One person in my group decided to take everybody's character sheets more than a year ago (they were high level) as some sort of passive aggressive thing so we can't play dnd without them. But now, this person refuses to come to sessions. Now I have to guide everybody through making another character sheet again and I was planning on keeping the characters. What do you do in your groups?
...we use D&D Beyond, where character sheets are associated with our accounts and literally cannot be taken from us.
But in your case, where I'm presuming you use physical sheets? First of all, I would have some very, very strong words with whoever stole everybody's sheets and that person would very likely not be invited back to my table. That's an incredibly childish, petty, and uncouth thing to do and I would not stand for it. Beyond that? let everybody keep their sheets themselves. if a player wants to leave their sheet with you between sessions, that's between you and the player in question, but it's not your sheet, it's not my sheet, it's not Petty *******'s sheet - it's the player's sheet. If they can't be responsible for it, I'd wonder at how they manage elsewhere in life, and after getting my sheet stolen by someone else I can guarantee nobody else would be laying hands on my physical sheet after that.
I assume you’re not using DDB for your sheets. When we played in person many years ago in 1E we left our sheets at the DM’s house just for simplicity. The basement was basically always set up to play.
But the few times we played in person with 5E we each took our own sheets home after each session. But we still used DDB for them, we just printed them out when we made changes or leveled etc. now it’s all DDB and online play.
I use fillable PDFs. Those of us with tablets etc get a "printed" electronic version for use each session. I'll update them and issue fresh ones each session. I'll run off a hardcopy for those who don't have devices that make electronic ones convenient.
While I do keep hold of them, it's purely convenience. We always play at my house, I'm the most familiar with how the sheets work, etc. If anyone wanted a copy of anything that I have or to be the one in control of their own sheet...not a problem, they're more than welcome to it. There is no reason why I have them other that convenience. No one has shown any interest so far, though.
It can be convenient to have one person who looks after the sheets. One less thing to worry about the kids wrecking, etc. If you got burned by having someone else holding the sheets...then becoming that person won't be a positive thing for anyone but you. If others are a bit sore about it, I'd just have them hold their own sheets. Someone runs off without returning sheets? No problem, their character dies in an ambush...by a solitary Twig Blight...while the party snores through it. No one else is affected.
Regardless, I'd use electronic sheets (DDB, fillable/editable PDFs, etc) and keep a copy yourself. That way, of someone forgets or whatever, you can just give them a copy and no problem. If they stop playing, you can still use the character, if you wish.
Speak with the party and see what they want to do.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Well, sounds like you have someone who just isn't getting along with your group. That's fine. They don't have to play with you anymore. I would just ask for the character sheets back so you guys can keep playing without them. If they refuse, just give it up (it's not worth getting into a fight over a few sheets of paper). Then just make new characters and start playing. If the players really want that high-level character back, it should be simple enough to recreate it using the D&D Beyond character builder. Obviously some details might be missing but you could get pretty close.
But yeah, seriously, use the D&D Beyond digital sheets. They're awesome. And you'll never lose them.
I'm 100% in favor of players owning and keeping track of their own character sheets. But I understand there are situations where it might be better for someone else to hold onto them, and in those cases there needs to be a very, very good reason for that person not to be the DM. If you can't trust your DM with your character sheet, then you can't trust them to run the game. Still... why would you?
If something like that is absolutely necessary, I'd vote in favor of redundancy... maybe the DM holds a copy of your character sheet, and you take another copy home with you at the end of the day. But of course, these days digital sheets are increasingly common... that's basically the whole point of this website, after all.
Aside from the player issues and party contention, my opinion (and keep in mind it's only my opinion) is that each player is responsible for their characters. They're responsible for their inventory, and their notes as well. As a DM, I have a ton of things I have to keep track of. A new player? sure, I'll help them get started and guide them on their character sheets and inventory, and maybe even on taking notes... but eventually (very shortly after starting) I'll hand them off to a more experienced player and encourage them to discover their own methods of keeping track of everything. Now, if it's conducive for the play space, I'll provide a place for PCs to store their materials between sessions. Our table is out in a workshop and is rarely touched between sessions and therefore each person's station has a notebook, writing implement, dice, and in some cases leftover snacks (sealed to keep critters away of course). The DM station has the screen up and dice tower. All character sheets, if used, are kept either with the player or at that table. Bottom line, each PC is responsible for their own stuff. No one, especially another PC, should be responsible for the single most important item required for everyone to play.
Players keep the sheets. If one player doesn't trust the other players then they need to chill out or find a different table (obviously don't put it that bluntly).
I'd contact that player (and go to their house if you know it) and get the sheets back. Or get the remaining players to make a new sheet and they are all responsible for their own. If they are concerned about losing it, then ask them to photocopy their sheet and give you the photocopy to hang onto, just in case they misplace or forget their sheet. But the actual sheet is theirs to look after, and nobody should be taking someone elses unless they are jaeguering for them (running their character for them in their absence).
Actually I would put it that bluntly. It sounds like they have already been asked to return them and have refused so now it’s time to recreate the characters, remove the player thief from the game and move on. As others have said DDB is a great place to make and keep your characters. Further while the campaign editor is not all I could wish for it is more than enough to allow the DM to see the character sheets any time the need while allowing the players to maintain ownership and control. It even has basic dice rolling so the DM can monitor that as well.
