similar to the idea of a spell book/lists of favorite spells for a character, I would like to suggest a "shopping list" of items for a character. Perhaps the list could be shared with the DM, and if approved, added to the character's sheet.
Another option could be a wishlist that is shared with the DM some kind of mechanism for the DM approving items to be added by the character.
Also, separate bags that could calculate weight based on their contents.
I know the ability to customize views has come up a few times. If it weren't possible, then perhaps a few alternate views of the character sheet, one of which being a combat view that has relevant stats/info moved to be front and center. I'm thinking saves, a breakout of your ranged and melee attack rolls, spell attack, etc.
Related to this, having an area where weapons would show their current Attack bonus and damage bonus would be great.
A summary page of all the little benefits you have going from magic items, racial abilities, class skills etc. I think this would be a helpful way to organize all the little perks you get and to help players remember to use them.
A modular character sheet where you could move sections around to be in the order that makes the most sense to you would be nice.
This is a GREAT idea!
In theory. Having had more experience than I'd like in creating customizable, printable forms for web applications, just thinking about it gives me a bit of a headache. If they can pull it off, color my truly impressed. I think the more likely feature is a set of similar, but slightly rearranged character sheets -- which would be fine by me, especially if there were both landscape and portrait options.
I'd like to add my voice to the hope that we'll be able to port characters made in DDB into roll20. I run games there almost weekly, and being able to create characters in an easy to use program (DDB) and use them on roll20 would be awesome. I see that the team is talking to FG about this. Hope they are talking to roll20 as well. It'd be great if it worked with both the shaped sheet and the standard.
AD
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Awesome! Just posting to support the premise of selecting info (spells, items, beasts) as favorites and then be able to narrow info with filters. Either have a sticky on page one of the character sheet or in the applicable tab... combat / action (ranged, melee, spells)... features.... notes. Oh, also create a DM Screen sheet along with a character sheet where the DM can select content. Also include a field where a DM or character can input an image URL for maps etc.
Fellow monster hunter and occultist.
This is an excellent idea!!!
What I really want is a section for character features and traits. It's always extremely difficult to have to go back and forth between pages to check if you're right about a quest reward you got and what the trait does, along with racial traits like a dragonborn's breath weapon. And I'm personally excited for the spell list, because then we won't have to mark how many spell slots we've expended, or what to roll when we do hit. It would also be nice if the info on the spells automatically updated when you get to 5th level, for instance.
Wow! There are already so many great ideas posted. While a lot of them fall more under campaign management than just the character sheet, it's almost impossible to separate out some of the functionality, especially since most of us will be using these character sheets in our own, non-DDB campaigns as part of Phase 2 of the beta test. Here's my wishlist. (Sorry if there are repeats of things that have already been said. 10 pages of info is a lot to read through and remember):
Welcome to the Grand Illusion, come on in and see what's happening, pay the price, get your ticket for the show....
Has a print feature and export as PDF feature been confirmed? It is essential that these options be included.
Digital is great, but not always viable and not always the preferred choice for players. The 4th edition character builder was quite good, but it lacked and a PDF export and everyone had to use PDFcreator's print to PDF option.
Took me a bit to dig through all of this and tons of great ideas. I think we need a thread that is for campaign management options if one hasn't been made already.
This definitely has to work for those that want paper at the table to those who are geeks with their digital apps.
This application truly needs to be modular and even the character sheet needs various application modules. Option to do standard sheet all the way to a fully customizable option built on each part being a module in the sheet itself. This way the player can get the sheet setup the way they want whether they want printable, digital or a combo of both for use during the game.
Automation of the module parts of the sheet so that the ones you need based on race and class show up without the ones you don't. It should automatically update with other modules being available as level, spells, skills, feat, etc are updated. But there should be an option where the player can also pick and chose whatever they want on the sheet if they don't want it to be automated based on the options in the sheet.
For the digital users - spells, items, etc should definitely link to appropriate information for the full details with one click. From there if the information the comes up has other links they can chose to drill further like the work that is being done to make everything fully searchable and linked already.
Printed versions should be available of simple framework of info to everything based on what the players really need at the table. The idea of cards of info to go with the player sheet to be printed is a necessity. I'm not a fan of the barcode idea because if I have a digital device with internet access at the table, I'd probably have the char sheet pulled up anyway. But that's just me the crazy lady who has done everything from all paper to all digital due to playing for sooooooo long. ;)
Anyway, the more modular it is the better for piecing it all together and some automation of hiding things we don't need would speed up things and even help keep newer players from being distracted by modules they don't need on their sheets at the time.
As for who can look at the sheet and control of that in a group - that should be part of the campaign management module. For making the character, the player should be concentrating on that and IF the DM using DDB also has a campaign manager then there will be an option to chose the character sheet to add to the campaign. How interactive we want campaign stuff needs to go in its own thread. ::goes looking for the thread on campaign management desires, if there is one::
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
This maybe kind of far out of scope but...
From a DM standpoint, it would be amazing if the site facilitated grouping shared character sheets by game. I would love to see all sheets served up in a way that I can quickly reference them if a player is missing for the night, or review them before/after a session.
I also think it have AL Log sheets available and tracked through the character builder, a log that is included in the character link to share with AL DM's and what not.
DM for the Roll With Advantage Podcast. Check us out on all the major Podcast Outlets.
I sometimes do a blog too. Go check out my blog at www.dmstable.com
Here's a few more ideas that I wanted to get out there:
Similar to the idea of a spell book/lists of favorite spells for a character, I would like to suggest a "shopping list" of items for a character. Perhaps the list could be shared with the DM, and if approved, added to the character's sheet.
Another option could be a wishlist that is shared with the DM some kind of mechanism for the DM approving items to be added by the character.
Also, separate bags that could calculate weight based on their contents.
I know the ability to customize views has come up a few times. If it weren't possible, then perhaps a few alternate views of the character sheet, one of which being a combat view that has relevant stats/info moved to be front and center. I'm thinking saves, a breakout of your ranged and melee attack rolls, spell attack, etc.
Related to this, having an area where weapons would show their current Attack bonus and damage bonus would be great.
A summary page of all the little benefits you have going from magic items, racial abilities, class skills etc. I think this would be a helpful way to organize all the little perks you get and to help players remember to use them.
Finally, a page with what you have currently equipped in specific areas/slots of your character. I'm thinking of something like this - http://epiclevelgaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Alt-pg-inventory.jpg
Lot's of great ideas in this thread :)
Digital spell "cards" built in to the sheet, as well as item cards. Customizable layout, format, and style.
We do bones, motherf***ker!
I'd like to add my voice to the hope that we'll be able to port characters made in DDB into roll20. I run games there almost weekly, and being able to create characters in an easy to use program (DDB) and use them on roll20 would be awesome. I see that the team is talking to FG about this. Hope they are talking to roll20 as well. It'd be great if it worked with both the shaped sheet and the standard.
AD