I prefer players control their originals - I'll take copies (digital, pdf, hard) - just so I know what I'm working with when creating adventures: don't want to give the same treasures or make foes so easy they become bored, or put them in impossible traps and encounters that they don't have a chance.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
One person in my group decided to take everybody's character sheets more than a year ago (they were high level) as some sort of passive aggressive thing so we can't play dnd without them. But now, this person refuses to come to sessions. Now I have to guide everybody through making another character sheet again and I was planning on keeping the characters. What do you do in your groups?
she/her
___________
| Hello There |
|__________|
(\_/) ‖
(•ᆺ•) ‖
/ ‛づ
| ) )
.. ‾⁾ ‾⁾
...we use D&D Beyond, where character sheets are associated with our accounts and literally cannot be taken from us.
But in your case, where I'm presuming you use physical sheets? First of all, I would have some very, very strong words with whoever stole everybody's sheets and that person would very likely not be invited back to my table. That's an incredibly childish, petty, and uncouth thing to do and I would not stand for it. Beyond that? let everybody keep their sheets themselves. if a player wants to leave their sheet with you between sessions, that's between you and the player in question, but it's not your sheet, it's not my sheet, it's not Petty *******'s sheet - it's the player's sheet. If they can't be responsible for it, I'd wonder at how they manage elsewhere in life, and after getting my sheet stolen by someone else I can guarantee nobody else would be laying hands on my physical sheet after that.
Please do not contact or message me.
I assume you’re not using DDB for your sheets. When we played in person many years ago in 1E we left our sheets at the DM’s house just for simplicity. The basement was basically always set up to play.
But the few times we played in person with 5E we each took our own sheets home after each session. But we still used DDB for them, we just printed them out when we made changes or leveled etc. now it’s all DDB and online play.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
It depends.
I use fillable PDFs. Those of us with tablets etc get a "printed" electronic version for use each session. I'll update them and issue fresh ones each session. I'll run off a hardcopy for those who don't have devices that make electronic ones convenient.
While I do keep hold of them, it's purely convenience. We always play at my house, I'm the most familiar with how the sheets work, etc. If anyone wanted a copy of anything that I have or to be the one in control of their own sheet...not a problem, they're more than welcome to it. There is no reason why I have them other that convenience. No one has shown any interest so far, though.
It can be convenient to have one person who looks after the sheets. One less thing to worry about the kids wrecking, etc. If you got burned by having someone else holding the sheets...then becoming that person won't be a positive thing for anyone but you. If others are a bit sore about it, I'd just have them hold their own sheets. Someone runs off without returning sheets? No problem, their character dies in an ambush...by a solitary Twig Blight...while the party snores through it. No one else is affected.
Regardless, I'd use electronic sheets (DDB, fillable/editable PDFs, etc) and keep a copy yourself. That way, of someone forgets or whatever, you can just give them a copy and no problem. If they stop playing, you can still use the character, if you wish.
Speak with the party and see what they want to do.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Well, sounds like you have someone who just isn't getting along with your group. That's fine. They don't have to play with you anymore. I would just ask for the character sheets back so you guys can keep playing without them. If they refuse, just give it up (it's not worth getting into a fight over a few sheets of paper). Then just make new characters and start playing. If the players really want that high-level character back, it should be simple enough to recreate it using the D&D Beyond character builder. Obviously some details might be missing but you could get pretty close.
But yeah, seriously, use the D&D Beyond digital sheets. They're awesome. And you'll never lose them.
I'm 100% in favor of players owning and keeping track of their own character sheets. But I understand there are situations where it might be better for someone else to hold onto them, and in those cases there needs to be a very, very good reason for that person not to be the DM. If you can't trust your DM with your character sheet, then you can't trust them to run the game. Still... why would you?
If something like that is absolutely necessary, I'd vote in favor of redundancy... maybe the DM holds a copy of your character sheet, and you take another copy home with you at the end of the day. But of course, these days digital sheets are increasingly common... that's basically the whole point of this website, after all.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
Aside from the player issues and party contention, my opinion (and keep in mind it's only my opinion) is that each player is responsible for their characters. They're responsible for their inventory, and their notes as well. As a DM, I have a ton of things I have to keep track of. A new player? sure, I'll help them get started and guide them on their character sheets and inventory, and maybe even on taking notes... but eventually (very shortly after starting) I'll hand them off to a more experienced player and encourage them to discover their own methods of keeping track of everything. Now, if it's conducive for the play space, I'll provide a place for PCs to store their materials between sessions. Our table is out in a workshop and is rarely touched between sessions and therefore each person's station has a notebook, writing implement, dice, and in some cases leftover snacks (sealed to keep critters away of course). The DM station has the screen up and dice tower. All character sheets, if used, are kept either with the player or at that table. Bottom line, each PC is responsible for their own stuff. No one, especially another PC, should be responsible for the single most important item required for everyone to play.
We just use D&D Beyond
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
Players keep the sheets. If one player doesn't trust the other players then they need to chill out or find a different table (obviously don't put it that bluntly).
I'd contact that player (and go to their house if you know it) and get the sheets back. Or get the remaining players to make a new sheet and they are all responsible for their own. If they are concerned about losing it, then ask them to photocopy their sheet and give you the photocopy to hang onto, just in case they misplace or forget their sheet. But the actual sheet is theirs to look after, and nobody should be taking someone elses unless they are jaeguering for them (running their character for them in their absence).
1000% bad form on the player who took the sheets.
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
Actually I would put it that bluntly. It sounds like they have already been asked to return them and have refused so now it’s time to recreate the characters, remove the player thief from the game and move on. As others have said DDB is a great place to make and keep your characters. Further while the campaign editor is not all I could wish for it is more than enough to allow the DM to see the character sheets any time the need while allowing the players to maintain ownership and control. It even has basic dice rolling so the DM can monitor that as well.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
I prefer players control their originals - I'll take copies (digital, pdf, hard) - just so I know what I'm working with when creating adventures: don't want to give the same treasures or make foes so easy they become bored, or put them in impossible traps and encounters that they don't have a chance.